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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE3cP5XZ7U
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK4yFzLonx
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaZXuEoyYH
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfgyeSgQ1B
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCs8y7aUsB
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pTQOKnLbQ
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAir8qn6Ofg
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wbbA6oPk3
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cYbRihQNw
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4skxlQ6M34
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh3jcEoYU5
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR9lWAXmnX
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEF9FRf57N
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4tCFv7Ra0
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBp1dELcPQ
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Evelyn.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqJWYzQ6Df
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHtVGXBhuF
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnHvjeJU33
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvTRGhfXlm
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndiyRTkgh3
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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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmvGTLm7ed
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY9AuVb7Ra
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCx0YS8vBj
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJrUEKq46m
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvDfrCGg31
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30pF8QxWyA
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz99s1uMuq8
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUH0uNv1Bm2
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHMkcQTObH
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFCq5iu1mM
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHODBrKMVJ
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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?14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvybiV7xILD
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hdb6hAlLN
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYasSZh5aG
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaXLOgt1ao
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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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKxoGyXpJO
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJKqKHyk2t
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrTZZaq5xD
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMrVIHDWny
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZFE9V7jlS
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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…"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9NzNJ9CAh
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhIGbMa4vs
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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…"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhIzy8StWr
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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…"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVFY2rD0Wt
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOGmHj0rSz
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYyXNmx4to
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHXCCIbrIf
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpNX6WXRd7
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOAbdYSz5T
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrfnXZ4yrq
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS702kF6KRx
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5C4N5lenu
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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!"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTN2Bf95HA
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyW5i3Ko1M
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpIKWRT20e
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNtPxZsNWN
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR91PhGxx4
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Penana
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