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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn7IoKMsh7
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OeXu0pncH
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lle6LpjMJ
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BHuTLiDYf
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubrIxDe334
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZTVvGjd2u
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor1E1lwYzn
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn28FP0VDY
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklvaLRfV9m
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZAHECHXOq
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyupBGceAtK
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KTYdvgqbf
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ542TZLRQfG
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyaEMwJJc8
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yVnAnF93m
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP3N7XSZtW
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0QbKUeY6D
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ORbnqA2na
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUCbRXmNsW
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Evelyn.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycvdanUAmk
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUwQRKzjYe
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXCJWIn1uz
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVLXqST3sk
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs9cmw9K5m
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmbEHpirbD
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLqGdT5Xyk
"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?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MXbvdQBUc
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjUwB737RT
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9gf6gT4Ok
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiHrAft6j1
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgLKOK3x2m
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKmhqxvQTa
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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."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0DQMp2Brd
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDZkm1TJ83
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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."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRP5EQ4Lqy
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ540je2kE1Q
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr9n87D6RH
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbosdLBH3W8
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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?244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEx88Msavp
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2iFUsbz5w
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GBYbXnrKv
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RGIcArSF8
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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?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GKOwV8CDq
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtOZP9l0uY
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaVkqmvT8K
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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."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqhWj2v9zc
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XbD2nvlQd
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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…"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqYW9DXb2K
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QJ1BggTcq
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBF7czlMGN
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJK7mFgt4T
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXPTYLbtja
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIkG8yORhr
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eZUsijGYN
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtmfFpseaQ
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHZrvPys5w
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFMibYW2IQ
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroxVG07XkK
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."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYVZlaSB9o
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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."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZRcM3ewhd
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qcsDDfNRX
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqW4AibuMG
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRbTlDWGTt
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkWbQ9RKHT
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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!"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qOWKc8BqC
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvMm5STcJQ
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6ARnLZTBH
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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."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibgA3rGxgD
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uSkoVloUC
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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XbnHp8lB7
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