Thought my problem was the battery but that's not it. What could it be?

Hi, I have a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. It has 130,500 miles on it.

Today when I went to start it, I heard the grinding noise and it would not start. I recognize that sound to mean I need a new battery. So I ordered a new battery and was going to have my battery jumped and I was going to go have my new battery installed.

When the person came to jump my battery, the car wouldn't start at all. Engine made no noise at all. It was quiet. He at first said my connectors might be bad but he tried every which way and it just wouldn't start. He said it's not the battery.

What else could it be? A hour later I went out to the car again. Inside the car I can hear what sounds like the Tic Tok of a clock. Every 1-2 seconds it makes a noise like the old fashioned clocks.

Any idea? The battery was a 1 year battery that I bought last March, 2020 so I figured it had just run its course and time for a new battery but guess not.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'll have to get a tow truck to take it somewhere for tests.

Thanks in advance.