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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kGVhGzh6D
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyrRETypBS
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZwmnxgfPF
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmxVcLspOE
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7XUlv1FxV
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLzqDwfK8k
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvIMy2UcQz
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30RNcPqX7L
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFQkBIUncA
117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTYXZnTCiR
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHyIuJ8Bdu
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YpXczoAOu
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzPYLUUm6V
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrugnxj0Ez
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfhSp7TVyl
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG96pp8hrB
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Evelyn.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzJDQD7WXl
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWDbpWaFFK
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCYzZdpPdS
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bBw0HiSzP
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeNeyr8VUE
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmrPU3ukue
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ6tPWislj
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvE5KEs5l9
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxSMmc8tzj
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWRTBO1gKL
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlHJnzVrFO
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRReBXSbLgk
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9rtwdqMNC
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1eWmZiFB8
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCigWAbFzON
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRHRQoUHTp
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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?117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonhTZWaCVr
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAX79c3Td9
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI4suZdvwC
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF35SGHS4a
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8n8ZtJW4q
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh8ov5hs3U
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5laWhkhZku
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWcL95Av7G
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1T3nC17uf
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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…"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE14SEfHRza
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJrQbHIRF5
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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…"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVKmf497Qs
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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…"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE86LVgFSU5
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uV2udxf9E
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gjlQi4TzV
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyblgFKjtls
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm3HFvvbL6
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS0IoxMBxF
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6PZwKdyJ8
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7OmZ9kClB
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwx3WbgNaW
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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!"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8wKW4Lacd
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnN1WyOEBW
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tRkETXxn7
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe8nRFATkr
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZr6XtQ7B9
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