A False Alarm

Frank thought he heard someone in the house. It was a distant soft clatter on the wooden floor, probably made by heels. The sound was intermitted. “What is that?” he murmured under his breathe. He was very sure that he was alone at home as his wife, Geraldine, went to London for her business trip two days ago . He fidgeted nervously, sensing that something was amiss. Just then, his nostrils were assailed by a sudden, strange whiff of perfume. His face turned pale, chilly fear gripped him. It led him back to the scene which happened just a couple of months ago when his property agent brought him to view this house. He still remembered the old China couple who told him frankly the reason for selling this house. It was because of the continuous eerie sounds and scent of perfume which often resulted them in countless sleepless night. At that point of time, Frank listened to the story of the strange happenings in a half-amused, half-mocking manner. He even had stated that he did not believe in ghost. Without much deliberation, he bought the house because of its convenient location and the spectacular views. The soft clattering sound became heavy, jolted him awake from his thoughts and pulled him back to the reality. The clattering sounds, the smell of perfume, he could not have imagined them all. He took up all his courage and decided to reveal the mystery. He had no idea where the noise was coming from. He groped his way towards the gist of the noise, plunging himself into darkness. Suddenly he paused, the door of guest room stood ajar and dim ray of light shone through the gap, casting a long sliver of gold across the wooden floor. Frank edged closer and closer and he saw a familiar shadowy figure. It was Geraldine, his wife! She was supposed to come back the next day. Geraldine turned around and screamed at the top of her lungs when she noticed her husband standing at the doorway with a petrified face without making any noise. “ Oh honey, you scared me! Sorry