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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbaotePbpN
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"Sasha! SASHA!"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8aKK4ZyU0
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7ulLhW7eX
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbp29e8Duh
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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdv9MK3YFo
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxdmZkxno9
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlqraM0jPY
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLsxTNLyoL
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BUj23mF6u
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO2dnqbU1A
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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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhmGujBEfH
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIvl4I78c6
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zztSAuGYf
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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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE9w4eGyQt
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQYFghs5yH
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l3jfIHpvp
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR7BJFROM1
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6VepB4g5y
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKAgt5AJ4V
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZXkvxnQdd
"I haven't looked yet."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtFlxFEgNj
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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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IN2aMz48e
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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?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINeFeBCS5s
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXCLv0m8tk
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvclywGwGR
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRrRdtAw80
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98ei4q8I5s
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10BbQLXozX
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PAUoXCbxR
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1bcleO7Ui
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpF3x4NhPb
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Cool. But also terrifying.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGh4YbIaRc
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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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik8tiS9fzS
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo36J60hQN
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiOxS572Hx
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSp44gGUnL
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ528bXAcViz
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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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMIacPwohR
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ66Qhz211b
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbCjpmVX3z
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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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1LjLfYGgZ
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOwGcWOfXa
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxTyKHX0yu
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLBRHLoQ5d
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU4PvU06DD
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg2q0HEQgX
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50AS2NcJ0S
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYQJJCvEoN
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XGlxrYt8e
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n2MTANJNU
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYeyUeKmUN
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkICOoGAHJr
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡModKfLPFr4
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0jzYGsFGF
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEhLXq15MW
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzZlgvOMgn
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydAf7HrJ6g
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjy7RuKiBt
"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?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhYtCMQnKm
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWLEWGIGM9
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsBBZfBBCV
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43GccFkp5q
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigDhB9dJrL
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpCyThISf0
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbLsenTnsX
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL8f9mlVN1
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT8N0LPebP
"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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvzNzcPSTF
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcWvElJZHU
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9F76vlAvj
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWePcgwvcO
"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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwauGd7iom
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26r0nxCyWH
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."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGt774JmM8
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2roIBCenec
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedPmOROt1p
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf9owcqCKI
"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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnam5hH2R8Y
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEAwnYAzjM
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2MA7dPfIq
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yMTTLHvVw
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk43foEurR
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.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p2Wqs3zwh
197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf17I48aC4
------
Penana
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