He remembered the first time he encountered them. They had come through his window one night, when the moon was at its highest.522Please respect copyright.PENANAiFMNx9tDBA
522Please respect copyright.PENANAhFYFqWGWEM
“Hello, Charlie.”522Please respect copyright.PENANArYeBopz8zk
522Please respect copyright.PENANAO3E04baghw
The twelve year old lowered his blanket. Two girls and a boy stared at him. The dark-haired girl grinned at him, her brown hair in a messy knot. There was blood along her cheeks and on her neck, the flesh cut open.522Please respect copyright.PENANA8whpSCqOog
522Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ktm8U8S2P
But Charlie wasn't scared. He had seen enough horror movies to know that monsters didn't exist. “Hello,” he replied softly. “How did you know my name?”522Please respect copyright.PENANAeXKxfU1yD0
522Please respect copyright.PENANAaDKSaLC9er
The other girl smiled, her blonde hair glistening in the moonlight. Her smile was so big that Charlie could see her teeth. No – her fangs. She crouched down and examined a toy truck on his floor.522Please respect copyright.PENANA778q5k4n5E
522Please respect copyright.PENANAfyVXqTjw0m
“We know a lot about you,” the boy said, coming forward. His shaggy hair fell into his strange, yellow eyes. “We've picked you, Charlie. You're special. We've been watching you. You're smart, resourceful.” The boy grinned, his teeth normal. “I'm Liam, and this is Olivia and Carly.” He indicated the blonde, then the dark-haired girl. He peered at Charlie. “You're not afraid of us.”522Please respect copyright.PENANAq7pXGRkt3t
522Please respect copyright.PENANAjiUyXmUebp
It wasn't a question.522Please respect copyright.PENANAOPcHaiHBgi
522Please respect copyright.PENANAeE6DAKg0RH
“No,” Charlie answered bravely. “You're not real.”522Please respect copyright.PENANALm7xiqvnTk
522Please respect copyright.PENANAullMDi8c1b
“Are you sure?” Carly wondered. She tried to wipe the blood from her face. “It itches,” she told him. Sitting on the edge of his mattress, she looked around. “You have a nice room.”522Please respect copyright.PENANANULsmOsuKv
522Please respect copyright.PENANANoaPYzqDFm
Charlie didn't answer. He was too busy looking at her neck. At the wound that now seemed too real. And she smelled, he noticed. She smelled so bad that he needed to cover his nose and mouth. She was putrid, rotten.522Please respect copyright.PENANAnQOuc9szFI
522Please respect copyright.PENANAnbPTAplsxa
She reeked of death.522Please respect copyright.PENANAbTyI13kGzJ
522Please respect copyright.PENANA2kB7wkdMbR
Olivia smiled again, her sharp teeth startling.522Please respect copyright.PENANAsVMbvDt0F8
522Please respect copyright.PENANAXLPKzgLnNc
Charlie had always been fascinated with vampires – and now there was one in his room. He couldn't wait to tell his friends.522Please respect copyright.PENANA8P6rE6nthN
522Please respect copyright.PENANAoRyNnAZlfo
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Liam said. “They'll just think you were playing a prank. Remember, vampires, werewolves and dead girls don't exist.”522Please respect copyright.PENANArW1bCUQQkg
522Please respect copyright.PENANAXQJpUXIBmM
Charlie took a deep breath, and reached out to touch Carly's hand. It was cold. So cold that he pulled away. When he spoke, his voice was trembling and full of fear.522Please respect copyright.PENANARxTST3EIon
522Please respect copyright.PENANA8dKJkK3lpC
“Oh my God.”522Please respect copyright.PENANA9cyriccWtf
522Please respect copyright.PENANABeS9Ro7AIE
That was when Charlie screamed. 522Please respect copyright.PENANAoFQjkLGv6D