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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHqvNMp6mz
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW5JjMn4gY
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRkUeyUnd5
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqkuH0rohL
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcOl08zKW3
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55Fw5SsCaP
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hmJFG2EMW
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnPVBR3EWA
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgoO5KFET5
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZWszyGkJF
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3ND4M97BL
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1BpPkZkQB
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0OX471CI1
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3e8HssNrs
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleyyHQOzvw
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Evelyn.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEYxgiChNS
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWZdsoc8V6
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvEVo9iJ1P
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjNYrnX48I
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfcOzuLs9o
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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?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1TdhdJE40
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5asdkeR6Np
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNYGxYsSqE
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPWG4IaiDg
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TgbNemqnq
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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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdgMVb3g8N
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMfganYZ50
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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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5JzJyZR0l
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtm7sUsyQK
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1vGIGGw9P
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT23arPrWq
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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?132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFufrOT1mI
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPcYAQTFKi
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBzYxVFHiZ
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY6erQyL9P
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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?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4KwMzG1Iu
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOotrWjtjBF
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCmkwcwAE8
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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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyxqkjXVAF
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEErFfWfdV
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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…"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bvsAMbc8b
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgFlVnBrda
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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…"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwajx2uEaVr
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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…"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSK53j1elp
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA566wWra2n
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNAYSuygL0
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHBqmAPbYr
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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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZw3hYduBN
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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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KldDzmdro
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTMnAaSX1l
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWAlYeRf9l
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHLRq4fv8z
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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!"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6VyZgprZu
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrck74zqcM
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXV8oIYQkE
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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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKjt5ficji
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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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFk4PI0Vcp
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