Gemotions

The realtor had promised "charming." What Leo was seeing was crumbling plaster and leaky pipes. The inspector hadn’t even bothered to look beyond the surface. Leo stood in the musty basement, surveying the disaster zone. A headache pounded behind his eyes.

He tried to open a small, metal door that was set into the concrete wall. It wouldn't budge. He jiggled the handle, kicked at the bottom, and finally, with a frustrated grunt, he rammed his shoulder against it. The door shuddered, then clicked open a fraction of an inch.

He yanked at it. It gave way, revealing a dark, cramped space filled with cobwebs and the faint smell of decay.