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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAmcZrNJmLQI
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They looked exactly the same.337Please respect copyright.PENANAFnKnVk7Q0z
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They asked the same thing of him.337Please respect copyright.PENANANheszXnBo6
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Always the same thing.337Please respect copyright.PENANAbJEmTybLSj
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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?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAyMtMpH9RKW
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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?337Please respect copyright.PENANAzFyP8iQFQJ
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”337Please respect copyright.PENANABcxYInaUBP
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”337Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZmRpo6rUp
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAFc9gi5TB1N
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAar2XoDRBfi
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANApiC19pAdJ0
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANA50mcVCIWjs
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAtuajsFsC5F
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAXbkOPfZjtf
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”337Please respect copyright.PENANA4AaM0BZJq1
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAv9kj5262Yl
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAPl0D2H2Tjd
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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?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAESfhVh8p6s
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”337Please respect copyright.PENANALwSDCTWzkl
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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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAATu4yOQbpk
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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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANA8gDFiryLUG
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAhtV9pQvTM6
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAC3nfeqgMLE
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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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAS8iY0jPxLJ
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.337Please respect copyright.PENANAqBEuNuSyrV
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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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAhsedSCVOdX
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They nodded.337Please respect copyright.PENANANwFgup7WEw
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.337Please respect copyright.PENANAl8S7BMzk8j
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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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANADIPT92LTjW
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”337Please respect copyright.PENANAfjfGfBpE9d
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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.”337Please respect copyright.PENANAcGLBAjKuqs
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Now he understood.337Please respect copyright.PENANAXtDVnGWyI3
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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.337Please respect copyright.PENANAIBvrhl5f4o
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But Charlie knew the truth now.337Please respect copyright.PENANAbSrZkNOwRp
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 337Please respect copyright.PENANAXiMsrjhzbc