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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzPiPzc33P
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXEVeJOvQ8
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbail6fgDU
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWjqDTFAFT
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oAbPXX7ji
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwo4Tv82R2
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oPyYLqlqo
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRF8BHZCvp
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgTiG2mkFp
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaoHHwDagw
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE2AsmkHOU
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7ayf9zu3I
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9fUG3lN3z
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRJ6rIvS1E
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfSAJ97vKM
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVesnb9EHtk
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TuZHf4D72
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH541xZQlQ
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRqfuncqgK
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb9I8V43w8
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Evelyn.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTpVP6Yg2r
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXhRPKobWt
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMcpeSVXwf
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR4AStzlmP
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHAKfAxuhI
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s4zzvhE8E
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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?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEtEnFimIH
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ndlgkwawu
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBywmGbvgfY
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ0FTy0OHE
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OnqsQUwBa
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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."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2en8Ed0pb
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlxLUYgJdy
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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."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrx9hG8gTF
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetfrdZEmBX
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9osfqSnuf9
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJhxccnonI
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSlT9xYEf1
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRLYpFdRz2
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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?237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeAavCdRpg
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFMoaDpIgd
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx0qy4WTGx
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46V3Fa4MG7
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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?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8sZrVLeuz
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWekydfHfH
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5F1ooAXDb
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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."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaYMyAz9Ty
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDUZSeHBw3
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0phKSsjNCc
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqKDdcTAUt
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jk0xGIWoC
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYLeWuqdso
"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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC8fXUEdMq
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL22oBgGAle
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnyGZD87JU
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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…"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ahxTQm7HU
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGh62GiX8P
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTk6LsqWUK
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O3Fr53AzX
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdxBHz4RRj
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmAa4T3y8o
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."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw2sQ38bpV
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZcj53gOrp
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."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyksWlrFUoA
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PLtya8FgO
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw03Q2zWPr
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5iOwUFzA8
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hvy5q3sGx
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtPSx8HfbZ
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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!"237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCerblNJvN
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHg0bfWs39
"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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjFCannuTU
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxcEpQYAhY
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY35XKQj7HD
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxqfkZRZUc
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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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRiZdbWQKs
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Penana
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