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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxm7hIYOli
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"Sasha! SASHA!"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pBBEXU8AI
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnBXDTnfKY
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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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyeC2X0kZo
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgW0xW9S1M
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW8DfHOttH
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22IDzPEJTz
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nK7GNz1hn
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbifl01ixV4
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas0PirnTXw
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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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSikOVklNJG
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sGbAt9Wqa
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux5jeTLlpN
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGMaaKjEwz
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"I haven't looked yet."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjKUouxsnn
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"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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1cxw0Wfsv
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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?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW4rAN44hv
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNOa2MFGJK
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDhJQGLUNL
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoCohDdWBF
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6idybk1J35
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaXH8Jnj5j
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrParw2gmME
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Cool. But also terrifying.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5IvMxwOIO
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjygvR5Qky
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73hgeoiNuS
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH3WKT7awm
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyijDy0wXTx
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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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ysFt1tBeJ
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3M7Dniw0H
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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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6mJzdZeBD
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4CITCIswk
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvvw6KgPzI
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gkLZAyCwe
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgZOaIe1qZ
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDctItRm7mF
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYieaq4yML
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMgcM6kZ0G
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk22Oof6vYF
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAUM6Qlq1v
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4yVkFgenS
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"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NXiI2pTro
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"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?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z1GLEJJ0Y
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxruo0SJif
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oZXQpif6h
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwva5CZdjXl
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHTKHxu2Oe
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2nSpwXVOd
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"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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u4xoPD91z
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqo9gRcMYT
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"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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt51SqVBLx
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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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM3bXMKa0t
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6xZjEMD8I
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"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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJJSogTQD9
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszfAH9DrlN
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhunlQgZvz2
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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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPdJF226al
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------
Penana
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