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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9p4fdzePu
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzKsy1km0Q
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuuJ5pjmNO
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrSBMCg7SB
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP1KIu72Gu
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3ZsFRoRqP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9jN4sAen3
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECNamhRhDU
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWSjThRXcy
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILFEVO6O3p
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyCXpcdzrQ
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaqjaD1g1b
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxieLuhdIF
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefkC65ATHy
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A0EpY0t4t
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHYm9OhRuE
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpMOsCT87g
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNspkbN7Iuz
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXnP5qB1A4
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXbn0HFYbk
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrKzc8JZZ7
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pk8Twv6ol
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Evelyn.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDPHmmqLeZ
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR4WvIY00y
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LrQAnPfUi
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfpDgTTyI6
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6zrcusQId
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrMM5KG5Pu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oJX8dUS7t
"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?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDj9ugAVwas
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HUjLXX33p
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYTZrdttXJ
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTEFGsSQzU
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1Yldq7uX2
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT41sP98UeV
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1z7jdj2Gv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUnsqlFQj9
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fxwuwNwCL
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8ZfHJFBmx
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOveMnowVi
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9FPHKfHiJ
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MwaqhGcd8
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXS6HEL9QJ
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I4kTSgnFN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55uTE1387g
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwAIyJgqLw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs23EtTXh0
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?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFrk8kubHo
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbVvWcquJg
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmv0TqtAuW
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9a3YPeIlu
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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?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHOInq9p0s
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4IEZiGS9Z
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYvvOTr1Sf
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdl5QaK8JJ
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvv6Q1CuJr
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshonZALz48
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu7SDcHT7S
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSz2NMdsGI
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e2zKYFgol
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy9WSczZjy
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08fg9uOruo
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElexAcID86
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbW2RZSh96
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ76CNxeBh
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF7L436BSm
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZZPqcFvuV
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqpJAoQn7R
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKGDGxZFSf
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSmtrkA1e0
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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO5w3LW8Qo
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy6Ep7nha3
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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3FKRYNhvK
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELY7tIXDFW
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqP6Ap4j4F
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3PLX8VR1h
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQanmSwQPhu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ956yE71EaW
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxs0KDOpqx
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla7yXPxDWx
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!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r4gyXezrn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttaz2hxXN8
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iovL3k8MC
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAMmx8tLAt
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jC6SF2iJI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKSJ9rXybC
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoLj2XGnOU
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Penana
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