Gemotions

The new house felt wrong. John had ignored the nagging feeling, attributing it to the stress of the move. He discovered the room after the movers had left, while hanging a picture in the dining room. A loose panel, concealed by the wallpaper, revealed a dark, narrow passage. A shiver ran down his spine.

He felt unsteady, as though the floor beneath him had become unstable. It was wrong to pry. But he found himself drawn down the stairs, towards the unseen.

The room contained a collection of antique dolls, their painted eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. They felt like accusing witnesses. Each of them, pristine and untouched, made the air inside the room feel stale.