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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIGb4tnXSH
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqOTJQcW6q
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0HFv2ToT6
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFb3vDFeUe
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtKgbBp1vv
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73Lhkd6r9p
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHce9zdnQw
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs74DGYnxWN
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0vaIqoGWq
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lrtQqyIJb
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DoaJxVQx4
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ2PS4aSID
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZbTg4B3sF
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp6Q6GzQrz
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApo1NiAfsf
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0cjWKbXBf
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Evelyn.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlMDT5PkMX
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc3gm2SdP8
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxap2R3uyTq
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH46HRfd9Q
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRuiKCoj5D
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndofedSbAc
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2ix72VLwA
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBUDgj0LCa
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ExUCz41Tq
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN4MjSutpz
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVPlOvIj6e
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvdAAwVPLI
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyqZTsaWZX
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4voixHIxho
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluot0nNpma
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQQaNKXrTT
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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?109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8CgwLIMVr
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB4mTtCRMz
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMLDQRN6db
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvgaOYjvGu
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW9yobRW6G
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGz22DGTCR
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6zYR4pYGb
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEP4TWerKm
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgU5ZPAOcM
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdXk6X5v7p
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYME1guPC9
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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…"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0Kb5l4XLD
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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…"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ709oDXrCFZ
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LcBcFWoF7
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aXKVYIXGm
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIHjnqYn5A
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV6J7vldpX
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl7OAeYqwn
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf25qpqP9Z
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4vlYpoDab
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWZvKjWfC2
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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!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TMCuEJZUs
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmDXgkVdx2
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1AN7zFQxt
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ArkMzwKnd
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY4D5sTn6n
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Penana
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