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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZdo24zhi6
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They looked exactly the same.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQu0RQUzuc
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They asked the same thing of him.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSgzIi90Uq
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Always the same thing.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I6mfthMan
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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?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeoiqEocYY
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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?408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPcTl8RhkV
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYRoGsoNy9
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSgYbYBzD8
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKePMK0fo8Z
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUyMzcyRzf
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g8FaL3DdA
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SKrJZJYKL
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGctesS5cNw
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP8pYKOweO
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOHFSY1tXE
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxCvDJ5Yh7
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrv3LeTmvc
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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?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsHtX7EZzr
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6GEk9elfa
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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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchXAebBjTa
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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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYqWmxCDvs
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5vi7XKjE5
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAVeHxTcPs
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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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS7F72eloB
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc1TJMCRjx
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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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVLpjQLtw2
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They nodded.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj8hGRD9Ye
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg9OkU4UYx
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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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMZOrwEpgH
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7tj4wuvpm
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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.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJntwEHR0Sj
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Now he understood.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlg7cAkHr
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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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVmy6keolP
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But Charlie knew the truth now.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJEEDe5ZSz
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQL5JmrhXF
Penana
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