Gemotions

"Ugh," Mark groaned, dropping his keys onto the counter. The new house, a sprawling ranch, had seemed like a dream online. Now, exhaustion clung to him like a second skin. He shuffled through the kitchen, ignoring the unpacked boxes that still littered the floor. The silence was deafening. He poured a glass of water, the ice clinking listlessly.

He’d noticed a slight discolouration on the living room wall, behind the oversized bookcase. He knew he should unpack and arrange the books, but a different kind of lethargy had taken over him. He finally got around to inspecting it later, and gave a tug on the bookshelf, and noticed it wasn't as anchored as it should be. The wall behind, he could tell, was a door.

It opened with a groan, revealing a staircase leading downwards into darkness. His mouth felt dry.