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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhReONBNvH
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wXaNqj1ql
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyJU4s4RjI
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gbi6sdMnA
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm4FSswKlg
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdG51EPm0e
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuydauGGtCW
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlLqd2Bl5r
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERr08hP7is
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVteTBNY93N
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VYxGYeGZW
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgntDGtcT1a
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL91KvEFkM
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsFZqXrDLK
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvSZD1Wat3
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfsM9GTEZw
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMzFjIuVF4
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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3EIPhk0Ja
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oMArNF8rR
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8r1OZpGg6
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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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKIu9KI15M
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnWBHw34vi
"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSSdC3qNW6
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6KQD5fm3d
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgnix6fsTL
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Evelyn.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJwGhoOZ7F
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Wz3OmikO
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsCUN9EDFz
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJTHfwyrEz
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qcByVrqp7
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOUZr9JUuP
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFWHqICfhC
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31x3mwzmiu
"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?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHEbcIy4Ox
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewnZ6Hph5J
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeUApGe4WY
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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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEWpit8Bme
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrOmE9alTc
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUc42OaWJk
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J3B0l6vVl
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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."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfbRte2e4w
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cfxJ9WT6T
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHUtkc4258
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEmOHcm1xs
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnd1rclYD7
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHZbJ8ci9k
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7BX8nbkh9
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx4XiDUEN7
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHknxftuOw
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OC6zQPVdk
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxaYqjSAVb
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?238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVII9D9MMv
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl4cnNQnjm
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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVQGjCvoZ0
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0EQlN8FgH
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ppJHFlEoU
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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?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6hEk4cOWv
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCpI0pMDhk
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDhGJkdn9u
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRqZbhZN3M
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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."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW0aKGJdTs
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMnj37v7Aa
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uKYDrXXw0
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodEtJpuYs6
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aNcvxF1vP
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEBP2tzzE1
"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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv3vupxGda
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA3qyjIoJq
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrDbh4WUfB
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwboRRK1Btq
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNbUcfxeHU
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaTfv80tdo
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6ylPKkdL7
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnkmSOeCa7
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQmxB7CfkD
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yJT9DOmhX
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZmZfKXaNV
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."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tRX2GuXNL
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcEoVU3JCe
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."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRFkX2AzpQ
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP5aRkniii
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6NM5tuYKz
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJmIcJEsLa
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSUssoBDmO
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZRFwrPPpA
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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0pSwfRdss
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nhpPjXZYM
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!"238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK3FjU6jFB
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NmJV2aP8J
"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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriTqPgIY6K
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWJjnNIxNx
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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc4v9x752Y
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsJzuI3yoj
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1LKskEQ1Y
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tHmdhqW65
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.238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkuopAxllv
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGth5PJozy8
238Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDadJ0kSbNV
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Penana
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