“It’s just a prank bro.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4tsCSBiwS
“Don’t you think you pushed a bit far back there?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAjxw7yqbdYs
342Please respect copyright.PENANAaRBKXXjKuc
“No way, you just don’t know the joys of a good prank yet.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANANMB4vdJaQo
“Maybe…”342Please respect copyright.PENANADJFA1zY0Ur
342Please respect copyright.PENANAUsk8ooykqD
Me and my best friend Will walked down the street from school to our homes. He just got done with detention after pranking our homeroom teacher with something…obscene.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAidNrPZXulP
“Come on, we’re not in kindergarten anymore. I had to up my game and it’s time for you to get your feet wet too. Like how I got my-”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3qVmJ36oD
“I get it, don’t remind me of what you did.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAitWy0kOl6k
“Man, the look on her face when I told her. Hahaha, I’ll never let her live that down. Detention is worth it.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANArpJ45ZreiB
I shake my head at Will’s laughter. Still, I always respect how he lived his life. Maybe, I can have that freedom and courage too…342Please respect copyright.PENANA8phsXgyqhE
342Please respect copyright.PENANABOw0D1YP8G
“Would you look at that, I think I’ve come up with the perfect initiation for you.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAUhZMHG3FrN
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuzls2iZeQz
Will points to the nearby police station. The newly built police station.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAjlGEFAs3Ht
“Look at those blue jackets coming into our neighborhood like they own the place. I think it’s time for a little fun, would do them some good.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAwolnaEai6f
342Please respect copyright.PENANAjLN84VwrTo
“You can’t mean-”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAmWy4MiYizl
“Relax Tim, it’s just a normal prank call. Every prankster has done this at least once.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAvcKFGjprNk
“O-Oh, okay. I thought-”342Please respect copyright.PENANAuODG3Dab94
342Please respect copyright.PENANAWimWDtpnxa
“I’m not going to ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAWOWUOTRH7Y
“I don’t know…”342Please respect copyright.PENANAPjEyLXsI2f
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXqrN7gC7NF
“Here’s a little incentive.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAVo0JrmSBV7
342Please respect copyright.PENANAblay2KSzyN
“!!”342Please respect copyright.PENANADKKjPkPmyG
342Please respect copyright.PENANA56TFZzxYGz
“This is your allowance?!”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAB2d3YwISSx
“Just half of it for now.”342Please respect copyright.PENANArVhx1vp6YI
342Please respect copyright.PENANASqd3d5L546
“But why?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAN1yhgMhM5x
“Because you’re best friend and I can’t wait to have you next to me on my next prank. I have faith that you will succeed. After that, you get the rest of it.”342Please respect copyright.PENANA1RwupHxf1j
342Please respect copyright.PENANA1TJv8m61sR
Will beams me a warm smile that blows away all my doubts. I couldn’t help but smile too. He really is a great friend.342Please respect copyright.PENANACBALmdBfNa
342Please respect copyright.PENANAoLTPx7Lill
“Okay, I won’t let you down. What should I prank call them about.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAQgE98s4hX5
“I don’t know, it’s up to you. Oh! How about telling them that your parents have been replaced by monsters and they’re coming to get you. You sometimes complain about how your parents are on you to succeed, this is a great way to get back at them.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAAjzkMahvGE
342Please respect copyright.PENANAZRgP3zCLkJ
“Y-Your right!”342Please respect copyright.PENANANrnnsW302f
342Please respect copyright.PENANA5AcQROQ72w
“Yeah, two pranks for the price of one!”342Please respect copyright.PENANA847NNjUpHU
342Please respect copyright.PENANAUkUSprSDSk
“Okay, I will do it. Tomorrow, I’ll be a prankster just like you.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAReB4ac7KYG
342Please respect copyright.PENANAy9WRU0KUa8
“That’s the spirit.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAVq1frIAVMg
We came to the intersection while talking, almost passed it. My house is to the left and he’s on the right.342Please respect copyright.PENANAZY00CSCocq
342Please respect copyright.PENANAcvtYqq2MZd
“See you tomorrow Will.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAOFcMtDtnQE
342Please respect copyright.PENANAP3rTaGGqVg
