Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the frantic drumming in Amelia's temples. The moving boxes still littered the living room, a monument to her recent upheaval. She dragged a hand through her hair, the strands catching on her stiff neck. This house, the supposed haven, was just another mountain to climb.

She stumbled towards the cluttered hallway, her legs heavy. A draft snaked from beneath the stairs, colder than the rest of the house. Curiosity, a rare visitor these days, flickered.

Reaching down, she ran her hand along the baseboard, and her fingers brushed against something, a slight give in the wood. It was an almost imperceptible pressure, but she found a loose panel, a secret door. Her heart gave a sudden, surprised thump.