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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLU8ZI3bWH
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They looked exactly the same.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ1fuRsoHI
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They asked the same thing of him.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdXPCmKpDG
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Always the same thing.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2ryFMAySw
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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?”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEEwl54vSr
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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?476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHivgaRz3Z0
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1gcncTkvB
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkvy7pbc2x
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd9Sx0dxwc
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzc7W5sImp
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClgwi0tuDX
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQEAYltUvZ
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm28DEbDYH
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPNBPA59xK
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH6OmdofFq
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI9WISyjMj
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsYayiRXsZ
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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?”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Fy1SKKV8
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaGYs4gDm8
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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.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqNEkGahC3
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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.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCb8EkEfaZ
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmA7lbYcNE
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwsUoIQ5rM
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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.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFh51aP4qZ
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1zVFWmaof
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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.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzQtpmzuwP
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They nodded.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaofAdjtKrV
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ae5VUJlib
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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.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGu8arsNJu
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSGEN6JErB
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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.”476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl6163w7Rl
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Now he understood.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QZRwKD5YN
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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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6THDWsZjtq
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But Charlie knew the truth now.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIghdOpLbw
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInMpbueSkR
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