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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6hnLBmCuG
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLnjXeMVbR
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsp1tPaSOH
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNreQeVTCC
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPexrhJnCF
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaDhXbf1tx
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI943vYGJZ
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuxJHHo2na
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUwdoSOcer
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L5rVKW9mi
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuuinkkzKd
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJClsNMjqb
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5pcOicx9z
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJuNED5CLl
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC73XdqiWVO
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcUNwiNn96
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuWdryb0gA
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZxhU0HGrI
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hkZBmyq3G
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Evelyn.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc3wpJUo9H
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtnbLTVwdb
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MC2vthX0k
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡProTsF50Re
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewzivEvkS8
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpQZxwKpYT
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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?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNiQIhexV4
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9l5lRwWnh
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBChoJqFY9W
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1lkPp23JA
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0a3yLsRwUh
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCkKxDVk4E
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3axOo5bULJ
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvz1W2aUxd
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEuztMJmoR
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4we81c2pD9
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRhAGLMRGq
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCHeGDMPr8
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl566dZX2d
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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?774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcsSFcr0D4
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt1kKKob5U
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLX1ajTVwV
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnL4bje9kj
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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?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRvd9ZGn68
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo72CstPn5o
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfQNSD4kZs
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijd57HkerK
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WcyCDIHWR
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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…"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAohb3DfyS
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UZUoCzKfh
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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…"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVd3JCHXHT
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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…"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VbWM2vfVa
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiSwO3rhCs
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9atMpXdan
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7kXWlR9Eg
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PHqUgEjM6
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziZo8bggDc
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMLrAelESf
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1xXNqjCXB
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbisd2u4Od
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIqIT6urQx
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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!"774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXyQs2xREz
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVlgnvllHL
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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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY9M0MeCPq
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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."774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9Hmo9GKyk
774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrGF8KE84G
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.774Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaRSStx8Kg
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