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“What the—”

Sa all about the empty school buses

Little Pete floated His oround In front of hian to materialize

It was no bigger than Little Pete hiold, a doll’s dead-eyed face atop a bowling pin body

“Nestor,” Little Pete said, almost happy

Sa doll that sat on Little Pete’s dresser Identical Russian dolls, shells, really, that nested one inside the other Sam didn’t kno many there were He had asked Astrid about it once She’d said it was a souvenir fro uncle

It was supposed to be for Astrid, but Little Pete had taken to it iiven it the name: Nestor And because Little Pete never identified much with toys, Astrid had let him keep it

“Nestor,” Little Pete repeated, but troubled now, uncertain

As Sae Its sether and forrew sinister

Arrew flesh, grew talons

And the doll’s painted ser-sharp teeth

Little Pete reached for the i creature seemed to be made of Teflon: Little Pete’s hands slid over it, pushed it aside like solobule of mercury, but never quite touched it

“No arms,” Little Pete said

The doll’s arms withered, shriveled, and turned to smoke

“Petey Stop it,” Astrid hissed