I found this in my son’s room while

shell dotted with perfect black spots, six long, menacing spines jutting out like armor.

It didn’t flinch, didn’t twitch, just clung there as if it owned the wall.

I snapped a photo and fired it off to friends, collecting a flurry of panicked guesses and horror-movie theories.

Later, after scrolling through images online with my heart still racing, I continue reading …