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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4nCRI0QTX
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDrdMe28qz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53GeHI41ux
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5WBV23sjc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB2vOxQOTr
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyY2IEdy96
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCieNKxAoZt
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nXiPo48Yf
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4NUQ5fseV
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT7NgLXetP
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj0BlIiOFw
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGjOutxYp5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieDD2cQ6U3
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKa0OQnOKM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4we9BByfhJ
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiKDICIinb
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc66fFGCzOS
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Fxjjkwb2
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9DXSlIi1i
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXjX358uXA
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Evelyn.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKXlJUh9c2
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWwyhQLkLv
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKUTTsUkHI
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrPy9PCDuS
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8CEJ193rg
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTcaqCMnCQ
"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?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI5FXLxSmD
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eW7PJqNAV
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkP4arhJJo
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToLLtqvd0b
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAqHlLYGqv
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiqcmwR68A
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYmn7hArCH
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsQwiMUmTd
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vXgxmzAej
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzuAiwGqlp
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRL5yd5cEL
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78f9ACM7Oi
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV030EGTauZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3MF7SSWyY
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mV8ppBlvT
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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?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFrtbM5lkB
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWexYLWYK0
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLCvA7QO34
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbq4ZwUs42k
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3neeeU84c
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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?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKT3MQ5z5g
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqKP162qW2
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIcevqwCoD
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMucYD3NLoY
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrlbGmCw9L
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZPg8GY30m
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN7TNES4bZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw97HjAUZMY
"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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXgX8hOSd9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0ZBq8NE8E
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bCBOhFszn
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUtHcIyCno
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpxAl0fCPj
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HjCm9gpCm
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpwcz1mz1q
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zgAeDu0bZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaVCh4jmqR
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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYM6aXizYh
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFu1heQxCw
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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuqwdcl9x9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw0nbqxhsY
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbfEDnNimq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe03s34BTB
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03PKzTaMOf
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpVelGI9Fg
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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!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEP69ijhJC
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PqQrA1vA5
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFGdUCfaqB
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHokpYLwod1
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1oWprVbgf
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakpKvaE5nE
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