574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTEHxWnssC
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXfkKvVkJ6
He drove us to the abandoned house. When we got out, I looked around. The house sat in the middle of the woods. If that wasn’t creepy enough, it was literally falling apart right in front of us. It looked dangerous.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7iJvZPBqi
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUkmfEqZtY
Luke had invited me to a party. He knew I hated parties, but I went anyway. And then, on the way, he told me he wanted to show me something. So here we were, standing in front of this morbid looking, broken thing.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Alv1YmhfL
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOX91GhL0I
The air was cold, so I pulled my jacket tighter around me. I saw Luke glance at me, and he almost moved toward me, but I stopped him.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMrGpYKkMc
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAPBbJsfPq
“Why are we here?” I asked.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaJ5b34US6
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd7wS5RSKk
“My friend said there was something amazing inside,” Luke said excitedly. “I don’t really know what it is, because what could be in there? It’s a shithole.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO02geshqi
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRj9CjwD8j
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MMSasVVgJ
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA9Kd3Ipbq
Luke grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me into the house. It was one story and it looked like kids had been coming here and using things to break it down faster, like it was infected and needed to be dealt with.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr2lhWGjoE
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7aNFBgBYG
I moved toward one of the closed doors, expecting it to be locked, or have spider webs all over it. Once I opened it, I could smell something so strong that it made my stomach twist.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA8jzgxzr4
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYU4x6FNIY
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp2Qfjxhfv
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5caAzCPII
Luke came up behind me, his face screwed up in revulsion. “I have no idea.” He squeezed his brown eyes shut and shook his head. “It’s disgusting. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have brought you here.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tvDzjK6B4
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMo1tVOA48
“It’s okay,” I said.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcObuVMG2t4
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATzSJqHfbN
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWWHQq02LZ
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFspjqypi0
I followed his voice, and it wasn’t that far away, only in another part of the house. It looked like an old game room. But there was only one thing in it, and it was pushed in the corner, a sheet over it.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRK4pLBl58
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOmdFyixWv
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlbLuFUehW
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiTy1ShKx5
It was a large, fortune-telling wishing machine booth. The woman inside the glass had a head decoration that looked like little coins, and little stars dangled from them. She was bent over a crystal ball, her eyes looking ominously at anyone who passed her. She wanted them to succumb and make a wish.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wY5cvyNNi
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFh56sCmhi
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7EbLBPLSk
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS2SqqFiXZ
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pOVZGt8Vn
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpmHwzABoZ
But, even as I said it, I was thinking of something. I know if I made the wish in front of Luke, he’d just think I was insane.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDH5ru8FPX
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N62dp1UjF
I wish I could make them go away.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpec6oCNUN
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgvPzooSGX
Nothing happened.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw9TnkgbJr
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFmiwfwvvp
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhS2i37eJd
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqUDFgekOS
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY6T5cJ5ZG
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMfHiAI9LC
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qHcv10BNL
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyZxG62S4l
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1WgpvC73g
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumXckCU4qr
I walked away from him and back outside. I waited by the car until he came back. I didn’t really speak much until we got to the party. It was a Halloween party. People in costumes were everywhere, and as I got out of the car, some girls shot me glares.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Yq3FXkXp
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOoDcu5qIl
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOZLfco9yp
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO0XNzEcyN
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEvOb4bms0
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrprajjn2gz
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlFuBg4YPD
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0PQ0AXQer
“They took too many shots at you,” a voice said from behind me. I was going to turn around and tear their face off, but then I realized their comment was toward Miranda.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE3HIpiJx3
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVITHx6cIm
The boy stepped around me and turned to gaze at my face. His black hair was slightly curly, and his eyes were the greenest I’d ever seen. He smiled, and then returned his attention to the girls.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1do3DR0Dp
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80PBrNzDGU
“It’s a shame that such pretty girls have to be such bitches,” he told them. “Lily, you should realize how much it hurts to be called ugly. Trevor told me about what happened last year. And Miranda, well, I really have no idea what your issue is.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7AO5B4aeA
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzHpxZuEeO
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcCpKjBuUx
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2jt589thS
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6tnbF55mm
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1Vw3Y8l99
I glanced at Trevor, who was dressed as Dracula and chugging a beer. I looked back at Saxon. “I didn’t think he’d even have a nice relative.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4EYBBhVbY
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVVVQl25fs
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpjU6SGQIz
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnDGWtXlO0
I smiled and when he asked if he could get me a drink, I said I would do it. I got into the house quickly, looking for Luke the whole time. When I didn’t see him, I headed to the kitchen. Before I got there, however, someone blocked my path.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp14qVqxf9x
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3esHkjkvQI
It was Lily. She sneered at me, gripped my wrist, and pulled me I into the bathroom. Miranda was there with two other girls I didn’t know. I jerked away from Lily and headed toward the door. One of the girls, who was much bigger than me, blocked it.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0ekoVRHai
