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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR1i6RZziu
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgeHzGB2hs
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGTWUAK3fh
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaHppT86qJ
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY5U6vH0DG
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknZMiafDBG
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo3JueNvGU
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEsOoDwudW
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgVVMY7TPF
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFuRfTAXiD
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY3xd3giDC
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunOy73V4XA
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZycHHtzer
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwljbX4k95
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNamsRmQs9
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Evelyn.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcNtR3jtO8
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8JXCKM3YS
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVg68VqJ66
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y2A1tBVgW
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4Jn8VrSwO
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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?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y4FWK2Gee
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl2UwpGIap
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gdEcRHjPL
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPbTO8tGTD
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno7sv9Sed4
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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."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24UPwY7VZz
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqoEXzy1BF
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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."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcB7pjJv2J
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrxxtGIe5v
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Ai3sHha1
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo3wnT7c0Q
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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?775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ox2fXkom6
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RHdTKLkA4
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn2N5fGJPR
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99U4TKbb0P
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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?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBxWlsclcL
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkxfLcTvmh
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ267LoYNyQ5
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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."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwy2wWuCIT
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhjLN9czk8
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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…"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2yysDHUTj
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7Ogmfh4Hc
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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…"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22PE84lX5L
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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…"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViuFPQGWYK
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbLbxZ99gV
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03507P3Gyb
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCUJzmJmUI
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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."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx1Sho4DWH
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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."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgDhcMp3EQ
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMVGHuUcUT
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPAPFW2LoK
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1hcFH4VPC
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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!"775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0FXCVnHDP
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQwlFLFOET
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYM89GRice
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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."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg8xPtthjf
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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.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRvkpfkykF
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