Searching the Unknown
Guide to understanding the paranormal
© 2011, Michael Bertolini
Published by Michael Bertolini on Smashwords.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Investigating Practices and Equipment
Chapter 2: Asking the right Questions
Chapter 4: Theory on the reason for the existence of the paranormal
I’ve spent much of my life enthralled by the unknown; what we think we know and what lies just beyond the thin fabric of reality. As a youth I spent my time learning about various conspiracy theories and alien visitations; until I became more educated and learned to sift through the possible and the down-right stupid. When in college I was an officer in the university’s first paranormal club, the Society of Paranormal Investigation. I learned about things I’d never encountered in my sideline studies, and experienced things I had never thought possible. Because of this, and knowing how most people are unprepared for what they will encounter on such investigations, I’ve written this handy little guide for you. I urge you to share this, it’s not meant to be a secret but something we can all know.
Now before you get tired of reading this, I’ll keep the introduction brief. This is meant to be a tool that can be utilized in what is otherwise alien. I’ve broken this up into sections to make it easier; I hope that you read through this enough to understand that we understand nothing. As Socrates said in his final moments, ‘I know now that I know nothing.’
Chapter 1
Investigating Practices and Equipment
There are a lot of things that make a good investigator’s toolbox.
-Flashlight
-Digital Camera
-Video Camera
-Hand-held voice recorder
-EMF detector
-Thermal camera
-Motion sensor
-Geiger counter
-Bag of flour
-Sage
-Batteries
I’m sure I’m forgetting things; but this is a comprehensive list of things you should work towards having. You don’t need all of these things starting out; and I recommend forming a group to fund the operation. Also, never go anywhere alone; not because it may be scary bit because you might get hurt. Having someone with you means there’s someone to get help.
But starting out, you only need a few things off this list and they aren’t very expensive; especially if you can split the cost between multiple people.
-Flashlight
-Camera (Digital is good, disposable works; but it needs a flash)
-Video camera (size doesn’t matter)
-Hand-held voice recorder
-EMF detector (surprisingly cheaper than you may expect)
-Batteries
I’ll give you some handy tips that you can put to good use while investigating. If part of a larger group or investigating team, bring this to their attention so that everyone can follow the same practices and procedures.
Most important, if you forget everything else, remember this. NEVER GO ANYWHERE ALONE!!! This is for your safety, your sanity, and as a witness to whatever you may find. If one person gets hurt, the other can go for help. In areas of high paranormal activity, devices like cell phones may not work and require someone to find assistance. If you think you’ve seen too much, there’s someone there to keep your feet in reality. If you experience the paranormal, there will be someone to corroborate your story.
Photographing. In a two-person team, one should always have a camera ready. While one person tries to make contact with the paranormal, do not use an Ouija board or anything like that, the other person should take photos. This is where a digital camera comes in handy; often they can take more pictures than the 25 a disposable camera allows. This is important, especially where the possibility of Orbs occurs. From your position, take three consecutive pictures; roughly 1-2 seconds between flash, of the same area. Looking at these pictures in order you will be able to see if any potential Orb acts erratically, as expected, or naturally like a piece of dust or an insect.
Videotaping. If you have multiple cameras, this works best. But if you only have one, set it in a stable position in a place reported to have hi paranormal activity. Use a tripod if possible, and set it where it would see anyone entering the room or attempting to touch the camera. This will act as your observer and should be set up at the beginning of your investigation, hopefully to record for a few hours. If you have multiple cameras, they should be set in stationary positions where they can watch for paranormal activity while you’re not in the room.
Voice Recording. This is to be done by the person in the two-person team NOT using the camera. You need to ask simple and straightforward questions; leaving a few seconds between each question. A few examples would be; “Hello?” “What’s your name?” “Can you tell us why you’re here?” “Do you know that you’re a ghost?” If you know the identity of the ghost, you can ask questions specific to it. Answers can be found on playback; you can get good audio software for little money.
