217 Babel Street
Babel Street was originally known as Lower Bible Street. The change of name happened sometime in the early 19th century, for reasons now unknown. One theory suggests it coincided with the closure of the sailors' mission at the street's western limit.
Number 217 Babel Street was built in 1934. It was considered a most desirable place to live, mainly because of its location. Those apartments that overlooked the promenade and beach were especially valued. Nowadays however the place exudes an air of decayed glamour. It is a crumbling, off white, salt-eaten edifice. Lines of dirty orange rust stain the plaster below each of the balcony windows.
There are twenty apartments in the building, arranged on eight storeys. The caretaker lives in flat number one on the ground floor, next to the lobby and elevators. The next six levels are taken up by eighteen residential flats, arranged three to a floor. Flat 20 is the penthouse suite and roof garden, occupying the entire top storey.
A ghost is said to haunt the building, the spirit of a murdered child. The poor little boy can be heard sometimes in the stairwell between the third and fourth floors. His plastic ball bounces down the steps, one by one. Then he runs after it. His voice carries a message or song only to be heard properly in dreams, and then forgotten on waking.