Gemotions

The air in the house was thick, stagnant, as if the very walls were holding their breath. He felt it in his bones, a dull ache that wouldn't go away. This house was a mistake. Every shadow seemed to shift and writhe, mocking him. He found himself jumping at every sound. The silence was the worst part.

He ran a hand across the wallpaper in his study, trying to find some relief. Near the window, a section felt slightly different, a ridge he hadn't noticed before. He pressed on it, his heart pounding in his chest. The panel slid away silently, and a narrow passage opened before him.