EMF Tracking: The EMF device, or Electro-Magnetic Field device, detects changes in the energy in the air. Common knowledge states that a ghost requires energy to manifest, and this means that a ghost can draw its strength from electronic devices as well as the environment itself. Be aware of the EMF readings of both people in the team prior to your search; if you detect a high field be cautious in proceeding. High energy areas can cause dizziness, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness. If the field is being created by bad wiring or other natural source, notify the appropriate authorities and keep all others away from that area.
Tips: Always carry a flashlight, even if you don’t always use it. Especially when outside, keep it handy to watch for anything on the ground that may hurt you; indoors you’re less likely to encounter such obstacles. But whenever asking questions, keep the flashlight OFF. Keep extra batteries with you; try to keep them protected in a plastic bag or even its original packaging.
Now, for the other stuff on the list…
Flour: Put flour on the floor leading to a room or up a set of stairs and DO NOT walk through it; it’s there to see if anyone/anything passes that way. Be careful how you pour it; make sure that you have no reason to cross it. Let it stand for the entire course of your investigation, longer if possible, and record whatever results you find.
Thermal Camera. This can be part of an investigating pair and could replace a regular camera. By definition it detects changes of temperature in the environment. This is effect when looking for Vortexes, because you’ll be able to see a visible representation of the disturbance.
Sage. Traditionally, burning sage is a way to cleanse a house of spirits. It drives the spirits away, though I can’t pretend to know the exact reasons why. It is invaluable, if only a placebo, in a demonic haunting.
Geiger counter. Recent thinking has led to the possibility that ghosts are accompanied by an increase in radiation. There is no evidence to support this idea, but it has been a new fear among investigators. If you have the resources, I suggest investing in one; if not a useful tool then at least as a helpful piece of mind.
Motion sensor. Set these up wherever you have stationary cameras. In some cases, the cameras can be connected to the sensor so that it only records when detecting motion. It’s just another toy but not essential, your equipment doesn’t need it.
Investigating is a learning experience; as you do it you learn more about the science that goes into it; and that’s what you must try to remember. This is science, not some game; which is why I advise avoiding any and all evidence that isn’t supported by other forms of evidence. You’re here to prove that ghosts exist, not to rummage through attics and basements looking for anything but the paranormal. Be serious; the ghosts are.
Chapter 2
Asking the right Questions
My position in the ghost hunting group I was part of included an important but sometimes overlooked role; I had to interview the land owner(s) and witnesses. I’ve included a series of important questions that you should ask, as well as things that you need to know about everyone related to the search. Feel free to add questions you think relevant or remove questions that don’t have any significance to the investigation.
Things You Should Note:
Interviewee’s name?
Interviewee’s sex?
Land owner or witness?
Date of interview/investigation?
Questions You Should Ask:
(These questions will help you decide how honest the interviewee is. Please be kind when asking these questions; you won’t get anywhere being rude.)
What’s your date of birth? People of different ages have different biases that may affect their point of view.
What’s your nationality? Different backgrounds can lead people to think one way or another.
Were you born in this country? Similar to nationality, people born in foreign countries may have biases based on their experiences there.
Have you or anyone you personally know ever seen a UFO? Test for skepticism.
Have you or anyone you personally know ever seen an extraterrestrial? Test for skepticism.
Did you believe in the paranormal before your encounter? Test for skepticism.
Do you attend church regularly, what religion? Test for religious biases.
Have you attempted to sell your story for fame and/or monetary gain? Some people may have a fake story that’ll sound more convincing if a ghost investigation took place.
(These questions are more specific to the haunting; alter these questions as necessary to the investigation at hand.)
Please describe what you saw. Just note key information; type of ghost, location, time (day/night), alone or not, emotional response if given.
How long have you lived/worked/been here? Ask if appropriate to the situation.
Did you recognize the spirit? Ask only when manifestations are reported.
