573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEGDtg5Ini
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeurCyk4R95
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipRVmFJqRM
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU6IRhhCvX
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJnFGIeugF
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojrYU3xcJC
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHB4sxkzr2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjDY2akGpW
“Why are we here?” I asked.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZb0VwDAir
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2Pdl5Ca68
“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.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzEb8aisCv
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DfCEtnn6e
I frowned. “I don’t like it here.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki3vSLCQ3t
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrLYva7v9o
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxKtOzOJ6U
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3fufWYkok
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvMfGqji6R
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT02Z9POui
“What is that?” I gasped, stepped back.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy2V6OHQ7o
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ulygUsZvY
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.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMpdIvVmSa
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlOsHUQ47v
“It’s okay,” I said.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXCGbTQR68
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZKAKzBNTP
I heard Luke turn around and I thought he was going to leave until he shouted, "Gail, come here! I found it.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3e9onoJs4
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUywCymWPVd
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQPM17NVGv
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBzeXP8JlZ
Luke grinned and removed the grimy-looking sheet.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKN1RYEOsv
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLEqFbWqoB
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFYTlqwhPr
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStA3L6ly7e
“You should make a wish,” Luke urged.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymfUMatY1o
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCqUK5SkKk
“Why?” I asked. “It won’t come true. This thing is so old that it won’t even work anymore.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXIy1OAu2j
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7W0CTiQNY
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oxi7e22KU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoUlKjr5bH
I wish I could make them go away.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINSJExJ4Zo
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gIzh6UCZm
Nothing happened.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lIdoYliRg
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW3BVwvtAN
I walked around to the back of the machine. It was plugged in. I scrunched my nose in confusion and shrugged at Luke.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZcHLTvzzg
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc6yI0dKYX
“Got to say it out loud,” he muttered. “I wish for a Big Mac!”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHHH2zphMM
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWblEH71KJb
I rolled my eyes. “You idiot, that’s not a wish. You could easily go buy one.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIsLGa86kt
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ1IDordTV
He nodded. “I could, but it would be nice if it could just appear out of thin air.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig3SmmKG5r
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdzVyAuUue
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdH5G8M6Xe
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6tG21uItM
“Nice costume, Gail. Ugly is always in.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlYrF5v6bL
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiTMsVv8JI
I frowned at Lily Owens. She was standing with her friends, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat. From bitch to witch.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIETjO0DkLs
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCWN4vtCPa
“Simmons, you look like someone beat you with a hideous stick.” Miranda Reeves cackled.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU03DzpQn5J
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiamGsClXoS
“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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTK7DjOm4o
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1ylEW0JdA
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAClH4HwIJ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw6WttKohD
“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.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc7CLD1sMU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadbvbzkldv
I cleared my throat, and the boy turned to face me, with a smirk.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ICqMrmtJf
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN6OZlsn9H
“I’m sorry about them.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Saxon. Trevor Barnes is my cousin.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV3PSh5LFu
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEMI1uPjIs
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.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaTdxWWOtS
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiRGwu2U35
He laughed. “Yeah, well, Trevor’s not exactly the nicest person. That’s why all the girls like me better.” He winked.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gIMzGq1e5
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmdMqyB5GX
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwNBIEutvG
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SQL6RMUB5
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8hlkcywZ2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZniVrxWAZf
“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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhMli8Eo1W
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO7sRHaMxn
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iqm6urlIf
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb3TSxRn71
“Leave me alone,” I said. “I didn’t do anything to you.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeWhcDMXdp
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw0B4RsxzS
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMK9QZWHBZ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYzgBJ4JRF
“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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQZPoMQWNj
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon1NaZKeZk
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKtlrrjX7O
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JH8SWclFE
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfCv1Jz2w2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwD4WT2xLt
“Leave her. She deserves this.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCBJKuBXq9
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VqbMpzHYO
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn5KbcQGrr
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf2V4fAAXv
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILgFvL5WZX
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyXU2dHvw6
So I closed my eyes.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPtMUZKzVv
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQuvi7dsYU
Stay awake, a voice told me.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmygr8W6VdI
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaAFAZvtUe
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI79qYMKJzu
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkgJeqHFyt
“You’ll be okay,” someone whispered.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sclcCqpAz
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYkGIAdjgG
Off in the distance I heard, “Oh my God. Gail, what happened?”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8C0BGc9AW
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgA5iH6sU6
Luke.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThh1Thnno0
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj51qOSJLnJ
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AhyeTeIfU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6yE4ZEsEt
“It’s Saxon. Gail, you’re going to be alright. Can you tell me what happened?”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63ljtzcUsT
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDHQ8SK3J9
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0bSSA0lJx
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ppZ65oesf
“Lily, Miranda and two other girls I didn’t know did this,” I said.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtm7URmXxK
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gm5IGABE6
Saxon narrowed his eyes, stood up, and ran his hands through his hair. “Why would they do that?”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3LqxWgTYO
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTnLbeP29G
“Lily thought you and I were sleeping together, and she didn’t believe me when I said I just met you.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4FycwvqD4
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItbMhcyXuO
“That’s ridiculous. Even so, they didn’t need to do that.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ofWGUdCUL
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqad7PJd1h
“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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR64tjvbkif
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsjQN5Y5RC
I knew what I had to do.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGz8o1IU92
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRBJIqNEkU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhgbCjQTp4
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8fmD1qKcs
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM8mMmgm0a
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtoqE2H4Ai
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2WWh63tB7
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZw4PigqkX
“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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDSHzAeqdm
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo95K4vPCCY
“Bradshaw,” the female muttered behind him.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cMoPGSEHE
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPO01hOzFy
He turned his head after shifting his hand, and saw that a sticky substance had come off of the coffee table.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyIcXvoFpc
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ5sMpmQPV
More blood.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP0e5ilasf
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV90bCKX5l
Officer Bradshaw turned his flashlight toward the window. He hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t felt the breeze, but the glass was shattered.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf24RMzUz7K
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbrOQFa9RU
“Where are the bodies?” he asked.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21eVwwid1m
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyD0XY4crR
The girl twitched, turned her head, and smiled.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwHKnWDWyO
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluvLfhNEOg
“I made them go away,” she said. “It was so simple.”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqqQlfEAxr
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xc4Ks7P5R
“Caplan, come here!”573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQLN5s05bl
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zr0iDCh65
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.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMctSk8SvGT
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X1ocD3PRC
There was a small, rectangular card with one single phrase on it.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOyuHkmtds
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLb8f7jOR7
Your wish has been granted.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShdntEqSjS
