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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyaMG2w67z
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiVDl7JrSN
"We need to find another way out," I said, my voice low but firm.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pg19djcTf
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOvqsSKpV6
"Where?" Sasha asked, her voice trembling. "We don't even know this place."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf1yesKmDE
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9qxJNFX3i
"There has to be another exit," Masha said, her tone calm but urgent. "A back door, a window, something."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvrfDwpebS
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gQ1gvnSvF
"Windows are barred," Hendrick said, his voice hollow. "I just checked."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwHQVF4RN6
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iHhtIyjXH
My heart sank. "Then we're stuck here."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsgoQanYmB
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOUtmocaUq
The moan came again, louder this time, and the sound of footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, and growing closer.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstuCdcAVzM
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFiPOgs1QS
"Whatever that thing is, it's coming," Maya said, her voice shaking.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPcGTo4gdV
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjovEMfNOs
"We can't just stand here," Sasha said, her voice rising with panic. "We have to do something!"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9i2FVvRyb
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcqWiKBnQH
"Stay calm," I said, though my own heart was racing. "We'll figure this out."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RsylBDLgf
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidg4OCx68b
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6XlHmAnsc
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GiRRMz9Gf
"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her toward one of the other rooms.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj7lTHguxw
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5cbuxqpG9
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZW7Rm1Zq8
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63JTpFF3de
"Are you alright?" I asked Sasha, who shot me a weak smile in response.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR68Zs6Zh9d
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZcoolIHfY
I wiped the tears still on her face, but from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone else in the room.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AzOoPjjSH
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaDQBRDZQo
Evelyn.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhdcN8tens
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3rbiCD11A
She stood with her back to us, air pods in her ears, completely oblivious to our presence.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmu0qeW9rI
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYZCmxeNQq
"Evelyn!" I tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her expression shifted from fear to surprise as she pulled out her air pods.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD3ewVMXUy
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4dkEV98t1
"You guys are still here?" she asked, her tone casual, as if nothing were wrong.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnJ3MPo2To
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Z7ojlRJM
"Yes," I said, my voice tight. "I thought you went out to get groceries?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDloG9xe60q
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUveGW82nY
"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?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXoDDg6EoH
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtZuLe1zPh
"I thought you didn't have your key or something and were waiting for you to get back—"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IluSJlfQx
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWq3GDDIs0
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXAsXEpRhP
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKridIFGqQj
"What the hell was that?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4kV7HeigY
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEumRqpJ3w
"I was hoping you'd tell us," I said, my voice sharp. "Why is there a ghost in your house?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjSYGkDhRG
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WLU1I6vuv
Evelyn frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "What are you talking about? There's no ghost in this house."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBMUSMJV41
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizdTEBKgYX
"Then what the hell is that?" I snapped, pointing toward the door.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoP3KaQphB
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw4Gb9XPok
Evelyn started for the door, but I moved quickly to block her. "Don't," I said, my voice firm. "It's not safe."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscBCcsIwaY
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufKZjUBfLp
"Why not?" Evelyn demanded, her tone defiant.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7M4oCv9rY
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPg7EmmfAP
"I'll explain later," I said. "Is there another way out of here?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOeVsn42Jj
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4SfW3FrCz
Evelyn eyed me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, there's another door behind the curtains over there."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv1PA7iA0y
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZCKWSJvIs
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?741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIc8DG0WlY
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1OnKJPYuD
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YtQr878bi
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTMWCRSkur
"I thought you were someone else," he said, lowering the hanger.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK9IKDMjn3
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pzXTrQ1kK
"Evelyn? I thought you weren't home?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vjXSIpenS
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocoMDE27IR
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?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU87c0O5XW
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi1jrXq8Dn
"I didn't see this coming," Hendrick said, his voice barely above a whisper.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdeeu46I2m
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8zF9O3oo1
"What?" Maya asked, her tone sharp.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsApoZOhcv
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmVIVjuAS9
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."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrPINO07Ps
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxJ5hh6wTe
"You wanted to rob me?" Evelyn said, her voice rising with anger. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuIlPrF6FF
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS9al5yxQp
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I thought you wouldn't notice if a few things were missing…"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZiaFUwa1k
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSSchJq7x3
"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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUc16l3NS0
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWLOCqoYs7
"I'm sorry," Hendrick said again, his voice hollow. "I never thought this would happen. I wouldn't have done it if I knew…"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIyXB8MQB8
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUVfJjRxB0
"We went down there thinking there'd be some valuables," Hendrick continued, his voice shaking. "But Martin… he must've touched something…"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9zb3U9Vf8
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77r58hgQeZ
"Down where?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBSEAchTM9
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAvGztFdXC
"The secret room behind the bookshelf in the study," Hendrick said.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo06WNSr2O
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq8pbmgFez
"What secret room?" Evelyn asked, her voice rising with panic. "What are you talking about?"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7433jhr7ne
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8M6dnX4pq
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."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot93pPYsCQ
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiodqSOIhT
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."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvHkV0e2lA
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd34tcFAZKI
"Guys," I said, turning to the others, but their attention was still fixed on Hendrick.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAL0tEfKNH
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RhI10jCnU
"So you led Martin into your stupidity and got him killed?" Sasha said, her voice trembling with rage.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHy9M69TcW
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfV3iOQ1uI
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrS6LzaCdL
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULcsoxObXE
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!"741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVld5fjyZK
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc2yf3X5Xq
"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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0nyLjZai5
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMtdkzgz7H
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTxkHaQR1N
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAYYrTKTYE
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling. "There's a back door in my mom's room that leads to the garden."741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfsSHO2pxC
741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjLoZ8WlB7
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.741Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1wr2pY8yU
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