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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyegwfQdLU
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA4IG2IdfZ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWccu89Jad
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1rNXZpODB
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7YquUZnVH
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwfOOeReZG
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5mmqag18p
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKltFHwZ2U
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23WH5mBqOw
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQaxt32qma
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd3Fu0XNyy
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNmLvWasPU
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeURQ8rVsO
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwyTTy231U
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnDlGk4bw4
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgZUO0HF2d
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ7beKNkQf
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA55YrXycK
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLXm9JBrix
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWDeQQOaMl
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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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGdaXMDxbd
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoCBHo4u5t
"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrUcDYzUZ8
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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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEnJwm3mMh
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Evelyn.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHyzT5CsLr
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipa39nJpOh
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3ugJGJIVp
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIELMT1CNc
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcQAk2YRKi
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UYil3NTTE
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UaD68gq3v
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tA6r6zeru
"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?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbjbPuf4Yh
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCOFxbZg2a
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPSXlthuWH
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWhaFsGocP
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeqKsGBTHO
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaMfGJ87KS
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgRwL52zBa
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb15b6Moqje
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabryk84wpw
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpPzEOyy8A
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdutYfl4ctV
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1GiZWPIOj
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOMtf6eyqa
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo2pwtj7l7
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYexNpDu3A
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb63DnBCTa
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zlrw7dZDe
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdhDWt3Iuw
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNbaZfYmQK
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24GAC7LCOK
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?191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGQmCkQxUj
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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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUQjWHlGeH
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC72GHR6cV
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PcqjuAFcl
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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?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9Cg34WQRk
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHBnzFtzHt
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ6Z6mx883
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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."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIwPhn8HNi
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO96jVKJPn
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy22TRsQUz
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnslFdRJ55
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohgi82kjLb
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxO84wsYxO
"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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3Qf1WoaCY
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7lbRTRRF7
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLOxkPxQLK
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOJIuxqlZr
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTjqYfta9X
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbGdIp58Mi
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7MYX77SWJ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSE9UKvVNF
"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPokH5Pwi57
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa7naEeItF
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUevYMCcuRP
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX06MScIUq
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."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHA45a0SWT
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57O1WqNA6f
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."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50AaOTwzEI
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUAYcPmk6Z
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6IAjITzSu
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVsy30ue84
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7QgxbHoLq
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxyEWJQyln
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuO4Ru3rnp
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Uiz6mGgB4
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!"191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXaSTtKt6f
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGGDKITL9g
"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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoV94XAP3J
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl74xwaRL6Z
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UA7L4JyYW
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ayHXR3tT
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVYo400weR
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNduJYGVQLq
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD3EGdp1NT
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxaYMVvMWq
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Penana
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