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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumVy1cNeEo
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They looked exactly the same.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESR8amFWKg
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They asked the same thing of him.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7IxXZvb97
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Always the same thing.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2SgJ6MWYq
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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?”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedyfq79Ajo
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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?380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJaxwIDgHw
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gl7W0xKiQ
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb4RjrjxcH
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi6t0wdtfV
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlnLZMih4r
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9gpLBLflG
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qza83nlww
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomxzE4p7r0
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhly2qhYSJT
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xDB4ecAkE
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIflschO7u
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoheEiBDKWk
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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?”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoUIHfcQhi
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdpzu6edTd
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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.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzv7jEGp3V
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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.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg99xAZtl5p
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDRghQ3XM1
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqXwq9ejlp
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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.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkN4ZpnlJX
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0JfJKopWP
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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.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5hc1mg8b6
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They nodded.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsWoJwTnrt
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UP3JJMISN
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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.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaasWYgV8a
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybGQS6SSWC
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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.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46cQiXhepU
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Now he understood.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGjwLwh3dN
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv83xV1Y0tk
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But Charlie knew the truth now.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMA3vMCdAt
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn074OQlYhK
Penana
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