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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPXgfQKI2b
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They looked exactly the same.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMSfsZJ6e7
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They asked the same thing of him.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6f9mYPAdT
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Always the same thing.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkspcGdbhur
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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?”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNluoyoHMv
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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?406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwVqinwoas
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30SfGHar9q
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ55hoC7xXU
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFECAWSDYm4
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUZCY7l57m
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyGRoIvvti
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQktT9oxPZ0
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrL1ivpUox
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTl2m79VeC
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6O4H451ZY
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc90HkBQZ9m
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBR5LQJqbS
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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?”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtsf2WSCl8
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWkCsPkQ0L
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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.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrobTA3RjUr
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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.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWSw3HZQzP
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHZEPOZ4Zp
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM46APSmed7
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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.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPidX27lP5
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3g50ILzUR
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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.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyx02swcmM
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They nodded.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm4036ae58
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvd2C4N7Do
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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.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnFxdj1RF7
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RnX9FCPIq
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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.”406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBiX5kkRpN
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Now he understood.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOq4bjbxX17
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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.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDZVvxCJ2o
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But Charlie knew the truth now.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfmnpvw0ei
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTcPyS6DD5
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