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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPht7qsAmd
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4d8IuGX5q
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSOPvqH8Cw
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRzsUfeuiw
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmo5meq5eO
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRqgh7VEkK
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkangq9y1VO
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TMaEWjxkV
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55WUR2xc2K
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF2afDI97u
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx9ctNs3k9
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnE7JoXMSh
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgtZBzTWwP
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrcfqtDaZz
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeblcYK7tKy
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRimCon2gPY
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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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrkAFFBJ0m
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrD5CCTE1P
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIhnjCxxPB
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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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIw7ief4UW
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRplH3O0Bh4
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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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wbLsIOa0X
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Evelyn.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3pwEmoSbu
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f6ZdObsGr
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILfRWVGOes
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKI0PrCdN5
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCubesqnB0
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mhFL0tf0d
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoOtbEPoap
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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?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcWNPGZVxD
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUAxE1Hr4q
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgOvzplhJF
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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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B9BGFj6ew
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUho70RxBf
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuBtmgt5jd
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjOyN9Wtos
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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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ040JZ2J5cU
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRTTfqwzz1
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKLknkUHBv
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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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv4mKpitdT
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPESsR5QVX
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aT3oNB8dk
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF65nIq0zkX
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt3s1KMQ2d
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4j65PhpxN
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLOyFKdVyM
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?194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz0511iIxF
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnPRl9ieAB
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTweLugGE4
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tUPPpc9tk
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsqsAC8tUG
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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?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIZLpQYbMC
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqdkhfFqxc
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViKss1xxYH
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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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgh4qgB6j5
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvKBPZzvKT
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5UVw9oNo9
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcj0T6p2di
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF2xc4mweK
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"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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W0C3ijvFk
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9u31oSqXI
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwwQNnUZz3
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dSsIcKAy4
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Tf8PUbuve
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GmXk2WU5P
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7NFpUUjRJ
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyPE4KPGs6
"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl6LJIOh7c
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fVYFRfNuA
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQaCEja0WE
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSx0enjijv
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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAMVIYCFyF
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzocEMbhg5
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."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFI9pjkQPW
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98EmNtdQKi
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2NN2C21rC
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MKDROo8v6
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR3Vk9ye75
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcV9A1cNaa
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6QyAfw00V
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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!"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTx0apHHMK
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOpNHY2cF6
"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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42fKUpJUc9
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl30St9ZuyF
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4UcjQqfpI
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UHpH8OGVT
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4BPh3cZMG
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MBL8KcDsM
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.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUShKolbJzr
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OIqvkFXG7
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Penana
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