I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGHugMoHCZ
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"Sasha! SASHA!"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C8eZIgGtf
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSmVWPuh9C
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SMmUPCKfP
I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCBMMeWkoa
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I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dYDrpUh02
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9IJohF977
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1a2zYgL7f
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I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHkaVrOrXY
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcaAAJ9oMU
Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR3T9db6ch
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlb4MdNcmH
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkCYI6kkcy
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj67B7kcgp
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzzpkJ3Mfg
"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW7QkItvVL
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E7YRmwIsy
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrdyBDS4Vw
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LR2hZnsfx
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmlIwSe0w7
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"I haven't looked yet."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu6DduGisM
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"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk91d6ICqF8
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFugz2KE6s
Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJikhrr3Er
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiSmSUNv6n
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7Y4FfGMBu
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKefyEc0sE
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBK1mznUKv
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5uVzFbhTZ
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyGlGUnxaE
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfYGgLyR9D
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UxtpCt6pN
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy05uds591
I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7cIS5V1Sv
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Cool. But also terrifying.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2PaLPrqUn
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The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFwJNfAlO6
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaOH05jAzL
Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uwP4ghAS7
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2fEatgNYn
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J8VKMKhHg
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TjY8nMCsv
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She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH5ZeuNhPn
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pMlkK8Lg6
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnkIpZRI9t
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6coZeaJI90
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTni6liqe8T
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASuVc15fCy
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNcOsuV3NP
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUvYmf13zf
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfnAws8sPq
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOyduRG23Z
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfb19LlGWe
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUWuo2Nx6X
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4swofrX4GT
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghPZDcqJka
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX4uQofE9b
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaABH22fLF
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXw49QJj2F
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC1GB3yG1K
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKINVz6sXZn
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvQa5shLA6
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrntD0up8a
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rqb12DSUU
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA46OzBCYYK
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdsYSJTdG8
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLAuY7zeTL
"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuAGKm3IFe
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtLFGPN0zK
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo0jDhEaPW
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyMuOuXqns
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S0ZTn6Yks
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR9NLG0CDU
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ8Zy47tyg
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qDFCwYjIH
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFBn5xoU7P
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYCF8plwDM
"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX82vVVgd6
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3W0IROchrF
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"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFkL6Y1UEM
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtW2Su3FMg
I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHRGjNwGZ3
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgNo1hwklj
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkUgRLipiC
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdPIKeAOTN
"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgrbQluPfK
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRte8jfbVm1
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQHEj6TW4p
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNZW4W45uH
I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cZQgAwEsf
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVknfu8qev
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhBohBcBtE
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj82HL9qvTT
------
Penana
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