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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbEgQWbc59
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3U5GnOyGf
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"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89FB0OhhtZ
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"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tJ4J0eomq
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"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q0FPJpm38
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"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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0pevGgTj4
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Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhtHdIoOwG
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Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNvig9aCrr
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The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaftrqcvDnX
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"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzZBUYUZ50
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"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyIb50g6bf
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"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGOI76GVZV
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"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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU9f8agRHt
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn82LZWAAwf
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"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbUuvPNou6
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"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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECmF7K4wcg
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"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKotaLPh5Dw
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"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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRff43spgU
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"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sgWJemPLy
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"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPmutyblQA
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I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVZCgZynfX
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Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL0n41C8Ua
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"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOHE1YI22x
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sEGXmMetn
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"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJQWqubPSQ
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6tzWKioiN
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"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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIORmyErhhl
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"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIM7IIQgAf
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDNoPNwGrP
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemo2Qkrzy1
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"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx3XMPSSMA
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPLNWPN9jm
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK4kY9kc2o
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLeYV6XCOf
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Footsteps.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaxMTvVAmo
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Footsteps.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdwRjSkeqC
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Footsteps.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjU6B5d9zU
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDYjlT5oWu
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"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm17Zl1a5i
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0UU5sS115
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"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mqh9TbSGs
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Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGErMc9ger
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Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSi3SvMBqv
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"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUtnGLPOsz
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"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8Umi86Y6I
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1xvay0Oh4
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOtUB9pfEs
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"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?!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3LHElKfHk
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImtEnCeevA
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4lMxL2gVW
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Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYjqVvlpwP
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAmn82yYp6
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I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbzFJ3k4ih
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmkauNtZCN
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwPzAB4PaO
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOMqiZaFTA
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"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbd9kT3jhw
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"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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkXlP5QWFI
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"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd73yephfE
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ81Oy8TVT
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Penana
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