-How is that spirit connected to this location? Previous owners may be resentful to new owners, those that died at the location may be confused, children of the locations will likely be playful and difficult to catch during an investigation.
-Have you encountered this spirit at a separate location? IMPORTANT; if a ghost is seen at multiple locations, it is likely attached to a person not a place. Ghosts do not change location.
Did the spirit take a visible shape? Ask if not a manifestation.
Was the spirit able to interact with the living world?
Did the spirit react to your presence or try to communicate with you?
Were there any strange odors?
Were there any strange sounds?
Does the spirit attempt to bring you to the same location? Ask only when the same spirit is seen multiple times by the same person.
Were you injured by the spirit? Take extra caution if the ghost is reported as violent.
Are you afraid to return to the haunted location?
(These are optional questions that can end an interview.)
Are you aware of the tasks that will be performed? Interviewee should already know this prior to interview, but summarize investigation techniques if unsure.
Are you comfortable with strangers walking through your home, often in the dark? If necessary, remind the interviewee that they’re not liable for any injuries suffered by the investigators (collapse of structure is another deal).
Is there anywhere you don’t want the investigators to go?
If you have any information about the spirit or evidence of the haunting, can you present it to us?
Thank you for your time; would you be able to talk with another investigator for a few moments? Try to get the interviewee to agree; it’s better if there are multiple interviewers to test the consistency of the interviewee’s story. The second interviewer only needs to ask questions concerning the haunting itself.
Always remember that the interviewee has volunteered for the investigation (owners volunteer their property, witnesses volunteer their time) and deserves honor and respect. Do not accuse them of lying, insult them in any fashion, or ask anything inappropriate. Answers should only be discussed with other investigators, unless you need clarification.
Chapter 3
Types of Ghosts
This is a lot of information, I won’t lie. Some of this information you may never need to know; but, it’s here to add to what you understand and how you cope with the paranormal. I’ve broken this section down in an order that I think will serve you best.
Invisible to Low Manifestations
-Orbs
-Vortexes
-Disembodiments
-Poltergeists
Visible Manifestations
-Human
-Animal
-Environmental
Beyond Paranormal
-Demons
-Angels
Invisible to Low Manifestations:
This section concerns the most common sightings during investigations; or more appropriately, the unseen signs of paranormal activity. Being the most common, these are also often the most faked and mistaken. Be careful when dealing with any investigation where any of these are part of witness testimony; they can often be explained away by natural and common things.
Orbs:
If you read my theory on the paranormal, you’ll know that I view orbs as one of the lowest ghostly phenomenon. Despite their weakness in the general scheme of the paranormal, they are typically highly intelligent and often show themselves for reasons. Orbs aren’t things seen out of the corner of your eye; they present themselves for a purpose. Typically, orbs are weakened human ghosts, and they try to communicate in the one way they can: human curiosity. If an orb appears, you should want to know why. If you can solve that riddle, you’ll have an easier time understanding.
What to look for: Orbs are perfectly rounded balls that hover in the air. They produce their own light with the brightness of about a candle. Their movements would seem erratic, and shouldn’t be confused with any other natural phenomenon. Their color is unknown, but they are commonly represented as bluish-white. They can exist anywhere. One of their most important qualities is this; they can be seen with the naked eye, you don’t need a camera to capture their presence.
Warning signs: People like to go to cemeteries looking for ghosts, taking pictures. Sometimes they see semi translucent balls in the air; these are NOT Orbs. When a camera flash goes off; dirt, water droplets, and small insects are illuminated and appear on film as glowing balls. This excites people but because they didn’t follow the basic investigation rules laid out in this book, they can’t and shouldn’t be considered signs of paranormal activity. An investigator known to many in the field commented that orbs were prevalent around waterfalls and quick-flowing rivers; this is because so many “Orbs” appeared in pictures he took. But these were just drops of water. Remember, you can see Orbs with the naked eye.
