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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyf60dmx7b
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"Sasha! SASHA!"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOwr9LjX2L
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap6gBppSgC
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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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxUkOb7vtH
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobvZjqqybN
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jYW3X11kl
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8yucGpzas
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPAr68hEIr
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPLnP6ghmy
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW2UFnZqfB
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"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoBgaI1abw
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpX8t8jQSR
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMwUJqU2A6
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJzCf40IUY
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"I haven't looked yet."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnsAKTzzxY
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"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hkDh8RMDg
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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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhb1y5HZeN
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiuJU3ptil
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fnQGRTnub
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aeSGkJC20
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu61KUCb0b
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41cYlJzlf3
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosSVDntjF7
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Cool. But also terrifying.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OnQejbRbk
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsAaSsmg5Y
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8ytOMP9Xh
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmg01h6uZV
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1q0UkE9jZ
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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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBVEeaYVaH
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HUe2MZsHW
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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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQwflvj80T
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxeZjXPKhY
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg8ZHeFila
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhXe2ydGl6
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40QQcFLLdv
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqao7TQx3v
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaJv9LbQWz
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnvhWaXupa
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5xM0Aalq0
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3OqhqpV8p
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FA9DlJlsv
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"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbe4KzPhDO
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"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?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYqM2ZrY3d
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabm7juckXO
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZrgCuErQR
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9yVc0pMZZ
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85DfjPa0ra
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DUGWArWsm
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"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoyaOU48jS
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaJgQWf7f1
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"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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsuVEMH9Jl
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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."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSK8AI6DWG
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeV3LPEi32
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"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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPplGn1XM5
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAWk74Tys1
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrI0teoeae
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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.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gRRw11T7F
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------8964 copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkqMZgxlSR 維尼

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