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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG0j93DOrE
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIByBJh62a
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37IZf1Ug5S
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1pF50Ua9W
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ378Odof1PA
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZIu7gLF0X
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7dpeAlQId
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV9EcPIzqD
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qt4uZHaNa
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv5h8q21jv
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7fEOusye
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XBK6ecKst
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ2hgfdEIf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThlXBtK14o
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXj0dHxI3H
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSfvzJV8qN
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQbAHbJXB5
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTVgU2BGgC
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK6eK9N7Gx
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOZoUGefIi
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc71rrbPW51
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Evelyn.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3fjHPfyxS
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqfKaV58Xp
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyRPF4HmkD
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqSMy8EB94
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbVOxrvHAM
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J0mywaTqI
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgRO3KsoWS
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplNwryw4Yv
"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?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRBIFx0R88
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimZ8ij6FXI
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviVCj7iDXa
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBomupjay1
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJUP6OtEiZ
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxeHNcVJ8l
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmREtgZ0UY
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlBrAfNScT
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JaJQyO7qS
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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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjowLl0r2v
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MEpx6u1S9
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjdlYIMebA
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gdRgJtpWE
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJASEwuDPs
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ayRQvhQKk
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH69wQnaCD
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsACFk7Yuc
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?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt02uy6y73f
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGur7Li8NG
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFZEfoTTp5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXRONBeeMI
"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvLQqXQLj9
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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?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF1JyRp85R
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKK0k5yEPP
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzruIckTDIi
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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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMNK78mOe1
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt6OUWVtJi
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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…"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIGC6T1Oaf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTRHT933nj
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluLXi0y9Ow
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi2P0SSK8B
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wdi4sSUbf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu6FEA4BxC
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT548yHTOh
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM35wgRDSrk
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyalPvMwc3
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8qOJz9Xjq
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCfO2m3ZhT
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70YSeKC7ok
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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5YCmjpTKm
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzETixy1Pr
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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kv3NoxRZW
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu8OEeVCkI
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabCRYh5PvS
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMuR7OxBfz
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ychcqcwNA
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY73Vi5CsNY
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM4nGOUL95
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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!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT4EfuXA46
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkzzyW9YIZ
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbsmv0ubLt
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQNo0lW8sN
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBi2sakXhg
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj6zaUtHMU
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzqzNvPWuN
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87I0PhcdT4
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-------8964 copyright protection236ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8JNaAfffP 維尼

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