I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFVONLIpkR
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"Sasha! SASHA!"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELBGYLsKFz
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjwnZ09dDi
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GBNCCn0u7
I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcKMLWtXm0
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKzM9NmfpK
I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA2fsM4Uyy
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM1ZrMlYnO
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcZHhE4DOw
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrdb2mq2mA
I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB392oac8xi
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjccttFjMHE
Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRUz1DOU5d
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SzxfOio7d
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR4uo5pwE5
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQI3Xiph7p
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WOvPQGfG6
"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5G9GhHYtI
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d0myiS6L8
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uY0r2ZimE
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJpFYb25vx
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxH8pVDaf4
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjJVq6WfSQ
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfxlPriuBp
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnob0P0Kgl0
"I haven't looked yet."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fb9ATLiuN
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGng1ghZvF
"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4c9yXsxMq
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiWyDCiTNr
Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacg4quks5R
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqENNlPm83
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4xhQxHeNX
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk78JqGN5T
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpZquxJrda
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyybJ2nGiUH
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWfCSjDjL9
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI1bgs8KYo
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWS7vlbRx0
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3cdiTDT9t
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3WSAYPg3u
I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXdoKKk8XC
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrEHBcTBAm
Cool. But also terrifying.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB5Jqrnt1I
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The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs9R7fuoQL
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjghtSbUTNj
Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAj63hm7li
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wTc2PsP9N
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwB4KTKwua
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqjUvkcQ0s
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5uskZatOC
She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IcaaHaMMr
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GuIrxS32D
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6iSyq47Fn
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcvtWT3vKV
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IdrIXrAvP
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpuRhpyAT5
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtzxMgejgv
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkapWFYmfwz
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI2EtIjeQX
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU3i0u91El
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21st2MEyCx
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhtjCA3Awk
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQUBY7Tfuz
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h65OcNJDT
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyMoAUZGlX
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf8wr5khhg
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSptWUCa06
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4bNoITX4y
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRpAzWRkGT
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E5S1j3gu5
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrhwsilBCz
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSV7iDZzFI
"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug5TqOccYB
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0vY0v5jAg
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoqZK3gq61
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGagrupUKq
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMikRXXw32U
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8SJy8WcBY
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlACYy0thjH
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF8teEv4WK
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFvJuLD71s
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChmJbW6BOp
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpzoV0Lqv2
"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufYR0ZcrXw
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOWnUcsxUk
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQv6BGmpXR
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ejknH3zJY
"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGUqL95LqQ
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF64STDnizA
I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WnUKbSGmM
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IeVztzkyp
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTZmj2sqcI
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hCv91btkz
"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8ek1M7hst
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4zk5rbHE5
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahQBknSYVz
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx75kihhwCA
I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEyGlVxkrt
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25zDyUGg0z
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9GJdaIWfb
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffi4rJvALp
------
Penana
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