Gemotions

The floorboards in the library of the old mansion seemed to shift under Amelia’s feet. She knelt, inspecting the unusual pattern of the oak planks. The previous owners had been secretive, and their hidden room was only a matter of time. She pressed her ear to the floor, listening. A hollow echo answered her. A tremor of apprehension ran through her.

She found a concealed lever disguised as a decorative carving. When she pulled it, a section of the floor groaned open, revealing a dark chasm below. She recoiled, the air escaping her lungs in a whoosh. She stared at the darkness, her throat suddenly dry.

The smell of old paper and something else, something metallic, drifted upwards. She knew she should call her husband, but her fingers remained frozen, her gaze locked on the opening. Her body felt stiff and unresponsive. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, peering into the hidden space.