Vortexes:
Various investigators will argue what exactly these things are, but all will agree that their presence is disturbing and has the affect of demoralizing anyone unfortunate enough to pass through one. They are the very lowest forms of ghosts and suck energy from the air just to reveal their presence; faint manifestations could appear but are highly unlikely. Vortexes are often present in the vicinity of stronger ghosts. Vortexes can also be explained in many cases, but I’ll tell you what to look for and what to be cautious about.
What to look for: Nothing, they are completely invisible to both the human eye and known photographic methods. Their presence can be felt, and I should warn you that it is a sudden and capturing feeling. The only way to prove its existence is by using an EMF reader and using a video camera to record the device’s display.
Warning signs: If one of these fields is detected, you should determine its size and shape by moving the EMF reader through it to see what area of space is affected. Vortexes are often at chest height (for the average adult male, about 4’) and have a symmetrical shape. They should not touch any physical surface; be sure to look for ventilation opens, air conditions, damaged furnaces, or anything else that will change the temperature or electric static in the air. If a large dose of electricity is detected, check the wiring (if any) and fuse box; high levels are dangerous to a person’s health and should be reported to the authorities immediately.
Disembodiments:
They are unseen spirits, and the only Ghosts most likely to speak to you; but they can only be detected by recording. Their speech is at a decibel the human ear is too weak to hear; but animals typically have the natural ability to sense them. Disembodiments can only be faked by investigators themselves, but are otherwise the one type of ghost sought after the most.
What to look for: You can’t look for anything, just trust your instincts as you ask the emptiness questions. If there is a disembodiment around, it will respond to you; either by answering your questions or giving you warning to leave. The evidence of their existence is on the audio tape and can be heard listening to the more sensitive tape; though often the voice is barely stronger than the white noise in the background.
Warning signs: An investigator, or someone else present at the time of the investigation, can answer the questions softly from a distance to imitate the effect of a paranormal response. But a mortal voice will appear different in audio analysis; a good investigator will be able to tell the difference. The other thing to beware is echo; voice coming from people in another room that the tape picks up. Always listen carefully to what is said on the tape, and don’t listen to what others say to sway your own opinion.
Poltergeists:
The word Poltergeist is the German word for Ghost, but it’s been used to describe a non-manifesting spirit that has the power to interact with the physical. Poltergeists cannot be seen, but their presence can often be recorded by what they do to the space around you. Anyone who’s seen the movie Poltergeist should know how they act, often destructively. They don’t often speak, that’s a characteristic of the disembodied spirits. They’re hard to falsify, but like Vortexes they can be mistaken for something else.
What to look for: Things move without assistance from a living being or any natural occurrence like gravity. Poltergeists tend to be mischievous; they get their joy at the expense of the living. Beware a poltergeist, because it is the one ghost most likely to interfere with your investigation or even destroy your equipment.
Warning signs: If the evidence of activity comes from unseen violence, typically in the form of things breaking or being thrown, first check to see if there are any teenagers living there; specifically female. Some girls, when passing through puberty, have the ability to let their inner angst out on the world. If a teenager is suspected, try having someone speak with the teen (like a therapist or someone else educated in the manner) to see if they are the cause and not a Poltergeist.
Visible Manifestations
As you might imagine, this section deals with what we do see. Manifestations are animal, environmental, or humanoid. Based on various ideas, not all humanoids are necessarily human; but I’ll address that later. Also important to note, people argue where a ghost will manifest. Is it the location of their death, a place they loved in life, or their graves? That’s an answer the ghosts aren’t willing to answer, so we may never really know.
Human
These are the ghosts we think of when somebody says ‘I saw a ghost!’ They are visible manifestation of a once living person, their condition can be anything from their appearance at time of death to the way they represented themselves in life. These manifestations may only be partial, or waist-up. These types of ghosts can appear in two fashions, and once seen it should be apparent which category they fall into.
