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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1qnfXbUXQ
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiDzbQnbSE
"Sasha! SASHA!"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8lLRKbXlw
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH7zfhbG95
No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxRn1kmrSN
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehCd0vDTDT
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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S11KYKmR8
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUay1OSJLV
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1vrCnU6YH
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfiULNoGXC
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyVHpd863G
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaovRC7wRFr
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxkCSeJdPq
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtnsCXzFgN
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WAwfYovO2
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY5uVdbu8U
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8xglutzpp
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9upst1Osn
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oG7nYJ8Hv
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyNq1GdVhv
"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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmbyeEtsIo
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNHDVgdNBD
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmE8UVmS3e
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98FRxubUsZ
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lrhft2wqA
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9gMdTFgng
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WsULt155z
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ400NTg3hKV
"I haven't looked yet."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7J4fdzmB3
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW5Hzjm41G
"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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwtwSzDqft
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhOjji4KHj
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?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjIjFSWvp1
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzllRiujLG
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEEzS8DGvx
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtUcgWhl7y
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC6mxsndR1
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBc3GPzlzd
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccm39w7Zdp
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1zsBOZTu2
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9dHOg4Ce2
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyCWYABtaw
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDtyGt7GWZ
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFdVfQRosK
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5jA6NiVM7
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqwAymPCgF
Cool. But also terrifying.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDa6nBKUZx
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OfLwW10PD
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKgRHMPH16
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn5INyZdll
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgwqm6LKht
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGDyEwAgkG
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUfofHHGs4
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKHLtH6Xpx
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLsDzZOFcw
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXTDt8OfRZ
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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoGZQfcmXO
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGhbGkda0a
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyAzvFLYgP
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovjYkJiOpT
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMgrYxpYJ6
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStxY49aWDS
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMIAQwE2q8
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR7aDdtD4t
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1FY6sH34Z
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomqi7Yb9E3
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTNJRMAk7I
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3jfBb3VDe
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCBjssbuyw
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsWXiK9k56
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkm7okVgXZ
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeupsA92YhS
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjE2mVQFzto
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dFkheYHEf
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t0svbuP2i
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldwSKw1ppk
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jS5TYVrzY
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDp2mVzqJh
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnWxCkRGSN
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGRmyB1cX8
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dw9O0bEuz
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjCNPeX9z2
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM1POKVBks
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRJHCDmoXL
"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?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNF29GaNVl
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0L7DmPitN
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGCI4fh2Ls
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqrbOML4lj
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo74F8ML9c
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxPo1mAe3U
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKRXOGgUwG
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHOceUzWUi
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4tan4Xynf
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdEaN2ud72
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEFmc6R9QB
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0nKFlokZq
"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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiVoIeHrgb
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dtKKoVTGY
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01eguRx0yz
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MS78qWo65
"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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCwsIeJIg4
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5KD26MeXk
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."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeNYgRdOph
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeY2lw5EoH
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXteqDFkeK
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV34CRw9zzH
"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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX96NZBBqt9
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckk185wvbp
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AkljI4TPY
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFyucckUcy
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kl2YC9QZr
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm54BvWAXAz
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkluEQDcRHH
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXLXR4u6bW
------
Penana
search
登入arrow_drop_down
註冊arrow_drop_down
