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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX5xTWLZ8k
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"Sasha! SASHA!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8eZEShvhT
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoF4hcxI4F
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHRL9mk4D7
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZVyEe3x0k
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNwfofssQO
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUNObQ1Ydj
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjAT5tzL4M
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLGchPYcGY
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk3rXzxZtH
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHBi8MlPJz
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMedLnBQSdC
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTNlZvxhby
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AH7aBHxkc
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"I haven't looked yet."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrKHXsHONx
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbNMFealXg
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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?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNTbFH6rtA
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEJP8SRsns
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0MJYTJaYe
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3bne4kNFP
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISdbO7vNsZ
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyGFVj2GCR
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwre8w7XWsr
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Cool. But also terrifying.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ073z9NvwHc
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4eb6RxgSC
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nqmNmuwiL
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5Htrs1ua0
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkayJplVsW
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOP6uIpyfZ
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqkGEpvqww
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJAi8opCko
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5Cf1pGoi3
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnLnHIZrBE
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnZ9osCM2E
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFyQlvvDgN
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllcVB2lCXN
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlFBcKDwW1
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46S30UF7aI
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghtqwElR3b
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUNWKaA7Lh
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsmr5bopUV
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg09ihsY1kc
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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?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUmJaBsS1v
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkvGna2Kob
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmVKGjqBTE
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7j3lBhFPq
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5BQ2m2SY7
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxUNM454Lq
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"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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBzc8pUp1E
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8YUFwtGvc
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxpHHPGh2o
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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."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxaL6GZOpj
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NvSs9GJ79
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"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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK0BFe1GzE
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUwyzGP1IL
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd2J1VNjGJ
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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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKukKdztp2l
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