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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfjUIG2i0S
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga55XMuTEc
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcWwlFmx34
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqdueJy7N6
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4SY5vU1CK
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3PC1njkwS
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHQHaCnNCE
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcthmcpBPaa
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfooPg4uO4
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCifzjVgnCT
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8skvWyRw7
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceoSFTtbvH
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvaxmAIeCn
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XTXEuHRJk
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SFJTwkSBu
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ruHvvTg3J
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFu5jCcRZv
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I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOitdMwh5b
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Evelyn.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZpO6m37zh
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEni962TiM
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"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRMtub8sVQ
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoLpioczHx
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYenfhEvyW
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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?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nD3igU5o9
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOnd9TpaYn
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVMOxQY1UB
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOlqhyZcce
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspYw3VNM2B
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Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlVfAd2OYd
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX67nBCxGe
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2TBPwJMnK
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnZDC7xDnR
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpdgx4HEBv
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sxYhGynFD
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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?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhYz9YHelp
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlq43nEWYJ
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehJdxiIp8x
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95qJFNZ37o
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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?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3jykJW2OQ
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzdHcNwK1l
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuSJV5VJCo
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3gJ3ZuOzW
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty5liGcI4f
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktAbNgSugp
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"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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUEj3JvKxp
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdirHwCwkR
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"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pucqSHSiQ
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yojGAwuOZ
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowW9ZQCCQl
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3wKvuNTFl
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH4otv03z8
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUB97uTQtM
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iw0qjJbsS
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYH4iT9dcy
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNbBm37HrO
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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!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4DL3d66Lh
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"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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsZDt244xS
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63MHLi0Jhb
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"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy4tlsjgQN
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFjV54xUnZ
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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDMa9pYFvE
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Penana
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