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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VKJ71o1IX
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF6p12FK5K
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"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKlkzONmUK
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"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OSpiUULi8
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"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvGBsu0483
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My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GeeTQDz51
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The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUJ1kvauMZ
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"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcDxSUakPD
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"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTclfjan0V
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"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWiJ5SqWv2
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKS7btY8K8
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"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCCpuyEZcr
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaInY8HXhq
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdJ9WDGLv8
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFTGIXaR38
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Evelyn.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ1hO1alE0
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN8cRe8eOw
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oJFHlCceI
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"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ4V0qxlv0
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip9HQzzsMt
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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?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYGg2Zid4D
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"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNn4pQeXgT
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyXXQB3TtC
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"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKnBO7JBxl
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rkYaJcSZy
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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."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhEkn1hn4R
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"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaPOZ9xZ0t
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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."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMiJijgaR4
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"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl56rx9aTzU
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIZg9w7oNZ
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Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOakgmsZp2r
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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?259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDTMcRb36a
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkVbdWFYK9
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwCzoyMGkP
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"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqPK70L49J
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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?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHsd7zi81Y
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"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3qXdjtAtN
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYOVZ7wNCk
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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."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS89oyz7LP
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"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHehg1kOA1d
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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…"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYTsGAmNqV
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC5j7U0jCO
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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…"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBopynn1nSU
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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…"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqrZfq3iMK
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"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYDNpTFUjc
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDhH5FiwDg
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"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQRUcAqvYP
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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."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDiXDnpb8a
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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."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ngay7shW
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"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03gSEkMYJ3
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"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNJKv5NRpp
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ0lIt2jyu
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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!"259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXxy7AKcJT
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEVdzNBhq9
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5XsIjmdGo
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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."259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0yA6tf070
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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.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClsKfDofDu
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