The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of the mansion's ancient air conditioning. We sat in a loose circle on the floor, the tension in the room so thick it felt like it could suffocate us. Hendrick had suggested a game to pass the time while we waited for Evelyn to return with groceries. It was supposed to be fun, but the way he smirked as he shuffled the deck told me this was anything but.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPS938toA4
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrlQ1lk08c
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"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXBz7Mx7Ds
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnj2FhjC2i
"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDSNgpYPQP
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"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscEmr4ZNAG
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6SZ8mHiMF
"Then it shouldn't be a problem," Hendrick said, dealing the cards with a flick of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned to Maya. "You're up first. Truth or Dare?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfgnerq6vp
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIVl0lbr32
Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgpP9qZhZD
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5NvcF144Q
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH7iaIFLyS
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNnlET16AL
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3JwEoryDY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sjqruMSZi
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ulLWGa2IU
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgBbxoC3JW
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOUfdh1Olg
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3bcKFJYot
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAYeYJOzX3
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkJLklLVKM
"Trust you?" Maya said, her voice shaking. "You're the one who pushed me away. You're the one who stopped coming to the clubhouse. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even talk to me?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcknUAoc2mt
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifU2OCKb8j
The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Hendrick leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Looks like we hit a nerve."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF96BUUotON
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4SrlOE5sT
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglLTC38kde
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFVSVgmhVD
"My fault?" Hendrick said, his tone mocking. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding everyone. I'm not the one who's been lying."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7lgnxyQuj
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1wlRddEo8
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU86UwC8WjK
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB3uJGpmtg
"Prove it," Hendrick said, his eyes narrowing. "It's Maya's turn now. How about you let her pat you down as a dare? If you've got nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRudVqTk7Az
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzDLzpcNQx
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkS0PW8wKq
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZIt2p7rW0
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcVdDVSUCQ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7L6uzd2H6
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8hGyEPYkN
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4BCQkAW7q
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRu7DAk4IO
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigLogu1hHK
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZwcoE0Eey
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmJmYd4GSq
Maya stepped forward, her hands shaking as she patted me down. The room was silent, the tension unbearable. She pulled a cigarette from the front pocket of my overalls and eyed me suspiciously.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgcqZoWCUb
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpZqz8TTSg
"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qgU7eJWAE
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"Isn't it?" Maya argued, her voice rising. "Because this is how it begins. First it's cigarettes, then it's alcohol, and then it's hard drugs. I've seen it before."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nHvhA9opQ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaMDfj39ME
"Maya," I started, but before I could say anything else, a sound cut through the silence—a low, guttural moan coming from somewhere deep in the mansion.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17aovQeaT4
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo31UWd9mmt
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkkiKsfmxj
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqCw93vB5z
The moan came again, louder this time, and the air seemed to grow colder. I glanced around the room, my heart pounding. "Guys," I said, my voice tight. "Where are Martin and Hendrick?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWZIwrm5iq
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvItPRWAd0
We got up and looked around the living room, the eerie silence amplifying our unease. "Babe?!" Maya shouted, her voice trembling as she searched for Hendrick.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevTq4PqoCd
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp5Gm9eSEA
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJadF3zQy16
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmymjBTIHK
But instead of a response, we were met with a loud, piercing scream that echoed from the direction of the study. My stomach dropped, and I glanced at Masha, who shared the same wide-eyed expression of dread.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vdrKKHHUh
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Sasha started toward the study, but I quickly grabbed her arm, shaking my head. My eyes pleaded with her not to follow the sound. She hesitated, her face pale, but before she could argue, a heavy thud reverberated through the mansion, followed by footsteps—slow, deliberate, and growing louder with each step.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsijIgxPFHX
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gjitni8fM
Sasha's hand found mine, our fingers interlocking as we braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The footsteps grew closer, echoing through the hallway like a countdown to disaster.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPZVeYU8mw
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Footsteps.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA67NdtyJk
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Footsteps.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dr0VOfXjR
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Footsteps.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF5VnUQmoV
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The door swung open, and my heart froze for a beat. But it wasn't a monster that emerged—it was Hendrick, his face pale and his clothes splattered with dark, drying blood. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe, his breathing ragged.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSxf2mPp7z
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"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TCzgLtKMe
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Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf8rgCyn99
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx6rbwRhjx
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaIPiyBE59
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpMIhLCZcB
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNgmx2biej
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LFWITaQT0
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFyEzebHID
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXOqnv0L7W
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE9OGI46Qo
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkGORp7i30
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphvjelgwxO
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81znPP5Vsr
Sasha let out a shaky laugh, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "No," she said, her tone desperate. "You two are just pulling a prank on us. This isn't funny."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK8BSyYl9k
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek0tTv3Fgy
She started for the study, her voice cracking as she called out, "Martin?" But I grabbed her arm, holding her back. Something in Hendrick's expression told me this wasn't a joke.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBpg4JAC01
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq0V2qJekw
"Let me go," Sasha said, her voice firm but trembling. I shook my head, my grip tightening. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she began hitting my chest. "Why won't you let me go?!"199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrADsis3AG
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ39fc56Z9
Her fists pounded against me, each blow weaker than the last until she finally broke down, collapsing into sobs. I pulled her close, holding her tightly as she cried into my shoulder, her body shaking with grief.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mHT8atS8G
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4TKUegp7g
The room was silent except for Sasha's muffled sobs. Hendrick stood frozen, his face pale and his hands trembling. Maya stared at him, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. Masha hovered nearby, her eyes wide with terror.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrGRkusxbj
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeWEHAUZ4l
Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYjsbD05kU
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8OgtHrbEj
The words hung in the air, sharp and final. Sasha's sobs quieted, and she pulled away from me, her face streaked with tears. Maya stared at Hendrick, her expression a mix of fear and something else.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uKAWttmAY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyna1cdj5QY
I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqVQLOjSCa
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrOCySrn0a
We moved as one, rushing toward the front door. The mansion seemed to close in around us, the shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. The air grew colder with each step, and the faint hum of the air conditioning was replaced by an eerie silence.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7C3v8SsJT
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Hendrick reached the door first, his bloodied hands grabbed the handle then twisted and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He yanked harder, his face pale. "It's stuck."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNzwZ3yflc
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HTXJierXB
"Move," I said, pushing past him. I grabbed the handle and pulled with all my strength, but the door didn't budge. My stomach dropped. "It's locked."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwCtLvDl9U
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOqOWPBZLQ
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VThfIFnTY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLCBCRI1fX
"Then we break it down," Hendrick said, his tone desperate. He stepped back and kicked the door, the sound echoing through the mansion. The door didn't move.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhTBExcfTX
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM6MqU4nhu
"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5mFzpmIwj
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdSg5KM7Cn
Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6grLYExBVb
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfaOzSzSce
-------
Penana
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