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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLhBFhlOvI
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBmdfmCvB3
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iu1rUlXyc
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWMJi2H5PE
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TZ1i1Q5t6
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKhcfRsiI4
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9wqm6Dmtq
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7Fj6qhpP6
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBce5Yuf6LH
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqSBtlD8Gp
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PgvpoaprK
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdsT1k7eJL
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNtOh0w7dT
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MelHhTL8O
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYHVDavJET
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06edv985Fl
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSupoo4E0vP
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvsiF5jkSM
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3a0d5TCvQ
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq20rIPtT6
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SjXFN9E37
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Evelyn.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vj6A2K9nX
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqa032TeuY
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAzmPiKctt
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9jb2PabKv
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKCMWZrtcJ
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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?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY3hLhuzGB
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsBvLzvidj
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk82vQC0tY
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7pujvIh3M
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4FFxsxpLZ
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1kYvmAxjL
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlU1YaCIjE
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdcVFJH4v8
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y1qi7oC8U
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeQYFXvfp5
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO4bfKe7w6
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ssjdcSf5G
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJSZButs3V
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eFvodSTGu
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpScBFlMug
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayHjHWOWVg
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzCmq2r7zh
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?16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgMXKmgCAn
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3IooWCJrG
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs6dcbU5KD
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwAANKCRqb
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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?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ402OSw0kF0
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuaqbAnWiU
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUpzAqbvJS
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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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo1bAvNKFA
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAIxTsDo1i
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VNEgOEv0C
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1PvO31NDT
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRhz25TKnk
"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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xSCvDq6eK
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9vbNAUAYP
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMTzqXfVOQ
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG9nrZBBdk
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSDMtugedM
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeDnitXJjs
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX4g8HlvLt
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7FkZGYI1o
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEPMdOh4fZ
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhI9n3i448
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulJK5ny8QF
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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzweWzVVTcT
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgoPRVRpJZ
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."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G05jHrPN4
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5iKVmj9cG
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmG5jeM7Xm
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSmfsWcHrZ
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRgOv8ciGh
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO159xiDK6
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPZknjW6BC
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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!"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTkMyHrHku
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQheeQMHqr7
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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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPkXI1OJeG
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkWCWYwxHG
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyJjbs4jFR
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMPSQDHRhC
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.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHpappC5ei
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Penana
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