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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOMEPwJMwq
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"Sasha! SASHA!"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01spJRn0e9
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWytCgigVg
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnZCKQKfhC
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."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7mKn4p6Gs
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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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCbmroOURK
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun4IY0uZWK
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYLK42SE5r
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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5dMwM1iUw
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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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T7JELY5wL
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBQgqoXI7P
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBaX4fjFxM
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAadnJQu5vn
"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."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrxc9svMLK
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTrYPRoGbl
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6et5i5AGH
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cpX8AzXka
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSUKfckjoj
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"I haven't looked yet."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlk0e69UM2
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"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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrYMzK7X2l
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KrGheRBD8
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?"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtUypThzD2
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTnTyH3lUo
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDVqpWG3Rq
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI8bpzpaI7
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnak4KQhjbU
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY5NJgBqSI
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sv4d1Rdmz
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L6tEsWYIE
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqhh9heUJO
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ivVU2oKzw
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNgeY1gNZa
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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5MVzpiw3h
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX3xIjasUT
Cool. But also terrifying.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1nU0Urm4H
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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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ns74gPEOH
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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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51blTyUw0w
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZYarGWgnA
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rtA3BjMv7
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K7qgqvmtZ
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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."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIOkcwqfQv
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG7aJhX02V
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72Zu8qZ0wD
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn33iwYkvE
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDoFM84Iou
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2pPexf0t4
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYJdIl3Ymv
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojg5LrHVwL
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL28HTiU6OV
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQKpDfJtOn
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHajTDPngrb
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aPaydOhMM
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrQPjFaEuJ
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCANRdfcuz
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAJL6jjzVG
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnFcdIV8E9
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4dbYalgMI
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCpx4fR18Y
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CAatHtcHL
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmhoLbF71v
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeltwqV3rK
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pZomooIPN
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOCOGPqnGi
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"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?"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiypcDmDRmd
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj27Ra1sZ2h
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5uPq0JuE8
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EvXMjfcG3
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlrD1T0jut
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzAKTmQDnP
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN3k6e7qDF
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMpB9CxR4I
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacXcbZut2B
"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."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUTOHBSJwB
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioS3gkScHt
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3th72WUBCS
"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."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EJM0k3Jlz
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddBstjcRPK
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."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC71yN2Ls13
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ6rtxWVDk
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZfsIxVJHZ
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBvqOcdRvN
"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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYNZH2L5he
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZiu00Qqvf
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5VyvnY3UB
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB98rmCO2B
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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvxUKCgKYX
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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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaGWnKcThC
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