Gemotions

The realtor had said the house had character. Emily now saw ‘character’ as code for ‘haunted.’ She’d heard a scratching sound, like a rodent, coming from behind the built-in bookshelves in the library. She'd dismissed it as the house settling. Now, though, it was back, louder, more insistent.

She tugged at the books, scanning the spines as she tried to dislodge one. Nothing budged. She felt it, then – a slight give. The entire shelf, it turned out, slid forward with a grinding rasp, revealing a doorway she hadn't known existed. She bit her lip, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

The space within was shadowed, silent. A spiral staircase plunged downwards, disappearing into utter blackness. Every instinct screamed at her to turn and run. She found herself frozen, her feet planted.