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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHccj7BF6W
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MxZbT6rbB
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wyGJvlM6E
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg3lzRsxbQ
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloniREB8nz
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ0atFzVNO
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zSUMuFz8Z
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES7IM7M9e4
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfhJouImGY
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp01mrFKFy
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKoxsICmQI
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId9f6mf1IE
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UA9EGMvhz
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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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA6ERGecDI
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTIwG4Onue
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AcfI5QDtr
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWHuub8st0
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgayDjok8Cu
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLPooBuhhD
"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9G9nvL1hf
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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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoZT4SnxnP
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbtqjtgGS8
Evelyn.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4CLw8Lps1
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynaAq5DWSF
She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiMiHW5Q7Y
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6tFdE3Dmf
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZSaQbkz4V
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qRE73FUEk
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimc2KABXm0
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsMYRbK5j1
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliaA7UkPm9
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XsDpwAES8
"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?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZO3Om8HlN
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yqWJD8Wxw
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsWn2qArtR
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXWL6xHNG7
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSwUMzBbRy
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ8KWR3h14
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpBbooRAta
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHl3tATIrW
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxedHeGIOX
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBKTXx9jm8
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W85f55HcJ
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmyMvlKmJQ
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yGTytbyFm
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC7gJulr9P
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3fAVx4A3Y
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgru7QurzOP
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtErfa93RP
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlIwI0jMVQ
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WrBXOY14B
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6dzBvPD2s
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz55i3PaoX
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?262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4UcqcNVAC
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40OMeLw9Rw
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFOITK4ooV
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEeWnKbEzZ
"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UV7rcSFUy
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelfWlj2V3f
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngazvjZv19
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?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzIlxSmhL7
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiEpgqUt8A
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SkzBuQJoH
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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."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3FRG7fN5R
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwGEenUcZQ
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4wmrkoeB9
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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…"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TRGwE1q6k
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vg8LBQvUP
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a6NIOzEOZ
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40fGoiXiqz
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jzTUdL2HW
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxyJpdyWpa
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZyAUmleXA
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybzpE8Q7qp
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKoAcnMuKJ
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExcH7tZaIp
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNWQSBpnbQ
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsWsIMHiNu
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc8fXcgoej
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."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWWWipp7w7
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLPW1Qh5s1
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."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcekBgs6vF4
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR9Kn47E49
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFSNVtPSHW
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQvkuFzTYt
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGg7vkmo5f
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmD8a1pKga
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFml7otSpfU
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZR5UZ7xHt
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!"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOBs3BXrce
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x97xe7NAg
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCGDvrJrHk
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OEPT6olF2
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN9JXgvdrU
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV6wUx4RdH
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEsGwTG97x
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUM102yn80
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDypNY2061s
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Penana
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