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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGegLXe65Dr
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"Sasha! SASHA!"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MV43vGstJ
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iJHARWkeN
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXLr5cVSxM
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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjg62fwvAx
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X2CNSpnji
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yNtB9mzrP
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVVQbnhTLS
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8iYB0vvpZ
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenfWJ6OXCr
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF1UjYaulm
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwYUMaBB3b
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBPegKLmG6
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkbwUuzfF0
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIhSaexZYc
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE6QKNoKy7
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrW0zhlJAk
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w7PTAnont
"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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYdje5QpYh
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlQhT4slU0
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0D7sH25yl
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM74t98Seq
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkziXkokOv
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7i9PK1ERt
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44qfaig9Vb
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZfCFVDWTk
"I haven't looked yet."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDISkillf7
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS4IEJrQrU
"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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRnKJWWb9S
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH6dP8hEgf
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?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AcCW4sBwE
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B6TFezOwy
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFr8aNMIOS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu0c7gbWbM
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7gQC6TBUA
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWQNqfLuzo
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpky0tsh69
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxh75b9ech
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOZ6gj0iSo
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzQdFO1iM7
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsAePaWlHC
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhfUZQQnY0
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLxhV4PdGl
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOACxadHxk
Cool. But also terrifying.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDDw4m8rJs
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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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv80DZ59wS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRpqbbArcO
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmNSuQv1qy
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrktM6S4ow
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX3sybOoSw
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Es6ZYHf1
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJEXW5bvyI
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WUMAp2nEd
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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sJhqloUlw
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNLZ889pNA
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIOebaqvXB
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG36OQmHuE
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkXHcXbLMz
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSdvGIPtgn
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP91onOEo6
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPnasOo9ND
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1yYKvja5B
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tmx200HzR
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHsjkNPZvn
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S0mCOcGO5
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPn5kpSuNK
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W2MZDqoil
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OsgPl8AMn
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGWwzq9zn8
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeLBJSgoLN
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6iJRBc4FE
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijjgQQTj6y
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlbBQqXPzq
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnt3kpQDxf
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3WDTHlhJG
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O4CqGlpSI
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXhtUFFtPy
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWesd6pK0m
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ir9PDfH32
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG4FtPCLKr
"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?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3TfwHTa9J
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFLTjDYZp9
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpODK42MV0
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBivwGZnmv
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpblNpIaLYU
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwB6ENwyMW
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1gF3g96jX
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfDKhPR6bF
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF7W3EbmOb
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRwYsBS20g
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXsW20ZHub
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuHaSFo8xZ
"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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fRUW0GcAq
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44ipN0mMpL
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFKxL9wO7q
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2rBWfQ3mp
"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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXJUK2vpwG
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHPe2A6FeQ
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."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52mxfX28OW
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDsnKngKpj
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoTFTDFLap
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqTVJ16824
"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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIzRDrrKkP
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmltV68WJYC
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCipECUY5C
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKQlW0BdCJ
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb7jkAiCc3
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZHSxPqcbS
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.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ROgIGSI3g
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUBAcg0gGX
------
Penana
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