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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuMZvOennO
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q7I6hzh9l
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkWE5BiFvz
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXWB4rDy8x
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq53qIsTHjV
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifch4Vknjb
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWquHvdpLV
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ddnm2MqX0
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqkZerOUoC
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRg4gmFjmQ
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6HeSRNPxg
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0vLIl2VDX
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjHMr2SdPK
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAyDrCGiBR
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7vdR6pOp2
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48J5bur1bn
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwpZm1uBmU
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZna8t9NyeB
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gsiTr6tGP
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnlzq7oEln
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Evelyn.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS5JHHqgPW
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKad0VadHei
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncFRTSVgVl
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoCBBhTcxi
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqnSBpgOMi
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe97sDq9LVI
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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?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg05c4jzkH
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCcMint7S2
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsKpOwQzEN
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76DHJCP5vI
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoG9Tvk0SL
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi1RQ9uRBt
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOs6TphmW9
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHC3k4WPXr
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyfI5irCPG
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ0247nyl4
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1knbDhDcaG
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuvfELG5jx
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXk30sTKZD
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbzRzKs9lq
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPu205wDZ7
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCfDFp0s6q
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt3fZqRNqk
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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?190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdsR4KkUFA
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgnLRtVuug
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A00i5ci70
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUWbenrLRR
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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?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNVSg2wQQ8
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9wh8gbs8V
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcH5ODKIri
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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."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesLIm3kiH4
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WK0H70RrU
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsdfJ4nVWr
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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…"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs704TnYVaj
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvuCCzVrxZ
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9SI7yc9Db
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLBWTDg2Hg
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWLunViYj4
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kDrpTmYxy
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWjX6q43uG
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQdRPKB1nU
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxHrKFeuMf
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlDh37Diix
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjikv1blvr
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."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJgROxqDe9
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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."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uFMpVkJnI
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7AcVlySN2
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuEymAPODy
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGpQTwySne
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqevon0Q0EB
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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!"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobRM5lqAKe
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCsZYTdxul
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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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzntpFgte3
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI1Jw8NE1k
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwYZBEu5GD
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8kgjJPk6K
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHvZq6VGru
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