Gemotions

The box felt heavy. A small, wooden chest sat on the counter, a gift from a former student, Samuel. He'd struggled in class but showed promise in his woodworking. He was always quiet, but there was a intensity to him that made her wary.

She hesitated, her hand hovering over the lid. Her breath hitched slightly. The silence of her apartment felt amplified.

She slowly opened it. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a small, intricately carved bird. It was beautiful, undeniably so. But its eyes, those hollow, dark eyes, seemed to stare directly at her, and it sent a chill through her.