Peacefully Sleeping
Hearing a sudden, loud bang, she instinctively covered her ears as the persistent noise echoed through her bedroom walls. Her son, whom she believed was peacefully sleeping in his crib, suddenly started crying out of fear.
Without hesitation, she picked him up and headed to his ailing grandmother’s house. Determined to address the disturbance caused by her troublesome neighbor, she knew someone had to put an end to the chaos. Approaching the neighbor’s open front door, she braced herself, unsure of what awaited her inside.
Challenging Months
Renee Woodgate’s decision to move into the apartment turned out to be the best choice she ever made. After enduring several challenging months, she finally gathered enough funds to relocate herself and her family to a new home. Her main goal was to provide a calm environment to raise her young son and care for her ailing mother.
However, only a few days after settling into the apartment complex, Renee began to sense that something was wrong. Despite her hopes for peace and stability, she quickly realized that moving there might not have been the right decision after all.
Native Of Kansas
Renee, a native of Kansas, lived with her son Eli and her sick mother, Melissa. As a dedicated nurse, she worked tirelessly to provide for her family and ensure their well-being.
Recently divorced from a husband who had betrayed her, Renee was beginning a new chapter as a single mother. Moving into a new apartment, she hoped for a fresh start and a chance for life to become a little easier.
Within Her Budget
The apartment was the only option within her budget. Though modest, it was situated in a fairly safe area, which gave her some peace of mind. Despite its simplicity, it felt like a fresh start.
Renee was committed to transforming the space into a warm and welcoming home for her family. However, while carrying boxes inside one day, she suddenly heard an unexpected noise. Doubts about her choice crept in, but by then, it was too late to turn back.
Abrupt Hault
The second noise brought her to an abrupt halt. It was so loud that it made her startle, the heavy thud resonating through her entire body. She wondered where such a sound could be coming from.
Cautiously, she moved forward, only to hear the noise once more. The deep, vibrating sound left her ears ringing sharply. She had no clue what it was, but instinctively, she sensed it was something ominous.
Brushing Off The Fatigue
She brushed off the fatigue and kept moving boxes into her new apartment. With her mother unwell and her infant son to care for, hiring movers was not an option. She had no choice but to manage the heavy lifting by herself.
At one point, she felt overwhelmed and thought about giving up, retreating to bed to cry. Yet, she reminded herself of the two lives relying on her strength. Just as she gathered her resolve, a man appeared at her door, offering an unexpected moment of hope.
Appeared Behind Her
Renee had just stepped into her apartment when a tall man suddenly appeared behind her. His broad shoulders and unkempt mullet caught her attention, along with his scruffy, unshaven face that suggested he hadn’t shaved in quite some time.
His bloodshot, heavy-lidded eyes met hers as he smiled warmly from across the room. With an enthusiastic tone, he introduced himself, “New neighbor. We don’t get many around here. Hi.” Extending his hand, he added, “I’m Morrison.”
Introducing Herself
She briskly wiped the sweat from her hands on her jeans before reaching out to shake his hand. Introducing herself and her family, she expressed her excitement about settling into their new apartment. Her mother, quietly sorting through family photos nearby, gave Morrison a gentle smile despite her difficulty speaking.
Meanwhile, her toddler Eli beamed at Morrison, enthusiastically waving his toy in greeting. Unbeknownst to all of them, the man standing before them carried with him a shadow of trouble they had yet to realize.
Taking His Leave
After a brief chat, he took his leave, allowing Renee and her family to start getting comfortable in their new house. The atmosphere was calm and hopeful as they began to settle in.
However, just a few hours later, while Renee was busy preparing dinner, familiar sounds echoed through the home. It was the same noise she had noticed earlier in the hallway. To her surprise, the sounds were the opening riff of a classic 1970s rock and roll track. Initially, she didn’t mind, thinking the volume would be lowered shortly.
They Didn't Refuse
They didn’t refuse; instead, the noise intensified with each passing second. The sound grew so powerful that it caused their walls to tremble, and her son started crying amid the overwhelming volume. Pictures hanging on the walls were dislodged, crashing onto the carpet below.
Moments later, an even louder song began to play, escalating the chaos. Faced with the relentless noise and her child’s distress, Renee realized there was only one course of action she could take.
A Quick Search
While her mom tended to Eli, she took off her cooking apron and went to confront whoever was playing such loud music. She hurried through the ground-floor hallway, ensuring each apartment was quiet before going upstairs.
The music got louder as she stepped into the first-floor hallway. It didn't take long for her to pinpoint which apartment it was coming from.
Apartment 2 B
Renee stood before apartment 2 B's door. The place was directly above hers, explaining why she'd gotten the worst of the ear-numbing music. The door vibrated in tandem with the song's chaotic rhythm.
Would whoever was on the other side of that door listen to Renee’s request to turn down the volume? She hoped they would. With a deep breath, she knocked on the cold wood.
Open The Door
Her first few knocks didn't garner any responses due to the loud music. She doubled down, turning the knocks into a continuous banging sure to get anyone's attention.
It didn't take long before the door's locks clicked, and someone pulled it open. But to Renee's surprise, it was Morrison. But that wasn't the part that had her stepping back.
