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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65VYz8IcIi
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"Sasha! SASHA!"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB02W322nD
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzKQ5AvZmf
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScBh65Osgy
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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5B0KYGwLX
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARrJs0eJbz
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAYGdozu7P
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosuV2ce9lt
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYjKUSXroC
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEyJ5ugGRp
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGevh0XoD9
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"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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZsKXRPN0L
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"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ033iV0rI1I
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"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooeGwK29gX
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"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmIyqkgo0i
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"I haven't looked yet."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3KRvUfi1L
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mnDoJPjII
"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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuhC6GeqCH
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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?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoqM5gvzqU
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"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnMU7XeUmm
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6jmqzkUia
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"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZo517zpzE
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"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUB3cxOnEl
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuD1yNA0Cb
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNvWLOeBdr
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Cool. But also terrifying.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICyZJXyZgb
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx5h8p7ey4
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sisUuoFgs
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"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QNcqd3FWh
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN5m6l05J0
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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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT7nWTlYn7
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"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSfxgmKdN7
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vKMo1TLCR
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I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOJ5JfAlzx
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ55WvjJTW
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgWXAMyF5A
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ASUn1pOKT
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I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXYsd5jkAR
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99f4iJzJy2
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"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQIzP0LcOH
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"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkGG8WFTEd
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2256lz9PJX
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWaXeD2Un1
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"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeN0035PU7
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ7p8cMKOT
"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?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUABnyKNIEq
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRjjFHC36I
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjOsKelWUN
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd62tgm56Cn
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Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXe4zql8Zh
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"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLx4NUlUYo
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"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSz9sebBTI
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVrCugXuAl
"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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNfTkHVxWZ
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVTY42seTv
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"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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNkh17yQFf
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0u1naSu8d
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."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0AWvyghRf
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH83S9KQMgU
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6Th0nCQpK
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUsBpFAxZc
"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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfxY5nXcPT
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"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTA8opfjUU
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuHdTpb26Q
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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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TdQJveE09
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------
Penana
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