The silence didn't last long. A low, guttural moan echoed through the mansion, sending a chill down my spine. It was coming from the direction of the study.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCMSV9TyKA
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B8uGdGmq9
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN155pZNItZ
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF4XgJNCQJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZa15OWZE7
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcXzj5XcR0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1DKBMyJPP
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK8QtcwItV
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWKfiqEth4
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpZmaaV3mr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOVtYovTTI
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKXSaWUBed
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNBzWB1EJH
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkzvzGo8DL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXVb1gTzTh
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvcdrkiDcK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP9UoSC5HE
The footsteps grew louder, and the air seemed to grow colder. The shadows in the hallway shifted, and a figure emerged—a hunched, humanoid shape with glowing eyes and a grotesque snarl.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4WmjnQH4M
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv0wOAEmVa
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y5oo4afPF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyYMTAkUqe
The others didn't need to be told twice. We scattered, the others disappearing into one room while I pulled Sasha into another. I slammed the door shut and bolted it, the creature's moans echoing behind us.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwzaPBdKhZ
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QtsYvF9mM
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiVFDkhEze
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoS1HCuK30
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Evelyn.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lOTaEo787
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmmrVDzeQQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHlKJ3JR40
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFkb1gchDu
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiJOrbGlyt
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFq6zH8XRL
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"I did," Evelyn said, shrugging. "I got back a while ago. I didn't want to disturb you guys, so I came up here. I thought you'd left already. Do you know what time it is?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwPaEqBtqx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOozLl3ixFf
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREA8nEdnTX
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The creature's moan came again, louder this time, and Sasha gripped my hand tighter, her nails digging into my skin. A cold chill ran down my spine.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx7TESv84K
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCVBSElu1m
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGyKQQTL9t
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU81rmnWtg9
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGvCpWZHZ8
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD0dQqjoi8
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzlKrmeFz5
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArNBm5Vikr
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SG2YMvt1h
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Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lpW6r7dZh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mtUI2mbVZ
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS5l61qhS9
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTwc89bTVT
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUx6Hc6IYp
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEf04e4jcl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAywCxfXXK7
Evelyn walked toward the curtains and pulled them apart, revealing a hidden door. It was small and unassuming, but the sight of it sent a chill down my spine. What else was hidden in this mansion?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBJCgQyH55
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She pushed the door open, and we stepped into a walk-in closet. Hendrick, Maya, and Masha were already there, huddled together in the corner. Hendrick stood with a clothes hanger in his hands, pointed at the door like a weapon. His face was pale, and his clothes were stained with dark, drying blood.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPpdEhiVgF
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5QDT7H069
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmQqL0n3sK
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But Evelyn wasn't listening. Her eyes were fixed on Hendrick's bloodied appearance. "What the hell happened to you?" she demanded, her voice rising with panic. "And why is there blood all over your body?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m6gLyOyv9
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKA2pOEh4G
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCeZ9xv6Kc
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Hendrick staggered back before sitting on the floor, his face pale and his hands trembling. "Earlier at school today, when I heard you talking with Evelyn about coming here, I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity. A chance to grab some valuables without anyone noticing."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZAQcMevVa
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ9f8VjdBq
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1PHciSfYP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8F4Jtmm2Q
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tlAQolIa4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImo185TGzQ
"So that was a lie when you told me my sister and Evelyn were talking about doing drugs after school?" Maya asked, her voice trembling with betrayal.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHUctm7qLq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnDeKy7cF4
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpfY9wL6xi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdM9VJuAaE
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkOqMtfrRm
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGfWoLmRNI
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryhJ7xk3hJ
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jNPOYkLPv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhl87F9kWc
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ryt5vAC5L
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJODB7dmJVW
Hendrick paused for a beat, then reached into his pocket and pulled out an ornate box. He placed it on the floor next to me, his hands trembling. "I managed to grab this," he said, his voice barely audible. "But Martin… he didn't make it."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc1FBjj1iE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8zGh4D2NC
I grabbed the box and opened it, finding a strange-looking stone inside. Underneath it was a folded piece of paper. My hands trembled as I unfolded it, the ink faded but still legible. My heart sank as I read the words: "Preservation Ritual—Day 147. The connection grows stronger. Everything's going as planned so far."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQoqgtmz9D
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK4ZauT27z
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEJLvnqzQr
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsQBOhREzO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OSWceXhfV
Evelyn's eyes widened at the word "killed," but before she could say anything, Sasha lunged at Hendrick. "YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!" she screamed, punching him across the face.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY47DY7WbI
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I dropped the note and grabbed Sasha, pulling her back as she struggled against me, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "He got Martin killed!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIF9tInvrO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3LR8G8olO
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his gaze fixed on the ground. Maya didn't say anything; she just looked at him, with an expression of disappointment.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYpd2YMKdq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWharmmYtN
Masha turned to Evelyn, her usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare intensity. "Is there another way out of the mansion?" she asked, her voice firm.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrABR3JKaX7
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYWycTS8Rv
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalzEfNbJ0v
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aBHgBhIvH
Masha turned to me, and I could see the determination in her eyes. We shared the same thought: that was our way out of this forsaken mansion.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTOt5NEMeg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSw98SHMQB
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Penana
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