The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of the mansion's ancient air conditioning. We sat in a loose circle on the floor, the tension in the room so thick it felt like it could suffocate us. Hendrick had suggested a game to pass the time while we waited for Evelyn to return with groceries. It was supposed to be fun, but the way he smirked as he shuffled the deck told me this was anything but.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk6ZRwessR
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDu0vNwq7z
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvWJPkcx9w
"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgDjxz8Ntl
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY75AOJWyx
"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8D8qF7WI1
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0aCV8yT4o
"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsR4gge3mB
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0zsG4Tyik
"Then it shouldn't be a problem," Hendrick said, dealing the cards with a flick of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned to Maya. "You're up first. Truth or Dare?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FSu7Tf8W6
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhr6cukigZ
Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmd8LfDmgn
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBkjNsodaH
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8l8Pyj0PL
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vx25YZSLB
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDGuiczr3i
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRomYv8LSMG
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BZGpOeJ4W
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKU4pFZKGh
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Km0ARVug
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAyQQRafsW
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFOnKLFqMb
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqkl7vC2Xj
"Trust you?" Maya said, her voice shaking. "You're the one who pushed me away. You're the one who stopped coming to the clubhouse. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even talk to me?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmzkEGV0ul
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h9s0MBpY3
The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Hendrick leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Looks like we hit a nerve."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgooTWObIT
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lPPOlCslI
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf5bMty3CA
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzX8K3tG6l
"My fault?" Hendrick said, his tone mocking. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding everyone. I'm not the one who's been lying."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK9yycKv1r
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6ylhHPVej
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtdSD2hiHA
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLinW1sxtnh
"Prove it," Hendrick said, his eyes narrowing. "It's Maya's turn now. How about you let her pat you down as a dare? If you've got nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPpYAi05tl
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsXjkedOmY
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IFNKPOIdh
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeShD5DbvI
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvk6BD9z0H
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsjbNw3yBU
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6TzjUu3xG
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV26fEXoXjl
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8zmzDcYGf
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAo98PrNNg
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QETyJxQtr
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia5FxCtEKE
Maya stepped forward, her hands shaking as she patted me down. The room was silent, the tension unbearable. She pulled a cigarette from the front pocket of my overalls and eyed me suspiciously.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDzYqkAnky
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P2edqpR7j
"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc14rAAGhc
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp9Uvz2v2T
"Isn't it?" Maya argued, her voice rising. "Because this is how it begins. First it's cigarettes, then it's alcohol, and then it's hard drugs. I've seen it before."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmAjLQRnVP
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoiApakbkk
"Maya," I started, but before I could say anything else, a sound cut through the silence—a low, guttural moan coming from somewhere deep in the mansion.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIxd49Poip
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TphXOzfxE
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXZ19g8T5u
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiInmGDl20
The moan came again, louder this time, and the air seemed to grow colder. I glanced around the room, my heart pounding. "Guys," I said, my voice tight. "Where are Martin and Hendrick?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNLPvS2oap
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2AoucZIaK
We got up and looked around the living room, the eerie silence amplifying our unease. "Babe?!" Maya shouted, her voice trembling as she searched for Hendrick.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbIPGyAJyy
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PZpXUWfal
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ADJY0FHin
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZB5vlqfGc
But instead of a response, we were met with a loud, piercing scream that echoed from the direction of the study. My stomach dropped, and I glanced at Masha, who shared the same wide-eyed expression of dread.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83DtQZIeCC
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoNO6qPRU2
Sasha started toward the study, but I quickly grabbed her arm, shaking my head. My eyes pleaded with her not to follow the sound. She hesitated, her face pale, but before she could argue, a heavy thud reverberated through the mansion, followed by footsteps—slow, deliberate, and growing louder with each step.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZWvssqe88
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY6TCYHUQB
Sasha's hand found mine, our fingers interlocking as we braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The footsteps grew closer, echoing through the hallway like a countdown to disaster.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oejz8kekv
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERpOauwfLL
Footsteps.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUU3OXK2gQ
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Footsteps.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WD7gtsblI
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Footsteps.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jtXjqnNek
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFMMB6SrS1
The door swung open, and my heart froze for a beat. But it wasn't a monster that emerged—it was Hendrick, his face pale and his clothes splattered with dark, drying blood. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe, his breathing ragged.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycBVVXGcm5
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqPXRTFsB1
"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5ZyfdJCyP
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MPiisLfy7
Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcWOgPHbNU
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3fTep4lkG
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtOCI5uMRX
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLSiA2mbJv
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvg2SAw2tS
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0kbBRcSdE
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sQABxpzzz
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q2LrwQS9Q
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA0s3oCOdN
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrevkjmumy3
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3Gz3ZoPux
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2SFD7j8aw
Sasha let out a shaky laugh, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "No," she said, her tone desperate. "You two are just pulling a prank on us. This isn't funny."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbpnkOxiDY
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYIcZpFHK2
She started for the study, her voice cracking as she called out, "Martin?" But I grabbed her arm, holding her back. Something in Hendrick's expression told me this wasn't a joke.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Q9XbpvKV
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP2VrKLg9z
"Let me go," Sasha said, her voice firm but trembling. I shook my head, my grip tightening. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she began hitting my chest. "Why won't you let me go?!"198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLpAF5nBgq
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M4KC0HZyY
Her fists pounded against me, each blow weaker than the last until she finally broke down, collapsing into sobs. I pulled her close, holding her tightly as she cried into my shoulder, her body shaking with grief.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUhy1W7TiY
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM2fIeFP81
The room was silent except for Sasha's muffled sobs. Hendrick stood frozen, his face pale and his hands trembling. Maya stared at him, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. Masha hovered nearby, her eyes wide with terror.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4oxBeODYT
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8l5qTUgJB
Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAb6Q4pWaT
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N2eEKEr46
The words hung in the air, sharp and final. Sasha's sobs quieted, and she pulled away from me, her face streaked with tears. Maya stared at Hendrick, her expression a mix of fear and something else.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekJEnxJ3UD
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjhK6IhucH
I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpVRXhhM7U
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvI1nPTocU
We moved as one, rushing toward the front door. The mansion seemed to close in around us, the shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. The air grew colder with each step, and the faint hum of the air conditioning was replaced by an eerie silence.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rzbyRNeby
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmubBGBmo0f
Hendrick reached the door first, his bloodied hands grabbed the handle then twisted and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He yanked harder, his face pale. "It's stuck."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy1EDdHElT
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XobmyOXmh
"Move," I said, pushing past him. I grabbed the handle and pulled with all my strength, but the door didn't budge. My stomach dropped. "It's locked."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv8SNar65p
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqWTAqzq1t
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrxpHI2AJz
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBWrlLt3gs
"Then we break it down," Hendrick said, his tone desperate. He stepped back and kicked the door, the sound echoing through the mansion. The door didn't move.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kr5CQmPP6
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsCgCJMROQ
"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXcvxPSIxZ
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8rDhPJ4Nq
Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUbvJc71XA
198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzMbx48fcM
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Penana
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