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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa98cpmf9xW
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEAHNPjHA3
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"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdRP6VGPFs
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"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tv59vWhKy
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"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO3LaNoeD2
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"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?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZuKOrsUTH
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Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiJ0kLEd85
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIa0Smuiw9o
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xLkfc6JcP
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5spplE5972
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPZrCi5oXS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIyy9Lkz46
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrG5XX2BNr3
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"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegAEw9zpdL
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"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErV0uoIXEt
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"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?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v97GfrfZS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPhK7vwRIw
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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFE4o9Emt0
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h3QRI19sK
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeja9dQ0CnJ
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJybSsjIpg
"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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjGzl5i6N3
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6HR16kLH3
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfsKACkOhd
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeUEuNqidR
"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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyrZIoPWrt
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1ZBIyUxgQ
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbfhw1vNEi
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDy54dt9sq
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJTxSrAXew
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D3dc693NG
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hFOW3N4En
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lWb3QWhWR
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlj3x26DAf
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNUJx2mBJG
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDuTlgYsan
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaRFWs2THc
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAS636qEiJ
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"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaf5Fur85J
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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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2MyrgohTn
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2yAHY4ary
"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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS20u6raAc
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0IwMzOYbl
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAZFaWCvs2
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaRZW4cAeh
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?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtM5IRmN1z
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEgzkd9cCK
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fSjTxAhqp
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwPxzoDl53
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyzc3lV6uQ
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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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeNYcpzEvE
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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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMZKd7Q8Zj
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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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYvvAOnbkj
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Footsteps.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXFY4wlhua
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Footsteps.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2EGAqHonQ
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Footsteps.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqhc4cohG9
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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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME7K98E2wc
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"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgulOklgNUG
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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?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic6j3iQEwR
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"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47RqbG8SL4
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Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxRJWC5pyy
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaEBBjQY4N
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsv1PkLVvG
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj2y4qaH61
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyFkal15cA
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeyncv1AOb
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ug5MX8IHr
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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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QdsNo3lt8
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HUsGYh7on
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusKI7jWCmH
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCrpyVDzic
"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?!"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhltYLqe0xI
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkVhpcWoTu
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvoomaWdMd
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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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg7hcFFzvs
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Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoolfpbT1O
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQAC00MAu2
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1OGpVMHIx
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I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKC2zAr8cM
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaAVpNJCxt
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lxA2TfKPO
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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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32hVmMCdNa
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"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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSRRd87PPc
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDyVNHTvBU
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYzI9c6ChA
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS237fuqTbB
"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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXvXoiiBS3
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"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OrWSUqJ8p
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Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4QKbH22lx
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5zh9ZesHR
-------
Penana
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