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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB5xy4fjJK
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiGAhdtKS5
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s5QVYQ6Zj
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kULi67qzT
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRrzPrfrAG
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdseKO0PBW
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPc0FMN8a0
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gaAAyLoDD
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgFm5oOcxK
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlFmokLa4E
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebCWmu6z6H
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y45VCSe3W
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwoesWrc6S
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyJbvHiOts
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpOysNjiOo
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Evelyn.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d8yLyVvTt
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOjS0anWHM
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MsSODF3ZT
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXraZbxbCl
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOTPIyUpdr
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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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpf0nxK4IY
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9uHNbFYrX
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpttF3EACB
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnS4CpHmWS
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m42DLWT6s
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfuVUXopaK
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg8OR2a6vC
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnpTEbbVUs
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDuQR8fKdO
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGiHbJRk5l
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRaLI6si8e
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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?204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX3FeJ745j
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGvr4wOl7A
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3oLd6liCU
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B2ucxnY8I
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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?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnb2GHYIB9
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhMNmXH6sw
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WcA08S7ux
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh0eLMuJId
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz29XEaLgaj
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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…"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcRFTVHlE1
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pARMvQMmO
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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…"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHHrecwESN
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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…"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPL8lrcyWm
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxXk5Q3TFZ
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE2kgNGJKo
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lSqqt0QHT
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFxtPWmITC
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStBBxfd6AA
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCt5NtaCWq
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqfIKDW2m1
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLCItgEGWx
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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!"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW1NqSLXoV
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY3lX0YiWe
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9VSexdOti
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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."204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhTYi5oGQq
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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.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2LanE5mrU
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