Gemotions

A coldness settled in Leo's stomach as he entered the house. He forced a smile for his sister, Maya, but the gesture felt brittle, unnatural. The silence was the worst part, a thick, palpable thing that pressed against his eardrums.

His fingers clenched the handle of his bag. He kept scanning the corners of the rooms. The shadows seemed to move, morphing into grotesque shapes as the evening light began to fade.

"This is going to take a while," Maya said cheerfully, already heading towards the kitchen. Leo swallowed hard. He wished she wouldn’t leave him alone.