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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpydnaxvYF
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"Sasha! SASHA!"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpiqjjIkwK
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54BTyJHhxz
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8rxqHuCpv
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."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWsyj7Qmrw
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNWdHUPhDG
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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnbCk922Vk
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtCrCxrI5q
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYqkMhSU44
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxW1SMJoDw
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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1gpdZjtjc
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf5y8GmVdG
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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqqUN8NeVk
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tdxOhyuFI
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvKvNXY6cp
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BaWAAamiV
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoBtrYFm48
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxso6QVQac0
"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."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvHEdcrJOz
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKPuLDeNkp
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse2rBjoDrZ
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq6oDUYd1X
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmmWSBhWjy
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhoDkchZSW
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4Kvw3Pbdl
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4bAynbtpt
"I haven't looked yet."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lCSHwCiHi
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0SvL4PxSI
"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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKXbF5avlc
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGJkqVOYZb
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?"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehd9i76Bxm
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDecETwMuL
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr1EfVvTwh
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXp1VRO0oM
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr1ehewQ05
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mRyNUi1aL
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrmlZHwUSl
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d4XUyQW5P
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF3XGSALiG
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vFWsuNXjx
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKBbxW9a9H
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1LCrJZQHu
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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2eCPyBJky
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnLfvc51QR
Cool. But also terrifying.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHNBqzCWoT
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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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQfElKODsw
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuD0jWzOwg
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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WV8fa04nm
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62HjocEWdX
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddydjQVVnw
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5cisrA6TL
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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."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuAeoFbIKF
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y9QyKuX7i
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZDFKL2un1
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorcllhs2sa
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj7TB9voos
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsLUIpXYN5
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKvMYMCa9W
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H3bL24SQt
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYsoTTudeR
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIOz5ACQ4F
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxcWyHkqgo
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2cWFZIo4S
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTHI37O7BZ
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7q67p5IVT
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx0Pcnw8Hp
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd52uBc1hil
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpQHSeDh7U
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAKxb4jhba
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3ff7FRlcP
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoZznwmEUI
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59j2gtWc6S
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAOQ7ZA9gG
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoVyACecaB
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRY68Qcy5i
"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?"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QWlH9FJo6
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jXjEtG8vE
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA3wOijNgZ
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCufX7BBsO2
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp7IGfmZYK
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqbI1vPgJx
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Voy6c55C1
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEQQWcZ6CX
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtcseoFUJF
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08A5hMZD5n
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBINBwdEa4O
"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."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMlZiV86vH
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk0j40Ne5N
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC5P5bVWSt
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xMoMWIaOZ
"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."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolqHEwC5eC
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF63w6KiFp
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."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxetIwbsIhO
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXuRmqmHxh
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxTBYIs8Za
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5fRNUDrLx
"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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfahVibZPB
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXURTkhRAo
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGHIqBXQHb
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1rkWxVDI3
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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWMEa7lFn3
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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.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAe5vrVnbH
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAS1lsgOPV
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