“It’s just a prank bro.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAGJ13H5J1Db
“Don’t you think you pushed a bit far back there?”375Please respect copyright.PENANA2b3K3CmmsK
375Please respect copyright.PENANAj7dAY7es2c
“No way, you just don’t know the joys of a good prank yet.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAnrTTeWo2jP
“Maybe…”375Please respect copyright.PENANAaYh3HPuEcI
375Please respect copyright.PENANAFT8PXdPGBN
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAaGAo9O5TKn
“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-”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAb8db2Zrm7M
“I get it, don’t remind me of what you did.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANA0kYYopi0DJ
“Man, the look on her face when I told her. Hahaha, I’ll never let her live that down. Detention is worth it.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAD8jO3j3dT8
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…375Please respect copyright.PENANAiNxnyZ89DO
375Please respect copyright.PENANAYIeTE7CuHj
“Would you look at that, I think I’ve come up with the perfect initiation for you.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAiBBkGkygyM
375Please respect copyright.PENANAz3mbwlNvbH
Will points to the nearby police station. The newly built police station.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAtqLYQfumEl
“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.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAXKGWr4TqPl
375Please respect copyright.PENANAwWwKKZntd2
“You can’t mean-”
375Please respect copyright.PENANA94vlZK3goI
“Relax Tim, it’s just a normal prank call. Every prankster has done this at least once.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAMFibmOejuR
“O-Oh, okay. I thought-”375Please respect copyright.PENANAPPMNpqc6Tq
375Please respect copyright.PENANABYTaoVO3he
“I’m not going to ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAv6iARGPx7g
“I don’t know…”375Please respect copyright.PENANAwkNb15FtEU
375Please respect copyright.PENANA8N1jdZCn7l
“Here’s a little incentive.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAWapiYT3FWK
375Please respect copyright.PENANAD3QrBIOCxe
“!!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAGeiavoD5aQ
375Please respect copyright.PENANA8z7MhjYXAU
“This is your allowance?!”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAMRjH3DVrvD
“Just half of it for now.”375Please respect copyright.PENANA0Qzd0gF9KJ
375Please respect copyright.PENANAYdlewnbPay
“But why?”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4SQiR9kuN
“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.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAEbQOOGvB6r
375Please respect copyright.PENANAPtb1Y7ADVi
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAdw8riGmfcs
375Please respect copyright.PENANAikeOGNpWbY
“Okay, I won’t let you down. What should I prank call them about.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAPpeSmTH4wc
“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.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAKPM7eDQjbX
375Please respect copyright.PENANAq2oXggFjnA
“Y-Your right!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAwwwRprhH7z
375Please respect copyright.PENANAzAgCBS0S1p
“Yeah, two pranks for the price of one!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAXpex3oZ0TG
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcnlpbHRtdH
“Okay, I will do it. Tomorrow, I’ll be a prankster just like you.”375Please respect copyright.PENANA6gA3mkWhvs
375Please respect copyright.PENANAlAmZmcKlZR
“That’s the spirit.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAtdr9QqzE5p
We came to the intersection while talking, almost passed it. My house is to the left and he’s on the right.375Please respect copyright.PENANAI8KnDu7Ebx
375Please respect copyright.PENANAljIUdrRqNV
“See you tomorrow Will.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6tKy4s9qS
375Please respect copyright.PENANAIqpXPEFoZK
“Yeah, good luck on the prank call.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAvPrydomxNG
375Please respect copyright.PENANAvuyazBQh8F
I wave to my best friend and breath in some of his courage. Time to do something I can be proud of.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAYltOhOqaQ0
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAStTp9tJUag
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcWchbA1QyG
“I’m home!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAvuaRX4IOQX
375Please respect copyright.PENANAYGdgwWauJM
…375Please respect copyright.PENANARySM1wQVvo
375Please respect copyright.PENANAQcvSkfG0eY
“Of course, my mistake.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAAQ7OVnlPwF
375Please respect copyright.PENANAuRzI6tfwJq
They’re never home to greet me anymore. I pick my stuff up and drag myself to my room.375Please respect copyright.PENANAacQVif5KD7
375Please respect copyright.PENANAbSlVkLAbl3
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAbhtCTFCiTG
No more. Time to give them a small taste of their own medicine. I pick up my phone and dial 991. 375Please respect copyright.PENANA2mLr89rwi2
375Please respect copyright.PENANABRqX9Vugn6
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAIivNSX1Gzx
375Please respect copyright.PENANAE4j4F9jgUF
“911, what’s your emergency.”375Please respect copyright.PENANA8nKLpv5vH9
375Please respect copyright.PENANApkmMDvsfKm
“M-Mom….D-Dad, they-”375Please respect copyright.PENANAKfLFu8uHYM
375Please respect copyright.PENANAw0XP5tVKiS
I try my best to sound like I’m crying, throwing some sniffing for good measure.
