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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatSOA6z1Gq
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcZPTlbPqq
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS9NDteIn5
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j6itU0u81
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7PolctHCK
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnpbOtdpvs
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IkCDzLET9
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXAQSlIsqg
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoofgL6LpCJ
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqb4c6rhNC
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FDMezns1G
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHKmo3B7mo
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7n7dOZRae
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6lKnGPNSC
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhpTL2GVyE
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Evelyn.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zigvAMcaI
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVAzOj6Qm3
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwY348b1Ck
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI32X4yAhAF
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZgR9E01A0
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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?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi9Ukba4B3
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8OqNtjt1u
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yK81Md8vc
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdt2OezLmZ
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyfNHC2C8o
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAHFkmi7o5
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAgs0OxcNy
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7ofBPyesa
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARqHkPsLmH
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5wEIhfubT
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfm4p7Qrib
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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?115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdztMLazAVO
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq63P9sckyq
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGH5Td5WgG
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1gSGx7fFo
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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?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqb07msjPJ
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnsuAhyrJI
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69aW8slKS4
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DwMgnZvoV
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUve4hj4g9
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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…"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Wn3m3A7S
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gLmTtGhLP
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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…"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUbQdU5EPb
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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…"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGqUa9oh3F
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LFMjBstKX
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2xwQyH86T
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt8cDs2sSM
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCp0xMDzFw
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74XyzdE0wj
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6eZbZ865C
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0nmNsr0gE
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBMozDRyFH
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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!"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX27Imu85nz
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAAzwJ7st4
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin5PtZXjV0
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0I7eyqOwi
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtHQVaOgKd
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Penana
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