I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHD1288lRv
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"Sasha! SASHA!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZDquDpGdc
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq9xr6o3PP
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I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TohLp4qeg
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I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtoEMdGkbX
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc69nvszWZM
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I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnSO7q23KS
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Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin1sj4RGkb
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaAhVXRxcF
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpotXrO2Myu
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"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfST6M2rV7
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJJU5QaHRw
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv5GriTZSJ
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALVAx6SIhu
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"I haven't looked yet."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2EENEbc1Y
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"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1am9IXv4Z
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Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkQa0Q0hKN
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNXn1gUqQN
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWEX0prcsH
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH76CpYH5F7
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65U0RPrKj8
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRY3G6n532
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I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P6u8WLJ6j
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Cool. But also terrifying.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7fxoxHmRC
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The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTZd0RZ6DG
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Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjUCvfvCLH
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ0EzXytNY
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw6eseOMbB
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She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKmTu0sKxf
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb3z8aLlNr
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXPwQJAEfY
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXXaNa6CQb
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwusKe43oZ
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrLFDpIK04
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmibBNIsowV
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk43Hy94oV
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xZlKlLlag
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSyAt86pXH
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ6O2aR6U4
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ2QjP8zuU
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqopiNsPWXW
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKT1rDZpPQ
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FjPWpFHsG
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"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEd09xCWmd
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtN3sBaDty
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85svbbJQAh
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2JCFmuxyx
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpRiDHOSF6
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvk021iVyT
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"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgmiQunpJj
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoRdgAx6Mw
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"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFdaL5xKKI
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I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquj9sjyu4r
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MqmXmQuE3
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"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ137bHiGvI7
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeE9w09dqV
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I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgslbvOzZl
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The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoCPo54exB
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------
Penana
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