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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRz2Lq6ayz
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IR7m5nmtR
"Sasha! SASHA!"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi651wJiFh0
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXACWp14xon
No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLmVc4ZOUD
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvrjZQvVpn
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."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SMA5fhnsD
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wV0kGrv0O
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4nBAdKgDa
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj0JH4wj0x
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1NNqIj38J
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidOMEG3rPj
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5BGboEP7u
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqZE44eBp3
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNOjRD9Wsc
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBiLatYaMx
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03OcR44lTV
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTnI7ZwqBc
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTKyntfHzB
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwEtBWVytW
"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."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabECaZFOgI
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ8aNfV8mT
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXTfvazObC
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjT7gJS70n
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxNmbHGRwc
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdccEbroHZ
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6WVhAsEfR
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzam6WWvpjr
"I haven't looked yet."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKXahetB8e
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8IQfhGK8b
"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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuxt0YZmUI
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfVfcOCQhp
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?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2aEagmcp9
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTB1HEIZ3J
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGFfRNt78i
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUErnbGUyyI
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjJLxz6d2t
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qR34SJ1La
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGYMZwynsG
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRY6bQerlY
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzIUQ8B6Og
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPKHWHiTzx
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5PygYLyhW
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2d6i6eJFQ
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxQ2F1zOlV
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymQ1ByaxC9
Cool. But also terrifying.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4FhmiOgua
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDtWn8QuDg
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuLSLJNh5k
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSGZLtplmD
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmNx0w7FEZ
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLTkA03HDI
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeoPZEgjhR
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYVB9Zgnrz
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa1SuyLQrA
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9br6fMtmr
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."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6mhsQiQMm
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu0wSnejDU
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTqsN5YdRB
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UadKiyD70
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxVVFp8o5O
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVYbsmYmsT
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizr2j1ZvNy
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aO5g0ckDN
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcJQKM4SBD
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcvJowvCjJ
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5gjbfOZ1f
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv1vqbq7jW
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZxP12ZDCa
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB43EttRA4h
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy6bWWsE8k
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7PSgIRKWf
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgLfoMOT82
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD300OC3MAQ
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvTYOWBL4W
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStps2YsMOR
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gUOf0wnuR
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvEnnFmRGh
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUh1kKpsPp
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtuEkTXzB1
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgzRk2fPGf
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3P4NkVNJE
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ3qFsjK2L
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGsX09mf4X
"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?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzC0tcsm9E
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeb3bRHVUO
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnzj0UKeBS
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK9T8VpK5E
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTr26rnmq6
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe71FriKQf4
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSXl5sdBQ3
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGgBqddZKB
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0ZwhEOP84
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTe1LCcoMf
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ebaCo9KV5
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoz7j9SBJu
"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."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdIWM8X5ZS
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEnk0SKmcf
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoRiVeaBZC
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOp4JUkPEW
"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."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUbni2Q1oO
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0AFI4lb31
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."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAHwbJXzfU
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEcoluytSO
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2nifRPthZ
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL8UK2VPm3
"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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3hbhCGaoE
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkKk0dZTYY
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZLiddtBha
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS71vb5Hwi
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXOfHJiyBX
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1984KejdvQ
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.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lEqGptgsM
816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9ijF0hFnI
------1234 copyright protection812ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGD77U9U58 尼

216.73.216.134