“Yeah, good luck on the prank call.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAh6pdv4ysih
342Please respect copyright.PENANA0FwP4ldbKV
I wave to my best friend and breath in some of his courage. Time to do something I can be proud of.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAD2JddKqFKt
After a couple of minutes, I make it to my home in the area. Surrounded by hundreds of other identical wooden squares painted white. I walk through the front door and lay my book bag on the ground.342Please respect copyright.PENANAZkGUFFd7PE
342Please respect copyright.PENANALxudJ2evDR
“I’m home!”342Please respect copyright.PENANAsUZq9jXuM7
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXAE96KZNji
…342Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1ZI6wthdW
342Please respect copyright.PENANAsseYivW0aO
“Of course, my mistake.”342Please respect copyright.PENANApRSluSFF9k
342Please respect copyright.PENANAsQpZJMa19w
They’re never home to greet me anymore. I pick my stuff up and drag myself to my room.342Please respect copyright.PENANATX0fzpKrsH
342Please respect copyright.PENANAMdIKnWiKYS
I throw my book bag onto my makeshift bed on the floor. I remember all the times they promised to make life better for us, only for them to waste the money on stupid stuff. I work so hard at school like they demand and for what!? I can’t even sleep on a proper mattress.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ95XrBrKc
No more. Time to give them a small taste of their own medicine. I pick up my phone and dial 991. 342Please respect copyright.PENANA6j28NcRoiT
342Please respect copyright.PENANAdeSJQoBqIY
At every ring, my heart pounds faster but I can’t stop now. I breathe in and out, preparing to put on the show of a lifetime. Will is going to be so proud of me.342Please respect copyright.PENANASBEViPcvKg
342Please respect copyright.PENANA0JhDBoelIu
“911, what’s your emergency.”342Please respect copyright.PENANACNGiw0cWzY
342Please respect copyright.PENANAw8TPa5YBTR
“M-Mom….D-Dad, they-”342Please respect copyright.PENANATLTPC4Uelh
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3S3dPURsrF
I try my best to sound like I’m crying, throwing some sniffing for good measure.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAgqXMGkYA13
“Calm down, what happened?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA2Rh6ce42da
“I don’t know…one day they were fine and the next they were…different. Last night I saw them…doing things to animal meat and weird things in their bedroom.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAmDhm1pr1QA
“I…think they might be monsters in disguise. I’m scared, they might know I’m trying to get help. Please come quick!”
342Please respect copyright.PENANATicPpAxJNc
“….”342Please respect copyright.PENANAkLFQuE70tM
342Please respect copyright.PENANAHjjzO1mxRM
A long silence engulfed the room. Darn it, I guess the gig is up. They didn’t even laugh, whatever. Time to end it I guess.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAyGcgfZ2axD
“Got yo-”342Please respect copyright.PENANAGtHxMaCvEW
342Please respect copyright.PENANA393ywpLEnx
“What’s your address?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAlu770EiwWR
342Please respect copyright.PENANAvy6b9LKRMD
“E-Excuse me?”342Please respect copyright.PENANA6FMI6pzfYp
342Please respect copyright.PENANAoSEmW03gGB
“Your address kid, where do you live!”342Please respect copyright.PENANAstFQDIbDE6
342Please respect copyright.PENANAECoBUQGdva
“Um, countertop road…5th house from the intersection.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZYzn7xK66
“Okay, we’ll be there as soon as we can. Lock the door and stay put.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANADs1IVI36rh
The call ended and I’m left alone in confusion. Did they…counter prank me? What’s Will going to think?342Please respect copyright.PENANAZsW50A1HVD
342Please respect copyright.PENANAKNUnzXXmdD
I guess I failed…figures. I put my phone down and flop on the bed. Should’ve expected that, I can’t be like Will.342Please respect copyright.PENANA2RusIY2iAb
342Please respect copyright.PENANAaTXl4Jn3Ha
*Crash*342Please respect copyright.PENANAsHP8TJ246H
342Please respect copyright.PENANAe5XaT1BhYD
What the?! Was that the windo-
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZHFvuMq6I
*BOOM*342Please respect copyright.PENANAboWZy0UgiY
342Please respect copyright.PENANAiV6gKeR45x
A large foot came crashing through my door causing it to land across the room.342Please respect copyright.PENANAAuJ9Ktvt34
342Please respect copyright.PENANAhPIT5oYpwi
The large foot belongs to a large man, at least 6 feet tall. He, along with 5 other men, come through the door and surround me. They’re all…heavily armed and covered in black armor. Are they a SWAT team?
