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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89vxMbrmVl
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They looked exactly the same.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yrFrkq7jk
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They asked the same thing of him.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPlxtOC68S
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Always the same thing.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyJWZq3tW3
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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?”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBfvHhXw2k
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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?413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD84bsWdcQ7
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcH4J7ru63
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo9I9NKE7z
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLF8If2U4L
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKm1WSamIk
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHMMA45pzG
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNR3BxxRku
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdZOaT1rS8
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhnivWav3L
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohqVKF7KX1
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5V8bMIRVw
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6OCIPZFET
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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?”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg7rRquWgQ
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb7Bd51sPT
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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.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY3wzT9az0
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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.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h0aS3r2Rm
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV08aoMOiN9
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB60Ou3WQV
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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.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF9bNQ43Vq
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0FgrVXQ5R
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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.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCle1kDOKzG
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They nodded.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iuzX1t3AK
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6RlIoE0jP
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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.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UooSVAZnu
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD3VhWSalY
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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.”413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2dns6LIWM
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Now he understood.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidHQtkBJbJ
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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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RpKqLB1DH
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But Charlie knew the truth now.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKIEKcn9ta
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6onUch4ujJ
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