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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3Yqzjiuje
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHxmM5Okxi
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZCDzlMG6K
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ntlAVXj1f
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvuZ4J0ADE
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyDe45jWk8
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0kpAL1bl4
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr1vF23bHh
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeAX5X44Xo
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtKdDhO6fP
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKh7SPNj4V
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIU03CBsmB
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcInKudghR
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzTm9U3bhg
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tMwSomJzs
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHDAtqhXuu
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7d6vtLXy8
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXai0flN8p
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Evelyn.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbpICqfEcs
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUNFUsNJWv
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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.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU6bMvIfsn
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ADAwjtBHU
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Mf87woyX
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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?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySq58XVRKH
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I2isYdckz
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyK1jMEI3a
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmfG4iUka1
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWfplUkBPK
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSBstFzuQK
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vg9T4b7z9
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkr9iTBEVZ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy8VbfvBot
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IlJIm1QBl
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEB5J8z8mT
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckKeqAsWKL
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqakCh8XwV
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c1gX29l0r
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwunUV5va9
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6tafSglop
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYgRBQVLJV
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD7t6lqkqT
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD76Cel2CyB
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5u6Vwkfx6
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQZrsugX1D
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyxoNcEfjz
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7ZjLO3LU2
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMLt0XtYwq
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WKx2T7Hh8
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMabfJ6IReG
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQBp7sTBNJ
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcq7qxhNKH
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP5FGaeWF6
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi30HmqeNQX
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsk4vENIfe
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsCTAgc0gH
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOuDXBro8h
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wZaFMkIOE
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRresgHEeu
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzWHtEawGi
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCYnHll4QV
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEs1Fsl2oz
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF8kruEv0k
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe1knAFjX0
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD75SeMEJA
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG20GOXLYaE
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64jvUeNJKk
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kxnWdIXmW
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdsZhG5uo1
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkgY5CwR48
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltCSUiWcbb
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK3ttM27mc
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