I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo86ZcufmPT
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"Sasha! SASHA!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHXPrBvTtF
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaJBwgauhe
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I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wBSF7VYlm
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I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm3Kkh5VDY
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeTBdaqtUs
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I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1zBfmkBDQ
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Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GWJq8cdTf
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTUg0sZdGN
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BZpS2kgCe
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"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv185YSbhm1
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLkXt3QpnC
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIsUNmBrcS
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzH9b23LG0
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"I haven't looked yet."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrloWvPrMG9
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"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB1QNLMEQg
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Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgIlyn6TWf
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdSG98pRti
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEWO7hlxMX
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JaAcHVrBa
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrbhFlQOfv
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sLr956ibW
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijEwxYOOND
I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM07QLOyH9
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Cool. But also terrifying.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfPQ3yZoes
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The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw1CHmQxW4
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Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz8WTiiWmZ
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov1E4O3tgH
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCCc7NIce5
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She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItZRiijzVC
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjjD3RHKpt
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHub3qYH3Y
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPwt2pFSlm
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pIKDNFwHP
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItXcc4uHKz
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJBwZM0Yf1
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8bdMdZzk6
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqDKgCJE5J
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0xjdo1Z49
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIIINtNhgQ
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPViEsutv4L
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqbfCaixEV
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"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ZcA8I4oN
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"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqLvSBjqBq
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I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL113XyDVYY
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWwDMsVHYg
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmknZTNMPX
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkntHypq33E
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh2QyrjDY8
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCLKlor2d5
"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy6kU6RBJV
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH5pBuUmfR
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"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMGbdm5XDe
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I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xvc0AaWOr
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Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GrkUiOs88
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"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLs3KaQsWK
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWi8bT1Obm
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I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ySrbzba0S
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The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzNPinjGQg
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