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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5VDlenkGY
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They looked exactly the same.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzliQ9cherx
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They asked the same thing of him.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp25YnlXu7
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Always the same thing.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWKI86nPGg
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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?”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CLi1aBAS2
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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?475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W9C2wyw9O
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8EbrKdUyG
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5zJ5NDbP4
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ap7m5cKrh
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpTxVPJLNT
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOYYu94WMV
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHJSkN2sYr
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZLAAgbMvI
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyyXzbrM5j
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpRcOsXmrP
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5xnSnICDm
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVqKG64bHx
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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?”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDULOv07vI
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcnljt6D6B
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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.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUKs7Ab0KK
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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.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzxYMWhqb5
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVdnp7Rhsi
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsDbAFAjZL
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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.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJehiJrHBsk
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e2XcQzdcO
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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.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsOCeclydr
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They nodded.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLXsG4iH0k
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlwoA3P72u
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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.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRd70wqXrU
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm7LbKjWfB
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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.”475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO90od21Hw
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Now he understood.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmkyYsrKAg
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FoZKhWoZI
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But Charlie knew the truth now.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg9VWR3H7y
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueetT5nob1
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