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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvMxD6z6EB
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTH4mfLmxI
"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj8aXcAiFQ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PNvkAKmHV
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJysTutnCy7
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzhPazAW6j
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw0gxss4ID
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xgvEbo7iF
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEbQ2KJlXL
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnjL1MobuR
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvoFMnOrhy
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYtUZqSzfj
The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67i97jQYT3
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcGiZZN25U
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBohpTlheQ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRBUy1ZXav
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3UxbncYpr
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OP4opn6gA
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWroLD6U1V
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5eqfqTgqh
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FwzVJiduC
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t5TPhCsrZ
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErv4v0IOsP
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPDoFL2djr
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj9roMk1yn
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoOc5DvAu6
"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0FdRF438R
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQQYBXJPNy
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxupe2baxo
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxZukHbbIc
Evelyn.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeWKqPa89F
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjmLJP18JQ
She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RKtaiPPDU
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzO9CL30C2
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2we1XyXNAW
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyLUfdHgkj
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D973mmjL7
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWCpiqlsGL
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RyRr7HnTh
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFi1cEF8oD
"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?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsTJbXDjxq
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I8pJMKITl
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXFzoZTk4L
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHvKa2WuHL
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYmoo6pYRo
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQtiq1ryrf
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mnrPJKg2z
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHokdwaNua
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcGk2RYGki
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGwNnknhGd
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHiIl4tPhR
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xc3CjhWti
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXbq39L36B
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmxSiaKL7G
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X6hj0srd5
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEas7AqKpBI
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwyr603Jzf
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXetaV7CFj6
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaSswjzOsA
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLn8HAjQpU
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQfvZmvcir
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbs6gcqkTpe
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?162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ5C5CalHF
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFlJQ74cLE
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY1S3PL1iu
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnBNAMmHBJ
"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl70S9Tz4r
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0ZM60TB88
"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4ZyqCoQqY
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8a0e96VdT
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?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY42BrOSoR
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VvAVLgLrt
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcZnkteceF
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKprZngTLiL
"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5VfTp7njF
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXquU956AH
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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRWwsJgrd8
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NHxQsNCfb
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPhYphVUR6
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1a1wuQSUa
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpPRCfdgKW
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMHif2oGM8
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8HcDpNRJO
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLwx6W4P2W
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNpVJimNqW
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpumHINF15I
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT0PoCc5op
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlZkoBZt9a
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAyK2E62GB
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOb4meQHap
"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTPCYkVQnS
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO21dPsoCBP
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpPDbadPOE
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQBTRcjoxE
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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibhX2OgWPe
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP7IJWMgIi
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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzUN1zjHlm
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv62PZfRHo
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5VJmuQccD
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerchQ0aQhb
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudmz9YLkkZ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF9cJeZWGw
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPgZgTwZNG
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTclniwufIr
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!"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCIwVorGjU
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tt6WR3Txq
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfykve5Nl5
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIShKtstXQ
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh4QX09CkO
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwxqanKSPU
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKE0J912J3
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurq0pymKla
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7TMlZw783
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qShmxqMcH
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe00cSbB3Wq
-------8964 copyright protection158ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdJukEdID2 維尼

3.144.158.54