Gemotions

The new house felt like a cage, the walls pressing in. The silence was oppressive, a stark contrast to the noise he craved, yet simultaneously loathed. He sat slumped on the floor in the living room, the moving boxes still littering the space, untouched, unopened. He felt leaden.

He ran a hand across the rough stone of the fireplace, tracing the intricate carvings. A loose stone, seemingly unremarkable, gave way under his touch.

He dug his fingers into the opening, and pulled. It opened into a narrow passage. He pulled himself up. The passage was dark, and he was alone.