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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVBDJkHC36
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC38982M8c
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQkFEYvSVK
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iZBQPIS8U
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zg8FNJzAA
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLJrtAblLZ
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh23QBa17B1
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDoQbrWrwz
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hSZ7ZX2oR
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aPlpG589c
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLuBHg7cn1
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7vw0XpbDi
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF4TfPTFeO
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NMDD5VGal
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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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNxp9Jr3nZ
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lxGRf6CWF
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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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6BIOD4NcN
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg20yIk0fc
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I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVYmkMY3TY
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Evelyn.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S79qvuo1p
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJSjfDS6q4
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzSsHQdtnA
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOBLYyuszq
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd6BPgTZVv
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB2SuZJBjN
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"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?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg0mRgMgbK
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCpI6iNpgr
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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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh6gqajIaj
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosCUcrvpbH
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX2h0IlBqg
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Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRr0NUBDHi
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxnsgo81PS
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc8Ss75FoX
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Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLmKUi14lt
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkHOuJlxKR
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZV76dirFN
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OvU7BQj7F
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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?287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA9xBhWCgI
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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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVfNqn4EQt
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaTEvTOUfJ
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByUnzhezvu
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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?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxlu9YeYOT
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVHsq9HJuU
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYghOfCUDz
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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."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrD3N9ZGI5
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13PBHmXT1a
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ9rTbC3SS
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyTObRltOb
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmsc9CTIFK
"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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjoGRVfmoz
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5G8SrdCy2
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"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sOJF7FNBm
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7aocKEBfv
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3zthy7MFQ
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2q4FqeMGd
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjD2naAbCY
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAkNzO1ven
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."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsnMg3yMQ7
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPxxoJDxFP
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."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq3LZfTL5E
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsMa8Yz1zm
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGSQtafbJs
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli7Xkbe79n
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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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt9wjOMREe
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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!"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijPj9kTQG2
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"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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gsqOYs609
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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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVTBnysv2L
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"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDAL1uKwuV
287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw0XCcIJAF
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.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEBV66wIUH
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Penana
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