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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHCZRlmwc7
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXyXULR4gZ
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9I238smRw
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyLWb8h1f8
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbXO2OpcyD
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW5A3jRyw7
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2gmXRF3ZZ
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGavj04ovrv
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsY5x35nOH
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WT4rcjNPJ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0QCDKSIGB
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJOk6NWubY
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNga7pmRNyp
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUMxpfko1L
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qY6EPCZLB
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMrHZeH2bX
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n5NsCL3GZ
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Evelyn.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC6hPYaWY1
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLHlBE7K3P
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgQSFPH7f9
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6ln3fnQ3T
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop62DDfiW1
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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?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel9C39wHKQ
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOXTcMy4hu
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYegCpeUkE
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55NinpDjLj
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEUUKoDQSy
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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."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP336ONLKqv
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJltw1osoJq
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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."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvaBMME1pY
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWRApv30pj
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqgCt3NkrI
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamHaQI2Ebk
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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?315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvKJPitNLy
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdsNJQSbHs
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k2MJCfZY3
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLmqyUtx0y
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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?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf7gbbcj7N
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjedoQmCyPT
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQfsuxl5fD
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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."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt75a4Svm84
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXlEg0pLft
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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…"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1C2WPj3V0
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOlG6r5Vea
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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…"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ir71BEe6L
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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…"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WhLfGJMuR
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHHB11xpTD
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVubrd8pun
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOgzXJkV9u
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCviN4rb5h
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU8F9vfebs
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."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ns3CI7uS4
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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."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6KGzL4KkU
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Km0jRdKbQ
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEFo9PUgfj
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HvERKEqBd
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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!"315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIzZH5ExBM
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYB5oPny9A
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBN1YlRdht
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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."315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOr0e6kRJq
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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.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2AKJS5Xc2
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