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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0RQnfMTV5
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5phKHkybi
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES1Kro1jYM
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KBpkNvH0t
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHk6Rc1maD
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoz4G2PFSm
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypjxtHHICR
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZuJhCqzV4
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLndRyN4Gz
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhUFq8ugFu
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRpoic7qZ7
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb1RsIDh4Y
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvDGfSPG7W
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BJET1Gc0a
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5HZAyWDCy
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQV1J1MjZI
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe1SMfOBRY
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMez4t0ph7l
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAIBK90VoL
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Evelyn.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtAKs8pwMB
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRfTiGWX2l
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DsT4P4KF6
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeloKmjzX5
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH1rdLU2Ly
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmW5nxmuFi
"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?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXBBU7peoW
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKwWlnVixI
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d2tmL5WKv
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNne256cFN
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjzd2XrdJm
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpJryYoUgL
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJsjajmYLI
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGgH68Kxe3
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaWA5ikqXJ
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI6tuQgAuy
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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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIOfzYndx8
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqsQc8Z5p2
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiihLMPbTxV
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyznexMnss
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImFRyAGGMe
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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?146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfGyZISTeJ
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5ZReFw21w
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBRwe1phD9
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMDNwEgE6E
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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?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7zSzxX0AA
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ha4mPBHGa
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPSuXkxXgM
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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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCePfoWsPC
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKhPnXoflh
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweSMMCVjJR
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzqukZe9sB
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj5DnJd6Ms
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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…"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhukG7LiEKR
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1XxMrAQ3h
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sN9iHeoFS
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8avzpdDdR
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7fNNVW4ir
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY1W5484VM
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVJktPMlQR
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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRgjIXAJDf
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAK6356hIA
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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiJpuORoIR
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10W5sS6P84
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Z0tvFH0e
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPxjRxmB2M
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTcCW3fVyi
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVR7lhDXVe
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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!"146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9aL58Kkha
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK5ploFXGA
"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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWbu7M5kKB
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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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVNgeBL6xp
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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."146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRryGG7TyTx
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BUlF9zeSI
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.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2uHPbAXiC
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