Gemotions

"Whoa," Mark breathed, the word a soft exhalation against the dust. The paneling had slid aside with a surprisingly smooth grace. He’d found the hidden room behind the bookcase, a secret chamber he hadn't known existed. His palms felt clammy, his pulse quickening.

He poked his head inside, squinting. It was small, a narrow space filled with shadows. He felt a prickling sensation on the back of his neck, as if someone was watching him. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture.

His initial excitement had evaporated, replaced by a growing sense of unease. He wanted to go back upstairs, to the sunlit kitchen, to the normality of his life. He decided to go back. Immediately.