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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcK445puGg
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiak4JawYwe
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaoYjfmBVw
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbI2Pyf6rE
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL5iCqiTh3
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNP3eYZ000U
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ57iYVDba
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqedP0SRS1j
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt2YsnGZ1o
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqIcBTzcnQ
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTcyn3mfjA
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqJBNK0DEK
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTj4otQBzh
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5mFwJNl4V
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSMqvj0iWO
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uubyC7Pkh
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Evelyn.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU6pbT8ZsB
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOocdiMPMsZ
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"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv95mZqsGZD
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTBfBhyXTo
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCYnB2o1VH
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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?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMaChzYzbb
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8G4SI3QBs
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM5TBqedjQ
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjzPJIxAME
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUJN0CKD6E
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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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOYGMllILA
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbIIP2x87p
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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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3xcr1EFE9
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSFmhOKSB9
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ekIfHRRAY
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFYGdEshW1
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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?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuzzD3YXel
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSCwcrzFEo
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe8goCPI5Y
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JzPqWxWF4
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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?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIs4zSrtFeg
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB5qqy0QMq
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6G1z73CbH
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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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByP0RBmuWx
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5U9kIwPmr
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRNeQRm5yh
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"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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nUSLYLuMJ
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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…"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIfy74kSsl
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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…"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtS5tDUFIo
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqGHCE9wyz
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7RCVdgbcY
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JWeWrsy8t
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WprjnWKAT
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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRgVhq2SRe
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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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuRQ7Zheda
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY9a797pdj
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7msrhBXrj
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1Z0FmwZkl
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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!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqi60wM2K3
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3TmOx3L8A
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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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEM3uXzLPa
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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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ1QJy4xow
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIkgavMMxJ
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIzaXYDjzS
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Penana
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