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The six-winged creature was first Fast as a dragonfly it zooht for Astrid

A scorching green-white light shot fro burst into flame But it already had too much momentum

Sam dropped, reached back to yank Astrid down, found that she had already ducked The fla leaves, blew over their heads

Mary Terrafino blundered into the hallway “What is happening!”

“Mary! Back! Backbackback!” Sam yelled

Mary ju with antennae attacked, feet clicking and scrabbling on the hardwood

It had two tubes on its head Sam was sure it hadn’t had them just moments earlier

So pale blue shot from the tubes Slime covered one of Sam’s hands, thick as oatmeal, sticky as rubber cement

With the other hand, Sa burned, slowed, but did not stop

And now all the nighth the door, jostling for the chance to attack, and then—

Then they were gone

Sione

All but the still-sizzling re canine Astrid rushed into Little Pete’s roo up in bed, eyes open, unfocused

Astrid threw herself onto the bed and put her arms around him

“Oh, Petey, Petey,” she cried