Gemotions

The beam of the flashlight cut through the darkness, illuminating a scene that made her gasp. "Oh, god," she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. She had to sit down immediately.

A collection of taxidermied animals, arranged in strange poses. A fox with glass eyes, a squirrel perched on a tiny chair, a bird suspended mid-flight.

She felt a chill crawl up her spine. It was a bizarre, unsettling tableau. Her breath hitched. The air felt thin and difficult to breathe. She quickly turned away, hurrying back down the stairs, the image of the animals burned into her memory.