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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IEcvXqje7
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"Sasha! SASHA!"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡailOnOoUaq
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRo0WQhaNx
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS11xq6VePi
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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Thuum2Cio
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzS6oF3Al9
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKmCbVik6T
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KXWMza2J1
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l6n1DXke9
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWoIjcAYIo
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMydSDAMv7B
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHetSMWgtD9
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEeg9CkZ55
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQQtWq1HeL
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAbkFOKf55
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS5x8GFoda
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbPnGI3Gak
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX2AqSJZVY
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMZKtJx57I
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJSNNpZvcd
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gjoCdSaiH
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN70IbavaEJ
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIFcQ2MEWf
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPqvnQKRDI
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ1UM1Tr3P
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoOOGxdIPk
"I haven't looked yet."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxWIcNHp92
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWLFPpzwUl
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43zKgruJRD
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNAFpug5ZK
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?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w3apwz5ZX
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoRBp414mw
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaezMr9Eyu3
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0n9Wh9Yk4
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsn7xEeiWI
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwHZHzmtC1
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgpIKJ9dKH
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXz1cfF1jY
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2SyQngiSp
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB73bGSeIEz
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP4O1t1oKC
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqnlXYvTUZ
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKwptII1oh
Cool. But also terrifying.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHU5Im8tIH
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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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzrBQsWMqH
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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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIgDWtgQv9
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaagg9gRaLA
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnRZKEH86r
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxa0S2oohM
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH7kHDqpkZ
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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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PdomP8sYO
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC23dvuzBAD
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwYfOlXtqC
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS6zdp6hzR
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHwQtYiZmK
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1fGkFt5VV
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp86q4R1ESi
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUsTL1qOuZ
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO7wXIGEwc
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl2HK22tzR
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHfZN9BI71
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw7ko2orgz
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvurhivRWJ
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEhV9OsEtw
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKTsOnfyo9
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNc5dpUHsb
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJOtyunTrv
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGmfqUH2hH
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo15ux16Fh
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiszrwnB6qe
"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?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3DL4xGxh9
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V3mmgdzop
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBalOx4f2ys
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbxHbgfo1v
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaQxTIaaf5
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8kJP959q9
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4nMQ8KXZ3
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQRkwpe2T6
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES6cxCJlJp
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G3MPYPdNq
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfmSsLHbWb
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNIA4YAj87
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ790ra3zadT
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vwYbIA2y0
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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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeU9sdZ3hZ
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkDWmbDTFu
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNkY0lG7nX
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0aJfAAXjO
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX0dnK0nBn
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLfmYQgHia
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6VJUU6z37
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVleusHKaP
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6rpw87PpC
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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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw80mpjOQJK
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