342Please respect copyright.PENANAyc77Wgiadj
They turn their backs to me and aim at the windows and doors. The closest one to me whispers.342Please respect copyright.PENANAa2zgKa1SPk
342Please respect copyright.PENANAMBWi9uUZOE
“Here they come.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAqCTIC1zEc5
Did I really prank call a SWAT team and…win?342Please respect copyright.PENANAimDw4LONNv
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXKCcssy9Ke
Did they believe me? You got to be kidding me. I chuckle a little bit inside. Mom and dad will be so shocked to see this.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAzv0x61PBJB
I-Is this what courage feels like? It feels so-342Please respect copyright.PENANADEppEkO0TH
342Please respect copyright.PENANAxpWBQNJvyM
*Knock* *Knock*342Please respect copyright.PENANATQbNkmIUp9
342Please respect copyright.PENANAxNoiihG7tJ
All guns lock onto the door and my heart races with excitement. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces. As Will said, getting grounded is worth this.342Please respect copyright.PENANAZExohBVgMw
342Please respect copyright.PENANAECO99j2ae7
I try to sneak past them so I can get a good look.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAj0xzaZxtaJ
“Kid, stay back.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAN5J9XFPxhQ
342Please respect copyright.PENANA5XQqkeQtV9
Oh man, I guess-342Please respect copyright.PENANAdkYQNPTWQ2
342Please respect copyright.PENANAg7SB6oBALZ
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*342Please respect copyright.PENANAIz76PuDXGf
342Please respect copyright.PENANAjf003B1gm4
“What the hell are doing?!!”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAN1eggdFkNm
“Sorry sir, this is my first time.”342Please respect copyright.PENANABbsTFjmVbr
342Please respect copyright.PENANAUQPF3FeDnZ
“Only shoot when you see them, you fool!”342Please respect copyright.PENANA5HMztjseGk
342Please respect copyright.PENANAhuWXrRxUuR
W-What…
342Please respect copyright.PENANA2a2MCc8rZV
“You two check it out, we’ll protect the kid.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAEhYZGA5HKX
j-just…
342Please respect copyright.PENANARq09ebEDCd
“Got it.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAwtWDOAU5fH
h-happened?
342Please respect copyright.PENANA9sQiuzOnib
“Sir, I think you better come and see this.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3kQfsMxoV
“What is it?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAO9KHYceVPZ
342Please respect copyright.PENANA5PbQEUiml2
…342Please respect copyright.PENANAa6KOx4WLuR
342Please respect copyright.PENANAh6ASWIxRDo
“My god…their blood is red.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANASNDbhdybgN
“Did we just-”342Please respect copyright.PENANASj70oewYJ7
342Please respect copyright.PENANAnxhmmovJGU
“Why the fuck didn’t you verify the call!!?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAy2Nj6Kuon3
342Please respect copyright.PENANABBwOVYTJDi
“I-I didn’t think we get a prank call this soon and he…was so specific…”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAzpug63AIVk
“Clean this mess up, burn it down and call the cover-up team.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAOvux1cbA3w
*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*
342Please respect copyright.PENANA25p9wqiXR5
“Kid?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAhZR2JuiMIA
342Please respect copyright.PENANA5i7nKdevuz
….342Please respect copyright.PENANABLGbs6PeJ0
342Please respect copyright.PENANA1haLDSLt5V
“Kid?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA6jJfxfgFLY
….342Please respect copyright.PENANAjk7nDlAIMn
342Please respect copyright.PENANATMaEbTCvGD
“KID!!”342Please respect copyright.PENANA2g6wAQ1y3y
342Please respect copyright.PENANApo04S2aSWb
“W-what…have…I….done?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAuybmohKZF4
342Please respect copyright.PENANArkhVsI1gFL
“…You no longer exist, you’ll get a new name and life. We’ll send you to an orphanage. Forget about what happened today and try to…live again.”342Please respect copyright.PENANARxCmkcYye8
342Please respect copyright.PENANAacGNEsGz7K
The man grabs my arm. I let him drag me away.342Please respect copyright.PENANAPC3fnkFe0R
342Please respect copyright.PENANA287yeuRhqo
Across my room. Across the hallway. Across the…
342Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ2e79Nxru
Finally, across the door. As much I try to not look, something catches my eye, something beyond the red.342Please respect copyright.PENANA77s7ph0l67
342Please respect copyright.PENANAMkAGLHKi94
Was that…a new mattress?342Please respect copyright.PENANADrq8MlgTCK
342Please respect copyright.PENANAtFV04LmvMf
Before the implications of what that means crushes me, the solider pushes me into a black car. We soon drive away to my new life and in the rearview, my house begins to burn.342Please respect copyright.PENANASE8IIE7ci9
342Please respect copyright.PENANAEPDigt5Z2w
Then it all hits me at once, I break.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA766MbZbpxh
[3 months later]342Please respect copyright.PENANASMTannejTD
342Please respect copyright.PENANAeQ0FCuhY07
A new face and one less kid in the orphanage. I’ve been here for 3 months and I’m starting to lose what’s left of my mind.342Please respect copyright.PENANA92l1TkKx4u
342Please respect copyright.PENANAza8RdUn9A2
They keep staring at me, the caregivers with those dead eyes. The kids I like to watch play are just gone. But no parents came to pick them up.342Please respect copyright.PENANA3D3NGIBYe3
342Please respect copyright.PENANAJOzum5rj0X
Maybe it’s just my paranoia, I’m supposed to live a new life. 342Please respect copyright.PENANAdNMWb4Riia
342Please respect copyright.PENANAUtC3QEl1sR
“Okay kids, time to go to bed.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANARkBYllxlu1
The new head caregiver called out to everyone in the living room playing. There were some grunts of displeasure but the ones that stood out were the ones that said nothing.342Please respect copyright.PENANAExCGm4Lj5B
342Please respect copyright.PENANAMFVTJExxXd
They just got up and went back to their room with no emotion. I could have sworn one shouldn’t be here.342Please respect copyright.PENANACpQ2CPqIW4
342Please respect copyright.PENANAC1e1ZqOqMI
“Stop staring at us, creep!”342Please respect copyright.PENANAEmr6rjZ8hQ
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXM72hHpz4s
One of the girls calls out to me and snaps me out of my mind.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAoj7hTM4lqE
“I-I-I-I’m sorry.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAYzikBm19Cw
“And stop stuttering! I can’t wait for some nice family to take me away from here. I’m tired of being ogled.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAUnh6wp2QTS
342Please respect copyright.PENANACrJymPZH4P
The others around her nod their head audibly. I can’t help but agree with her, I want to leave too. But do I deserve it?342Please respect copyright.PENANApok8J7jJul
342Please respect copyright.PENANAEO8AcoLkYF
The head caregiver comes by to hurry us along for the night.342Please respect copyright.PENANAdUjVyzAzdr
342Please respect copyright.PENANAbLHI0WMElU
“Don’t worry, I know you’ll find a home soon.”342Please respect copyright.PENANA8aDeO2DXr2
342Please respect copyright.PENANAL7qY0wXaQ3
Did she…lick her lips?342Please respect copyright.PENANAlQmTE6uqRt
342Please respect copyright.PENANAaQoMQRCOtn
“I hope so, any place is better than near this weirdo.”342Please respect copyright.PENANA23iLkd3sxB
342Please respect copyright.PENANAwa3dJOdao9
“Enough of picking on Tim, you never know he might be next to go. Hurry to bed now.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAb5FghL4nuC
We nod and go to our rooms for the night. I open the door and I’m greeted by the same old brown square room. Single bed, lamp, and book.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3K0KY4ZUQ6
I get into the covers and try to sleep. But I can’t. 342Please respect copyright.PENANAWn0z6sTe5n
342Please respect copyright.PENANAOpjXEy7iD4
My mind drifts back to everything weird about this place. At first, everything was like a normal orphanage but slowly things began to feel out of place. Like that new basement they had renovated last month.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAaAWbFBJVmN
My mind raced at the possibilities of what could be going on.342Please respect copyright.PENANA4vM4S8gQzi
342Please respect copyright.PENANAprrflxTMjy
Drug dealing, kidnapping, cultists but one thing keeps popping up.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAzI8WGclnIh
