Gemotions

The air inside the house hung thick and heavy, like a forgotten memory. Daniel, ever the pragmatist, was already checking the plumbing. His sister, Olivia, however, remained rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the ornate grandfather clock in the hallway.

It stood silent, its pendulum still. She hadn't seen it move since they’d arrived. She went closer, placing a hand on the cold wood. The intricate carvings seemed to shift in her peripheral vision.

She glanced at the face. The hands were frozen at 3:17. She glanced at Daniel, who was calling out from the back, "Plumbing's shot, needs replacing." She went closer to the clock. Why was it stuck?

A single, muffled chime echoed through the house, sending a shiver down her spine. The hands on the clock didn't move. She turned to leave, but felt it was not to be done yet.