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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScqvNSUibg
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICdBEj0kFk
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU67W4g79ZF
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YH41XTaO2
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjp1YwaIYC
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ll9sAYeD2
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEenCq9ITrm
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpVMLIRRZI
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4y6h5WOCy
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWG8tSEoio
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqAHJ8fot3
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNBzJ3Hosc
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqglZ0ve8rs
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx4hwPrJeq
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0W8Y0Cg1w
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Evelyn.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWEtLM2AxT
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWeYubqqmC
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT0o9Zb3A8
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvwlweXlGY
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrizme6oWPs
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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?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0AbTHLu88
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz5BYI1UEK
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuN3N8uFO5
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkE6h6qjKs
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eeFEoooWJ
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthGDZeXMJd
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9dpsxLMo5
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAjsqoNOxa
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnrQfDuFF7
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeejqJxjdKF
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuozZZ97uQn
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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?141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JFt7BDDl7
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPjONHL74v
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KIa9T6Xz7
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDR3b9ckfH
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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?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Ztt8yHd9
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO75zeWmjL
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95zw0Y4Dzs
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7TFksH9Hw
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvKECrxnnL
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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…"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ecJfceovt
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9lM6CGQqj
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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…"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93lNQEpeHo
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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…"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnTAq5BDL5
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4N9ngW8Cu
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeSGHyKTlf
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvTDQsdOcV
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdZuLAgjqn
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmINYgMeIZ7
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0rZjMwhAC
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehE8xv0IMs
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K9100p1UM
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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!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuLsRmUuCJ
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUEewzFodT
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaKsBPrBWJ
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhJAYK4PmG
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtD6EJqp0B
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