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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZtJBgYE1s
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"Sasha! SASHA!"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BUbgs7thT
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcodyL5Gdbz
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQdiXqIpzR
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoyq3blYV1
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi77xqsd5F
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlcqqx3f7u
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQGSPS5bYV
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgMXbZ1Z4t
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfmrhOlCRY
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d1KGS0NEl
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31tL50JRPM
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG8gF3QMCl
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxrQEL3N76
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"I haven't looked yet."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9ICn1ITtr
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AlQZ1Chuj
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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?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjif41I0ENA
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeuVZFOHw0
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OqlQHMU4R
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyS8f3Xyfj
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLhClGe3JL
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH7IOIQS8J
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiHSCTZfha
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Cool. But also terrifying.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlmq5xhWxg
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tlp7rJVc0
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLB8pPLZ70
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOpXJeB497
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4limsN55B1
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1peZKyPaRi
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfULkQ5SmJZ
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSptydKuvL
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhDv4THzzt
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7OOR4ZhFx
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOecbotUDC
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlOvITSa90
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0FFuaJDDo
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjBQfvKJR7
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrjS5UVYEM
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTymosldup
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT20X2t8S5a
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4sl3NZKxx
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"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87GxcY8aEP
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"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?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFHxwzqaf2
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnbqWVp1tD
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EnlV7FCtZ
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu4XGmAZro
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ561jY4WQKH
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XiVgSSUMo
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLadH6DzASO
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAhaukicwy
"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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNqeZA4N8O
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqNeLTTNjg
285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKVluML57W
"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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBNQigmUYE
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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."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDep1v9EHP
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquKZSOFWMu
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"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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G0mNmdwuF
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY8WKaEISZ
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X603ovFJy
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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.285Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7NxDY2XWW
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------
Penana
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