Entry #9

Genre: YA Paranormal

Title: THE DROWNING OF MOLLY WHITFORD

Word Count: 96,000

Hogwarts House: Em Whitford would be sorted into Gryffindor. She's sassy, classy, and a little bad-assy. She also has a certain disregard for rules that Gryffindor house seems to appreciate (or, at the very least, tolerate).

Pitch: 18-yr-old Em must prove her witch-mother didn't kill herself in seven days or risk losing her dad to his debilitating grief. Because in seven days, Em becomes a witch, too. Possible byproduct of witch-turning: death.

First 250:

I am sitting in my truck. 

Okay, so, that’s a lie. I’m hiding in my truck.

And if hiding from my classmates was an Olympic sport, I’d have a gold medal because  it doesn’t seem anyone has noticed me yet. Not that it’ll last long.

I twist my hair into a half-assed bun for probably the 800th time this morning. The bee that moved into my lungs last spring re-launches its attack on the inside of my chest cavity.

That, or I'm on the brink of another anxiety attack. That’s what everyone keeps calling this. Anxiety. Call it whatever you want–it still feels like a bee repeatedly stinging the inside of my chest. Sucking down air usually helps; I suffocate the bee with oxygen.

I readjust the rear-view mirror, as if looking busy somehow excuses my reluctance to exit my vehicle. As if anyone is paying attention to the nondescript blue truck in the most remote corner of the student parking section.

But then, I spot a familiar blonde head, bobbing down the aisle of cars one row over. Apparently, someone is paying attention.

Outside, my tiny, blonde, army-of-a-friend barrels towards the truck like a five foot one, ninety-eight-pound rhinoceros. She yanks open the creaky passenger door, climbs into the cab, and slams the door behind her.

I brace myself for the inquisition.

Then: “Em.”

“Sheri.”

Sheri opens her mouth, but is interrupted by the sound of screeching tires. We turn as Bart Hinkley comes tearing into the parking lot.

Other Team Hufflepuff Entries:

MG: FORT SMYTHE AND THE RUBY HEART

ADULT: THE ORCHID GIRL'S CHASE

YA: BRAIN DAMAGE

YA: CUSTODIAN

YA: HER GOLDEN CRIMES

YA: THE G.A.P. PROJECT

YA: THE DEVIL DON'T LOVE YOU

YA: ECHO CHAMBER HEIST

Request System:

10 Points – Query and first 10 pages = Petrificus Totalus
25 Points – Query and first 25 pages = Protego
50 Points – Query and first 50 pages = Stupefy
100 Points – Query and first 100 pages = Sectumsempra
200 Points – Query and full = Expelliarmus