''Things That Go Bump In The Night''
Around midnight I decided, reluctantly, to get some sleep. I intended to sleep in my car so I'd brought my duvet and pillows with me, it was a Volvo estate so I had plenty of room to stretch out. I went down the stone stairs and into the garage/service area, I quickly crossed the floor of the empty building to where my car was parked. I made my bed up, took my jumper and skirt off and got in. After a few minutes I heard the loud echo of footsteps coming from the back, I thought it was Alan. I sat up and looked out of the back window, no one was there. I snuggled down, again I heard them. Each step seemed to get closer, suddenly the car began to rock back and fourth, slowly at first then it became violent. The sweat was pouring from my forehead. I knew I had to get out of this car and back to the canteen where Alan was. The fear was indescribable, your stomach churns, you begin to shake uncontrollably, you want to scream but are to afraid to do so, you cannot move as every muscle in your body is paralysed but you have to move you have to.
I slid my hand down the inside of the door and found the door handle, slowly I turned it until it clicked open, then with one big shove the door flew open, I jumped out and ran for my life, across the cold stone floor and up the stairs. I burst through the canteen door slamming it shut behind me, I stood there leaning against it, gasping for breath. Alan stared at me for a minute then said, with a wry smile on his face :
'' My dear, I'm not that kind of man''
It was then I suddenly realised I was in my underwear. Well, what can a girl do under such dire circumstances? I certainly wasn't going to get dressed whilst some unseen force was shaking my car to bits with me in it, was I? Would you?
When I told him what had happened, he just laughed. His laughter stopped when the sound like a ''crate of bottles being dropped'' came again and again and again, each time the sound seemed to get closer until it sounded as if it were at the bottom of the stone stairs. I told him that I was going to jump off the balcony and make a run for my car and that if he had any sense he would come with me, he refused. By now, whatever it was, appeared to be half way up the stairs. I went out onto the balcony. It was about a thirty foot drop to the ground but I'd rather risk a broken bone than face whatever was in that building.
I jumped, as I hit he ground I fell to my knees and rolled onto my side, I had made it in one piece, then I dashed to my car, started the engine, then, to my horror I realised I had to push the button to open the doors. I jumped out, pushed it, got back in the car and waited and waited. The problem was, these doors were very slow to open. Then shear fear gripped me, the noise had changed direction, it was heading back towards me. I began screaming: ''Please please God help me, open, hurry up, come on.'' My heart was pounding. In the end shear panic took over. I shoved the car into reverse and went back about 12 feet, then into first gear, revved the engine,clutch up and shot forward straight at the hydraulic door. It swung outwards, lifted up and was hanging on only by a metal bar. I just about managed to scrape under it. I was out and I didn't stop until I was far away from that building, then I got dressed. I should mention that we received the bill for the damaged doors and my Boss wasn't very happy about it.
The Mobile Visit
I dont know what happened to Alan, we never saw him again. When the building was finished the Management installed a CCTV system which meant that a static guard wasn't needed anymore but they still wanted mobile visits throughout the night seven nights a week and as I was promoted to ''mobile driver'' so I got the job of having to check on the place, something that I dreaded doing.
I was very apprehensive on that first visit. Checking the front of the building was fine but then I had to go round the back of it and there was only one light but it was enough to be able to check the site. On this first visit, which was 8pm, there was no problems. My second one was at 1am. Again I checked the front then went round to the back as I approached the hydraulic door to the garage/service area I saw a figure standing in the corner. It was about six foot tall and clothed in black from head to foot, there was no face, at least, not one that I could see. My heart leapt into my mouth, I pretended not to see it and calmly walked past. I did my checks and walked back. As I walked past the hydraulic doors I heard a voice whisper my name and something touched my shoulder. The sudden rush of adrenaline propelled me towards the gate, I looked back and saw the figure standing in the middle of the pathway, it was looking straight at me. I ran to my car and drove off. I refused to do that site ever again, needless to say we lost the contract but it was better than losing your sanity or worse.
People have often said to me it was my imagination working overtime. You cannot imagine something like that, it was there and it spoke my name. There is an old saying ''there is nothing to fear but fear itself'' In some cases this is true and fear can kill you but so can whatever caused it in the first place. I never scoff at people who say they have seen ''ghosts or spirits'' because I have lived with them since I was ten years old and besides, doesn't the Bible tell us about them and the author of that book cannot lie, can he?
