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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7P80ljuJZ
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pvSwsPoOy
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0cc677r92
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5a1XjeaCB
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1oRlysz8V
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9m9pQZVOy
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19i5orDaof
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRuNK3UWvW
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v8Zw8F8uX
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PIxAUndhS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAqpZCwod2
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkm5C0bOQU
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHQk2MV3W1
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkngv2kZKi3
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaenG0ZqxWJ
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFxR1bZzta
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Evelyn.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNn5kbgJhM
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05s363N2aP
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jT5JCNQDN
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO27q46wI0
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOP222uONs
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9jUvhIxI7
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJMJfZ2NVh
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVshKTKAEh
"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?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhxyNosbqA
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMo4nwUw3L
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EsDLwSWtn
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpWptKx2Be
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6MGoHyHGd
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ7dOC1AbX
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw7FYZTNHq
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszWjz8GO5d
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAz3c2f9iG
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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."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SM7vZV7nL
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj0It4vvfx
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4ePkxDnZT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvDM1N9nK7
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWb5qV1Spm
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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?246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc9OewJ5UR
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbzO9I1mZF
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0zwm2TAjx
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85DSHaL1Rj
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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?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMMLaRq8ma
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErxmoWYVh8
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3De9glRvzs
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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."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxDyDCoqfK
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaULImmCrjq
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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…"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi6NTCzHZX
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0WWtBPkYV
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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…"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxXBA6KU2j
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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…"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cEEQuh4bi
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKK06OknhO
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAUlXgpQCP
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLm0czOLaG
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi64q8VORK9
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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."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IdYVp80B1
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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."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4mkQ6Cjec
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ5gKk8p0Y
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZGCmr2hYP
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBUAbuQbKH
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rusD4Egs9
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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!"246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9zlMwMuRb
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RBkba8O2H
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNap976esdC
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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."246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFLzSh44Ro
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI9wa7t8U7
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