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“Guess not.” I push off my covers and open the closet, careful not to make any noise. The last thing I need is to alert any of the fourth-years on the floor that I’m up. Luckily, my eyes are adjusting to the dark. It’s nowhere near as bad as it was when we were in the middle of the ocean. Valora’s enchanted light makes it so that it’s about as bright as a city.

My closet is now full of clothes—items for every occasion. There are casual clothes and formal dresses, and everything in between. I find a soft pajama top and change into it. It’s actually kind of nice not having to worry about pants. Less to think about.

Click, click.

The door.

How could Oceana have heard me up? I hadn’t made a sound.

I scurry back to bed and pull the covers up to my head just as the door opens. My heart thunders and I struggle to breathe normally.

Go away. Don’t notice me. I’m invisible.

Fingers wrap around the edge of my blanket and yank it off me.

“Oceana, I can explain. I—”

It’s not the PA.

Earwig and her two friends are standing over me.

“I … How’d you get in here?”

Earwig smirks. “We all made copies of our keys. This is our room, you know. It looked a lot better before.”

“Do you want it back?”

“Shut up.” Cove smacks me.

I sit up and rub my cheek. “Did you just hit me?”

She smirks. “I can do it again if you don’t shut up.”

“What do you want?” I glare at all of them.

Vanya looks at Earwig. “Can I tell her? Or do you want to?”

Earwig shrugs. “Go for it.”

Vanya beams. “You weren’t here for first-year initiation. So, we’re going to give you an initiation of your own.”

Blood drains from my head. “You’re what?”

Earwig leans close to me. “You heard her, killer.”

“I’m not a killer!”

She puts a finger to my lips. “Stay quiet. You don’t want to make things worse for yourself.”

“What are you going to do to me?”

Earwig exchanges a smug look with both of her followers before turning back to me. “Oh, you’ll see.”

Then they all grab me and drag me out of the room. I scream, but someone covers my mouth which earns her a bite.

Vanya knocks me upside the head. “Shut up!”

Earwig holds up a long, sharp blade. “Yeah. Or I’ll shut you up.”

Blood drains from my face.

They all laugh.