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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuMpW3Gsye
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSITHgBNpVs
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrXhBPZGYw
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OOgj0fxFi
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrioUb1Ae7w
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB8KtXFzU7
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHTtBbkPg5
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq6xY9XEgh
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8CHEKXQcU
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ6ALPimF2
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PswR7MmKC
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5tBS4IFwy
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPGSKXMYr2
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAwbLMCnL6
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjWcVm0pJL
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Evelyn.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mrKYsi8kF
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oJHfUHaCy
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"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInc4EbbTXu
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9JUROk6zy
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DYafheNId
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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?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PufpwNXpY
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXlFXh7qRY
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqPfuOFFw3
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JscEhxvs7
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0pMmMQn6R
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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."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpatE56z7Sz
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzNQfHLa3k
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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."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6k417N6km
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hXA6O3YGv
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRHUO6WAWY
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslB1CY01MX
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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?243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9YhJAhCas
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj1b3l0laH
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx0TbInmOi
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPpEH1HFoD
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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?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlugGGBPE6E
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUKXfL2gyD
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjVpRopa7q
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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."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVCjJFmvJ6
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLZEKnAEot
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3DEPqTu2H
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"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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshGxEIHHs1
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlve1QChC8E
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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…"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zNKmJV2hm
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjoLb3aTMD
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ic3n03pTe
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbWC042r5u
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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."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbTcx9qMuF
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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."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk027aTBHuH
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DbJDFr7ce
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI3LkYHai7
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozURJ7APCf
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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!"243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7T0fauX1q
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"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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlvWG6it0q
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6K8dNqIUR
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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."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWxF90fLMt
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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.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NdOAe4nXq
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