The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of the mansion's ancient air conditioning. We sat in a loose circle on the floor, the tension in the room so thick it felt like it could suffocate us. Hendrick had suggested a game to pass the time while we waited for Evelyn to return with groceries. It was supposed to be fun, but the way he smirked as he shuffled the deck told me this was anything but.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCJZUaEwW1
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwLyhiBosN
"Alright," Hendrick said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Truth or Dare. No backing out."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfLZpS3xZb
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6CAOGv7OJ
"Seriously?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "We're not twelve."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiExzOHxGYY
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZrpvQ9nAN
"Come on," Hendrick shot back, his grin widening. "Don't tell me you're scared."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY62GPv6oR
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI3EhjcTZ0
"I'm not scared," I snapped. "I just think it's stupid."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF3vylTl7x
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd5PuLrqtR
"Then it shouldn't be a problem," Hendrick said, dealing the cards with a flick of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned to Maya. "You're up first. Truth or Dare?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOzttxqzlW
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jaxZcnygV
Maya hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Truth," she said, her voice quiet.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfVL3CBDSc
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoBBHThWu4
Hendrick leaned forward, his smirk stretching across his face. "Do you really think your sister's been clean since rehab?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg99DTuZSGq
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2cwLQCYFR
The room fell silent. Maya's eyes widened, and she glanced at me, her expression torn. "I… I don't know," she said finally.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGbD9PFkeY
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU01tWl62l
"Maya," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I haven't relapsed."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaNFRIXE3J
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl3jFKdjVU
"Do I?" Maya shot back, her tone defensive. "You've been so distant lately. How am I supposed to know what you're doing?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIr41jeThM
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBCazBRtZg
"Because I'm your sister," I said, my voice rising. "You're supposed to trust me."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWoNE8OyeQ
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2E1noywFe
"Trust you?" Maya said, her voice shaking. "You're the one who pushed me away. You're the one who stopped coming to the clubhouse. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even talk to me?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdFEzgaBfD
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtJ2yTc1eu
The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Hendrick leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Looks like we hit a nerve."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzzQ0LLLpb
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwkKVAtYzt
"Shut up, Hendrick," I snapped, my hands clenched into fists. "This is your fault."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcDqIY6YAW
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfmbc2qbcW
"My fault?" Hendrick said, his tone mocking. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding everyone. I'm not the one who's been lying."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqTEWL0AyJ
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxNdZiWczJ
"I haven't been lying!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQdd5T4DUN
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijOfJzwwlI
"Prove it," Hendrick said, his eyes narrowing. "It's Maya's turn now. How about you let her pat you down as a dare? If you've got nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcquoTWaW9P
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYUS92vcJL
"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice low with anger. "I never agreed to a dare, and I'm not doing this regardless."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfGX3aDZsD
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRKmCYulSq
"Why not?" Maya said, her voice trembling. "If you've got nothing to hide, why won't you let me?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWO0PIUvp5
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaull0GcmM
I stared at her, my heart sinking. "You're really going to side with him?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsKZ6fmfhr
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNEomeDQmg
Maya hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Hendrick. "I just… I need to know."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gDuOXXfQO
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8pDhOwk8L
"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Do it."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR9x5D3kTu
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvFAU6rV3G
Maya stepped forward, her hands shaking as she patted me down. The room was silent, the tension unbearable. She pulled a cigarette from the front pocket of my overalls and eyed me suspiciously.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBGjy6B1qd
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHHy5OjkID
"That's not an addiction," I said defensively.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1My9A0IoqE
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgyNJjQdSP
"Isn't it?" Maya argued, her voice rising. "Because this is how it begins. First it's cigarettes, then it's alcohol, and then it's hard drugs. I've seen it before."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqBGFjVOLs
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfNYYVDrb5
"Maya," I started, but before I could say anything else, a sound cut through the silence—a low, guttural moan coming from somewhere deep in the mansion.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjG5umU9Cx
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7FWkAQOyN
"What is that sound?" Masha said, her voice low but filled with terror.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHOilgoFVe
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORBumAJglA
The moan came again, louder this time, and the air seemed to grow colder. I glanced around the room, my heart pounding. "Guys," I said, my voice tight. "Where are Martin and Hendrick?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIjUlB0vBS
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77qh4R8dZ6
We got up and looked around the living room, the eerie silence amplifying our unease. "Babe?!" Maya shouted, her voice trembling as she searched for Hendrick.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVeizObee9
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cB27oEuvQ
"Martin!" Sasha called out, her tone growing more frantic with each passing second.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMuu4617ja
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoe0C6SXOg
