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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm8Y7s0ORt
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1dC3HTuLI
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDEUXGrdwQ
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNFeO9parM
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNCuxvJuOe
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FQmNxesvT
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF55EyBTKWs
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZgAmRcrKS
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYoA6QlhRx
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKfWUwGHto
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5WpLeKA5h
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf03DPTNBY9
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ic0o0KcLN
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJjjky2vOc
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIDjStStei
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Evelyn.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfOjfdxonP
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYtYglfNlS
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"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYQylbdSCa
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k4soWGmJ8
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gNXlIY855
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"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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QKnTUX7BO
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSWPEocrDq
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFAyftm9j5
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5pVzAutPN
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACYwmTrX8e
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Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAwcuYvB7y
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NSm0iH1Ga
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Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52xb2sE6FC
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7VanSV48Q
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaVXsqLNsG
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbN2i5Yvtj
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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?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnpSShpUSj
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtAViVIwa2
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w7H1Hs54A
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEEUpKRmPW
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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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqumhRjlykY
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fw2PCr1o4
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh6KbK2f5V
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpAXD6doR0
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2leZbjY8Ov
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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…"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hktqmY5il
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"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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsORadpwO1N
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xy2YYeJRo
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"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4UVc85TkU
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9mZ9rh0tj
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7uYn8v338
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuqtDpNRDQ
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeicBzpDUn
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIA3LSta1q
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQexM0La7M
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgscIOTyvV
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMnX2BO3mb
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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!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnIVB1TVlB
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"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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvIYRwT1jh
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHi12dM3c0
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"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrxLz4elF1
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaX0bNaVaF
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Penana
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