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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDti3QmdU1
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaXr9YwGq5
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLwQsoB7Hx
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zum3d2zLt
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebPAU3xvfQ
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOlq0qeJkV
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kay9hjfHc
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh51ThecUK
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZKfUcrzr8
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJcRx34vPB
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWG8xLjRYc
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw03a5zbXeG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzVRf6VJ68
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEC8ZdfuWT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9Luy8FcWx
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC4pogSRaC
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2kFDZpX2g
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpxTGKyp7n
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWbBm2j3fq
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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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BAzCWKTdX
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2ex6fVOhs
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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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeie1hmj9l
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Evelyn.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBnQkOvUmy
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbhTxvOfxW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hGtNnvwOF
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFktXHJIQCQ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoCWucDcGt
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XMjnVEeU1
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUe5jDp1R8
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xccdH3nvL
"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?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuEmK10r8x
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iJXPIkZZY
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CQkjWHeuo
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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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJCc6OAkrl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflleAFt0LT
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGK9kFjsk7
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hvJCRvR5d
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWwXjB6s0a
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBiNyZjh9L
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL7UkVOLn8
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8fcWjQlNJ
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyLYSW3nsK
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhW4WWCMFR
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv6bAYmXGh
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn4CCKVQkF
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtWQsleeEa
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbAg2NOotX
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpXX6IdbBp
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEqnVdxgRb
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?236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ADIynFHaD
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpagBTxhpX
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIaSk0fvXk
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu6HjK4iaK
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNBXTFfENE
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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?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wzMXhQWBt
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsZKe86FON
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FjLstPIDF
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRei1pqbAs
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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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGlPbCtysS
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11UVBRvEmD
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt6dQlvNSn
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGb0zdaCLX
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4XuFypjHb
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YOrOGFlV3
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu5PfN1KDg
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZAXurix50
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTo3HTwmfo
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBGKpyYDtB
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoRBDGnxpO
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodBvA1UGLs
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDffDnivCX
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL2dtr762W
"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V4hFw0gMW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2TuuJrQIe
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefKWvLiZpU
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vHwnMw0LG
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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNV1ZNtlxO
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutUz4lUCGe
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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrzTTMUvFf
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ASgJMAVxM
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDeZ0fjmRt
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8TTby4inY
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwdaGuDCsd
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWclcdwyYf
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNubeczY9k1
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcpU5KNavA
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!"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURxaQIniD1
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQksOURfCf
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4NhwP7weS
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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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6eDkDInSe
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhsbtrdRpz
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxe3XtWj8t
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcP5ykAUTcN
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yX5UfGsjM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWK5xZWVBs
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYA72SIe9E
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Penana
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