Gemotions

The envelope, unmarked and thick with crisp bills, felt alien in her hand. Emily's hand trembled as she carefully placed it back on the kitchen counter. The note that accompanied it, handwritten, simple, and utterly anonymous, had instructed her to keep quiet.

The vibrant colours of the kitchen, normally a comfort, now assaulted her senses. She imagined the surveillance cameras that surely must be in place, monitoring her very existence. The simple act of pouring a glass of water seemed fraught with peril.

She began pacing, unable to remain still, each footfall echoing unnaturally loud in the sudden, deafening silence of the house. Every shadow seemed to twist and writhe, each flicker of light became a threat.