Gemotions

The news report flickered on the television, detailing a high-profile art theft. Across the street, the usually pristine facade of Mr. Finch’s mansion was swarming with police. Emily felt a wave of nausea. She'd known Mr. Finch, or thought she had. The man who always wore a charming smile, who’d complimented her garden, was now… something else.

Her hands flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp. She thought of their conversations, of the seemingly innocuous details he’d shared about his life. Now, everything felt suspect. Every gesture, every word, reinterpreted in a chilling new light.

She backed away from the screen, seeking the safety of the shadows. The world felt unstable, the ground beneath her feet shifting. She was suddenly and irrevocably alone.