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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfourTPlLmm
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls6Rdfooh6
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMeaOAOUpK
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGlidESMyY
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrRoYDIZWM
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgoRYDznPB
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ204rzA8OUt
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JztxuDktA
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH5rNvZfB5
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTILqUbxMUu
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsCZAff4v3
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv9D2du2Cf
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Az5MtDnvD
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQDFykp39b
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwncgh5prS
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Evelyn.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugSFTkLM9M
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdjTf16htB
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHzhBGhgg0
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4j154dbLA
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1KYZ9INZe
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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?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ARs0PTk4a
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0779bvjoOm
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4bpZ2vQvg
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10ppiegj31
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A36tTnk98
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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."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC5yVSmke2
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaU92u5UJM
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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."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzANQok5WR5
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI24MQCIwFt
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BCMjnlvA0
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTeQVhJdaA
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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?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNegohWVQMz
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWnBgcJIOD
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5BqLnZb4F
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd8vU4nXVe
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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?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN1LSPcFuG
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvawHPPW2M
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcu21qX94X
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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."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnJwC1Qith
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCZDUUV4ri
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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…"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoeiTylP34
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D98i2mIwL
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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…"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE6Qq6VPxc
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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…"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8u6h75M36
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQQh1v8M7k
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzFwL5fLID
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3VSL409D4
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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."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5HbMpnu3C
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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."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1klGkPM6EW
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9WW9dz2ts
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN3fGDjDe4
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nIQI06S9S
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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!"779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYrSBYSuYu
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tTCAGdJ19
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QDDowLmot
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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."779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgQrul1Aa5
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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.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmhLqTIaLJ
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