Gemotions

"Everything alright, dear?" her mother had asked as she pulled the moving truck up, her usual cheerful tone lacking its usual warmth. "You seem... quiet." It wasn’t just quiet; it was a tight knot in Clara’s chest. The move was supposed to be a dream come true, but she felt as though she was being pulled in two directions at once.

She started unpacking in the living room, trying to find a rhythm to calm her racing mind. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow. She just wanted a place to settle, to be at peace. Then, while trying to adjust the fireplace tools, she saw it.

Behind the fireplace, a section of the brickwork seemed different, newer. She ran her hand along it, her fingers tracing the mortar lines. A small, almost hidden lever was tucked behind a brick. With a click, the whole section swung inward, revealing a small, windowless room. The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of old paper and something else she couldn’t place.