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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK7RxaaDDR
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJtSJRAsGb
"Sasha! SASHA!"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaTuYbK0aX
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUUhllMQIz
No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO2qYO7GMJ
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrTIeKQogw
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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8kSrTECpG
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjotpMfp3F
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdi5qKALQN
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6YE6G0kph
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CM3Rzz4Eu
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jVx75R64x
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83gvBsxPBP
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w1ZXKrkNS
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qGO9dJAe5
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WcivBntEi
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrCcWNykxf
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu1eC3C4wN
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡessltdaTJm
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WZ0M9VrQ0
"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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcQ5hqLLPC
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF1DlhN1lN
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLXRTlIWHD
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNqPEtXHDW
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VEkPssZDa
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorKLGQpcxG
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyppErYl88
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3wXE0jDtJ
"I haven't looked yet."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwilqCUwm8b
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSLDXeHYrk
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe3WY6dizj
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJI7YCbJs0
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?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRJzu3d0KM
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueRXUtgx4u
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLTCg3RXDA
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GaI17Pu4f
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgX00NmUOg
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTBHzLbaHS
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVevnug8QS
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVIdiiSRW6
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SHVOxiuX4
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhxdpZcfsK
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntx1QCMTt8
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0zLrjOyvI
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2YtUKfwP0
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4biwNbFUiU
Cool. But also terrifying.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DBZDfTo4f
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpOEdp4RtD
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVBzJVMVLT
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSLoti3xdB
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6Tunc1bZe
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRKTKhBsvk
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kjzkwSxEd
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mESaWtAI8
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCoUmc3hRP
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0pUM9mfTw
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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCn2yn5Jfz
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjV02T1VY2
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ256yyBJX6X
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj7FXTKCod
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNNQ6ayXgb
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANb9vEmOQZ
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMarLyGEr8
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM6OHkBfq2
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRsG1sd7mw
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXySYO4w9g
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o15Xeuf0Z
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURwua8Llfn
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAWF3uBl6T
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5Ortu1sng
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L9KD2wh88
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgfUM6g3al
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR8OizC3c9
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XIGXBkyZ1
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5nkqTMKA1
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P9EsczaXB
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT54x1J3Qz4
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bVsrnFBB2
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBKUmLgQiE
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmQGi8YQAB
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJXH3mhvgr
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGxhqDjR9L
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2mdcnKFEg
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPnrm3cOe7
"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?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T1C3HdKUY
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YxvzrLF9v
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsbTpeWPtT
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmHEBGVd5s
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu5JX0opPN
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPIdWeRLky
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmU8l81Shi
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwy9y3RBJ6
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8n8sQDeuV
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAl64VnkEY
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7YVmIKfZw
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyvfryV1s7
"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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qFjLsDwiu
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeLkcpJuOy
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWcQj6I4W7
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpePQSOSnP0
"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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKsiwyyjrp
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtrHj5OVep
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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HdWdv4Ink
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRDzV3DGCs
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV5N6G7eqE
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDUeybD3Ce
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEjsm4BZyJ
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry0rruhtrE
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvqR39gPRg
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wJZoqrLxu
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB3FEFVHAT
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8ccFMRdh8
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWANxpTdoD
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQeKpCWK47
------
Penana
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