Gemotions

The hum of the refrigerator felt deafening in the otherwise silent house. Emily stared at the wall, her gaze unfocused. She’d cleaned the entire kitchen twice already, a futile exercise in displacement. She had been on edge since getting the email from her brother, Alex. His daughter, Chloe, had been drawing the same creature. A shaggy, four-legged thing with bright, inquisitive eyes.

She had to do something, anything. She needed to move, to occupy her mind. She found herself at the door, her hand already reaching for her keys. She decided to go for a run. The cool night air felt like a balm on her skin.

She ran, forcing her legs to move faster, trying to outrun the thoughts that chased her. The creature.