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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4inlrbOqn
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"Sasha! SASHA!"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29tFB4InVG
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQLTDpEzPV
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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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpsSf1u3Om
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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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJutte5Mou
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKnTGI90xd
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFluy2M8gdw
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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWcYiYDnIp
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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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsldx49aRr
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFmHyMygUV
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqbre3Z0G1
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSehA6ITMea
"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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIHWR28lpk
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpVbR6yf2z
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2weT3RbyO
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs3Rfic3Bi
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGiCMXiywa
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzRXwtV2S0
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"I haven't looked yet."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SEeo4sc86
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbynkvYfu9
"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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nuuDdV0Ph
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ORtAiX6Sv
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?"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr15bh1VFcB
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJksKu3Z7rQ
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes6yiwXVVs
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE18mRx8b5G
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHmYAp1igV
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWpLLXUefO
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLjuCDbt6B
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNaDFaFizZ
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ak3VZ8kSI
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx7nKnjgMb
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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScKyHbWYHt
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Cool. But also terrifying.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFedNlYCSb
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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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKlM4DV4Ic
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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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs91HuhvjU
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjqVFl4jjl
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdo68Pu69g
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsym9wNBnS
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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV42Be59kF
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ef78IYCMI
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tPeEFkDF5
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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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiR7WiYUEz
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHolJLK4J9
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFZSplqczo
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgb39ZIq4l
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LGk2aE8Tp
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95g54IVak0
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdcmlNKYGD
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl9ACJngcx
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ6NSasbIn
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJtu5SVsBO
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xk0EkukaU
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03aK5abzFh
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe0UwkYYKG
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjI7aLGp8G
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBi5d6OEGW
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhvzCRpxqG
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M5JpVsurY
"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?"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQaSWAnG5m
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlMmRedWMY
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTZqIyHXjt
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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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfq5ICOIn0
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew0NKrIUVo
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK3xAphaMj
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx74NsfzHtW
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2DVaVxit0
"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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP9CEjTGis
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiHq1eVWuv
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"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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM3vxTMHfO
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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."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoo0Fij58K
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbwmlf5HJx
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSx3j4hvBG
"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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2d82XweOC
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8wlGwin9R
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pXTslxdvF
344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8BJaZ4MKJ
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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ldqgd89tu
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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.344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKBAAczoz1
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