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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJS8CMuZKO
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2X95XgqTq
"Sasha! SASHA!"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTqHdD6K6h
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMVHM1ERqG
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74bjO7RTnF
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."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf8JOd4oXk
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jQn1eseyK
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl5NvcT8ik
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIUg0IAcBV
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnoSRFMyq3
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIxr27AyWj
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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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagIfB65qps
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcnXjNq0cF
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnOj0kMUpF
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzntpTzlaCx
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r6yxtUgQb
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"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."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFXuvtBjyo
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHSUleKIKU
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKeCCIfXSD
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk091tbmdf
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXw62UO0MK
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHw8548iBN
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszx2kHvPXY
"I haven't looked yet."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6EbmCjQke
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxHht4H8OZ
"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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCXV7HDQCP
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4wTuvyk5y
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?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayIB9aeL34
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtcLmTJHgw
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmeo58tK1y
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIpzONGoB8
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡherNPndltM
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRRWFAd9oe
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6MPN588Ah
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghimznQu7p
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TsuBHMH3R
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3XPG9pnOn
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Cool. But also terrifying.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C6n12BDhz
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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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5PSby9h9i
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI07oKcIZUB
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AjfqMXZoC
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRP4woZkpE
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEyxpik44I
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpy6urXzzG
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."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mfloYN2Cs
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kHi7pLxNV
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji9jCHfeh8
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xawMUFxr0
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgETt47JYI
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG6zncp6cA
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JEHCh1oxM
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGCGkAbbLB
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST6DJGa9uu
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRMuzCya0T
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0un2WyuWG
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDVtmpQixc
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreOoG9yUhv
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M5FYgaZzZ
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aMFBMV750
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2vsXsSg1w
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv9PvbkblX
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcgraWu2V7
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie9XzLzs3E
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnmtPziFTl
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7tI9ely27
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOhEBDeZDk
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcay2b5T9AU
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3Ko6RjFK3
"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?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NOkQCd9pY
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EFSa5DGFz
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8u5PRXOBK
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuOEUXHtZL
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe5Osi4UH4
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwYeFgb6W2
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWYKuOybtT
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TZhGprjT7
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwuIJp8h1h
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A4oad5k4l
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHaHdVSEUH
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sEid3RXGP
"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."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iSQAGDCu9
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSUxDeTreD
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtSGyZZvkS
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxLB9XVrK5
"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."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sx43qxSzU
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBqeqKKk0V
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."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeDOewJqNf
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKF9jtyQPq
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL1YtHDix9
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5SBIZw8oa
"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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0Mc36dA8n
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf8YapMvju
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaSm4gPnKo
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ldjV6nijz
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYDRihvkea
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2TBikMrFp
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.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9BmDX95Y4
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYyVDwgYWJ
------
Penana
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