Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the drumbeat in Elias's chest. He'd unpacked all the boxes, scrubbed the kitchen floor twice, and organized his spice rack by alphabetical order and origin country. The sheer emptiness of the new house, typically a source of excitement, now felt like a vast, echoing void. He sighed, the sound swallowed by the cavernous living room. He kicked a stray cushion across the floor, watching it collide with the opposite wall with a dull thud.

He wandered through the house, his footsteps echoing on the polished hardwood. He'd explored every nook and cranny, or so he thought. He ran a hand along the wainscoting in the hallway, his fingers tracing the ornate detail. Behind the heavy tapestry that hung beside the old grandfather clock, he felt a slight give. The wall felt different here.

With a surge of sudden interest, he pulled at the tapestry. It swung inward, revealing a narrow, dust-choked doorway. The room beyond was small, windowless, and smelled of forgotten things.