Gemotions

The house had "good bones," the seller had assured her. Now, in the damp, musty crawlspace, Sophia wasn’t so sure. She was covered in dirt, trying to locate the source of a persistent leak.

She had been inspecting the foundation, and she noticed a section of the brickwork that didn’t quite align with the rest. Something felt…off. It was likely just a patch job from some previous repair, she told herself. There was nothing to worry about.

She ran her hand along the bricks, searching for any give. She found a loose stone. It was different from the others. She pried at it with a screwdriver.

The stone came loose, revealing a dark opening. A wave of cold, stale air washed over her. She hesitated. She did not want to see what was behind it.