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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU9e4dWj3x
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGgwgoZplC
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"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYi9sdSXeO
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"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNFkOQWvQJ
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"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenYgXIBB7G
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh92IVw9E1
"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?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx4qqDa0iJ
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Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWMa4a8eom
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Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBzP4cwoHp
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvslgtzPnSM
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRUln1GHNZ
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3OsfdwtPp
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwxzOHRjFO
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U9yD1Y3IX
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0OvZ41tsP
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm5tkg4Hvw
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsCqUtf2fc
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uzdu0B8kd
"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?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesr20gL7PS
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M0ymoYW7l
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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHndMC2YAh
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN4BMXWvP6
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXq6coFi1h
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7Jks61h9k
"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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrf9w3uolX
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwAJOeyXmo
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGzu5QvNmz
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGXFgohNar
"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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bEuGZzxwk
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgKyHGBecv
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoZYibgBjK
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGlvyQIn31
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyetjG7s837
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JbOrvJewQ
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3xJHgiQOG
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiED4MtLzU
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nn4z7qpDA
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk3KcZe5M1
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKBU3x6pcN
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHvqnYCzrH
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"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATjsaqBRki
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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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZcjcAQ6fN
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM43JLa5EpD
"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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFmj2EUiBv
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK54SLuGP3w
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYysE1AnZd
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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?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9550Ubl5f
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiOE0czGdB
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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88JH45AydO
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeQ0VIVORC
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR6PXbBPl2
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfUDI6cPhq
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYost6o9fo1
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrkEGiALjX
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Footsteps.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjpGFKrpsD
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Footsteps.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMzlxrsmm9
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Footsteps.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgy24KN5I6
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirCgOVxvuW
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"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCpiR7fh9b
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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?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQf0REyLcf
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar4aXLhcSw
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39TYGXgrBD
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Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VtdcJS0gz
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM5NC4ou7B
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JA2Gw33M1
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"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrExL9yXNGh
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"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdIbwqhPR5
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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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTtiqemjqj
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ816dap7fT
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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJcWtP7Njc
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAYFQCo5UJ
"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?!"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkvxorHvR4
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF0PPEQ3F7
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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4P8e3izPG
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMCA7L1rNK
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Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzbdP7aPvr
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nlmwFR5sc
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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj3PvSCMvw
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I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDRMTgesrM
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uUTktIH4p
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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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrlUOLMo64
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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."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERq5cONlbU
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"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhaDLVFBwD
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qikdkysnQ
"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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Do3gJ9TNP
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"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBITH0kjfe
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPxkOxzlaR
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNU7mPjz5F
-------
Penana
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