To ask you to calm me down...?

[CesareBorgiasUnicornMask]

I am lying in a completely dark flat next to a sleeping baby. We are the only people here. There is a wind-up musical rocking horse in DS's room that plays 'My Favourite Things' from The Sound of Music. But in a slow creepy wind-up music box type way.
It's just started playing by itself. I've had it since I was little and it's NEVER done that before. And it's not stopping. I'm genuinely terrified. Ridiculously...

DH won't be home for at least half an hour. Please help me to stop freaking out!

[patterkiller]

That's my calming down song in a panic situation. Sing it loud, really loud. That'll work I tell ya.

[Abidewithme3]

Good god op any sleeping baby is a time for celebration.

Go and pour a glass of wine. It's ok I have communicated with the spirit present in your flat and she says go for it.

[SurlyCue]

Go turn it off?

What exactly is it that you think is happening?

[Hissy]

Weird! But in sure it's just because it's old. Maybe the spring mechanism has gone?

Breathe... It's fine :)

[Maudofallhopefulness]

You'll be fine, you know that. It isn't going to attack you, it's a toy.

[BrianCoxReborn]

The reality is that a vibration has set it off and had it happened during the day, you'd not have heard it. But because it's night time you're feeling vulnerable.

You're safe, nothing bad ever happened to any body because of a music box . Relax.

[Bupcake]

It's probably been wound up from earlier, but something in the mechanism was stuck, and then as the air has cooled down, the something has contracted and released, so the music started. Or something.

[nitsparty]

mechanical things malfunction! if it was a mechanical clock that stopped and started, went off at odd times, etc, you'd just accept it! One of the cogs has lost a spike or a little screw that holds a wasname has warped or something.

[Bupcake]

I agree it'll have happened before, but you didn't notice as it was during the day.

[Wolfiefan]

Congratulations. You have a very gifted baby who can not only work this music box but has added a timer!

[CesareBorgiasUnicornMask]

Haha wine is a fantastic idea. As is growing a pair, braving the long dark walk to the lightswitch and going to switch the damn thing off. I really don't like it but it was a present from my much-loved and now dead Grandad, and DS loves it, so I don't want to get rid of it.

Rationally, I think the spring has gone or something, or its fallen off the chest of drawers.

Irrationally, I'm sure there is a mad axe murderer who likes freaking out his victims with show tunes in there. Who also managed to enter a postage stamp first floor flat totally silently.

Or a ghost. Obviously.

[Panadbois]

Why are you in the dark? Switch a small lamp on, it'll be nice and cosy and you won't be over thinking stuff

[Epilepsyhelp]

Oh my god it's like that film with the huge TERRIFYING doll.... OP are you still alive???!?!?

[Bupcake]

I like the idea of the axe murderer who plays music box music first. He breaks into houses, and if there's no music box, he has to leave again...

[CesareBorgiasUnicornMask]

In the dark because DS is having a phase of only dropping off if he literally can see nothing with his eyes open. The bedside lamp is unplugged...

[SomeWeirdPumpkin]

Use your phone (or whatever you are typing this on) as a torch and go and turn the hall way light on...we'll wait for you to get back!

[Bluemoon35]

It could definitely be Grandad watching over his loved ones...

[Italiangreyhound]

I love this song...

Especially...

" I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear."

Stay peaceful.

[shinynewusername]

You and DS should not decide to split up and search the woods out back.

[Oldieandgoldie]

Staying in a hotel room recently, the kettle randomly turned itself on in the middle of the night! Terrifying!!!

[catfordbetty]

Look on the bright side, it could be playing 'The Lonely Goatherd'.

[Cel982]

DH and I were watching 'Paranormal Activity' one night in bed. He paused the movie to go to the loo, and while he was gone the door of the wardrobe beside my bed slowly and silently swung open. It has never happened before or since.
He came back to find me laughing slightly hysterically...

[QuizteamBleakley]

Whatever you do DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR / PHONE...

[ImperialBlether]

Last night my friend was on her own in hospital (where she works) - she was the last to leave the area and most of it was in darkness - she'd just keyed in her code to get out when someone/something tapped her on the shoulder.