375Please respect copyright.PENANA1MtmcC65qc
“Calm down, what happened?”
375Please respect copyright.PENANATCM8wpZz7V
“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.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5GvFwannDa
“I…think they might be monsters in disguise. I’m scared, they might know I’m trying to get help. Please come quick!”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAgvqMOb5swm
“….”375Please respect copyright.PENANAypiFu3KsDY
375Please respect copyright.PENANALEWQ4bQ2z1
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAnY7aA4q8hi
“Got yo-”375Please respect copyright.PENANA04IV4muI2C
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcrlHZt3L4H
“What’s your address?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAAPswcDEKCA
375Please respect copyright.PENANAy3YeVkrlt9
“E-Excuse me?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAF7zkj3d6q7
375Please respect copyright.PENANAzUSu2YaSgk
“Your address kid, where do you live!”375Please respect copyright.PENANA5Qrim72cLU
375Please respect copyright.PENANAp2fOS5PArl
“Um, countertop road…5th house from the intersection.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAEaP9nyAX2N
“Okay, we’ll be there as soon as we can. Lock the door and stay put.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANARUaygCmneV
The call ended and I’m left alone in confusion. Did they…counter prank me? What’s Will going to think?375Please respect copyright.PENANAEiskVpPWm1
375Please respect copyright.PENANAUmgXv77u9o
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAWfSXxHHe1M
375Please respect copyright.PENANAUPOOVvaLN2
*Crash*375Please respect copyright.PENANALxKnSoVR9X
375Please respect copyright.PENANAD4vs8U4RLd
What the?! Was that the windo-
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdXmPlObtAR
*BOOM*375Please respect copyright.PENANARBHCTNzlmD
375Please respect copyright.PENANAC5Kjorz8Hj
A large foot came crashing through my door causing it to land across the room.375Please respect copyright.PENANARmxwGeq5sv
375Please respect copyright.PENANAvOOeYPTF1g
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?
375Please respect copyright.PENANAiiiTrNTOzG
They turn their backs to me and aim at the windows and doors. The closest one to me whispers.375Please respect copyright.PENANALW4sysp7ZS
375Please respect copyright.PENANAJGcuZtphlB
“Here they come.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAARPYunQtU2
Did I really prank call a SWAT team and…win?375Please respect copyright.PENANAoqrMNVq0e1
375Please respect copyright.PENANAw76d5wetnX
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAPpyrfTYri7
I-Is this what courage feels like? It feels so-375Please respect copyright.PENANAqmkYCD71Fo
375Please respect copyright.PENANAFcQWSvyaVm
*Knock* *Knock*375Please respect copyright.PENANAfT8bTJkSQR
375Please respect copyright.PENANAyKKEkvDvhj
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAeI8cJQ9tQ4
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdB3AJQp16c
I try to sneak past them so I can get a good look.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAIW510CTEQ1
“Kid, stay back.”375Please respect copyright.PENANADsIcgAkkKs
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdKMHyrZwAO
Oh man, I guess-375Please respect copyright.PENANAACxIQslJUF
375Please respect copyright.PENANAftS6wIUbof
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*375Please respect copyright.PENANATRzC90k6H4
375Please respect copyright.PENANAkUWP3miBrC
“What the hell are doing?!!”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAg97a7gx3yp
“Sorry sir, this is my first time.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAIqfrzwmXSu
375Please respect copyright.PENANAVNZEqpLap6
“Only shoot when you see them, you fool!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ5zXjoCJH
375Please respect copyright.PENANAVGooxc8BSu
W-What…
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdiCjhwcddU
“You two check it out, we’ll protect the kid.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAppRtnB1vy6
j-just…
375Please respect copyright.PENANAEp4e9mmIaH
“Got it.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAiEB4W8IGKS
h-happened?
