by Suzy Watts

Created on: February 12, 2011

That Irritating Noise

That noise again.  Faint, but regular.

It reminded me of the character played by John Mills in the film Ryan's Daughter, banging his foot in time to his own internal music.

The noise was constant and irritating, but tuneful none the less.

But where was it coming from?  Most of the students had gone home for the holidays, and the rest would probably be boozing somewhere in town.  Not many rooms had been rented out this year, only me and a dozen other misfits without a family home to go to.

Should I investigate, or keep my head down and mind my own business?

Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I poked my head outside my room, and checked up and down the long corridor.

Nothing untoward met my gaze, so I quietly closed my door behind me and went off in search of a solution to the irritating noise.

Bang, bang, bang.  Bang, bang, bang.  Groups of three, then a short gap.

Maybe someone was in trouble;  maybe it was a cry for help using Morse code.  Slight problem, I am not au fait with Morse code, lots of dots and dashes, a bit like Braille for the seeing.

I decided to head towards the main stairway, where I would have access to all the other sections of the residence, and perhaps be able to pinpoint the sound.

I looked up and down the staircase, listening for the tell-tale rhythm.  My ears were my radar and they were receiving signals from on high, namely the floor above.  Normally, I would have no occasion to go to the top floor, so I wasn't sure who lived upstairs.  Maybe I would be finding out sooner rather than later.

I headed up the stairs, and my suspicions were confirmed, the noise was increasing in volume.  I moved along the corridor, which mirrored mine on the floor below, and headed to the door of the flat that would be the one directly above mine.  I put my ear to the door, and the sound became clearer.  Should I knock on the door, should I phone for help, should I go back to my room and put on my headphones and chill?

I knocked timidly on the door, no answer.  I knocked louder, and I thought I heard a different noise, more like a mumble or groan.  The banging had changed to an irregular beat now, and the other noise was mingled with it.

I tried the handle and was surprised that the door was unlocked.  Opening the door slowly, I looked into the room.  It was the same shape and size as mine, but there the similarity ended.

The decor was

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>