A Hair-Raising Experience

Some of you may have noticed the little footnote I placed on my previous post. This floor does 'creak', and I managed to scientifically explain this as the imbalance in pressure between the occupied area of the floor and the service lift bank and its impact on a loose set of doors.

It was my first night at my new location. I had just returned from coffee to continue some reading and preparation work for a presentation the next day. After Maghrib, seeing that there was no one else on the floor, I turned up the my speakers and continued with where I left off. I was multi-tasking between my blog readings, and a stack of whitepapers. The creaking was the only sound other than the Blue Bar album crooning from my tiny speakers.

At about 8pm, I felt something on my neck. I tried to swat it, instinctively thinking it was a fly. Then it dawned onto me that there were no flies in the building, and that I was wearing my tudung. I didn't think much of it, as one shouldn't if one was to make spending evenings in a large office building an often-enough 'habit'. This, however, continued for at least 10 times - each time more 'real' than the last.

I stopped for a while, pondered and shrugged it off. I am most comfortable in this building - for the last 5 years, it has been my home away from home when faced with rain, riots and ridiculous traffic. I have combed almost every area there was, from the tower footprint to the PM's office - at the oddest hours of the day. At times, I get so engrossed in work that I forget to even request for the lights to be turned on, much to the surprise of passers-by.

"No biggie", I thought. After all, this was an occupied floor.

As soon as I started to focus on the monitor again, I felt a sensation on my ear, as if someone was running their fingers down to my lobes. At this point, I decided to stop working, and tried to call the building command centre to request for the lights leading to the ladies to be turned on. No one answered.

I started to shut down my PC and pack my things. The 'gust of wind' that was on my neck and my ears was now on my back. It was then that the hairs on my arms stood on end. I quickly finished my packing and walked towards the exit and didn't look back.

As I passed the main doors and stood in front of the lift bank, I looked back at where I came from. The door remained halfway ajar for a few seconds before closing properly. I will have to test that door sometime today...

I usually don't entertain such 'things'. Some of us have experienced the keyboard and mouse click noises that come from neighbouring cubicles even though there's no one there. The best way to get rid of it is to take notice, then it stops. In this line of work, we can't really choose when we want to work - when work calls, we answer. But after last night, I think I'm getting myself a thumb drive, a notebook and a wireless card...

Related:
Office Hauntings