-Intelligent
These spirits are aware; they know what they are and interact with the world around them. These are rarer than the ‘Unaware’ below, but can be more violent. Roughly 98% of ghosts are harmless; but that remaining 2% consists of these intelligent ghosts. I’m not including Demons in this because, as you read, I don’t consider them ghosts at all.
What to look for: Person that you may initially mistake for a living being, until you realize that you can see thru them. They will be aware of your presence, maybe even acknowledge you. They can also avoid cameras and other recording devices because they know to stay hidden.
-Repeater
As suggested, these ghosts don’t know what has happened to them. They are likely unaware that they’ve died and repeat certain actions they carried out in life. For example, a dead boat captain may continually circle the deck of what was once his boat thinking that it was still his responsibility to do so. They care nothing for barriers constructed since their time; which often explains why they walk through walls.
What to look for: Person that you may initially mistake for a living being, until you realize that you can see thru them. No matter what attempts you make, this spirit will not react to you or anything that you do. They appear on camera most often because they act unaware of its presence.
Warning signs: When looking at evidence of these beings, be cautious when looking at photographic evidence. The technology exists where a photo can be altered to make it seem that a ghost is present; even non-digital cameras like Polaroid’s can have double exposure which would give the same result. Your best evidence will be your own memory, and numerous amounts of evidence to backup your claims.
Animal:
Animal spirits are like human in that there is no conclusive knowledge for their existence or where they appear, only that they are much rarer than human ghosts. They are intelligent and should be treated like living animals.
What to look for: They know that they’re ghosts but still act like they’re living. However, with their knowledge they take advantage of their ghostly powers. Wild animals will attack, as they did in life, only as ghosts they have more options available to them. Some humanoid spirits take the shape of animals, usually to benefit them in some unknown way. Treat them like intelligent human ghosts; you will have the same results with them.
Warning signs: They are still animals and their instincts are more powerful after death than while living. Ghosts have no master and will not obey any living spirit; they don’t require sustenance of any kind. When looking at evidence of these ghosts, be cautious when looking at photographic evidence. The technology exists where a photo can be altered to make it seem that a ghost is present; even non-digital cameras like Polaroid’s can have double exposure which would give the same result. Your best evidence will be your own memory, and numerous amounts of evidence to backup your claims.
Environmental:
This is perhaps the rarest of all ghostly manifestations; it is something that you experience. The world around you changes; so powerfully that you can physically interact with it despite its ghostly nature. These are the strongest ghosts and are not the result of any other ghost, though it is a possible side effect of an alien being like an angel or demon. What you see is the world a repeating ghost walks into.
What to look for: Your environment changes completely, all your senses are affected by it. Most likely you experience this alone and in the presence of one or more ghosts. Also, you can’t leave unless allowed.
Warning signs: There is no way to record this. The only evidence will be your experience, and you cannot replicate it. It cannot be faked by the simple existence of its scale. A false environmental manifestation can be exited and re-entered; all digital and recording devices would function properly, and you can easily determine how you reached the place. Chances are you alone will experience this; so it does little more than make an interesting ghost story.
Beyond Paranormal
This section should be sort of obvious; these are beings that are ghosts but not of mortal origin. They are more powerful beings and can manifest at will or when summoned by a powerful medium. The names ‘angels’ and ‘demons’ are used for the sole reason that those are the common names for them; there is no religious connection. If in the course of an investigation you encounter something beyond paranormal; it’s a good idea to know what you’re dealing with. In this case, your life depends on it.
Demons
Whatever religious beliefs you have of demonic spirits is close in activity to these things; but they aren’t red men with horns and hooves, there is no devil. But they are monstrous and walk the shadows of the living world. They are tormentors of both the living and the dead; and in my theory you understand why the dead fear them so much. But for all their hate of the dead, they don’t leave the living in peace.
