The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of the mansion's ancient air conditioning. We sat in a loose circle on the floor, the tension in the room so thick it felt like it could suffocate us. Hendrick had suggested a game to pass the time while we waited for Evelyn to return with groceries. It was supposed to be fun, but the way he smirked as he shuffled the deck told me this was anything but.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHFhcoNgfi
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyMTEPkOmu
"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hRU1FeWBM
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujOXLkXOHg
"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jbknXz37e
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gchRYw8T6
"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xF9f5yKMf
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyQqwTvIsQ
"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL96icwgdqE
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRRaQPhAJ8
"Then it shouldn't be a problem," Hendrick said, dealing the cards with a flick of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned to Maya. "You're up first. Truth or Dare?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZQVLyQkZD
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6j2yVFa61
Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7Nopu4kYf
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMvfZH1D3x
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d82m15UO4
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUPjTMt0BN
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5auEDN4eN4
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlFxw9UhE8
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy999RYVHwN
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEqKRSHrTo
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkB9qlnb2C
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQODZV8ksl
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTmHjCzS1a
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey3BFyVWOU
"Trust you?" Maya said, her voice shaking. "You're the one who pushed me away. You're the one who stopped coming to the clubhouse. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even talk to me?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuDxqR7ajH
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tx0ZzB5Jn
The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Hendrick leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Looks like we hit a nerve."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44duaYQpm0
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpJRakLAIF
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvpfFyvTJ0
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzOSR7Xw98
"My fault?" Hendrick said, his tone mocking. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding everyone. I'm not the one who's been lying."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLVOqne0Wd
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonYVhpzTTq
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YHCEZix2t
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN5VyszEiA
"Prove it," Hendrick said, his eyes narrowing. "It's Maya's turn now. How about you let her pat you down as a dare? If you've got nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMpipuLZpk
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BOVOEd9pO
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u5o033unW
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXAkeBqqCR
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yPO0u3EvI
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylMG751iKt
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKCw0enzWW
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr4meJ5CcQ
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Aa3QiiaK2
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC2tkWjpL3
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiehuJUKlC
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjVKjYyitV
Maya stepped forward, her hands shaking as she patted me down. The room was silent, the tension unbearable. She pulled a cigarette from the front pocket of my overalls and eyed me suspiciously.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V1y1ncRPA
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7uKdaOcaY
"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizlIstDB3b
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXVAusLQP2
"Isn't it?" Maya argued, her voice rising. "Because this is how it begins. First it's cigarettes, then it's alcohol, and then it's hard drugs. I've seen it before."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGRDqRLiuA
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog2H5fvAD6
"Maya," I started, but before I could say anything else, a sound cut through the silence—a low, guttural moan coming from somewhere deep in the mansion.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCtWugKINL
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjRAvQT8Ft
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4QJAIkTe4
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaRfkDd4GI
The moan came again, louder this time, and the air seemed to grow colder. I glanced around the room, my heart pounding. "Guys," I said, my voice tight. "Where are Martin and Hendrick?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLF9WKMRuc
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PoQEu3jbi
We got up and looked around the living room, the eerie silence amplifying our unease. "Babe?!" Maya shouted, her voice trembling as she searched for Hendrick.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrivZGwSlJ
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLafmAAkROv
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfaE1XgzCT
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWeYuz2ra4
But instead of a response, we were met with a loud, piercing scream that echoed from the direction of the study. My stomach dropped, and I glanced at Masha, who shared the same wide-eyed expression of dread.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfCSR8dMjN
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK326rx60xy
Sasha started toward the study, but I quickly grabbed her arm, shaking my head. My eyes pleaded with her not to follow the sound. She hesitated, her face pale, but before she could argue, a heavy thud reverberated through the mansion, followed by footsteps—slow, deliberate, and growing louder with each step.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsQkX2aIfT
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTrXwTgf0a
Sasha's hand found mine, our fingers interlocking as we braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The footsteps grew closer, echoing through the hallway like a countdown to disaster.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn37wOD0Syg
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaZoAvFJ1B
Footsteps.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lW8B0Bk5L
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyS40oUKB6
Footsteps.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc1IDKc4V4
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSl26S72vG
Footsteps.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDEbbXf8u0
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt4T7PRsKz
The door swung open, and my heart froze for a beat. But it wasn't a monster that emerged—it was Hendrick, his face pale and his clothes splattered with dark, drying blood. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe, his breathing ragged.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMftu63l38B
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zjqhXnr9n
"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpwopiwbBQ
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kEnBSBBJ0
Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknXAUqLw1q
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfM3eyFoMo
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmPfeiB7iG
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXMPVtWOCe
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6OHvcjePm
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG87XjQvz2
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN8dU7i473
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJohEcu1xA
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Up3DqvvxT
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVNtKxrlPj
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuJitlOlgB
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeWtC6Yr7f
Sasha let out a shaky laugh, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "No," she said, her tone desperate. "You two are just pulling a prank on us. This isn't funny."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpdXV9fiHj
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44oUYp51MT
She started for the study, her voice cracking as she called out, "Martin?" But I grabbed her arm, holding her back. Something in Hendrick's expression told me this wasn't a joke.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GbvcO1bwM
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBKiyeWbxC
"Let me go," Sasha said, her voice firm but trembling. I shook my head, my grip tightening. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she began hitting my chest. "Why won't you let me go?!"252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwJaSwr42l
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPF6ohUAVp
Her fists pounded against me, each blow weaker than the last until she finally broke down, collapsing into sobs. I pulled her close, holding her tightly as she cried into my shoulder, her body shaking with grief.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcDB1AYNfX
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOY67SpBoF
The room was silent except for Sasha's muffled sobs. Hendrick stood frozen, his face pale and his hands trembling. Maya stared at him, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. Masha hovered nearby, her eyes wide with terror.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN8dH7rxTU
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfro0KMaYr3
Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXhbmkK9zW
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcSiBFPoEq
The words hung in the air, sharp and final. Sasha's sobs quieted, and she pulled away from me, her face streaked with tears. Maya stared at Hendrick, her expression a mix of fear and something else.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC6GAFZmZ9
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VktKj82bL
I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l9W8Irrxn
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAaA3sIzXw
We moved as one, rushing toward the front door. The mansion seemed to close in around us, the shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. The air grew colder with each step, and the faint hum of the air conditioning was replaced by an eerie silence.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm6fOVF62M
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybYEnkK65s
Hendrick reached the door first, his bloodied hands grabbed the handle then twisted and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He yanked harder, his face pale. "It's stuck."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPhrQoh2cB
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaGXmGhxTe
"Move," I said, pushing past him. I grabbed the handle and pulled with all my strength, but the door didn't budge. My stomach dropped. "It's locked."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL2hIP0ubY
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj60WoTFXb7
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sa4JQfPcd
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5ohnsnAAv
"Then we break it down," Hendrick said, his tone desperate. He stepped back and kicked the door, the sound echoing through the mansion. The door didn't move.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYWc8aRoIX
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vF2Zm4KZu
"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOEsEEpwcl
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF42CDhWi9
Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVl36lSniQ
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfvVCAkOQX
-------
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
