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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoFWM6rWGo
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gYMjrLJ5P
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXtXJ25Mvf
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbhKspmeXZ
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEDZRgoWO8
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBlgJDDduR
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5N8uVbaTE
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt3xfy3h3v
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd74kxoGixz
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHGkxYRxEZ
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5wGyac9xK
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lGsomIZP7
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnA3XgTy3M
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafiTeCAZq0
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThFA52ExqA
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Evelyn.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0ztemQ2NY
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt06PU6cj99
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkjEwALnUp
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQD7AC4osP
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9aeDpUAKb
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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?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJMfq6AGhL
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzErZAPVwF
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhAc1J3tv0
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y52CbRf68
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppiqzpLQix
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ2ok2RhFr
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlw8jMqSMX
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVWg9Vk2rw
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSgjcji4IW
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNr3eyVrq9
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCMsWjz8qC
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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?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanFEtWnHWs
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM17p5k7R9R
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduRagzVfpw
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH9Gj0008U
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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?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyCj4jRzI6
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkd1nNyqD4
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItJuZxrf5p
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduWyEPKP2z
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EJizS5tg7
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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…"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0WV9iXQNh
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rGVA3iRIG
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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…"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCONgi6hvi
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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…"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5pMqDDcta
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xsekR3wn6
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFefeYiDMf
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn9Y4hiekN
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFQ2EUmtth
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d0eywsP4r
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH37b6MOYoQ
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHw9Oz37IS
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbnoBYZaye
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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!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN90fHNVr1
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhppNxYKpK
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1RbSknbY9
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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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIWo0uVhc6
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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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3W45VgVpYA
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-------8964 copyright protection235ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhaFJZW2t4 維尼

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