The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of the mansion's ancient air conditioning. We sat in a loose circle on the floor, the tension in the room so thick it felt like it could suffocate us. Hendrick had suggested a game to pass the time while we waited for Evelyn to return with groceries. It was supposed to be fun, but the way he smirked as he shuffled the deck told me this was anything but.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLXI7Zv5V2
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"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUIXi2kLig
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"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP48fwx9C4L
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"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxlIQ9wzrd
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"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi21B7TIKNp
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"Then it shouldn't be a problem," Hendrick said, dealing the cards with a flick of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned to Maya. "You're up first. Truth or Dare?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2tIbghPvQ
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Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5JSuDZUKo
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Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ9fygGurz
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The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrDIwLZGZr
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"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ026zVkTirh
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"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpnBvPZWYy
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"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzee76stqq4
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"Trust you?" Maya said, her voice shaking. "You're the one who pushed me away. You're the one who stopped coming to the clubhouse. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even talk to me?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo24LO6ln0
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The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Hendrick leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Looks like we hit a nerve."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ4dvtO7kS
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"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm6I1OhmR0
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"My fault?" Hendrick said, his tone mocking. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding everyone. I'm not the one who's been lying."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V5BABi0TK
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"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40pYhYGlnF
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYECWEaTX16
"Prove it," Hendrick said, his eyes narrowing. "It's Maya's turn now. How about you let her pat you down as a dare? If you've got nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQkwheDjjo
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXdyEPVrwc
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqMclKm3yn
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrwTblDNlC
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4cYQyiw3j
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDTXOjGXFD
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvBptH978s
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZOVar8mC2
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRcoWWMayD
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"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcSN6byBJ5
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Maya stepped forward, her hands shaking as she patted me down. The room was silent, the tension unbearable. She pulled a cigarette from the front pocket of my overalls and eyed me suspiciously.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAmp7bZMtS
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"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndFU6R7PsB
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"Isn't it?" Maya argued, her voice rising. "Because this is how it begins. First it's cigarettes, then it's alcohol, and then it's hard drugs. I've seen it before."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6afB85vuDT
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqovKoVFXc
"Maya," I started, but before I could say anything else, a sound cut through the silence—a low, guttural moan coming from somewhere deep in the mansion.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXQGAtYnG2
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"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo4GOTAxj4
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the air seemed to grow colder. I glanced around the room, my heart pounding. "Guys," I said, my voice tight. "Where are Martin and Hendrick?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEfbd13Fcl
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We got up and looked around the living room, the eerie silence amplifying our unease. "Babe?!" Maya shouted, her voice trembling as she searched for Hendrick.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEAWdvfqcT
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"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BTL0j8Hew
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But instead of a response, we were met with a loud, piercing scream that echoed from the direction of the study. My stomach dropped, and I glanced at Masha, who shared the same wide-eyed expression of dread.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFfoCI5Ue7
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Sasha started toward the study, but I quickly grabbed her arm, shaking my head. My eyes pleaded with her not to follow the sound. She hesitated, her face pale, but before she could argue, a heavy thud reverberated through the mansion, followed by footsteps—slow, deliberate, and growing louder with each step.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTIpsj95rF
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Sasha's hand found mine, our fingers interlocking as we braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The footsteps grew closer, echoing through the hallway like a countdown to disaster.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn9t3PgLlo
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Footsteps.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUIgGpIsEy
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Footsteps.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yY6K83B2j
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Footsteps.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tOdXtfzbY
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The door swung open, and my heart froze for a beat. But it wasn't a monster that emerged—it was Hendrick, his face pale and his clothes splattered with dark, drying blood. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe, his breathing ragged.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUxEwmF6S7
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"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrcDSQJ29v
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Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FFarHquP8
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"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj6Bk7m3HU
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Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnHkTUtmjT
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Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qyVLVCDpm
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"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL3qE8Wkyy
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"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzl8tfh8qE
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Sasha let out a shaky laugh, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "No," she said, her tone desperate. "You two are just pulling a prank on us. This isn't funny."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh8f6ylboe
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She started for the study, her voice cracking as she called out, "Martin?" But I grabbed her arm, holding her back. Something in Hendrick's expression told me this wasn't a joke.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8pvrtZRHY
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"Let me go," Sasha said, her voice firm but trembling. I shook my head, my grip tightening. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she began hitting my chest. "Why won't you let me go?!"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36MN0ZIo4O
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYROn6xgLj
Her fists pounded against me, each blow weaker than the last until she finally broke down, collapsing into sobs. I pulled her close, holding her tightly as she cried into my shoulder, her body shaking with grief.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC8TD5D3nC
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The room was silent except for Sasha's muffled sobs. Hendrick stood frozen, his face pale and his hands trembling. Maya stared at him, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. Masha hovered nearby, her eyes wide with terror.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzym84tXc53
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Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHIYzipkfN
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The words hung in the air, sharp and final. Sasha's sobs quieted, and she pulled away from me, her face streaked with tears. Maya stared at Hendrick, her expression a mix of fear and something else.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2JyEL5hdf
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I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOy2Qiregf
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We moved as one, rushing toward the front door. The mansion seemed to close in around us, the shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. The air grew colder with each step, and the faint hum of the air conditioning was replaced by an eerie silence.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzI3f6R6YF
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Hendrick reached the door first, his bloodied hands grabbed the handle then twisted and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He yanked harder, his face pale. "It's stuck."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAWqs2WdGy
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"Move," I said, pushing past him. I grabbed the handle and pulled with all my strength, but the door didn't budge. My stomach dropped. "It's locked."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNMNUqh91P
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"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoKUPb15X5
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"Then we break it down," Hendrick said, his tone desperate. He stepped back and kicked the door, the sound echoing through the mansion. The door didn't move.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoILvwsjlb
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"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbJn0AL6Xe
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Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6NYgl3mYx
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA42lQJtTEJ
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Penana
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