Gemotions

The aroma of old paper rose to fill his senses as he unfolded the letter. He’d found it in a well-loved copy of *War and Peace*. It was a drawing, a crudely rendered sketch of a house, with a cryptic note on the back. His stomach twisted into knots.

He felt a deep sense of unease. He knew he should try and find out more, but the task seemed impossibly daunting. The world felt out of focus, the sounds of traffic outside his window barely audible.

He rubbed his temples, hoping to clear his thoughts, but the image of the drawing swam before his eyes. He found himself pacing. He couldn't quite put his finger on what unsettled him so, but he felt an urge to do something, anything, to break the spell.