The silence didn't last long. A low, guttural moan echoed through the mansion, sending a chill down my spine. It was coming from the direction of the study.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjz3Mwqi6H
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQhEPZ0Tqn
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2wbDTnhFB
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPldRCpeka
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX32tG01rjI
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRplm9kvMb
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NifA8EWul
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVn0xkKqS0
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27zr7uEGr0
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIjdPiBzo7
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKGFbTDQRV
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNFUESJj8Q
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcRAyjzjEy
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk63VJHGYZw
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The footsteps grew louder, and the air seemed to grow colder. The shadows in the hallway shifted, and a figure emerged—a hunched, humanoid shape with glowing eyes and a grotesque snarl.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H9LY6vCD7
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi6KX1d5Pf
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The others didn't need to be told twice. We scattered, the others disappearing into one room while I pulled Sasha into another. I slammed the door shut and bolted it, the creature's moans echoing behind us.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIlP5wi6fW
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbXX6WBulK
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I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKG3yUwqy1
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Evelyn.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQzehYHyhg
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6EfhBpIDr
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"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77bxiWKqZS
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcEO68sX4e
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A9dwrby9Q
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"I did," Evelyn said, shrugging. "I got back a while ago. I didn't want to disturb you guys, so I came up here. I thought you'd left already. Do you know what time it is?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiXTyVRGl7
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHveIQF4RiZ
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The creature's moan came again, louder this time, and Sasha gripped my hand tighter, her nails digging into my skin. A cold chill ran down my spine.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MdBcmCFpP
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNdUAbckia
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8GSGk4Fo6
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Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XS2DbDfb8
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wkoectI5Z
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Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtQ6HVfNXt
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVefiblXFSA
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hAY0ysGTb
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HY71RJwvF
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Evelyn walked toward the curtains and pulled them apart, revealing a hidden door. It was small and unassuming, but the sight of it sent a chill down my spine. What else was hidden in this mansion?260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8C0GRnqVy
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She pushed the door open, and we stepped into a walk-in closet. Hendrick, Maya, and Masha were already there, huddled together in the corner. Hendrick stood with a clothes hanger in his hands, pointed at the door like a weapon. His face was pale, and his clothes were stained with dark, drying blood.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV2nl92v1F
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrZjsyrl1K
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzEDWGommh
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But Evelyn wasn't listening. Her eyes were fixed on Hendrick's bloodied appearance. "What the hell happened to you?" she demanded, her voice rising with panic. "And why is there blood all over your body?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq4V6SlpZE
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxWULPOjti
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI6wRbu9QG
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Hendrick staggered back before sitting on the floor, his face pale and his hands trembling. "Earlier at school today, when I heard you talking with Evelyn about coming here, I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity. A chance to grab some valuables without anyone noticing."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlawqO5kES
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUfN55tuml
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe53abDHLYv
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsQ18Hxbc4
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgADE88BHVq
"So that was a lie when you told me my sister and Evelyn were talking about doing drugs after school?" Maya asked, her voice trembling with betrayal.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzikCnqXSe
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOlUuYexIw
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"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjEY9pLtNc
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMfVggTfaz
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBMjM6ESpM
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfEXzgsg7R
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1A6SDfbxO
Hendrick paused for a beat, then reached into his pocket and pulled out an ornate box. He placed it on the floor next to me, his hands trembling. "I managed to grab this," he said, his voice barely audible. "But Martin… he didn't make it."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTDh5DVdsM
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I grabbed the box and opened it, finding a strange-looking stone inside. Underneath it was a folded piece of paper. My hands trembled as I unfolded it, the ink faded but still legible. My heart sank as I read the words: "Preservation Ritual—Day 147. The connection grows stronger. Everything's going as planned so far."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGSisN2Fqq
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjv79KfYgQ
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCbo0JaT5p
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Evelyn's eyes widened at the word "killed," but before she could say anything, Sasha lunged at Hendrick. "YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!" she screamed, punching him across the face.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKyhH97gbM
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I dropped the note and grabbed Sasha, pulling her back as she struggled against me, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "He got Martin killed!"260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFhzPPRzSj
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his gaze fixed on the ground. Maya didn't say anything; she just looked at him, with an expression of disappointment.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMny6GahnE
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Masha turned to Evelyn, her usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare intensity. "Is there another way out of the mansion?" she asked, her voice firm.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqOngdyk1V
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"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG13VLHO00
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vAp0zgNc4
Masha turned to me, and I could see the determination in her eyes. We shared the same thought: that was our way out of this forsaken mansion.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAbeOe5GkR
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Penana
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