375Please respect copyright.PENANAENv48slmVY
“Sir, I think you better come and see this.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAgvFslWogSc
“What is it?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAV7PhhIQ8BK
375Please respect copyright.PENANAl5j425pEPq
…375Please respect copyright.PENANAH6MmkkhO3v
375Please respect copyright.PENANAp9yMCGCZsf
“My god…their blood is red.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAVr6Ua7uDAB
“Did we just-”375Please respect copyright.PENANAg4P3OVZ8We
375Please respect copyright.PENANAuAMxLr99cw
“Why the fuck didn’t you verify the call!!?”375Please respect copyright.PENANA70wsqMw6DD
375Please respect copyright.PENANAxIDqJLdmI3
“I-I didn’t think we get a prank call this soon and he…was so specific…”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAoYPOir5Kjo
“Clean this mess up, burn it down and call the cover-up team.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZiqApBcZ9a
*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*
375Please respect copyright.PENANA6NEekh8GXc
“Kid?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAmhWWl34hHn
375Please respect copyright.PENANAGErZdbGJ7T
….375Please respect copyright.PENANA65of6WVpiI
375Please respect copyright.PENANAuiKnD1UOsg
“Kid?”
375Please respect copyright.PENANATZbwI0Blc3
….375Please respect copyright.PENANAuVj2dBJGLd
375Please respect copyright.PENANAHDZJOEsiGl
“KID!!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAd9ckErCkw3
375Please respect copyright.PENANAo2GYXM3wLX
“W-what…have…I….done?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAVt82c1lrzY
375Please respect copyright.PENANA817LYdKJNa
“…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.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAPafeadhHUT
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZWYDNX2NiD
The man grabs my arm. I let him drag me away.375Please respect copyright.PENANAsSOFtPo9JV
375Please respect copyright.PENANAWAU26dBypM
Across my room. Across the hallway. Across the…
375Please respect copyright.PENANAFENXQnDEHE
Finally, across the door. As much I try to not look, something catches my eye, something beyond the red.375Please respect copyright.PENANAmip63TW2wF
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcJoYHhSPel
Was that…a new mattress?375Please respect copyright.PENANA4LqC48d7SO
375Please respect copyright.PENANAWRMqhBZAZc
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAhHfpPGTX9i
375Please respect copyright.PENANADojxZznXPj
Then it all hits me at once, I break.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAkNw0LCaPUI
[3 months later]375Please respect copyright.PENANAxIaEjWMX9D
375Please respect copyright.PENANAN7Rjh9yP5e
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAY0nuSW2DO9
375Please respect copyright.PENANAow8c7JRTEH
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA6tpj2xSTyF
375Please respect copyright.PENANABAjnpcCX7j
Maybe it’s just my paranoia, I’m supposed to live a new life. 375Please respect copyright.PENANAJkfa1ABROW
375Please respect copyright.PENANAoghUh8Y1pe
“Okay kids, time to go to bed.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAUU6YYrqXjS
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAzW0YXd67uL
375Please respect copyright.PENANAV5q2AgtftZ
They just got up and went back to their room with no emotion. I could have sworn one shouldn’t be here.375Please respect copyright.PENANAlV5sgySn2t
375Please respect copyright.PENANAlcRnt0EkzD
“Stop staring at us, creep!”375Please respect copyright.PENANAWDgn5ecJDa
375Please respect copyright.PENANAkyGYiavE5i
One of the girls calls out to me and snaps me out of my mind.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdzeY0zNSMJ
“I-I-I-I’m sorry.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANA35ALooinXM
“And stop stuttering! I can’t wait for some nice family to take me away from here. I’m tired of being ogled.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAzBKePJgnTz
375Please respect copyright.PENANAMmsP5Q38BG
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?375Please respect copyright.PENANAcBJk2UNeWx
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZza2Us16oG
The head caregiver comes by to hurry us along for the night.375Please respect copyright.PENANAvFNkmTLPxd
375Please respect copyright.PENANA6PGJF5Hl9q
“Don’t worry, I know you’ll find a home soon.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAk0RbkwGk2a
375Please respect copyright.PENANAF3cP3LEfzA
Did she…lick her lips?375Please respect copyright.PENANAGJjiSq65Gq
375Please respect copyright.PENANA08k0cJFowq
“I hope so, any place is better than near this weirdo.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAnN96FxBuqH
375Please respect copyright.PENANAatOk1yZe2g
“Enough of picking on Tim, you never know he might be next to go. Hurry to bed now.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZlBqKe3YD
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANA0pPq0mz2rN
I get into the covers and try to sleep. But I can’t. 375Please respect copyright.PENANAfpqkf7Ict1
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5l5tJDaUL5
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAjpIdgAaiS3
My mind raced at the possibilities of what could be going on.375Please respect copyright.PENANAHiixCCjHAh
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdIJMyjMUlY
Drug dealing, kidnapping, cultists but one thing keeps popping up.
