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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxaTjKjgy7
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"Sasha! SASHA!"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHhRdwqcuY
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdth5FfO5x
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgu21oqAVs
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdJjhcyHmL
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3y2dadtrp
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRpnpiOpgf
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYNK1qbbBg
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHt7w4YO1n
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtGVIu40sE
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhYI5MZir9
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJszCzmPuL1
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp49xeo75FD
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxsdrkH5vL
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsZUMath8T
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqgunzc9bf
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"I haven't looked yet."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaGZcO12BC
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcmjtskHN9
"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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvNciWrNBt
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFwxXyt0NW
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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFhNW2V11p
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42ximaK9UL
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOh59DnXfS
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFPxK8IIfu
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KxoUCBa0R
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ59YR3SEb
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtQihBMH5H
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTZc3xRX7a
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9viqn8G0xV
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8crT1Kv5AI
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Cool. But also terrifying.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE97QtnPbX1
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHy2zC7L15
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pXTBKNRXk
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcJSELqP47
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTCPCaXO01
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf2atb6CGO
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ5t8ltSSj
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3juHLrDY1
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk3NH33OxS
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDTNkRsSzN
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGRlyKryu5
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdFvOVXBL2
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErLuuoAkyp
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk1yEei0Qh
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX4b5Z06rW
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPodwNyZb7p
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyQCTlOFeL
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacJisEMsnk
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw3X03sYuo
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFox5Vu8m5e
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaYljIgY64
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLF9uWp0Jp
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNb0UrHrPb
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOs5PtSQCW
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIX0e9CBC2
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtEGLwNK51
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9YBZZH8zy
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ2VaS9csR
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfONr3Rrgnp
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQii0rNVOQi
"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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zn7dpCzpT
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdyUGTqoTK
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeIL90QyFM
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzmcv5EKw3
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuDalr3gIP
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzDKFgArpA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe16YJVqbls
"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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5gLzbuf4K
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH3WKBWH5l
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYAN0X5bHu
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOBVUjRbu3
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGU62JcxE8
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnAcfTBJIV
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbblLksQ2S
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------
Penana
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