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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VtszbjRPN
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxZst6JNaX
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMOungmJ11
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQITQYbbgR
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLFjSMveyz
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8sJGKqSbn
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcJImom12q
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTBHElxM7v
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpCX0uRCr3
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHoyNguAgS
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHDNIOOqlo
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDCoV4vPbD
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN4mlUPfip
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnxxMWJXvM
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zjY54q7Rf
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61MB3of8gX
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Evelyn.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUiHsVnLwg
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlni0aulYJs
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPMhHvGSiv
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvEWnY4vKN
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e5CzBFtg5
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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?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdReuafCx0a
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZZJ0HzAKo
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5Ilcb1OWT
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NdVrTMmkG
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpISsL3sB0h
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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."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYlzjzeZ2f
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0jOVBazX3
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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."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcGzpFJiw8
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiWl2jZs1D
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahG2i8Z6pP
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWBUAvmVu2
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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?318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyt3iPXR5n
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfly5UfzkeA
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x7GfNR2bF
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzayXZ9oBQF
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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?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I2Sow18jM
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS4gS1WoqX
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPWZ9jnCgO
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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."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KJKYiuECE
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnCw9Bk1dT
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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…"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJWyhf0Vz7
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0jbyOEMkE
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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…"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT83F9iy7om
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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…"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH8IVl75vV
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsMYnfeyky
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU9MGjkVC6
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX9e3KkmYR
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLxL85wJUV
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."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NLW02jZ5B
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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."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD6YJ1kEbf
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nag8oUU0d
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jZ8f0h1PN
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbGvyTHATD
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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!"318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0CPXELoFM
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFTRS3J264
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraP8CsAExS
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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."318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtezGTpUR2r
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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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfVE3Bm7Kc
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