Pretend everything is normal

Chapter 5

A deep, resonant gong startles Sam, like a church bell heard through water. The sound seems to reverberate through the old house's bones, followed by the sounds of movement on the staircase—footsteps, voices, a door closing somewhere below. His stomach growls, reminding him that his last meal was a bland airplane breakfast somewhere over the Atlantic. He checks his watch and blinks in surprise. 9 PM. The combination of jet lag and his impromptu siesta has completely disrupted his sense of time.

The house feels different in the darkness. The wooden stairs creak under his feet as he makes his way down, and shadows dance across the Art Nouveau wallpaper, cast by wall sconces that must have been converted from gas lamps. Each floor brings new sounds: water rushing through ancient pipes, the hum of conversation from behind closed doors, and what sounds like **** metal playing faintly from somewhere below.

On the floor below the attic, a strip of warm light spills from beneath Georgina's door, accompanied by muffled music and the sound of drawers opening and closing. Through the thin wall, he can hear the rustle of fabric and her voice, apparently talking to herself: "No, not that one... where is it? I swore I had... ah!" There's a triumphant note in her voice, followed by more rustling.

Sam slows his pace. From his position on the stairs, he can hear her moving around inside, the words becoming clearer as she continues her apparent conversation. The memory of seeing Georgina mounting that giant dragon dildo is still fresh in his memory. He feels a strong attraction to the door of Georgina’s room. His hand hovers near the door frame as he hesitates. Should he knock and properly introduce himself to his eccentric neighbour, or continue down to what sounds like a gathering dinner below? Guilt and shame battle with his curiosity and lust. What if she saw him looking at her?