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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl6SKO8yDp
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuUTM6uInt
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"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX8CgE6BQC
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"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoiqKIOHIn
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"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qM5Mb7IKs
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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?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3groscVHS
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Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYJHiuLsfA
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Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx14IJNTfc
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFRM4oOth3
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"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm6tYsWs25
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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?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ038f2T4VyP
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"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD0QVQFVyn
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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?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFBUQEQxR8
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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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqSNM7O219
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"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIQNduWA2i
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfofOKRFDsv
"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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfmf9yhvnA
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtcydcOkQx
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqT6Zvlv1x
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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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV0LXonVkJ
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBxHcTcSSo
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR5GW10GjB
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3XcABs1Dh
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k5QJw6eCt
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXOe75A9O1
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrpl42BRZq
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtaNv5mrF5
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlISh8e310d
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"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdrm0FRDQE
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOBnkgVzIV
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"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd18ib5UumL
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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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nhK4TMWCH
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nkilVj7A0
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYFn28OG1n
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx7r09WHlP
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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?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6idm5wTrKq
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyU4FTpnlZp
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYp4PF35x6
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"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtmOAQXOWi
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLDkv9O7tT
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrhu2TYBVx
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeSEh8cy9P
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Footsteps.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb22MCtdzjy
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Footsteps.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU28S1u5CA
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Footsteps.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxe5jpccT1
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwUBel2HIV
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"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjUQsafUek
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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?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICld8eSsup
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76ntu1DgUC
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A7LyVHOoE
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgJYM3gW8x
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMvKgJwZNK
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKp3aDaP37
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi3Vrx9F5L
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34MqcZjNCc
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33eQa0PEwo
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOKIfG5nOB
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtqEhtVo3S
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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsywkgz9wK
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q9Ihk5Zw7
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02jLaE7rzK
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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?!"254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9O3Zc2JoO
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RIUzqwHGa
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvne77lsuq7
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Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7rD0dkp7O
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmHANvAQQM
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I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aniCmUKOL
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySbxpal3BP
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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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBosaKgnR0b
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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."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk8z1RkQWO
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"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkwyTBk76N
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDzbnhmrIN
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"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko69nMDWM5
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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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSk1sgX2WR
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCWu1cPv4Q
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Penana
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