Hidden in the Giveaway

I turned away from my computer, panting.

I tried pinching myself, but my body refused and instead crumpled to the ground. I couldn't breathe, speak, or move. I just lay on the floor, motionless and feeling nothing. I felt nothing still as my mother came in and gasped, feeling around my body to see if I was alright. I did not cooperate as she tried to take my clothes off to prepare me for a shower. I just let her gently lift me into the tub and pour bubbles on me.

I could tell it took some effort to carry me, but I didn't care. What I'd just experienced was far worse than anything I'd ever seen in my life. Horrifying, possibly, yes. So I let the soap crowd me, let her scrub me all over with a bristle brush. Let her dry me, put on my clothes, sooth me with kind words as she brushed my hair into updos that looked not only sexy, but something I could never do.

My body shook with pain and denial, not letting me move or speak. I could not thank her as she led me back to my room, covered me with comforters and blankets, and rested my head against the pillow. I could only drift to sleep as she pushed my eyelids closed.

By the time I woke again, daylight streamed through the windows. My arms weren't numb. To prove my luck, I stepped out of bed and twirled in the nightgown I'd been fitted into. I ran my fingers along the soft cotton, feeling amazing to be myself again.

I didn't want to wake my mother, by either simply opening my door or by creeping along the stairs, possibly trying to make toast, even, would make her stir. My memories flooded back and quickly, I logged back on to Animal Jam.

''Did it work? ''I wondered, clicking the daily spin. I checked my buddy list. Yes. It did. The one name hit me like lava hits water.

(Insert scary, suspenseful name here)

Overcome with suspense and guilt, I went to the online player's den. I randomly started a conversation about the last time we'd met.

(the conversation was sneaking past the filters, but I'll just use the words we intended)

"Hello! Did you get her?"

"I always keep my promises."

"Ooh, was it bloody?"

"Of course."

"Nice. As for your friend?"

"Dead. By my own knife."

"Nice one."

"Agreed. Check the painting for me?"

I clicked on the World Map and went to Jamaa Township. There, I saw the usual advertisers and traders. I clicked on the gallery and took a screenshot. I downloaded it and sent it to (Insert scary, suspenseful name from before) through Gmail. Then, successfully, I changed it. I did the same for that.

Now her bloody ones that were filled with gore were on there for anyone to read. Something caught my eye, just randomly-

"Come to my den for a giveaway! Giving list!"

I clicked on her list and viewed the hd. It looked promising but fake. I grabbed a few spares and went to that den.

Luckily, I had many spikes on both, and I knew that 5 black longs would be enough. Since it was trust, I buddied her and had her username at the ready.

I knew it was probably just a spare, but soon enough, I'd won it. I traded it back to my main happily and knew what I had to do.

My mom called me a few hours later, after I'd aimlessly traded and stuff I normally did. I went down for breakfast, and soon came back up.

I knew I could get rare items from giveaways, and I became addicted. I pretended I was reading every time my mother came to check on me so she didn't know my little flaw. Soon enough, my eyes were getting worse and I needed a special kind of contact from a new program they were trying out.

My mother didn't understand this, of course, and she couldn't monitor the number of hours I was on my devices, so I could freely play. But one day, a giveaway changed everything.

"The first one to email me their personal info," the person informed us, "will win 5 dbs and 10 cbs. Oh, and a magenta furry."

Tempted and knowing I'd won so many times before, I did the idiotic thing and did not care what happened. In the end, I usually won anyway- whether it took skillful hacking or luck or good trades, I always won.

I never expected my last breath to be spent on a computer, that's for sure.

Of course, I was the first. She said she would be right back, she was writing a letter for the information on how to win for the top 3 winners. Some had left like cowards, probably thinking they'd get hacked or something. Then, I thought that was wimpy. But it was exactly what I should've done.

Chickened out.

It sounds weird, but I should've. Maybe I could've been there for my mother when she died, maybe I could've hugged my father one more time. Or finished my book. But because of my addiction and stupidity, I never did.

How, you ask? Well, she came to my house. Shattered the window, which left tiny bleeding cuts anyway. Then she strangled me, stripped me, and used me as padding as she jumped down from the window. I was positive she died from the 3 story fall, unless my body helped her somehow. But I didn't think so. She probably just enjoyed slitting my throat, cutting my head off, sticking knifes through my body. Maybe she used me for practice at the circus. Maybe she had me hanged for everyone to see. I hoped not. That would be embarrassing, even for my dead body.

My mom found out about it, seeing the blood on the floor and my stripped body on the ground, twisted into weird positions from the fall anyway. But I'm pretty sure the girl took the evidence of me before my mother got there, anyway. I hoped she didn't cry over me. That would be a waste of time. I lied to her, didn't I? I denied sitting with her, didn't I? I treated her horribly, didn't I? The woman that cared for me. Loved me...

And my father. He found out too, but never really believed it because he never saw me. Eventually, he broke down. Instead of killing himself, which he knew I'd never want, he continued with his work and made lots of money. Before they grew old, they had another little girl, which never dared to cross the same path I did.

Eventually, too, (Insert creepy, suspenseful name from the other times) found out her apprentice died. She was sad because I was the only one she liked and didn't kill.

Giveaways can cost a lot. Not scams or hacks... but also lives.