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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLl8Uc5PJk
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJiqPtvVG3
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCojEtmxlP
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrqHFOruXk
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyGDMHQ5WD
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMQZ2V7vXe
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH6b8TlVTX
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTXwwhZNeN
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8Otfg6Z2c
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQjdcu3MNz
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdChAi4nqqT
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyt5yen6gb
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV36xfTAxVD
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWSpuxyWxF
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOlhYdGkfa
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEr1Ml1DMK
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Evelyn.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqjAYWLoGS
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP33x3fDU7h
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TaxOjntBG
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pnO1ZuU5g
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZXnT01alO
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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?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHej76lJ2cf
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm82uP1is9
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX7EwKVWwJ
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCPcw70vOU
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCy6S8rxHu
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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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdqWeYm87v
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ju6SDbNVE
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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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHxfNLVOua
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEvP99ZTgA
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ02GkGZ970
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifhXtNb4oa
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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?113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjKe6V7gOM
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7XHN14AmM
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkagtacmc1f
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGVj4vbWxn
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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?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoLlDMY7EZ
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVhhA6FaC7
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEfS6JA4Ta
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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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyR3kYt8HD
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6efujOIQk
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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…"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2fYsld91u
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNq0x453s6
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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…"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oni9fPBYi
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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…"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO8x0EP4dm
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5DlzHDGn5
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CltnWuDbX
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCle8zlplkh
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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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp6rWiI4V4
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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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupPCSGT7hY
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z80PfySH8
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKInrxgagZ
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV5LeqVW2f
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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!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp6ncZABRc
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ270y3zx4lY
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01eZj1eYH6
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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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThwcut1ahX
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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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LdKU7K3iH
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Penana
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