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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIh9Lgq8Vo
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HbBMxWjKP
"Sasha! SASHA!"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkAc43bFxC
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTh8a6dI5i
No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SUVe4pMuZ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIgmrOmQkZ
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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHySRz6Qnx
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr4cE3mGmV
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkVTBIFAcU
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVDsjSJBiT
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC2qS8TI3U
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k0zedR2xu
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4OhHIbiAc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRigamFiJW
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwOYisrE1d
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaRXKVlBCj
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7slimILaG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88iyg1xmef
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FUY7A9P3a
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYO1H10tlf
"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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAOCCReZNm
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI8MEOiYwu
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEMV6iQEKE
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62qKnDgdC5
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTH3Dd4J2B
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nXnaFt2tA
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhCyKKD9zv
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR6Z0MmG1u
"I haven't looked yet."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm08FltiHM3
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpkviARKVY
"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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XErNHQsJS
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky6F1R9YKq
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?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRMxCgO7s3
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D5WGB0wwa
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorhOkpBhuJ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLOH7h4feU
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdQq0GO7vi
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee7DPP0Se3
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jxffKciB8
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe176mqUaSE
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2zGzJ0gUi
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wiyBCowvj
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEMavj6i15
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFACK99cNN
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kipjKwL1y
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1kZ6dS4uG
Cool. But also terrifying.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2aNJnTcKc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeeK9xJWv0
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpvb0cUbg5
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuB361nK3q
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BR33brBlr
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2IcP1AH30
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9UXPG92L9
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0qEBf5R5j
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlxjOba80F
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUCviZyuNJ
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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjiwIpq9IE
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcQOXwEoDV
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaBIIftrdQ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD4PbZ5kMn
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjwGhUQQwE
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4lHAN6lFY
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7KAuydOSJ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OCNua6jt0
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawOVwm8156
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXDPsRFJjE
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ytSfpzkhg
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhR3qElhq6
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu46JVcTxd
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuzTYJdpSc
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJiZdNKSa3
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGaMr52S09
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpre42v7nXO
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQCljTx4vH
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXi9VmZQ4V
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4nh0gbAtb
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIuoio15B2
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zFJ3fOW95
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqHJiBbBgT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC4joCZTcB
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92gnjZmvXs
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1dl4ciaNa
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsn9G8FxML
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA1a2ubAUd
"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?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfKn1BWhMS
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmmwR7HeJS
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYet6vx3A3
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtWnDoC3CU
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52md0UT9va
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3aHNaNo3y
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vSKWViB9j
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedqkxHObQz
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vZ0z5LDpj
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDj8HuPFdH
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsdJxewcEW
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bZ4AWfIp5
"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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmpInPSiT7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJYK9fV4Q2
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiMaBrFzni
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3gQgEaeBd
"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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FuR7V7uJZ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm3QEpn0aC
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."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63hFYInBiF
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvHP6pmGAO
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQesQ19ncI
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAumdA7l74F
"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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3KuSxnmXC
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJl1faELcI
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KIPoZcL3v
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6epQeGfhyq
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSBhoPRZla
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn95ng0onV
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevWHCFvfDP
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT7IvHwV33
------8964 copyright protection214ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCUZBdcyoY 維尼

216.73.216.204