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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1T09Tqfoj
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"Sasha! SASHA!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkJ4KaftFe
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4xsASITz8
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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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DGVoPwJba
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL2mwW7Elz
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwws9tVQMZr
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIENc6rSDIR
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsYuMnhYf0
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9JT1dZ06d
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBliBD63LEu
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"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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpCjsg66B5
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU2ibvNVC9
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs53qHpuBCu
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TCI8Z1vzc
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"I haven't looked yet."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgvkus7KYy
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvzyLNqQwy
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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?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNTzBPWlzJ
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ87rdkQ9O
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o7szeuusS
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4XaEPl9U5
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s9v6PxSw5
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79bfjttOmx
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlhpJnN1GY
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Cool. But also terrifying.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaBD4IUYy7
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH8aB9CgnT
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFUFVBwhQG
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX01uAcPF6l
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewib0tuWGl
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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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLJPidmjrN
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU63gQo1Q0
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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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEccwc4uSy
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMPwX1Rpue
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoHfuaE45l
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl1myKl9bY
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeLLrUUpRL
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXqSrdYIB6
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOShXnCyvN2
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuFclthT2T
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsALPivyybb
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVHIGhcSBD
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1FZLCf8an
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"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7fPfLT5r0
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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?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiHEMqbZEI
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZQ7FKJFDN
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySQ8FdbUpy
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqwBqzKa4r
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkoSgsyN6u
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4dxQHnm3P
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGlANKnerE
"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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3c4yh5Eru
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6c4ZJx0jm9
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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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNW9dvK589
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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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AH0MfJGxf
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8BTZIaphg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEsyU6lELv
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U3kSPk3NO
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaGWVpx4pI
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTS5JAzGdv
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR1oJb6bUu
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------8964 copyright protection191ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnhbzrkg7c 維尼

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