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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EJNz9z1ye
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They looked exactly the same.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZp3dJglWT
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They asked the same thing of him.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuI2Lz7mPV
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Always the same thing.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehiLRWnNrU
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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?”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOL7QlCoda
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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?449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhOak1iDkP
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1AuCw1fdg
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtEIaz0CQs
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm7wGmLWkA
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P7ZQnYP1V
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblRY88yHA9
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16XLj2JnSk
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8fQ7m5YM1
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8Tjx4FlUY
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv69ExPXfIW
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp0mmnQLtg
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cnEKXQxkJ
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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?”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4Ds5i1eFp
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4IcRT79iJ
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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.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bMf5ah1Cm
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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.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyum1YPvMcW
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTXCQEK0OO
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPSVFGwqcd
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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.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEC1sdLhjG
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD7c0YOlSV
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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.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYPX8qUjUt
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They nodded.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZbcGtsqf3
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlw02u6Ksf
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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.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxpbSt0K5t
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRJvE0P8N9
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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.”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhj2PmznYq
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Now he understood.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDphia2FDq
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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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LDNBg2qdL
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But Charlie knew the truth now.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOCRiplauZ
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG1BChzBBv
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