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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgBHj2mzOw
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWulWlGiRv
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRNcUY3PG5
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQB2rLI5Mx
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdEH4Pl1Ih
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA4TJ1MaMD
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7tw0AhiiY
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqH6qOrxbO
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhIy5fs9fn
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLS4Dl6X3C
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDXuTBwT8J
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaiTaxdf3C
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOAERc51hn
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrE2QeqYwQ
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ9opZppQ9
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Evelyn.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUnIR7Eh53
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUf03laqmT
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"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SRAdyqD5X
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhbl8Mq0J7
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAfNyfzQQi
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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?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYYQw83aoV
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTdGuhRSWY
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFwCgWgAqv
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8mRV3ChLC
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyglUuST1Qt
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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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4phV4YV79
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbiTwJFIAG
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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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxEWllzTPY
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPba0IlCq3
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpealRWlKj
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWx70u5YMK
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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?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxhituWhVC
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdprtGLl8Nt
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf9AyusJwo
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8JGiZKthi
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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?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL2qzLY32w
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKmV1hzSW5
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYNqgbHmDD
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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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsBQ6xDDp5
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjItRTMo9b
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"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefkkKJeiR3
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjBjaS0qud
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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…"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12eseScIJQ
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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…"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbno8TYb5w
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYCNpZ9Hfp
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckrO7QQeU1
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9iEQJzKhJ
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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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8s1a1nMuZ
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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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDYFsv4RER
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn27ZhtAUpQ
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSfDs6kjS9
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWShf7esvBy
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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!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzfHTJ65zW
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ1SrnBELv
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjX85P8RmF
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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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX22P0x15BN
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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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdCSgxPUR5
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