But instead of a response, we were met with a loud, piercing scream that echoed from the direction of the study. My stomach dropped, and I glanced at Masha, who shared the same wide-eyed expression of dread.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDYo4F4paq
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas9i1pVz2b
Sasha started toward the study, but I quickly grabbed her arm, shaking my head. My eyes pleaded with her not to follow the sound. She hesitated, her face pale, but before she could argue, a heavy thud reverberated through the mansion, followed by footsteps—slow, deliberate, and growing louder with each step.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9uEru8MYb
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkjqcXYqlc
Sasha's hand found mine, our fingers interlocking as we braced ourselves for whatever was coming. The footsteps grew closer, echoing through the hallway like a countdown to disaster.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BN3Gy5BSU
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJjQWw9d6T
Footsteps.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hTNmpzfmi
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd0dmk3oBH
Footsteps.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkSA3oEzu1
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ3StDWdWb
Footsteps.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpRo9GWXBN
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7qYlDYe82
The door swung open, and my heart froze for a beat. But it wasn't a monster that emerged—it was Hendrick, his face pale and his clothes splattered with dark, drying blood. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe, his breathing ragged.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb9pXathDw
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJE8KyJAoU
"Oh my god!" Masha yelped, her voice barely above a whisper.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCA5h0nHWK
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhaFuhu4Iu
Maya rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Babe…" she started, her voice breaking. "What the hell happened?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTIU7aEBGq
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57cVb0xw9j
"That's not my blood," Hendrick said, his tone low and hollow, as if he were speaking from somewhere far away.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU5xA1SqCJ
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHueqyEKAZY
Sasha's eyes darted toward the study, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where's Martin?"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOMoOAJVo0
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7stpMOlsg
Hendrick hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I couldn't stop it," he said, his voice barely audible.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wc8mAtS8C
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1PNRYOesZ
"Couldn't stop what?" Sasha demanded, her voice rising.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApm5FKAOUS
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhpTyMJAB7
"Martin is… dead," Hendrick said, the words hanging heavy in the air.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvbnu1LsP4
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B5MZMhcJz
Sasha let out a shaky laugh, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "No," she said, her tone desperate. "You two are just pulling a prank on us. This isn't funny."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPp60oXOcu
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV5LmZ1OiM
She started for the study, her voice cracking as she called out, "Martin?" But I grabbed her arm, holding her back. Something in Hendrick's expression told me this wasn't a joke.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjvz0qftvh
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyY2Hpd3s1
"Let me go," Sasha said, her voice firm but trembling. I shook my head, my grip tightening. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she began hitting my chest. "Why won't you let me go?!"257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68oNylypq8
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eK3wmEeZc
Her fists pounded against me, each blow weaker than the last until she finally broke down, collapsing into sobs. I pulled her close, holding her tightly as she cried into my shoulder, her body shaking with grief.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1y6sF7n8o
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ81PPK3dX
The room was silent except for Sasha's muffled sobs. Hendrick stood frozen, his face pale and his hands trembling. Maya stared at him, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. Masha hovered nearby, her eyes wide with terror.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36hb3mm9ev
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp5I2UOjEu
Finally, Hendrick broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. "We need to get out of here."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKuud8a0Iq
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4SINNz3sT
The words hung in the air, sharp and final. Sasha's sobs quieted, and she pulled away from me, her face streaked with tears. Maya stared at Hendrick, her expression a mix of fear and something else.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq9H1yNmgQ
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCkARXuSBT
I nodded, my heart pounding. "Let's go. Now."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4x4wja1iD
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMNpneE46q
We moved as one, rushing toward the front door. The mansion seemed to close in around us, the shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. The air grew colder with each step, and the faint hum of the air conditioning was replaced by an eerie silence.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2npJmjDlE
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqPUZb6yZd
Hendrick reached the door first, his bloodied hands grabbed the handle then twisted and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He yanked harder, his face pale. "It's stuck."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1nUN8PD7L
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbJohllh3
"Move," I said, pushing past him. I grabbed the handle and pulled with all my strength, but the door didn't budge. My stomach dropped. "It's locked."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHu4SefIQu
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAl875el6t
"Evelyn has the keys," Masha said, her voice trembling. "She's not back yet."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdDFpL5eyM
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWRoxI31jB
"Then we break it down," Hendrick said, his tone desperate. He stepped back and kicked the door, the sound echoing through the mansion. The door didn't move.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxJJbGmBRK
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvIzDeS7Ul
"Stop!" Maya said, her voice sharp. "You're going to attract whatever's that is."257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG73twSy6i
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgM1qKZtOQ
Hendrick froze, his face pale. The room fell silent, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. We were trapped.257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lthHcEpup
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3zL5TWaqF
-------
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
