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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ7zsZPfN4
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They looked exactly the same.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YdQHdNzhG
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They asked the same thing of him.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkbg20EgPh
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Always the same thing.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszc9Gm0DIO
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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?”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8DoqmUnbG
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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?486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwVvdXtIpS
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzGqDFvlMp
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8BDkOC0WV
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HmAKP2uR0
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BOzb6Matf
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjHIpg6sNx
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ME9mHpcIr
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtARQuTFZXV
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeCSK8zyTk
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4v4Q8IIK9
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL6w91ymDS
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHmgVSiKF0
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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?”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsNCUr8vcH
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcQHeyfUoD
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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.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrudNFDMGe
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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.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8v23gjbHG
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzIIVEppie
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6WILhLPub
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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.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAKWvapizT
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAhof1F0OM
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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.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI7JlvcDJb
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They nodded.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApl1CXIHoT
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9KqtW971G
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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.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68ggmIz1lh
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZObHPNSJF0
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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.”486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFhNOkSSvY
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Now he understood.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HstW1XLsV
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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.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR55QAqOjG
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But Charlie knew the truth now.486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7SFp5nFU8
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 486Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v5U62r83M
Penana
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