Gemotions

The realtor had said the house was a "fixer-upper," but Clara hadn't expected to find a bricked-up doorway behind a peeling floral wallpaper. She'd been tapping on the wall, idly trying to guess where the original owners had placed the dining room table, when her knuckles hit something solid. A hollow thud followed. She grinned, a wide, playful expression on her face.

With the zeal of a child, she located a loose brick and started to pry. Her fingers fumbled, but she persisted, humming a jaunty tune. Eventually, the brick popped free, revealing a dark, yawning space. "Well, isn't this delightful!" she murmured, eyes sparkling with delight.

A faint musty scent drifted out. Grabbing a flashlight from her toolbox, Clara took a tentative step into the unknown. This was going to be fun.