Gemotions

He whistled a cheerful melody as he unlocked the front door. The scent of freshly cut grass, mingling with the woodsy aroma of the house, was a balm to his soul. He’d spent the last few weeks tirelessly cleaning and renovating, and now, he was basking in the results. His muscles ached, but it was a pleasant ache. He felt... renewed.

He pulled out the old photo album he’d found tucked away in the attic. The previous owners were smiling and happy. As he flipped through the brittle pages, he came across a photograph of the living room. It was taken before he’d redecorated. He noticed a faint discoloration on the floorboards, a dark stain that seemed unnaturally persistent.

Then, a sudden, unsettling realization. He'd seen that stain, or something like it, in the old police reports he’d found. The old reports detailed a violent crime. A crime committed in that very room. A shiver ran down his spine.