I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqyGBytabj
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"Sasha! SASHA!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9Xmb5bVDN
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM7NeBkkoT
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I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfGBYM1N5e
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVZatWS3sm
I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74z7v0aLnc
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdfPL6URFX
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4Y7RVJ853
I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk4RMBl70E
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Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgNqTmBz4B
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpznI03cl8
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4ZCNky9P1
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfhTfOFCrx
"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVhmThsFZR
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2y5i7STcs
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDcr4xvQOF
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AlF8DyfSE
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowFzJejvtu
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYTYqx1XoS
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IerXECrSq
"I haven't looked yet."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbWfhPVEJA
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyw7IMqF8X
"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHCNzMeWGw
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqjnPErJAy
Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EIKLGPARo
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOitUii3WsA
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwbKHpHNSr
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpZfALumLx
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirWEm3Oqmp
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lo9DcAhZM
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1j4vLlOAng
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dm9RYl7cC
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsVPz02C4f
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYRkMDVL2A
I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7XForR0nl
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Cool. But also terrifying.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixqazJVIxI
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The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93JTXrbR2u
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Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyvIowzb7i
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblfJOQUPMX
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sdKkhJ1ro
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB78NiCj3Z
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She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYxvLRIMMR
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIV48jMbYB
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl1MJ1DWTi
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstiKbO1CXJ
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VckD7xW3m
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgH0NgAoYg
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY2GqxgT3P
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZhmYTmar8
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokdkxjt68B
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYC2QUMZFX
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLNsZpB1f4
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxx53HqY57
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79rsSf9hEa
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3QDs9ZmZZ
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdBTAYy9bM
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vVudrAxfx
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFzK13zMPf
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WmIGNKaW0
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL5divocIt
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfvACAZcC1
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEvS4smsKJ
"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39d9Y0BTJZ
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg932pKLAw6
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxAJdLJS20
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62toRTQhnW
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T5YfKmJ4s
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R3y9rJnLQ
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OGjNIV5HO
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wEGZcVJFo
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RStQ6D53K
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8FySJZsXI
"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCyZws8GVz
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k70KNRfmh
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vE4AK6tmU
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNrSfBk9zh
"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC6hnpPs88
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS6JhxYGNP
I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSob3sf1Nf
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhR2BptQVB
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpZK8wCSvV
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5dgkEUEB7
"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqSUA2kTWs
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm07MAf3TMo
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH3p32wMvg
334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFsvNwxDiI
I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFME9oRtm01
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The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy4oWeb8r8
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