His Apartment
Behind Morrison were a guy and a lady seated before the largest TV Renee had ever seen. They didn't bother greeting her, only stared wildly before their attention returned to whatever they were watching.
Morrison stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind him as he smiled. "New neighbor," he said. "To what do I owe this visit?"
Studying Him
Renee hadn't picked up on this, but Morrison had a British accent, although distant. Standing before him now, she noticed things about him that she hadn't earlier. He had darkened lips, meaning he must've been a heavy smoker. The air pouring out of his apartment was caked in cigarette smoke.
He also had a subtle tremble to his right hand, which he quickly shoved into his pocket when he noticed Alica was staring.
It's Deafening
He seemed malnourished up close, his clavicles protruding from his skin. His jaw and cheekbones were clearly defined despite his shaggy beard. Most of his teeth were also decayed.
"Can I help you?" he asked, pulling Renee from her habitual analysis. "Yes," she mumbled. "Do you mind reducing the volume, please? It's deafening, and my family and I could really use a quiet evening." She couldn't have guessed his answer.
Not Tonight
Morrison smiled and backed into his door, pushing it open. "No," he said. "Not tonight." With that, he turned around and walked in, slamming his door in Renee's face.
Renee and her family had to endure the entire night listening to Morrison's selection of rock and roll. In the wee hours, he finally reduced the volume before shutting the music off at 8 am. But the war had just begun.
Saturday
Renee thought Morrison was done with playing loud music. She let it slide because it was a Friday night. But the man and his friends turned on their TV again at noon. They spent the day watching horror movies, action flicks, and sports highlights.
They ensured the entire apartment complex knew precisely what they were doing. But that wasn't half of it.
It's Worse
Morrison decided playing loud music, TV shows, and movies wasn't enough. He and his friends started chasing each other all over the building. They threw empty bottles at the walls, screamed, and shouted profanities.
Renee, a nurse for a decade, could tell they were under the influence. But could she ask them to stop what they were doing?
The Reality Of Things
Her mom warned her not to approach the apartment again. But her blood boiled as she thought about how she wouldn't be able to enjoy her Saturday because of all the noise.
Usually, Renee worked for nine hours at the clinic. But after her divorce, she took extra hours since she needed the cash. More hours meant little time for herself and her family. Every second of peace she had was precious.
Extreme Measures
She stomped out of her apartment to confront Morrison and his friends. She had heard enough and was about to call the landlord if it came to it.
All she'd do was ask politely for Morrison to keep it down or at least reduce the intensity of his and his friends' chaos. If he turned a deaf ear, then she'd do the unthinkable.
Seeing Him Again
With her mind made, she banged on the door as she had the previous night. After a few minutes, Morrison answered. But instead of coming out as he'd done before, he stuck his head out, almost keeling over.
Clearly, he wasn't in the right frame of mind, which made Renee hesitate to confront him. So what did she do?
Leveling With Him
She gently asked him if he could reduce his volume a bit. She explained that her mom was sensitive to loud sounds and was suffering because of the noise. Additionally, the music kept her little boy awake at night.
Morrison nodded with a slanted smile. He dipped back into his apartment and showed up a second later. Renee couldn't believe what he had in his hand.
It's Cleaning Time
Morrison returned with a vacuum cleaner in hand. He told Renee he needed it in the morning, so she should return it immediately. A frustrated Renee had to stifle a sigh. Of course, the man hadn't understood a word of what she said.
She told him she didn't need the vacuum cleaner and walked away. But she would teach him a lesson he'd never forget.
Shut It Down
Renee didn't go downstairs to her apartment. Instead, she hurried to the central power unit six floors above, conveniently shutting off electricity to Morrison's apartment.
She knew it wasn't right to do what she was doing, but if she wouldn't endure another second of this chaos when all she needed was peace. If only she knew what her actions would start.
Peace
Renee returned to her apartment with a smile on her face. The complex was quiet for the first time that day, and it was all thanks to her. She found her mom and son lying on the couch, enjoying the peace, and joined them.
But she wasn't down for an hour before the blaring music started again. She ate back a curse. There was only one thing she could do now.
The Landlord
Renee called the landlord, explaining her situation. But the man wasn't in town. As such, he couldn't look into the matter in person.
Still, he promised to call and talk to Morrison. Since he was in a position of power, he could sway Renee's neighbor into compliance. But Renee waited for hours before Morrison finally turned off the music.
Deep In The Night
It was nearly midnight when he did so, and Renee was beyond furious. But she counted her blessings, hoping Sunday and the rest of the week would be quieter. However, a few hours past midnight, the songs started again.
They wrenched Renee and her family out of sleep, threatening to shake the building off its foundation. Enough was enough.
She's Had Enough
Renee went to face Morrison once and for all. But on reaching his door, she noticed it was open, dangling ominously with the loud music seeping through.
She knocked and, when no answer came, pushed the door wide and walked inside. She thought she'd find Morrison and his friends partying. But she froze at what was staring at her.
The Answer
Morrison's living room was dark, save for the TV's dim light that barely lit the place. He was lying on the mat, seemingly unresponsive, with white foam on his mouth. Renee shot down to him, quickly assessing the situation.
After years as a nurse, she knew exactly what was going on. However, kneeling beside Morrison, the answer to her loud music problem finally presented itself.