375Please respect copyright.PENANAqtYTMrN5r0
“Monsters.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAiCnRWrCO5S
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5P26tctJgd
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…
375Please respect copyright.PENANAskHDeo0Drs
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANArKJyY5Nv0K
It rings louder than I expected. I close my eyes and pray that It will stop soon.375Please respect copyright.PENANAAX26fvYtHL
375Please respect copyright.PENANAm97lh7OBBs
“911, what’s your emergency.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAb9pq69DYs8
375Please respect copyright.PENANAHHt5kS0h4a
“Hello, I’m in at the orphanage at silvervine street and I need help.”375Please respect copyright.PENANA9fUSl10zFP
375Please respect copyright.PENANASumjFl2akU
“What’s the problem?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAYwdK3xebla
375Please respect copyright.PENANArDhYddeURb
“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.”375Please respect copyright.PENANA9lbEigist0
375Please respect copyright.PENANAkObGqCpMFS
“I think…the orphanage is run by monsters and the kids are being used for…something. I don’t know, please just….help me.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAJ81H9zQIKQ
375Please respect copyright.PENANAC6QVr7r4f8
“…”375Please respect copyright.PENANAcazQG8WEjW
375Please respect copyright.PENANAWYHJIO7gLF
“…Is this Tim?”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAVneV32AQrR
“Y-Yes?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAR7wbNUP2nC
375Please respect copyright.PENANAjV34laVpGZ
“…Did you seriously prank call us again?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAP3tDBp0LoX
375Please respect copyright.PENANAQImp9Abm9M
“What? No.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAzAcmM6ygwP
375Please respect copyright.PENANAE3STXBANJn
“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!
375Please respect copyright.PENANAUyUlR1CcVN
“I-”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAEKlnUkc3Sd
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
375Please respect copyright.PENANAbsiFMKrTro
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-
375Please respect copyright.PENANAyXKo4zdRtG
“Tim.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAndgt35DWdC
375Please respect copyright.PENANA0Tn1BoHxO9
!!!375Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1bor9JbIZ
375Please respect copyright.PENANADwOjBddkfF
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAp66fPK4B0A
375Please respect copyright.PENANA8VsTCGH7eO
“It’s time.”375Please respect copyright.PENANAT9Yd10bur3
375Please respect copyright.PENANA8veMSIVh36
She offered her hand to me, beckoning me to my final destination. Maybe…this is what I deserve for what I’ve done.
375Please respect copyright.PENANACT58vH6azQ
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?
375Please respect copyright.PENANAGbe3Sn6kYA
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.
375Please respect copyright.PENANA44kBTnbAFW
“Are you ready?”375Please respect copyright.PENANAcmOjvGXWuV
375Please respect copyright.PENANATDwFm3FKrh
Why she would ask me that? I’ve been ready since that day, I just didn’t want to accept it.375Please respect copyright.PENANAZ42iaDugJr
375Please respect copyright.PENANAPeSFkuwooP
“Yes.”375Please respect copyright.PENANArJ5jccfbHA
375Please respect copyright.PENANAmw7AUXbzjy
The descent begins, I become one with the icky black and accept my fate.
375Please respect copyright.PENANArO7MwL1Hov
I’m sorry Will, Mom, Dad…for everything.375Please respect copyright.PENANAEK92KXULkI