Gemotions

"Are you serious?" Leo stammered, his voice thin. He could feel the blood draining from his face as he stared at the ornate, locked box the solicitor had produced. His sister, Clara, received the family farm. A place he’d never liked, but at least it was tangible. A place to live. He, on the other hand, had this…this thing.

The solicitor, a woman with a severe bun and even more severe glasses, had explained that the box contained a ‘key’ of sorts - a device that supposedly controlled the fortunes of the family. He didn’t believe in luck or destiny or any of that rot. He believed in hard work. He felt the taste of metal in his mouth.

He watched Clara smile, already making plans for the renovations. Her assuredness just compounded his disquiet. Every breath he took felt shallow, as if the air was somehow contaminated, as if something was watching him.