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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnJ9JwxKnc
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBHUXabpMY
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg363C535E
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi15v39MBcd
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTADLWdieKA
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zbc5YAa25
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERpfcD8VqA
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHjgQ27ws9
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3nPEsZYOm
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2o4pYYOkl
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGH0uCQIoh
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ527eShYPxY
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsEuQI6TOP
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY4mC40rOM
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI6hfvwxjA
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJRGhnOSJY
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mDdLhBRqc
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUoSV8LA5A
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku74ZgBv2W
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Evelyn.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VcT486emA
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSntDXBCvEX
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmZife70br
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ryFpXuPdH
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VHDkvL0E4
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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?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqqfOVZfZ8
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52D9wX4wmF
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBHKMy3VCi
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8tnsgQxzn
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMxNkfd6Cz
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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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcebuqdqXx
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOC14EQ3jB
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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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYWsaIdcsw
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88i0uCNy7l
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc3p4FlyAB
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuihGs7ovAe
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4h8Sb2uT9
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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?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1MAOLkfV1
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuX03tfbsf
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcAuMCrsUQ
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5S2or1Ffr
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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?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yPP5mV4uM
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn4TPLZ4X2
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx5PxNHtKY
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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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUJQ36TilJ
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHqB38yoOd
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA4SOcIioT
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ7x2wiqmH
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcYjKxwaKZ
"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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrFrsLSbO7
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYJLn4lV0n
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVz9BpYRt4
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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…"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQh1mLdrDb
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9OpkBADTd
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPddhcEvwFG
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlkyad3kSz
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFnkw6pONJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L4lW8UQIz
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaDwnNPiJI
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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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWve21t3JHy
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwQuDFqXJg
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFXwHLLqKn
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPMAstHm3j
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFQ2HWUI2X
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUQ4VjeZCf
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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!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhtFUC1Dtw
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzT4Nqn70X
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQY3u50y8r
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUscDrYGXyT
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsUEULoZVd
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwj7C2hpDN
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK8bTt37rY
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Penana
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