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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv2jr9ZwFt
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"Sasha! SASHA!"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG2SpjtESX
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugbopL3Euj
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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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNtNxPtsWe
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBivLyi8Pl1
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNEvkCUu9o
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45vbuYlrMQ
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyF97Nx0lf
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C4PX8cIXp
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFcq7CNRHv
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwfSzEo0QV
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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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL3B3H8Y7P
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98yjzfaPPC
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfMIam8DiQ
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6o95bXP5y
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"I haven't looked yet."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jlxeW6gUz
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzejJE4418v
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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?"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zPBiM8whM
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnQiSwrqda
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEFEek0w0Y
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H68PSArhR
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLr000KQJz
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VMiyYn33I
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFggkMcMXOc
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QMp7bs6ke
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Cool. But also terrifying.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsQgw8PXeT
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z0LzG6qfK
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwyHwoQ14S
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaooSHyT106
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZJMR07xJI
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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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DHpxQnSFI
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrXkF2dTsl
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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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkSRbIW9Hf
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREBbhyPYVI
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXF7JEEc4A
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA81CTY7YBG
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkSk26TJsM
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8f5QNmdqQ
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfEzvSv90b
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7BeZ4PpOa
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGOqpRUhCE
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnVwKemUrf
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabcYgEZZin
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNShPdoiQLE
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAzAwhscTa
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCe4MO6ADA
"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?"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpXlCNNjES
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RUWlwQdzc
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7nBy3RlcM
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd1tE70NnT
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScnzBfnVUM
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ABNTawK6c
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1VOGKZLpu
"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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95vW9lD5i7
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyneBW4GRy9
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"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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOARFemm3H
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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."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsaMw9u3bM
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNjF3gvba8
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdVeHFmT3e
"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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUOlpu73xU
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmLv92hUQv
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb3evZOFXW
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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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuHKMSUnuu
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------
Penana
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