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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK9tH0fyIB
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They looked exactly the same.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS869zATr3o
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They asked the same thing of him.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7r88zy6aL
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Always the same thing.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7yjOqdpYZ
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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?”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZfpBjKc4x
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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?457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXBos0GBb6
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ9pfaNvsX
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXTK1psp9J
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TeVkB1C4O
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3QIZNaTOU
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaeb0IY53t
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswkD9361rQ
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLhp1889sf
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFGAy5ll3O
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W4aXpZMbP
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVBCT3ODZL
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Sq9FECJfH
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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?”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Lyq5sdPV
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vXBmroPkx
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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.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb36kJp6ax
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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.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8Fgs3P9o2
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSL3GhJJAS
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXykogJMbBz
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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.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq7WDZ5M1I
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83xgxeBTeH
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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.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwRnZwnd4u
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They nodded.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujIzYGKLyI
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDpF9SNYiI
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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.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjG2rTdDZa
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYVRymdudY
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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.”457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLft0O7jUm
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Now he understood.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rdAbmXO6R
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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.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl2ahGtWzW
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But Charlie knew the truth now.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRm3vVKixE
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU1mEKdGEz
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