홈 / The Neighbor from Hell / 챕터 1 - 챕터 8

The Neighbor from Hell의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 8

8 챕터

Chapter 1

I had barely made it home before the knocking started again. I put in my earbuds and pretended not to hear.A week earlier, a couple moved into the apartment across the hall. During the move, the wife, Caitlin Graham, got so hot and sweaty that she asked to come inside and cool off in my AC.I let her in to be nice. That one favor turned into a nightmare.That same evening, Caitlin came back with her husband, expecting me to let them spend the evening in my air-conditioned apartment.Since she was pregnant, I tried to be patient. I explained that I lived alone and wasn't comfortable having people over all the time, then suggested they buy an AC unit for their apartment."You think those things are free?" she snapped. "Who's paying for it? You? "And what about my electric bill? You gonna pay that every month, too?"I'm not even worried about you making a move on my husband, and you're giving me a hard time? Stop being so uptight!"Her audacity left me speechless.I refused

Chapter 2

After so many failed attempts in a row, the alarm blared for a full ten minutes.Messages started piling up in the building's group chat.[Whose alarm is that? Is somebody trying to break in?][That noise woke my grandson up, and now he won't stop crying. He just fell asleep! Can management do something?][I'm in 502, and it sounds like it's coming from the floor below me. Can someone please check?]John contacted me as well.To spare everyone any more noise, I finally opened the door."I knew you were in there," Caitlin sneered. "Move. I need to come in. My baby can't take this heat anymore."I stood in the doorway. "If your apartment's too hot, you need to do something about it. I've let you cool off here when I'm home during the day. That doesn't mean you can come over whenever you want."She started shrieking. "Are you serious right now? What kind of person treats someone like this?"You're the one who invited me in! I went my whole life without AC and did just fine. Th

Chapter 3

Before I could make sense of what was happening, the police forced their way in, knocking my door off its hinges.Caitlin shoved past the officers and pointed at me. "That's her! She's trying to kill my baby! Arrest her!"I stared at my door on the floor. I was so angry that I almost laughed.I told the officers everything that happened that night. I struggled to keep my voice steady. "She wouldn't stop banging on my door and demanding to come in. Then she told me to set my AC to 60 and leave the door open so it would cool her apartment."Caitlin interrupted, "What else am I supposed to do? I don't have AC! If she won't let me use hers, where am I supposed to go?"The officers exchanged glances. What they apparently expected to be a violent emergency turned out to be an argument between neighbors.Once they heard the full story, the officer in charge stepped forward."Ma'am, she gets to decide whether she runs the AC in her own apartment. She doesn't have to let you in."Cait

Chapter 4

I heard Caitlin spent ten days in jail. I sent the officers a thank-you card.A week later, my company sent me out of town on a two-week business trip. When I got home, my front door was missing, and cold air poured out into the hallway.Caitlin's door was wide open. She stepped into the hall, leading with her belly."So that's where you've been! I couldn't get hold of you, so I had to hire someone to remove your door. What a hassle! And what's wrong with your AC? It's been running for days, and my apartment's still hot. You need to replace it!"My chest tightened with anger. I pointed at the empty doorway. "You realize you broke the law, right?"Caitlin rolled her eyes. "I gave you 750, didn't I? That should cover the door and a few electric bills. You've already got my money, so what's the problem with me using your AC?"She actually seemed to think that payment entitled her to my apartment. I pulled out my phone and called the police without another word.Both officers who

Chapter 5

Kelsey went straight after Caitlin in the group chat.[Unless it's over 100 degrees, I expect you to keep your fans off, too. I'm extremely sensitive to drafts. I'm not letting you put my health or my future child at risk!]I quietly liked her message.Caitlin flooded the chat with furious replies, but Kelsey ignored every one. Eventually, the group admin removed Caitlin so everyone else could have some peace.That evening, Kelsey messaged me.[Hi, do you have a power strip with a long cord? I want to put my heater by the front door, but the cord won't reach. There's a draft coming in from the hallway.]I knew exactly what she meant. That "draft" had to be from Caitlin's fan.Without AC, Caitlin left her front door open at night to get some airflow. That explained why she kept demanding that I leave mine open, too.I took over a power strip with an extra-long cord. As I reached the stairwell, I heard Caitlin shouting."What's wrong with you? Run your stupid heater if you want,

Chapter 6

The message sent a chill through me. I called Wendy, and after talking it over, we agreed Caitlin was probably behind it."Text back," Wendy said. "See what she wants."It seemed better than lying there wondering. The moment I replied, someone started pounding on the door."Tracy, I know you're in there! Open up! That woman is roasting me alive! Just move back. I'll even give you a little extra for the electricity!"I opened the front door and smiled at Caitlin through the steel security door.The day I moved in, I worried someone in management might give Caitlin the address. I immediately called a contractor to install a security door.The installer assured me it could withstand someone trying to kick it in.Caitlin frowned. "Open this one, too. I can't even reach your keypad!"I stared at her. "Why would I let you in?"She pressed her lips together, then forced a smile. "Look, I went too far, and I'm sorry. Could you get rid of that tenant? I'd much rather have someone n

Chapter 7

I didn't expect Caitlin to lose sleep herself just to make sure I got none.She banged on the security door in the middle of the night, right after I fell asleep, or early in the morning before I was fully awake. The metal clanged so loudly that it jolted me out of bed every time.I called the police to complain about the noise. When they arrived, she stuck out her belly and said, "She's trying to roast me alive and kill my baby! What's wrong with making a little noise outside her door?"After several visits, even the officers told me to stop engaging with her.I dragged myself into work every day with dark circles under my eyes. Once my coworkers heard what was happening, they offered all kinds of suggestions."Get a big dog. Once it starts barking at her, she won't come back!"The barking would probably scare me more than it scared Caitlin. Besides, if she got hurt or something happened to the baby, I couldn't live with that."Put her address down as a package drop-off or a

Chapter 8

It turned out that Caitlin and Kelsey were with the same man. Suddenly, everything made sense.Both kept bragging about his classified government work. At the time, I wondered how so many men could be off on secret assignments.They were talking about the same guy all along.In the video, the three of them stood outside our building. Caitlin and Kelsey each gripped one of Dan Carlson's arms while he stood between them in his underwear, looking mortified.Caitlin started screaming first. She pointed at her belly."I'm carrying your baby! You couldn't buy me an air conditioner, but you've got money to spend on some other woman?"Kelsey reached for her marriage certificate and thrust it in Caitlin's face."Other woman? I'm his wife! I've got the paperwork, so what does that make you? No wonder we haven't been able to have a baby. He's been too busy sneaking around with you!"Then Caitlin produced a marriage certificate of her own.When both women shoved their paperwork at him,

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