Gemotions

The new house felt heavy, a burden pressing down on Elias. Sleep evaded him. Every night, the same dream: a long, dark corridor, a closed door at the end. He awoke each morning with a knot in his stomach.

One afternoon, while exploring the attic, he found a section of the wall that didn’t quite fit. The wood felt different, newer. He ran his hand over it, his fingers tracing a faint outline, a suggestion of a door.

With a grunt of effort, he managed to pry the panel loose. A gust of cold air escaped, carrying the scent of damp earth and something else…something acrid that made his eyes water. Elias hesitated, his hand hovering over the hidden space. He wanted to go home, to be anywhere but there. But the house seemed to be pulling him in, a silent, insistent force.