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw9jFivnoi
“You know, I didn’t know you were a slut, too.” Lily smiled, wrapped her hands in my hair, and slammed my face into the wall.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTiN1ZINKR
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnHUgxfwwq
It hurt, but I didn’t make a noise, because I knew with bullies it’s what they wanted. Instead I turned around, flexed my jaw, and glared at her.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbUTZ5PuWJ
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMkJqyOkum
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4XMteOleE
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4Je6cHBf7
Lily nodded to the other girls and they gripped my arms. Then Miranda’s fist collided with my nose. Blood poured down my face, into my mouth, and onto the floor. Stupidly, I spit some into her face.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruxLDi8kWg
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaYxOAypJX
“You’re sleeping with Saxon,” Lily snapped. “It’s bullshit that you just met him.” When she slapped me, my head actually snapped to the side.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXnp6cWulA
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecpV8iAZ0w
Someone was trying to get into the room, but Miranda placed a chair under the knob and leaned it back. I didn’t understand why there was a chair in the bathroom, at least not a first.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYI4wl3SgW
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaQJzCq1eW
But as Lily pummeled me, and I took every hit, I realized they had this planned. When my knees buckled and I started to sink onto the floor, I heard someone speak.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU6XazG2Na
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbJIuDqQMj
“Leave her. She deserves this.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uq66gM6OO
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uo6NDpMHz
I don’t know how long I was on the floor for, but when I opened my eyes, I was in darkness. There was no movement, so I assumed they left. I tried to sit up, and when I couldn’t, I just laid on the tiles, aching.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xuhGqdgv9
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETDFTlQaZn
Suddenly, the lights came on, blinding me. Then someone screamed and dropped down next to me. They were saying something, but I couldn’t really focus on the words. Their hands were soft, and they made me want to sleep.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbGbjX72sO
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyII4IHMQv
So I closed my eyes.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIWkEckUan
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkgFCnyq8z
Stay awake, a voice told me.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG34kk4gUA
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIt5okYDZC
But I was so tired. Before I knew what was happening, I was floating. That felt nice. When it stopped, I wondered why. Then I knew. I had died. They had beaten me to death.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblyaFt0T15
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbtiaUZgCG
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo5TpV31Mm
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbF17CVt3z
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkfrFc5WG5
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTXPe8lIFS
Luke.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdezbAkPwe
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kgthHj8pj
I groaned and sat up, bringing my hands up to my face. “Who are you?” I asked to the stranger. I didn’t want to open my eyes.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3refwOo1p
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2P6fS4kXn
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUryW7LAWX
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyki7cZoP1
I opened my eyes and was grateful to see his green ones. I was slowly getting strength back. So much so that I was able to sit up. I was in a bedroom, probably somewhere upstairs, away from people.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyBaT0ZMJ2
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Snfjpk5V
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi660Iqumvp
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dOXi7geGe
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3shjy1CE4o
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0VpGlrkCb
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnRagW6RF6
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElvZHcHGOm
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIHhWdCwBA
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVe9ESj2X4
“It’s okay,” I said, realization dawning on me. “I’ll fix everything.” I stood up, and without a word to him, left the room.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfiJp8Yec1
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaL6eXQX5S
I knew what I had to do.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL5ONB2KvR
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4XLvGDla7
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVmwVbCSVu
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPscVA5Okf
Sirens wailed. Three or four parked on the lawn. Doors slammed and several of the occupants of the cars rushed over. All of the officers had their guns drawn. Two, a female and male, entered the house. There were no lights on, so they used their flashlights.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWh6iRH3WS
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrnVvZFY2c
They didn’t have to look far, because sitting on the couch was a girl. She had a knife in her hand, and it was covered in blood. But the worst part? The absolute worst part was that the blood was not hers.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFTqNTl3bA
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWfd9gJNUq
“What happened here? Miss, can you hear me?” The male officer asked, crouching down. He placed his hand on the coffee table to his left to balance him and keep the flashlight on the girl’s face, which was blank.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcMiyEGw89
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47deTT1k5S
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVpu2jXjYZ
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hSelefvmr
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0xHRN9OGz
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLUI8xAKAM
More blood.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NB7vhFg3P
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj37YoPNIf
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoaYb3gpO2
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe3B6dRZ71
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBUGFYNn02
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPArpFXpZa
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hjEX7RehQ
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHyQLMm7un
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDInZCo76t
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrKlGmWYp8
“Caplan, come here!”574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVccW5u5Lmz
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD3flopIly
The female officer approached them, and she knelt down on the girls other side. She reached with a glove-covered hand and dug through the girl’s pocket for identification. She found something else instead.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTlEtehmrv
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps6wrw8js9
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpSOC9QBDt
574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hCTx4cVR2
Your wish has been granted.574Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSaESZUzVv
