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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC5RWQ3EyF
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTRDsZ5KdX
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfixGXFNz6r
"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLhMkWuQfm
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnjv67wMPy
"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5gC3t3wkw
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZPDzAug8V
"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29hGiDt4bv
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzdIkOW8rU
"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?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFZVcpFxJn
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0LoQs0sor
Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SzEMxCML6
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSFpEvSwMA
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjIY6ST9Rc
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEvTl2npN0
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EgXhE1RnQ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWdi7lfzca
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOOlfaxDuA
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZR2ZJMMES
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vRxHRiZTi
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDWlmHSM7f
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTXNtMUVrh
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyLPBq2yx8
"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?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzgoeXErPw
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Na4zEHgMD
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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNcmW0zWm4
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwZmEpaEbk
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CWBEoGf7f
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubF871mSfq
"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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF3NzjKWpd
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUmzcA24EU
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLqwPdLj4D
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV30dnq5AMB
"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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5pzIpQZn9
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB4iqs5dzH
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0tURdPn21
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPhZcTW5KX
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87lA6WQjB1
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQulglJ5qJ
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNnpyQ0qQA
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjtIfIsErJ
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoUBJeYetc
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq47ykmTTBt
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9zTPm2idp
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYbBLQMrQ3
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzCgwYzuXk
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF10e3GbPL
"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbeKCrhSrV
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0cUrfaeMq
"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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CRf1ypj3l
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas2BYl0c4Z
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOO5h8APF2
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5pKhumnLU
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOdTfyD79L
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn32HX1r59Q
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?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRjCc9QtUf
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pxEkwkcxv
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmubFXypke
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR8f1ujCUr
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G0zH4B6te
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJngY9bhyR
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLppqijjz37
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcsQZhnx48
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaRb0WF1d9
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eEsRvMSqC
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJimFzvS8A
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlSTYVpW4h
Footsteps.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cRYefHAwi
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Footsteps.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUmXbOHMGX
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Footsteps.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi5lSEePtN
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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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw51EeeyXBo
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNHRODniN6
"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5BTmkT0JH
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvMeZ7tdpg
Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK4lOMM78D
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxHSA1n6Fc
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf8RRaMLt3
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgcWs6rBh9
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx46H3flsD
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX9Y9oc32W
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJuDF3ViWB
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbSY8W5284
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09hZuuEdPX
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKBIDQZ1bN
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c294jeIGX
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU2AISR8F2
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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWH94jB26t
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFyutm5Mus
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuG3bjcTM9
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U4eNCMLY2
"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?!"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdth7cThlp
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BQzcmWvqW
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc72qPbGKT6
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclyPvprn4t
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy0UVt4wv3
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7mqUQUPFe
Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb0vdlT5Tp
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbhnmSgR0Q
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhSEHKCEFb
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsiASVts3j
I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV1MKIXPKb
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnWMyt1KWZ
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhXidALNjp
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSaf58VqBq
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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6R3yoqeI8u
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a0h9ym0aQ
"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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO49Ber2rDv
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89We3cgWki
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK3dmPZnVb
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXi18ZfBnE
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYvnntIva1
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupXsaw9inK
"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovOpOfEvJj
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzoQ6ngCcJ
Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUJ6HgfIxN
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAesH4Vq8V8
-------
Penana
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