Gemotions

The silence in the house, broken only by the tick-tock of a grandfather clock in the hall, pressed down on Ethan. His sister, Olivia, was excitedly sketching in the sunroom, already planning renovations. He felt a need to pace through the house, checking every room, every corner.

He kept glancing at the old mirror in the hallway, half-expecting to see something moving in the reflection. Each shadow that danced across the walls, cast by the afternoon sun, had him stopping and staring. The air was heavy, thick with a sense of lingering presence.

He touched the cold, smooth surface of a marble bust on a side table. Its vacant eyes seemed to follow his movements. "Ethan, are you going to help or just wander around?" Olivia's voice broke the trance. He forced a smile and headed back to the sunroom, though his feet felt cemented to the floor.