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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBYvMi0vws
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1iFATu9kL
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMVMT2THtg
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZg5fU71DT
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI67XfMFTdG
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKvlyYJ9qj
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv5iBPw567
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Hrh8otBV
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC5qaY5yMo
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV7YyfU4oz
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAPq10L6LM
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusBsLXS1vA
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7fa2TH2ai
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zYlvUD0ut
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2pymkWPFC
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv9lvOtiu3
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Evelyn.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGyoIqoX6X
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQtwLJwBgB
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWetsayXEO
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDmkID8qvA
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5jRNzRVak
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SgU7ZmWlm
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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?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGkQuhegiA
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb5MWWJ4jA
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrz7DVi0ug
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71U2sXY5kL
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezR6M3236Z
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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."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuQQrKD9kw
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYlcGJk32N
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQLXDYOgnc
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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."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIg1SrIJxc
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bBNdiiTrO
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1VHntMvdD
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqnGvnZozv
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1LaiDVOno
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk4m3BXHAo
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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?361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PdtdDg5SR
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMbUYQZs7y
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LVDBRzyT0
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCfX8OOyGz
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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?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgN0uCNYZn
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4hfNxlor8
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE7tst2Hrn
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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."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx80fErUlan
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE45gPfPUT
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ojKYYYjKS
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6YRsv4YXf
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VPilDwYvp
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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…"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnfj78M30Y
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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…"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2gZdf82rL
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwwzkWSjb8
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVJBEjzlH0
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8oCXvN6MS
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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."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZqshexTMe
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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."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxwVaZUimy
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs39ub8AqPj
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYhLzFrWqE
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSZQZAD7DB
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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!"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaJUxRp0ci
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSQBJJg5PN
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQOn9Xq6TE
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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."361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQPoxCIyvs
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTjlA34mTc
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-------8964 copyright protection357ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuz2haBqEv 維尼

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