In Hazel's hometown, those who do not fit in are shipped away and out of sight, so when her parents enroll her in a boarding school across the country, she is not surprised. Once there, her ostracization continues, and she quickly finds herself targeted by the local bully, Braxton. To avoid him and his posse, she spends as much time as possible off campus, traversing the surrounding woods. There, in a cave, she meets a creature that will change her life forever and make her question the true cost of survival. Carla E. Dash lives in Braintree, MA with her husband, children, and cats. She teaches middle schoolers, procrastinates via video games and anime, and occasionally buckles down and writes. Her work has appeared in The Kenyon Review Online, Cosmorama, Eucalyptus Lit, and others. Her debut collection, Monsters and Other Tales of Humanity, is out now from Meerkat Press. Follow @ on Instagram for updates

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