Gemotions

"Home," Sarah breathed, the word a whisper. But the vast, echoing silence of the house felt less welcoming and more… isolating. She took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm the jitteriness that had settled deep within her bones. The unfamiliar surroundings pressed in, a weight she couldn’t quite shed. She felt like a stranger in her own skin.

She wandered aimlessly through the rooms, the click of her boots on the hardwood floors the only sound. The living room, with its oversized fireplace, felt imposing. She inspected the brickwork, her fingers tracing the grout lines. A small stone felt loose. She nudged it, and the wall gave way with a low groan.

Darkness beckoned. It smelled of earth and something else… something old and forgotten. Her throat constricted. Curiosity battled with a sudden, overwhelming urge to run.