The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of the mansion's ancient air conditioning. We sat in a loose circle on the floor, the tension in the room so thick it felt like it could suffocate us. Hendrick had suggested a game to pass the time while we waited for Evelyn to return with groceries. It was supposed to be fun, but the way he smirked as he shuffled the deck told me this was anything but.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYBZRJlPUf
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43yk9E5V8k
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96ZDUYFCRk
"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHYs7elOSZ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOaZ6pGmSJ
"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQqqsA6QhZ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8oOnJm8HQ
"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvuikEZtGF
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxME5FdlZ1s
"Then it shouldn't be a problem," Hendrick said, dealing the cards with a flick of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned to Maya. "You're up first. Truth or Dare?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo1Xma5KMy
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa12bCIrMSL
Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKRHEmBZHY
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMs4ZkM63W
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fyB7Mlvvr
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx6g00uROy
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA15SLwpAt
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPUUNmOAap
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgHNmJAmeM
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xkIEIk1Xj
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwVILdHQhR
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwTrpGy6Xp
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPC3lat9Eq
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BJbW0kG2T
"Trust you?" Maya said, her voice shaking. "You're the one who pushed me away. You're the one who stopped coming to the clubhouse. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even talk to me?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfxk64DDvg
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5dZyCF7ax
The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Hendrick leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Looks like we hit a nerve."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVZmpSUGRs
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q5qE7hKj8
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ifg9TXjLf
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ZbG2Eme8
"My fault?" Hendrick said, his tone mocking. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding everyone. I'm not the one who's been lying."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxmFzCvaFL
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIjKLaszNs
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W9jU4hx1o
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTKaU8JMcD
"Prove it," Hendrick said, his eyes narrowing. "It's Maya's turn now. How about you let her pat you down as a dare? If you've got nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKEj3qPrs0
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3S26oi1v3
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDCLiQlEDa
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qmPtHb5y7
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOORQUCTF2w
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeixkMU7Soh
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom90a333eY
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfLycBSP4b
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHxpo2Z28X
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrCyHIZivw
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYGwOEBIIJ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmikx8W59FJ
Maya stepped forward, her hands shaking as she patted me down. The room was silent, the tension unbearable. She pulled a cigarette from the front pocket of my overalls and eyed me suspiciously.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPOxc0dsDt
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9lpbmNQyB
"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvVEveE6yb
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL9Wk29BQ8
"Isn't it?" Maya argued, her voice rising. "Because this is how it begins. First it's cigarettes, then it's alcohol, and then it's hard drugs. I've seen it before."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRDrzsHleU
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ymKE7vUG
"Maya," I started, but before I could say anything else, a sound cut through the silence—a low, guttural moan coming from somewhere deep in the mansion.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhre2kArPgd
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHzi9NtBlh
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUclK3iYCf
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWep14xEeVA
The moan came again, louder this time, and the air seemed to grow colder. I glanced around the room, my heart pounding. "Guys," I said, my voice tight. "Where are Martin and Hendrick?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjJn3UqEqX
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpMCHL6s9K
We got up and looked around the living room, the eerie silence amplifying our unease. "Babe?!" Maya shouted, her voice trembling as she searched for Hendrick.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjhRLn5o15
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PHdy8wsbs
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsx0NwYotz
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSFkDcCNhS
But instead of a response, we were met with a loud, piercing scream that echoed from the direction of the study. My stomach dropped, and I glanced at Masha, who shared the same wide-eyed expression of dread.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFfiKtYn5l
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3WwWj6y6o
Sasha started toward the study, but I quickly grabbed her arm, shaking my head. My eyes pleaded with her not to follow the sound. She hesitated, her face pale, but before she could argue, a heavy thud reverberated through the mansion, followed by footsteps—slow, deliberate, and growing louder with each step.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9PkySYYHp
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y9QDpk9SN
Sasha's hand found mine, our fingers interlocking as we braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The footsteps grew closer, echoing through the hallway like a countdown to disaster.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngpfUZfQhj
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KSGb6ZCZX
Footsteps.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINdebgijgs
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Footsteps.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R1xsrJsy9
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Footsteps.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cswq3O8p3
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdsktbpzaA
The door swung open, and my heart froze for a beat. But it wasn't a monster that emerged—it was Hendrick, his face pale and his clothes splattered with dark, drying blood. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe, his breathing ragged.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPuLnj9BWD
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FdiH0gKNN
"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDZpe71Q2m
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFliPF8JLM
Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YlRSWPOok
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSaojFxuBY
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0S8hRtNX4
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8lHdwj5Kb
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspjtXldfmI
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHfqmnfyE1
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4AfsfprbK
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3cKbYVnHZ
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kInZWRRhX
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7X7i92HY1
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhsesULKv4
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuQ6RsCgAV
Sasha let out a shaky laugh, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "No," she said, her tone desperate. "You two are just pulling a prank on us. This isn't funny."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH70etjK95s
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqxURtS2cH
She started for the study, her voice cracking as she called out, "Martin?" But I grabbed her arm, holding her back. Something in Hendrick's expression told me this wasn't a joke.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBAfkPa3NF
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzEbJB051L
"Let me go," Sasha said, her voice firm but trembling. I shook my head, my grip tightening. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she began hitting my chest. "Why won't you let me go?!"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAA1XIM0di
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFdrKwz9pF
Her fists pounded against me, each blow weaker than the last until she finally broke down, collapsing into sobs. I pulled her close, holding her tightly as she cried into my shoulder, her body shaking with grief.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zPfQhXM8h
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLVyN5XRGo
The room was silent except for Sasha's muffled sobs. Hendrick stood frozen, his face pale and his hands trembling. Maya stared at him, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. Masha hovered nearby, her eyes wide with terror.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT63omWaY5
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp33LxzvR0k
Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFVUhGg7lA
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EZMs9963c
The words hung in the air, sharp and final. Sasha's sobs quieted, and she pulled away from me, her face streaked with tears. Maya stared at Hendrick, her expression a mix of fear and something else.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k5zrCuscF
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCchpusArsd
I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWELujgPXs
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI9jUO7VXZ
We moved as one, rushing toward the front door. The mansion seemed to close in around us, the shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. The air grew colder with each step, and the faint hum of the air conditioning was replaced by an eerie silence.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EXqzPgbrI
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPdeQBqj7g
Hendrick reached the door first, his bloodied hands grabbed the handle then twisted and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He yanked harder, his face pale. "It's stuck."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DatdLxa9M
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrBDBSoD2b
"Move," I said, pushing past him. I grabbed the handle and pulled with all my strength, but the door didn't budge. My stomach dropped. "It's locked."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysfGBEO3XF
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7kxaweIIk
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgWnVDn0yS
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaTR00QdXf
"Then we break it down," Hendrick said, his tone desperate. He stepped back and kicked the door, the sound echoing through the mansion. The door didn't move.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk8QX6XCqe
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6IVDLuNUo
"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFioZSrScDz
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUiNz6Laz0
Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUCinPWlcv
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Ds61yKru
-------
Penana
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