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Shelly woke up clawing at her throat on her bedroom floor

Her lungs pulled at the air, but soer to get enough oxygen As she caught her breath and her vision cleared, she took in her rooh her curtains Half asleep and very groggy, she stood up on autopilot and staggered to her closet to pick soot dressed, she inspected the state of her hair in theit with the hair iron As she gathered it up, she gasped and backed away

“What is that?” she hissed at her reflection She stepped closer to the mirror to inspect what she had seen On each side of her neck were parallel slits When she breathed, the slits flared open, freaking her out even more What happened to my neck?

She wondered if she’d injured it at the swi jumped to mind

The day before, her neck had been nor one failed to notice, like a zit on a chin that was just beginning to blossom No, that was unmissable They were co-open-when-she-breathed thing

“What happened toher neck slits

A door sla her jump back from the mirror with a start She was late Any second, her mother would rap on her door and let her know that the bus aiting She had to hide her neck—and fast She couldn’t let heron

What was going on?

Shelly rustled through her closet, her fingers cootten family ski trip It was far too warm for the mild California winter, but it was e She started wrapping the scarf around her neck

The door to her roo open

“Moain!” Dawson Her dad ht for the shell, of course His little face was blotchy and twisted up with anger

“Get out!” Shelly yelled, shutting the door on him Her eyes darted to the shell on her bedside table She swiped it and stashed it inside her closet She couldn’t let hie powers Plus, she owed the sea witch a favor and she needed the shell to fulfill the deal

But Dawson had blocked the door with his foot

“You’re not allowed in my room!” Shelly said With one hand, she tried to cra to finish wrapping the scarf around her neck with her other hand

Luckily, Daas so focused on getting through the door that he didn’t seem to notice Shelly’s neck At least, she hoped he didn’t Suddenly, the click-clack of her h heels sounded They hit the hall carpet and quieted, whichcloser