What to look for: Demons are often first thought of as ghosts of some kind; they may manifest as intelligent human ghosts but initially they are benevolent. Then they act like poltergeist, aggressive to the mortal world but still unseen. The last thing they do is possess another being; this is how their true form is detected. The possessed will speak languages they don’t know, inflict pain on themselves or others, and change the personalities. This is when a demonologist (an investigator of demons) or an exorcist (church recognized demonologist) must intervene. If not, the possession could get worse. The possessed might commit murder and/or suicide and the demon manifests its true form.
Warning signs: Watch for someone suffering from some sign or psychotic or medical disorder, in which case the appropriate authorities should be contacted. Also, learn who the possessed person is; is there any chance that the person may actually know the languages it’s speaking, does the person act in ways portrayed in the movies, is there any evidence to suggest that the person is faking possession in hopes of monetary or economical gain. If the possession moves beyond this point, turn to a demonologist; I’m not qualified to deal with a full-fledged demon and I urge the inexperienced to avoid.
Angels
You could say that they’re they opposites of demons, personality wise. In all other actions, from poltergeist activity to possession, they do. However, they are less likely to inflict physical pain and torment; the possessed are also unlikely to die. In some cases, the possessed might never be aware of the angel’s presence, other than the person’s health may improve and their habits change.
What to look for: To be honest, nothing. The thought of angels even existing came from the idea that demons must have an opposite. But they are powerful and can communicate like demons, such as creating environmental manifestations and vortexes, or manipulating an Ouija board. Like demons, angels can manifest their true form; though it's less horrific and potentially blinding to look at.
Warning signs: With so little to look for, there is little evidence to gain. Even if someone suspects a haunting, no proof can come of it. All beyond paranormal entities can disable electronics, making recording impossible. But angels are the most benevolent spirits and their very presence can be a benefit; there’s no reason to fear them.
Chapter 4
Theory on the reason for the existence of paranormal entities
Everyone has theories why ghosts exist; here is mine as best as I can explain it. When I was part of SPI, we were asked if we could come up with a sound theory for the existence of the paranormal; one that didn’t rely on religious dogma. While the idea wasn’t mine in full, a friend and I talked about it, I think this is one of the better theories in existence.
I don’t have a name for it that doesn’t sound trite in anyway, so I leave it up to the explanation. In my head, I know what it is, but in some cases I’ve found it hard to explain. I hope that I’ve provided you with enough to understand the theory and where a lot of my ideas of the paranormal are rooted.
All life begins in one place, think of it as a pool of energy; it’s made what makes us. When a person or any living thing is born, it gets a piece of this pool. For simplicity, I’ll call it a soul. Every living thing possesses a soul, and the souls carry a certain amount of instincts which are then inflated by the parents and society. Animals learn to use their instincts while human instincts are reformed to fit the cultures of the world. When we die, the souls return to the pool and the knowledge it acquired enters the whole. Like water it breaks apart to move to different parts of the pool so that the same soul can never be formed again. It’s simple, but there are problems, and this is where the paranormal comes in.
Not all souls return to the pool after death. For one reason or another they’re trapped in the mortal world, whether through a will of their own of the inability to let go of their mortal shell. Whatever the reason, once they refuse returning they are unable to. They become the ghosts that inhabit the world.
When a soul leaves the body, it has a limited amount of energy that it can use before it dissolves completely and is forever lost. Ghosts manifest depending on how much energy they have left. A new ghost can manifest completely, but as energy is consumed it can appear less and less. If it chooses not to manifest, it will possess the energy to interact with the mortal world. As it grows weaker, all it can become is an orb of light until finally it’s nothing but a black hole in the middle of the hall sucking energy until it’s no more.
Repeating ghosts have a different problem; because of their inability to accept what’s happened they repeat the same acts over and over until they’ve used the last of their energy. Maybe at the last moment they realize what they’ve become, or maybe they just stop being. Whatever the reason, ghosts do not exist forever; that’s why you will never find a ghost from ancient times.
