Annie tiptoed through the creepy house, each picture a fresh stab of pain. Black paint smeared the eyes of her smiling aunt, her goofy dad, even her loving grandparents. Her throat tightened. These weren't portraits, They were pictures of people who had hurt them, each one a reminder of their pain.
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The mirrors were filled with fake happy memories of the people who made Annie and her mom's life of hell.
A choked sob escaped, hot and ragged. Annie reached out, her fingers trembling, to touch the impossible happiness. It wasn't real. But for a fleeting second, it felt like it could be. The sob turned into a scream, a wordless howl of pain and fury. She pounded on the mirrors, her fists turning red, shattering the perfect reflections.
Annie's screams echoed through the room as she punched and tore at the mirrors of fake happiness. "Die, all of you," she cried, her voice breaking with anguish. Her fists shattered the reflections, each strike a desperate plea for the torment to end.
Tears streamed down her face, each one full of sorrow and rage. This wasn't just despair; it was a storm of anger against the unfairness. Wiping her bloody knuckles on her shirt, Annie stood, her chest heaving. She wouldn't let this nightmare win.
The emptiness around her mirrored the hollowness inside. In the distance, a tiny doll lay abandoned, a fragile hope. Then, a magical door appeared before her. As she reached for it, a cold, unseen hand gripped her wrist. Tears welled up again, hot and terrified. This world, this prison, wouldn't release her. But Annie wouldn't give up without a fight.
Annie woke with a start, her heart pounding like a drum solo. Dawn was creeping in, but all she could think about was that haunting dream. Shaking it off, she stumbled downstairs to her kitchen.
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Kitchen. Hina. Disaster.
Smoke swirled around Hina, who was holding a pack of instant ramen with a defeated sigh. "Busted trying fancy chicken," Hina confessed. "Turns out, chicken needs more than some sauce!"
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image [https://img.wattpad.com/8e4d563d5c0853a43f7a51a7ef8011633256cb1c/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f53566d5275362d617a79463179413d3d2d313436323235313835302e313765326533316533393533653135333331303435363439383330362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]\
(POV) the chicken
But wait! Hina's eyes lit up. "Two days before school! You know what that means?" Her voice rocketed to pop-star level. "Town takeover! Shopping attack! We're gonna crush this town, Annie, and turn these days into an epic shopping adventure!"Annie's frown flipped upside down. Hina's excitement was like a super-contagious laugh. Maybe this mess-up was the start of something awesome? A grin spread across Annie's face. "Alright, Hina! Let's make these next two days legendary!" In the peculiar town, each corner held a grand mall, an odd arrangement that raised eyebrows. Hina drove for 27 long minutes to one of these malls, her mission clear: to gather school supplies, groceries, and other essentials. After hours of navigating the bustling aisles, after 8 hours of shopping she finally emerged, her bags heavy with provisions.As she stepped outside, her eyes widened in surprise. Parked in front of the mall was a grand gold limousine, shimmering under the afternoon sun.
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image [A crowd had gathered, snapping pictures and whispering excitedly. From the limo emerged a striking blonde girl, her presence commanding immediate attention.Flanked by towering bodyguards, each over six feet tall and built like giants, the blonde exuded an air of untouchable glamour. The bodyguards, with their stone-cold expressions, roughly pushed the onlookers away, clearing a path for her.The blonde's eyes locked onto Annie's, a smirk playing on her lips. With a dramatic flip of her short hair, she sauntered forward, embodying every stereotype of the mean girl from the movies. Her steps were deliberate, each one exuding confidence and disdain.]A crowd had gathered, snapping pictures and whispering excitedly. From the limo emerged a striking blonde girl, her presence commanding immediate attention.Flanked by towering bodyguards, each over six feet tall and built like giants, the blonde exuded an air of untouchable glamour. The bodyguards, with their stone-cold expressions, roughly pushed the onlookers away, clearing a path for her.The blonde's eyes locked onto Annie's, a smirk playing on her lips. With a dramatic flip of her short hair, she sauntered forward, embodying every stereotype of the mean girl from the movies. Her steps were deliberate, each one exuding confidence and disdain.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/7d3b4dcfc53af6a2c629b709a06db0403751d5ea/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4e6f5249627346366a76753857413d3d2d313436323235313835302e313765326533373864323231643966333832363430373737323930362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Annie's disgust was palpable, her face twisted in an expression of sheer contempt. She turned on her heel and left, her pace quickening as she headed home. Once there, she retreated to her backyard, seeking solace in the presence of the mysterious doll that had become her confidant.