Gemotions

The cold seeped into her bones as she descended the narrow, stone steps. The air grew thick and stale with each passing tread. A single bare bulb cast a sickly yellow glow, barely illuminating the dampness that clung to the walls. Her fingers, numb despite the gloves, brushed against something cold and metallic.

She'd known, deep down, that something wasn't right with the house. She’d always felt watched. Now, in this forgotten space, the feeling intensified, a cold knot tightening in her chest. The silence here was complete, absolute.

She wanted out. She wanted to be anywhere else. She told herself to turn around, to go back up, but her feet felt rooted to the cold stone floor.