But there are spirits that come to attack the ghosts, destroy them and drag their remains to the pool. They are the demons. A demon’s main purpose is to attack ghosts, but it finds thrills in attacking the living in hopes that they will die and it can feast on their souls. Like us, they come from the same pool; but unlike us, they’re very existence is malicious. On the other side of the coin are the angels, the spirits that protect the living from demons. Like demons, they seek to destroy ghosts; but unlike their evil brethren they have no desire to kill the living for their souls. When a demon or angel manifests, its work is complete and it’s revealing itself in one last destructive blow to ghosts.
Most of us will never know the horror of refusing the ultimate end; few of us will get pieces of an old soul and remember what that soul experienced. But we’re all on this trip; the only thing that changes is when our bodies aren’t enough for our souls.
Chapter 5
Testimony
I figure that, before I end this, you’d like to know just a little about me and my own experiences with the paranormal. If you think that I don’t believe in this stuff, you’re wrong; and I’ll share my story with you now.
It was the end of 4th grade. My friend and eye were the top students in our class and we were allowed to leave class the last few days to perform certain chores; just no learning. We were given free reign, all we had to do was help the school prepare for summer recess. This mostly considered collecting books, extra supplies, and the over-head projectors. As we wanted, we were able to explore the school as we hadn’t been able to do in all our years there.
Most of the stuff had to go to the basement, and how often do kids get to go into the basement? The janitor was in the basement, that’s all I knew. But we were given the elevator key and told not to break anything; and we didn’t. What we did do was go look at all the places that students whispered about; be it the strange room at the top of the stairs that nobody went too or the hole in the wall of the basement that someone supposedly died in. We found out the room was mostly storage, but also an office used by one of the ladies as the school. The hole was part of the heating system and the red eyes everyone said they saw were just two LED lights on a box in the far corner. Hardly the stuff of ghost stories.
But we both found out, for the first time, that the Special Ed kids had their own gym in the basement, under the regular gym. The bathroom that was connected to this basement gym and the basement hallway is the center of this story. In our investigations we wandered into the bathroom. The gym door was locked so we decided to see if we could get in through the bathroom. My friend and I went in, the bathroom was unlocked (for safety reasons, the school had to keep the bathroom unlocked) but the door on the opposite side leading to the gym was locked. We both tried the door with no success. Frustrated we turned back to leave the way we had come.
The door had locked, we both tried as hard as we could but we were only in 4th grade, how much can you expect? We started freaking out, it was still early in the day; nobody would notice we were missing for about five or six hours. I was standing at the sink, my friend beside me, and I was looking in the mirror. Kids tell plenty of stories about mirrors, how you can summon Bloody Mary in the girl’s bathroom; but what I saw in this mirror changed my outlook on the paranormal.
My face and the room behind me were not in the reflection; staring back at me was the head of a middle aged man with thick eyebrows and mustache. He didn’t say anything, but floating in the mirror beside him was a key. I don’t remember if I screamed first or my friend when he saw the ghost in the mirror. Either way we tried the door to the hall but it was still locked. We ran to the gym door and amazingly it unlocked for us and let us in the gym. But we weren’t interested in the place any more; we ran until we found the janitor watching a 4” TV down the hall.
To this day I don’t lock the bathroom door.
Conclusion
I hope that you find this useful, or at the very least entertaining; whether or not you utilize what I’ve written is up to you. Just remember to be safe and be thorough, this isn’t a game.
If you have stories of your own I’d like to hear them. Visit my website at http://www.michael-bertolini.com or email me at michael.j.bertolini@gmail.com
About the Author:
Michael lives in Connecticut where he’s been writing for about 13 years. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Anthropology. He uses his experiences and learning in his writing. He was part of the Society of Paranormal Investigation at CCSU, serving as the club’s first secretary.
Check out other work by Michael Bertolini