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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKVl1cZFYy
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3NVlaoRxT
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocmofnwD6P
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gokv4uBpK
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFtMODysSZ
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCMfwCFOlq
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGqcO51ZyH
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjc43NDJoL
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVqtiFNF8M
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21lNzaYZ6x
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR23UsOf8pW
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx4ZyDo8Lh
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4bXOKbQFZ
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzVSHf333y
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhxDKR0jnX
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Evelyn.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4BthRUS8G
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu6cmHKGin
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs79mPiq1O5
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunMcSrwAEx
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J8Aa36qRb
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3WSdSqzKk
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu54I9VLGj
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7pTTacmwV
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCcVZYOXBu
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNWofx8R0M
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3Fi80UfrG
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRImbmGeKHy
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp9aRT3Axc
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEF4MHN9yz
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccVMMdhu6O
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yOEbSaXXa
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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?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIxpSIg4fJ
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyGmo0f9DG
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxJRWWZ3hC
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmhO6D1nGr
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNJ7y0Onzd
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWMQfLwAaI
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIc9qT0ChI
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5E4BkkMaG
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTZfTqYrqc
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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…"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QaZjFgTS8
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl522WKvFgD
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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…"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdjHVBTo8l
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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…"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe8JlfEtbI
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09GQRLARxE
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD81jgfd0pZ
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fR5fLfXrQ
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22pKFAawBq
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdlu48A7OK
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiPyZCKiVm
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMO3GwbFi2
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRCU2DNGff
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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!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2uYKus4z0
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb92vmxEZp
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEEEmkc0WD
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweUcyMhucT
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS5zT7l2JC
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