From that first night when he was twelve, and the three had come crawling through his window, Charlie Cross was marked. For years afterward, it was the same as if he had stepped back in time.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VjKTW2zH2
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They looked exactly the same.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf1GYQsw4w
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They asked the same thing of him.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSq5aM5qGc
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Always the same thing.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaxeCS7nm5
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“We chose you. We want you to join us. We want you to kill with us, Charlie. So we can stay here. Won't you do it?”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP6XZ06vSB
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And he always refused, terrified of what would happen if he didn't. Would they ask him to kill his parents or friends?367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIDbhVtoKH
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LTMfNjMiW
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhKTAOgywd
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They had kept that promise. When Charlie turned sixteen, he thought somehow he was safe, that he had reached the age where nothing could get him. He was wrong.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmIoqLBC0R
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He was sitting on the couch, remote in hand, after everyone had gone to sleep. He kept hearing footsteps upstairs, and assuming it was his parents, he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem6H4eT49E
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But he had barely closed his eyes when a familiar voice called his name. He sat up, eyes wide. But he wasn't afraid. He knew they would come again, just like before. He was stupid to think they were still imaginary, even after all this time.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLABxc23CW
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That was when he saw her, standing by the TV. She twisted her long blonde hair around a finger. Her brown eyes fell on his startled face, and she smiled. “Hello, Charlie,” she said softly.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdgFTgiSeu
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“Olivia,” he said. “Hi.” He looked around. “Where are Liam and Carly?” He thought it was strange that she was here, alone, a week before Halloween.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ131lUXAzQx
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As she sat next to him, he caught a scent that made his stomach churn. Blood. He knew that smell all too well. He wanted to ask her about it, but thought better of it.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxy7JpMrWT
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKneOHP3iW
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Carly emerged from somewhere in the darkened room, making Charlie wonder if she had been there the whole time. He never got used to the sight of her slashed neck, or the smell of rotten flesh.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr6R0yJshj
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsGtX3C2zG
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“You're trying to persuade him.” Liam put a hand on Olivia's shoulder, his nails digging in. “Aren't you, sweetheart?”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE30WFuJY9
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qiW8Ly4tD
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“It's not Halloween,” Charlie reminded them. “And I'm not going to help you, I'm sorry. I won't kill anyone.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzuRjRaaJ1
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Olivia's eyes darkened and she scowled. “Yes, you are.” She slid her nail along his arm, some blood trickling down his skin. “You refuse us again and you'll be sorry.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2mnY1elD4
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa91IBZrp4n
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh68fkQIQd4
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“One more person makes us stronger,” Liam answered. “Each of us needs to feed on someone to continue to gain access to this world during Halloween night.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHmlxBK7Np
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91MAcvo9TG
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“Only it's not,” Carly said, sitting on his other side. She glanced at the others. “We have to tell him.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9ni5zeBxC
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They nodded.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbApJdX4Mx
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7yEolVNjS
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Liam spoke, his voice apologetic. “This is your last year to refuse us. You won't get another chance next time.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EMqggz2nE
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMJJGxXjXk
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“We've lived so long because of others. Eventually, before their sixteenth year was up, they agreed to help us.” He cast a glance at Olivia. “Until she decided we didn't need them anymore.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMQ6BWHlEg
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Now he understood.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAluDfb2U4
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Every year for as long as Charlie could remember, he'd heard the stories. Halloween had come and gone, and with it, another body. Everyone thought some troubled teen had decided to take off.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8gXIfft0Z
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But Charlie knew the truth now.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppWctr81GP
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf3jmoOEe3
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