“Monsters.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAIRVc28H3y0
342Please respect copyright.PENANABL7TAKSKgF
My mind slithers back to…the incident. Those soldiers really thought there were monsters. I think back to the head caregiver and the dead eyes of some kids. What if…
342Please respect copyright.PENANACIwHLvvI5K
I have no choice, I have to try. I sneak out of my room and go to the phone in the living room. I dial 911.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAeEgn2llxfv
It rings louder than I expected. I close my eyes and pray that It will stop soon.342Please respect copyright.PENANAu0FvwIquid
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuElRMSZUsm
“911, what’s your emergency.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAsGAFnln2CV
342Please respect copyright.PENANAKc6Bz9YVj9
“Hello, I’m in at the orphanage at silvervine street and I need help.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAi12oT9a3ID
342Please respect copyright.PENANAncNt51nsyE
“What’s the problem?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAjiFZ0eIshU
342Please respect copyright.PENANAb5eY9nYWfP
“It’s hard to explain but there are these new caregivers at the orphanage that act off. The kids have started to disappear too and then there’s that basement.”342Please respect copyright.PENANADdj5D3jFMy
342Please respect copyright.PENANArMqPgnuIpR
“I think…the orphanage is run by monsters and the kids are being used for…something. I don’t know, please just….help me.”342Please respect copyright.PENANArKkn6ZjG6a
342Please respect copyright.PENANAh43ZJBxiMG
“…”342Please respect copyright.PENANAJjvQtmVRWf
342Please respect copyright.PENANAv25sbWXUo6
“…Is this Tim?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXJeiHn0UUf
“Y-Yes?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAkfCJChe02F
342Please respect copyright.PENANALHBRnSH1ls
“…Did you seriously prank call us again?”342Please respect copyright.PENANABWC0vRBNb7
342Please respect copyright.PENANAKOOlqMXUX3
“What? No.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAiGc4V64mnx
342Please respect copyright.PENANAs00DkQuWsI
“We heard about what you did. You have no idea how hard it was to cover up the mess you made. The innocent lives lost!
342Please respect copyright.PENANAjmd8GNcK5F
“I-”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAijWdJiEttH
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAkqxb3qRvkz
And just like that, the call ended. I put the phone down and fight the urge to cry. I can’t make any more noi-
342Please respect copyright.PENANAOzxOhlG8uY
“Tim.”342Please respect copyright.PENANABt10l5bo2z
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuoIeTdPTTo
!!!342Please respect copyright.PENANARospzhCF9Q
342Please respect copyright.PENANAFxxkUPuvCr
I twist my body around to see another new caretaker. She had short brown hair and a nursing outfit. Her face, however, is hidden by the room's shadow.342Please respect copyright.PENANAcPIYPPlFVM
342Please respect copyright.PENANARSoew5KYUi
“It’s time.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAtv9iSyshO1
342Please respect copyright.PENANAyyO48VisSZ
She offered her hand to me, beckoning me to my final destination. Maybe…this is what I deserve for what I’ve done.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAqv5AbK5ZxJ
Despite my survival instincts telling me not to, I forced my body to take her hand. It was unnaturally cold and wet. But I didn’t care, not anymore. What could I do anyway?
342Please respect copyright.PENANAStpStykO95
She leads me down the darker-than-normal hallway all the way to the basement stairs. We stopped at the top and started down into the gaping maw of the abyss.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAM5B2Cwse8O
“Are you ready?”342Please respect copyright.PENANAR7KFqVThB7
342Please respect copyright.PENANAfYe9dqSfYY
Why she would ask me that? I’ve been ready since that day, I just didn’t want to accept it.342Please respect copyright.PENANA5QNzaqCaqO
342Please respect copyright.PENANAUEol4Nreuj
“Yes.”342Please respect copyright.PENANAQdC5GxqpOZ
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuZcMYU7srd
The descent begins, I become one with the icky black and accept my fate.
342Please respect copyright.PENANABrlpkoCDGU
I’m sorry Will, Mom, Dad…for everything.342Please respect copyright.PENANAW2xsLuSzDT