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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t3Qnnae8R
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM60AC59mqG
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2w2eFsKPG
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqBubT8EF1
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8FHrCJWbz
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OOkfKms41
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeJC31ar0H
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPZnz5V4Rw
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKDJqeSAZV
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6vWEtJbaf
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlrcrFAbAI
The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuCwFqiLhS
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HnnD5ug2K
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiQt2eUJJT
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEYRZIAbpS
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDLAxEIq1Z
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsJ8Z3CMeu
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6QSXzw4Z3
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEr03IluLC
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcYt1psggl
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VuDlKmYh5
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXiAsx6BWF
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni6is6tjsu
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlCcIJQhTT
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNtIn8bEKW
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi5cbE9zzm
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRb2ZL5dP9
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Evelyn.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnUecepA9c
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBUqicOXJc
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQKHzKXaZ7
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEhNPTh7m9
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyYLP6d7A1
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CGymkiLuG
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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?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJrcSolqi8
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37aApJrwFi
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLdPp1OADT
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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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq0fDzQtzl
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAI79YqZMD
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0gx43fORK
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyt30Gxtgw
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY7uEdLxgr
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ120cYWDBnD
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rCUaeBxsf
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDNKIS1NVJ
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcIj8Bny1t
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCAYkbhKGy
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZReK9UgFOl
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22dJN8lgqg
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOVcUsZr0Z
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxRDyGsVoJ
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh1rFEb7hL
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBYFA20CUm
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?197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgiFup0Nd5
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyuCh4r26K
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgvuXeNSCq
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXFdCG1eB1
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NqbZ8iqU1
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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?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFxkDQESOx
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5NDnEb0sa
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwZv0wMten
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLylrn5XPUc
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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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3PRRFAJzy
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao2LVj7yA9
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmaH5DtwJw
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7yWq44vyG
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsCZ2piliX
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gxZVHchFZ
"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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmmQhUKbVM
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zV2rpHrU5
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwDnr5rnx2
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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…"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPqVTvruQi
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPRHgP99dt
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzIVVDO8eV
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YdmiCS72O
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv589wnjNrB
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NHoSnQXAf
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p7CI9Zgxm
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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ416gBlF3hK
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyJ2ND4pqp
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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1frTTnXxc
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5spErE3T9E
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQlQtGcoCe
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdqK7HZANn
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYAVFJMb2r
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu3JqRFWxb
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzORLmOsR6T
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4yweYqyyn
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!"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4U6q1PU78
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJIseShNLO
"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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKWpBU6ZAl
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkHjNCZfUq
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaYRBzWajV
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gL8o5RgYM
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJDRkE5Mad
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA98UQ9ibA
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZlqzdL6hm
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Penana
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