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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZCOcc3fxq
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"Sasha! SASHA!"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghuOHSSw37
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcSUve6MOG
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSxhLSzAdB
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uTXbTza31
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoPFQW0SKe
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rv5yTYtik
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv2bjvOc2Z
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrmB8Dst1i
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujnWjiAdi6
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMico8g9Zm
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzlujAoPBT
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqum9WcXZF
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBKnGmcZqD
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"I haven't looked yet."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8oPZoOljt
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjzxanMb32
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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?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZnfFSjtxd
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBi8qmWVBC
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEgKAM8R04
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Etyw8gL7O
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr66vNmJJME
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU2ikZ4EsZ
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQXsx3iQXr
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWNai304c6
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Cool. But also terrifying.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCQbKb8mcJ
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk25TixRSn3
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEYJbo53E7
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSPKkkZYMx
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJL93NdJXX
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvVt7JlqMd
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQPgTFvhvU
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURTRbR7N6j
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVivdNeF7vb
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPfeODkkwL
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwKFHRxodd
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtIPP99fJE
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbaKOH8s6R
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJF2qs7dLa
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJiu2yZf5p
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOw7k9JFBT
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXXbNhnrq5
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gypkqSqLp
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4efhcSFPE
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8EFq44uOG
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL07VUskfRo
"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?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5GxHzqiYM
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9GhO7NjVL
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F2Sjn3IoO
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT39wJa7TM
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKiwcomHzS
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS22Tuq1sq
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNXNPGowvm
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWuPaXASvg
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK0vDOoqbE
"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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ29SJ0ZkM4
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gsdBCDrh9
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡireKa96qTj
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI45ceBQzEl
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDDpJqOEc9
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KZsJOLOqr
"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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUOSP9vVyH
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6MHsE7sh6
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYahi2G9AGO
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzanSbZRHHW
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------
Penana
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