Gemotions

The cardboard box sat on the welcome mat, a fat, brown rectangle looking out of place in the sterile, white hallway. Liam squinted, pushing a hand through his already messy hair. He hadn’t ordered anything. He dragged the box inside, the sudden weight making him stumble. A quick glance confirmed the address: Unit 7B. That was him. Except, it wasn't. Was it?

He fumbled with the tape, the sharp tug of the box cutter making his vision swim for a moment. Inside, nestled in layers of bubble wrap, was a small, ornate music box. He wound the key. A tinkling melody filled the apartment, each note a tiny, fragile chime. He didn't recognize the tune. He felt a profound sense of wrongness, as though he’d been expecting a different song entirely.