Gemotions

The air in the living room felt stifling, even with the windows wide open. My sister, Olivia, was enthusiastically cataloging the books on the shelves, oblivious to the atmosphere that was making me want to flee. I couldn't help but feel a mounting unease. The shadows in the corners seemed to shift and change.

I kept rubbing my arms, as if to ward off a chill that wasn't there. I avoided looking at the family portraits on the wall, as if they held secrets I didn’t want to know. The floorboards creaked under my feet, each sound a stark reminder of the house's age and its history. I wanted to run.

"Are you coming to help?" Olivia called. "Yes, just...just a moment," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic pounding in my chest. The house had me.