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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w38ObJQWa
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They looked exactly the same.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGaTb1n1lF
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They asked the same thing of him.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fscNhlmpc
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Always the same thing.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dGy6LXs49
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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?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6bXqVW3rq
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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?394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TddIkYRQq
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkviqBwXUpJ
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntHpQyuuRd
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcUD5B14MG
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdan2WBYrA
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi3MH0H9ij
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9GzbDhtXr
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MfoC3KAs1
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAaj6wZ9A5
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Uf6NiQrH
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAYoHlTIoR
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9nVqLUgz7
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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?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmQxrkfZ4E
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub8k7pw5PQ
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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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqarhyum1Az
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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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YgawDKpOD
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFXbCkuvf7
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQaCBbWMKV
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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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgHaS6blrW
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDvvrQGupG
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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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9DZneaya7
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They nodded.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vIs1DbudK
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EzRXboGvY
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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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9446h7tLOf
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5cymdQO0G
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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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Uwn0W2E02
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Now he understood.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FZz3t29XT
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4lHXdzF7u
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But Charlie knew the truth now.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFxW3OaWmF
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhauuhnDLw
Penana
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