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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnAqXHqXkD
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxUvWvoir9
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmjEkTQiDF
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQZ6TigJei
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf02BZhr2RD
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPx3zlS4PX
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0plUxvTBe1
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaQ2iZXYst
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZjcSG47qP
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghP5zTdyrW
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGFF41Izjx
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJoZ2X0bvR
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6Ufev9s4e
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgC74tMMGz
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LennPRKLA
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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ7C04YoyZ
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iGbzPxGUq
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjCEu2b2w0
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrddv8CVE3l
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX7fUM7Fy5
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Evelyn.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvm3yrUVNO
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sZLQdoCOz
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkJrZAxLPq
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAGRh1R8oA
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAU1yZOm4Q
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHSq3U9XP9
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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?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcy7l31fpb
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfQYSmJ1En
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSscs8Gf24
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUhkNkRuS4
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaump5661DU
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqnN1diEX6
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq5dLfAYQA
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhjXQzPfLm
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcrRo36DDx
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJYbDCsxMl
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nZqiL8eAt
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq2vsZbWqy
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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?774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4ofW2ru9H
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BsXEh4Eho
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1Ost1qvyH
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1axvfm9ZU
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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?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGq3TaTeEG
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2nK5ocDYc
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbZU8oJsBo
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPU6qeYbwi
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0dxpfD3HP
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CQ4j5ltQb
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP86oyKZwC
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhu9VPwMGR
"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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiBa0JH5Jn
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmOEFZi473
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcmBqBtfO8
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UadM1XXRg
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YA7RZGmKl
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcyHKpNtdq
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn88HhaH374
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A47nNIrSn
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInLoVHsZhB
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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9wWHK0cND
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjTa5ga6X2
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbctYmTFJfH
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl1H4P1WB4
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QsD2H1mJL
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zubu7uEJ4
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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!"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3NLqL8u2V
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTwZsw3UUp
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpl40jLOpu
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K3kLcCcoX
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYJHJtINTX
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