Gemotions

The house had felt off from the very beginning. The way the shadows stretched long and thin in the hallways, the faint scent of something old and forgotten that clung to the air. Now, here it was: a hidden room behind the kitchen pantry.

I found the small door by accident, while inspecting the back of a cabinet. My hands trembled as I reached out and touched the cool metal handle. It was as if the air around me had suddenly become colder. I thought I heard a whisper from the other side, but I wasn't sure.

I wanted to call for my wife, Jessica, but I couldn't seem to make a sound. My throat felt constricted. I told myself it was just a storage closet, an old root cellar, something benign. But the knot in my stomach tightened with a feeling of dread. I slowly opened the door.