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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3txCCSvetk
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"Sasha! SASHA!"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuZdOuOOiN
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVBmS5QS6j
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9EW4Csvqw
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."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVHfjRIq8J
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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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NktbIWuWk
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6FZplAQv5
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fnxo0DmkC
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHTAdr3XWb
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSXXzv87sW
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmF4JNfAHp
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuKbC0LgJf
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hFxSHmjSy
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprfOEfPr9p
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FQuAQnL7t
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCKX0gOILr
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LuXAFNyXn
"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."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVgvQyQq7w
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaun8PINAPm
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtd4jdCctB
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq6vhvaVEd
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMXOB5vCfo
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCmY0kXyxd
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUYJ2PR5BI
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcnCQXOifb
"I haven't looked yet."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtZClHvwoa
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWjanB1dSN
"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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwlvZQQyL0
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNcosE6MZ1
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?"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBZkzblA6w
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZIuEaF2x3
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnRYmyxXyG
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdTByVklJM
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78QkuW17Ii
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrikmDmpeX
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJmeuqOYQZ
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqJz06TDX8
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChJ1gAjUV8
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZUqSepdqk
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtzsvrqgDJ
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi5HXhX2pl
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyMK2YjULZ
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkQT75gij5
Cool. But also terrifying.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRvoO2YXJN
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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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZlgOFbEqe
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5z9D2FZmh
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvNbzqdjK5
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa206aDSYK
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlXMzHAdTX
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4Bympe726
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgrskzmXTL
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."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYLgK8CkU3
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLV4EHCKOA
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExSRo0iWcG
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxBE3OtPs5
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdI6jlsDCD
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfVm7oLlC0
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYgcvpwSv4
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg9E9Sgzct
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaainGqD65r
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexWfUSjm3J
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaKxkPvmEZ
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jcfSeH4bT
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0j7qw7oCD
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSL03KuRWi
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4eclj11Op
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPNYwXaQz9
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUWit8TuLk
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGIA2zKkEe
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HBJLmV7JS
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtU3NUg0yG
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQULr1Ho8I
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr3ZP3Ba5m
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q46JmkWDk
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Is1OkpAC4
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmey6aX16O
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc0bcSiGzE
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT6BX3Y8qf
"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?"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lYS6PPoYv
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS5LEOAqng
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErZvpRcMRI
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZRthXciOS
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnYcWbTjMw
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQlvpRrPug
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DKVviQDRI
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4N3jc4VLG
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbfaaXEA04
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUTDI7YD5L
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkowbQQ8gIL
"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."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnL8LOBPuy
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMpC0XIgPF
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKVmzEgiiI
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02d2DThvbP
"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."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo2DMBRv4D
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VospHSTSt
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."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JYpBV1kxo
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxiFFWJvsR
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq0sZsJlFR
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdw0t5FRYL
"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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQp5gXCczy
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Mk9f9UWT
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD54aoUqQeB
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tsYURmTqv
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbYfknwc9F
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6qfmnjZP2
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHz1OLy1y3
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAkSkTIcoI
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