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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdj5SH0Qnw
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"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2488Wa5Av
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt78P0XjlY
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMvwTh39vh
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL74RSJEyms
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0NMehNxeg
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORlJ2pRUqO
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpkaMJpOHF
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGW2hHOJM0
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8iK9Yj55T
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvGc51MNMp
The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPnXyIOTTJ
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEokxE4jpov
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xNRUH23Gm
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7GY08ZHCv
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT7yxRl1vD
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAbM9hdkNc
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiqxENthYt
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn6Nwu6Fg1
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4XxbEbEvb
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurmdkYimIZ
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8E8aqKgFN
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd573sWr8sg
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sjhbBt6hk
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"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g74s3C6eW
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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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsgayYaur1
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Evelyn.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgdMUYg7PG
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She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2qzNXlQy2
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE0ixrzrB2
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThSZtdZDLS
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuffwwJEKuD
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXUPhysXV1
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"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPkZiK5dia
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkPXst2UFC
"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?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfhXQ9sxoF
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC4vAxBjz9
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4gYHHxNgQ
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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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7DXdH76dT
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytkTB1ZPuH
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKYKiDQIn0
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"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiWZqjCNV1
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunMcEboRU8
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fT65I6wIe
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tEC5DkIU5
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqPAuFHDLw
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT4hQ2MaXM
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XXbDeYACk
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEj2WFcWW6
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHHmuIrdAG
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"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOVTnWWn5o
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKmW7Jpnms
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVJNzUq3oU
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYUSMvDByZ
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?175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3akxJWASW
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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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjMj9NJzMx
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"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02nDN2WO6b
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgczRPIObxQ
"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRWZlM0Y4f
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc6O7BOemv
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?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5Dnxk1qiX
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISwwZeExU3
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTw5eqCKq9
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"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHyWLeYyeh
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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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAoDDNwmk4
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMPdWx4tZ0
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTImymsKi9
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlk1n9qXrt
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqDGX87cHC
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡachqnbmajt
"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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneIDF8Sgbr
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4DJNmhAOg
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCZH5YScQx
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQbsUSeUEx
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiFDrWLjic
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWoXnf63ev
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF2vm1Ntpz
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"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnY1LQPqMU
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GxN1kadgJ
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9gcwEnP7Q
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmckqsof9R
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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NdHdbeK35
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNifw65isIO
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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVXjHqADVC
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMMY5vrr7a
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf6I0X6kAB
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BQpZf1N2k
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYaZYlZKbo
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jcgufbStz
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BFHVqqgL8
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkck2WCJaR
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!"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGUKuOmTKi
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1xAHsmzol
"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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTdHgKHfa1
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qcoQ5180Q
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnmDPFw7xD
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1LGDnAzPw
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSgmBWhSyl
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFFP2RfVjL
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5Hwg62SFh
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JUnKdvc5y
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9rymHJ9tt
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Penana
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