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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHOrxK2YnW
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJijb3aZePA
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s0CbJMa7q
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIIfdiKOWR
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwt4nJKiyi
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXaYu3hAA9
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC1iGGHhpV
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmjQQJH6GL
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgH6NsfqdK
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4u1f0P25R
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOEIa1d5pn
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJyTEve7Kp
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanohmBdILn
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1M6xkMUVD
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ChbWbw2yg
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTeLQ9h4R3
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29KAS5zMQK
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY6i26afrP
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdfziIW8zw
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQzCFsbtRv
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyWyRWFS6V
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0zWyO5hCz
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ600iiYGFvP
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIzSlgVrEv
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV56v12nYEN
Evelyn.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMUbMleGt6
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcidXnukqMN
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iBCmzvtKM
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k6z6mYSi6
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsDFOUQqJl
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSlldINQlu
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZUWuJcbXK
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16ku2844ha
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe4MtfTld7
"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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VXWwmztPg
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcDIJH0ezD
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM0LcIXW9e
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUirNiinMic
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw4nIuGKvZ
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SrLgTDdmc
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgEtZbNkgg
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMDLMTSZyc
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ztkyTUrya
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCqaz86aGN
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0J1oJF0D1
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxi8QCbUCH
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG4V6sYnen
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSrsMeSdSu
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCptcHION9
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWoZxKhtKO
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA4X1mMjHi
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7QCwTWNGw
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgXUibQHqm
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpYu7uKYAW
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqBXUy9cbo
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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?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RYKGZlO9J
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNBstlWxul
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vaO3XhHhf
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf2dfaSMFY
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7gLlilaYW
"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjrxAg9Y3v
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjLQB3tMuv
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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICnzhqyTbz
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN48fl24Qei
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Wmp8Z5JJ
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtnHAn2UYn
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5EwErDN6n
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYQ9x3v6JN
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkAA1N3G71
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUvfBpn3zQ
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsd3iQKwNi
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwwEIYjRFv
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvFC29RedE
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuekbLyw9Se
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvkgntPIPG
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi5LrDqCtV
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykZqTqfxvm
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOFb3Y6now
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRp5D7GVwQ
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo3d1SXape
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFrVMHXvkd
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClUrvP75De
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlElP9BMmt
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXuwXqWeNT
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FMJ0QB0fG
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltNfXc1Sia
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRuStZl8Bk
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrOYcojwnf
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhykBYAKx2U
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4VF1B4uGO
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwjkZwV5Qv
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOe9qwgrD9
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!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgnlY8hfN0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHUREnVft7
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfwF8MglIA
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YHIUSpy9H
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEbwHqrzF9
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN7nUKb19j
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3DbRZzkpU
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJktGTfG6PH
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHabsAx4Iii
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