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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh71ogEhNK
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They looked exactly the same.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsucYe7DXm
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They asked the same thing of him.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAsvAYUCaw
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Always the same thing.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbra2d16KE
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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?”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOnlE9kxIw
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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?366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsfH9fEPaL
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ7oEEO5OK
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDCsL9HmmV
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSsUjOeVH6
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzvAaQWzGd
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmKVyqyQGo
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA5t9R1dRu
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8Nl0BCi2J
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hJmkxbNw4
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4gU69Uziy
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6E1NvnKl9
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8mGmjgTXg
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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?”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA0I49wOLJ
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRyDM0vATx
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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.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhWeYHU0rU
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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.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdiisq5qDm
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07awtWD5Kz
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKdSZbztuL
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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.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31PWmaHwGG
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ0ekBGguf
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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.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxOCxZhGtt
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They nodded.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yKJiHYvA8
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoJoTLUsAo
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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.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTXDau7me5
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25ucBSeT9X
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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.”366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFnwxrQmO7
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Now he understood.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FgOOObcWQ
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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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yDfGbwJfZ
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But Charlie knew the truth now.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3Fl8JSbNi
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7yIOu2sHq
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