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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRabDBaGkYj
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvAv49Yj2e
"Sasha! SASHA!"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4Mlc70WZh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb1EKKvr2M
No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aEnHZtkcA
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TDDilepKL
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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBMXmHebXJ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvS2MTNLfs
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKw0sgLvTL
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT9qD11R5n
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInGl6vqNaG
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvqf7jrqif
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpapyeI92t
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhckVmztL4H
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy7N9c3jYl
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIKRozt5Mc
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjuptBtQpe
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnm3gjDf7N
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95LJRqbxVv
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW82x31soZ4
"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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWhVvqYT8X
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddM9zEitFq
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90UbneKIzB
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE83x05Y4Fo
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VhlLSDCRS
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ27f2cXJH
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthWybNJO9P
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6anpy3RIPR
"I haven't looked yet."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZsESEQLTd
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMePxCpP31Y
"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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunZxkXP3nj
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNJobKyh8B
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?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5FRJYUbgR
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PH3jYq1vs
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJQWclLh4y
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8B3gDUAOe
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatoTaeTzZn
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHyAN9ZozE
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hQ90CIa9u
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZgowzXX1U
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuydKRcE0i
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsv47hWcmz
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BGJB6ByRh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm5Arp5ZeG
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuphUPGiqR
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSnkhCXI2s
Cool. But also terrifying.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv4NHs1oPr
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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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mO5na7Ioo
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2rLkWhiOt
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9Ila3sXCD
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE2atb46os
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKovxqXw4Q
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0IqwsmYeJ
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2JOmB74E4
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CrQtTappa
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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttD1RN6lO2
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawp4CZwXNt
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjkXRPH7At
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpkPiOkare
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpfmJCfAVC
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBeDTquEBM
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSJBUvEVAE
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE4uZVJlzk
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktnG2MxWSu
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bOCrfCSuX
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mpVGSzFRP
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISsdcAVg5V
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGHuA1DZZl
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPCDlutwVF
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNAywom8sg
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpntUf68457
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxTyDuiWqf
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9QDSkhXa0
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuklON4y5Gk
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc1fmK1MH6
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLazHtUdsS3
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIGssNPSkv
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPcxz5NsNl
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWyG695a36
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jwvRBFIMh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ClQHQhJ77
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFW5n2LPqA
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtgn3MJcNT
"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?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOP7v34MYZ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgK3tkCYXH
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHR0eIlFjg
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyKlV3l9QY
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf7uOaTBQC
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjeLBfAcYc
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5kSZiqdzi
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4UNpmaeVM
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoAMMLkhTi
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzBwmSVHuF
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3Ab9HvFi9
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6AdHBz4HW
"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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gc37LrfzT
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF4uWLElNU
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT1jgdKpI2
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzZZ97WQuU
"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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGvBslwD0H
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWHYr5vqRG
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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2oDFZmcHX
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzn4SyVrch
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYNUnJlHyE
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsujRp5Bgt0
"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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcyHOFtAxh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDmWk34ZT9
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3QBFjhHgL
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd8DbFpPQs
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c3deonrSM
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXASIj2EQL
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvWlZI0ELI
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEUPj6e9aX
------
Penana
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