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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOoXAGRKxN
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiRYTaJ7Vg
"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWxpzfg9i9
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrPtbPqms3
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUdvysNwbw
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN2NbTQHkw
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRXAWpvUMO
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMrpAcQd0S
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTYICWGMnm
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOY9BvxSH2
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVMGdMQYYC
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ipu07Ket0
The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2sqHoFeMv
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJoGdJxcyY
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiZnHh1q8J
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebOOmWeY1B
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfUjVLZNIs
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEsJHwfzKl
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWgFsUXKvi
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTvreUpjX7
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoRpFJLR38
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY4AnVQFS5
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gtlq7j3pG
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk3ws2zsrY
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WhQxDXgEb
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GxKJyJqBq
"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVoUMm9aeT
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbVNHFX0jD
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhDlGz4eT2
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtSMiu2sFY
Evelyn.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ545iSQCcxD
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUICB1QXWf
She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuAk9tXvqL
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO84AE9K4C6
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCYXpsEhyo
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAkpGSu6Pw
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx14aXtaBwL
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHLgCCek1j
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOGROZAKrW
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdic84aEYL
"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?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPgZ0ETVwA
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmCImGsOnC
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb3ETl7sv4
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqdtGMYFCZ
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pkCJiArUr
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuIoH0Kluv
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzqBZq14KO
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAAVXcyEsQ
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt8wx5Ftse
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSp1FnobaX
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDn8qbqml9
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgh1EuaYLL
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaESxfFA6j
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnZrODClBg
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspPxWcFq0x
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAU1inV3Pe
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wJP4iEuo7
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADWWpSWNtE
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bFvTW5SwF
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqgxGvj2SF
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXikx3aQL1P
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs5w1Cp59W
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?232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLj1cCEW90
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqQAlqgDzi
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxfvNPNNOH
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFapv9d2vL
"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFZkPrZqkj
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlSs67RjOG
"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96btkbAy8n
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINEUp9DiOo
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?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHXJMxi5S0
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3rY6ARX2a
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ756hqQPbAR
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqPbjefXWb
"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPjf4pxVLJ
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HJWSaJZDh
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."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6EKPzCrsR
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwEltDhxCq
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmqB8Q5Vws
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyomWE0MfV
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN8HYNwYyS
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BxaGSYn52
"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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc3VNLTe7z
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDEUdfhXTV
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeF69GBKVs
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWecS7Zul5X
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cNdupTtFV
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE2Cd3oWNf
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97jFkBrA0H
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMV1LbIenb
"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePRFfKxbSv
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDPL7pFJDU
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWQLickxtH
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc0FWpT0fF
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."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19ATwL7jbc
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7KZG9zUES
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."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuA1amL5RI
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB8oiolPoy
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Aeq4aiwaI
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRwqw40orm
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ211gEFFmiE
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzfeBePBBN
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkmugF58i5
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHl9veWi9l
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!"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCxQTKBwjC
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V4MkhTX7M
"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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVUVmvIzAe
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzszwHOt3uS
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMlbGbhlNe
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QsBGdpHfu
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWDTneAIPn
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr5Ux1gEaA
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6kXWQwy1Y
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53wRjm9f8k
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnjxdoeSpG
-------
Penana
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