He remembered the first time he encountered them. They had come through his window one night, when the moon was at its highest.473Please respect copyright.PENANABwh6HlDrHe
473Please respect copyright.PENANAwMDNCADhPp
“Hello, Charlie.”473Please respect copyright.PENANAKbW225Olbe
473Please respect copyright.PENANATgvRb3Ygpj
The twelve year old lowered his blanket. Two girls and a boy stared at him. The dark-haired girl grinned at him, her brown hair in a messy knot. There was blood along her cheeks and on her neck, the flesh cut open.473Please respect copyright.PENANAWRjHymyEWR
473Please respect copyright.PENANAtjHoxBWvaM
But Charlie wasn't scared. He had seen enough horror movies to know that monsters didn't exist. “Hello,” he replied softly. “How did you know my name?”473Please respect copyright.PENANAUjOZlPR0Tk
473Please respect copyright.PENANAv9Wwe9jNdZ
The other girl smiled, her blonde hair glistening in the moonlight. Her smile was so big that Charlie could see her teeth. No – her fangs. She crouched down and examined a toy truck on his floor.473Please respect copyright.PENANATHe1wJ8t5I
473Please respect copyright.PENANAlyKloCkjBX
“We know a lot about you,” the boy said, coming forward. His shaggy hair fell into his strange, yellow eyes. “We've picked you, Charlie. You're special. We've been watching you. You're smart, resourceful.” The boy grinned, his teeth normal. “I'm Liam, and this is Olivia and Carly.” He indicated the blonde, then the dark-haired girl. He peered at Charlie. “You're not afraid of us.”473Please respect copyright.PENANAlSswabdG2W
473Please respect copyright.PENANAGXmCTOAWbG
It wasn't a question.473Please respect copyright.PENANAZEGmoa5gDz
473Please respect copyright.PENANAH2iVM3IYb3
“No,” Charlie answered bravely. “You're not real.”473Please respect copyright.PENANAFctfNKSQLw
473Please respect copyright.PENANAgxL0kD8Nva
“Are you sure?” Carly wondered. She tried to wipe the blood from her face. “It itches,” she told him. Sitting on the edge of his mattress, she looked around. “You have a nice room.”473Please respect copyright.PENANA2j3bRp3yeg
473Please respect copyright.PENANAdP3btt3CAW
Charlie didn't answer. He was too busy looking at her neck. At the wound that now seemed too real. And she smelled, he noticed. She smelled so bad that he needed to cover his nose and mouth. She was putrid, rotten.473Please respect copyright.PENANAzM0cGbDifb
473Please respect copyright.PENANAr4x3P8FRGu
She reeked of death.473Please respect copyright.PENANAdeCfskWYFs
473Please respect copyright.PENANAeb91nuVwXJ
Olivia smiled again, her sharp teeth startling.473Please respect copyright.PENANALy3Icf2Kbl
473Please respect copyright.PENANAvL8Ua7yWXE
Charlie had always been fascinated with vampires – and now there was one in his room. He couldn't wait to tell his friends.473Please respect copyright.PENANAKSBIhcWg9L
473Please respect copyright.PENANA39EYd8Hpr1
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Liam said. “They'll just think you were playing a prank. Remember, vampires, werewolves and dead girls don't exist.”473Please respect copyright.PENANAsyNUd3q5xp
473Please respect copyright.PENANAqsjzNfi5GP
Charlie took a deep breath, and reached out to touch Carly's hand. It was cold. So cold that he pulled away. When he spoke, his voice was trembling and full of fear.473Please respect copyright.PENANAyTrlRufaGs
473Please respect copyright.PENANApaVyh2wnGL
“Oh my God.”473Please respect copyright.PENANAvB1oNJusIY
473Please respect copyright.PENANArfMSeQkKA7
That was when Charlie screamed. 473Please respect copyright.PENANAH7JP9LEe7I