A Knock on the Door

Most Saturday nights saw Mirriam in front of the television, relaxing after a long week with a movie and popcorn. She tried not to repeat movies more than once every three months, but picked from the numerous streaming services to find something that fit her mood.

She had just settled on the couch, a blanket over her lap, and the cat curled up by her feet when someone knocked loudly on the door.

For a minute, she debated getting up. She really wasn’t interested in conversing with anyone, not after a week of cranky people who didn’t like the solutions she offered. But the knock came again, more of a pounding this time, and she heaved herself to her feet. She soothed the cat who was annoyed by her movement before heading towards the door.

Despite her small apartment, the knock came a third time before she could reach the door. Groaning with annoyance, she threw up the door demanding, “What do you want?”

The wind howled in response and Mirriam looked around, trying to figure out who, or what, had been knocking on her door. There was no sign of a person on her large front porch and it was too sheltered for any of the tree branches to reach it. She stuck her head out the door, glancing at her neighbor’s door which was right next to hers. Sometimes people knocked on his door and it sounded like it was hers. But there was no one standing in front of that door either.

Despite its age, the stately Victorian that housed the two apartments wasn’t given to strange noises or random knocking. With a sigh, she stepped back into the apartment and shut the door.

She settled back on the couch and pulled the blanket back over her legs. As she reached for the remote to turn the movie back on, there was another knock at the door.

With a sigh, she heaved herself back to her feet. “There damn well better actually be someone at the door this time,” she grumbled as she made her way back to the front door. She swore as she almost tripped over her tabby cat, bending to pick him up.

Opening the door again, she wasn’t surprised when no one was there. Again.

Sighing, she stepped back to shut the door and the wind stormed through the open door, almost knocking her off her feet. It hadn’t been raining, but now the heavens opened up, dumping a deluge on her front lawn. Mirriam shivered in the now cold air and attempted to shut the door against the wind.

Instead it almost flew out of her hand, banging into the wall behind it. She’d never seen the wind whip like this. It almost seemed to be directed at her door.

Her cat scrambled out of her arms, yowling as he hit the floor. His back arched, his fur puffed out, and he growled lowly at the door, backing away. Mirriam reached for him, intending to cuddle and comfort him, but he backed away; still growling.

Concerned now, she turned back to the door and grabbed it with both hands, trying to shut it again. She gripped the door tighter, shoving against the wind, and finally managed to shut the door. Throwing the deadbolt, she scooped the cat up, hushing him. He continued to rumble in discontent, even as she made her way back to the living room.

Before she even reached the doorway to the other room, the knock sounded again.

“This is ridiculous!” Mirriam screamed. She threw open the door and vanished.