Gemotions

The key felt heavy in Leo’s palm, a cold, metallic weight. He fiddled with it, turning it over and over, catching the weak sunlight filtering through the overgrown bushes. His sister, Clara, was already halfway up the chipped porch steps, her bright floral dress a vibrant splash of color against the faded paint of the house. He lagged behind, his feet dragging, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something else… something old and forgotten. He wished he'd brought a bottle of water. His throat felt like sandpaper.

He finally ascended the steps, the wood groaning beneath his weight. Clara had already unlocked the door. It swung inward with a protesting creak, revealing a dim interior. Dust motes danced in the slivers of light that penetrated the grimy windows.

"Well," Clara said, her voice echoing in the stillness, "here we go." Leo simply nodded, his stomach doing a strange flip. He took a hesitant step inside, the silence amplifying the frantic thrumming in his ears.