David and Sebastian nodded in agreement and Jenny, well her eyes told me what she was feeling
in her heart. "It's show time! Check your equipment! Each of us rechecked our flashlights and
"Tools of the trade" to make sure they were working. I took a deep breath and said one last
thing. Don't forget our number #1 rule. Comically, all four of us recited; "Try to keep your
partner within your view, and if I radio; "Get Out", that we will Get Out"!

 

That moment of laughter took the edge of what had become a tense and uncertain situation. I was
the first to step up onto the porch, walking up to the screened front door. Jenny was my partner,
with David and Sebastian partnering up. As I was about to open the door, I hesitated and looked
behind me. "We work the main floor first. No one goes upstairs till we all meet at the bottom
of the stairs.

 

I want us to stay close to each other. You can investigate a different room, but I want your
partner to know where you are at all times, understood"? All three nodded. With that said I
faced the screen door and opened wide. The hinges on the front door made an eerie squeak, as
if to announce our presence. The door knob was made of clear crystal. It was cold to my touch
even though the sun was warming the morning air.

 

As daylight made the darkness retreat, I saw a living room in shambles! Vandals couldn't have
done a better job at going into a frenzy! Debris was everywhere! Though the entire first half
of the house was one room, it was divided into a dining area on the left and a living room on
the left. The stairs leading to the second floor were directly ahead. As my flashlight swept
the house slowly, I could smell the musty, dank, stagnant air.

 

Some windows had been boarded up, while others were not. But I remembered that I hadn't seen
any window with a pane. All the windows appeared to have the glass broken out from the inside.
Toward the rear of the room were different rooms, some dark, without light and some with light
in the room. Jenny and I took the left side and David and Sebastian took the right side. I
turned on my pocket recorder, and motioned for everyone to turn theirs on as we began to
separate.

 

I stopped suddenly and turned to Jenny and whispered; "If you sense anything you tell me,
please"; and she nodded her head. At that point, each of us began to do our task of using all
of our senses, and equipment to determine if anything of a supernatural nature was occurring.
We used our instincts and curiosity to examine anything that caught our attention. For those
first 30 minutes or so, the only sounds heard were of objects we picked up or stepped on.

 

As we approached the rear of our side of the room, three doors were seen. Not knowing the
layout of the house, I didn't know where they led. Looking back, I guess I should have had
Emily give us a floor plan of the house, both floors. Well, I wasn't going back out to get
it. I stopped and made a note in my note pad to get floor plan in the future. During each
investigation, we try to learn better ways to do our job.

 

We try to learn from past mistakes. It makes our job more efficient, and of course, to me,
more professional. I looked around for Jenny, and she was making notes too. I whispered to
her and she glanced up at me as I shrugged my shoulders? But she just shook her head, smiling
and waved her hand for me not to worry! I waited for her to finish and work her way over to
where I was waiting. I could see David and Sebastian in the distance and all looked normal.

 

Just before Jenny reached my side, Sebastian radioed that he was getting a strong EMF reading
toward the rear of the house. He couldn't be more specific! On Sebastian's side of the room,
there were also three doors. When Jenny reached my side, I asked her if she was feeling
anything, and she shook her head no. Then, she almost jumped into my arms, scaring me to death!
Someone's hand just held my hand!

 

Omg! It literally scared me to death. I had no doubt it did, because it just about gave me a
heart attack too! "It was a small hand, a child's hand. But I don't know if it was Tabitha".
When we reached the first of three doors, I asked Jenny what she wanted to do. "Do you want
to check each room together or separately"? Well she said, “We can split up, but when one room
is done, wait for the other person to come out, and I agreed.

 

That I would learn later would be a deadly mistake! The first door opened was a bedroom with a
window that was boarded up. Jenny waited for me to go to the second door, and when I opened it,
I saw it too was a bedroom, but I could see out the window. We waved at each other and went
into each room! In the mean time, Sebastian started to shake and tap on the EMF because it
suddenly stopped. He looked at David, and David walked over to him.

 

They both tapped on the machine, shook it and even switched batteries, but still, it didn't
work. Sebastian slipped the strap over his shoulder, and tried to radio me, but all that was
heard was static. Time and again he tried to call me or Jenny but the crackling of static was
all that was heard. He couldn't even hear his own voice on David's radio. None of us had
encountered that problem before. "Go over to the other side of the house and find Raymond or
Jenny!

 

Let them know our radios aren't working or the EMF either"; and David gave the thumbs up! But
David didn't make it past the stairway. That was the moment when he heard a ball bouncing down
the stairs! His flashlight showed it to be an orange ball, a child's ball. Common sense would
have told him to keep looking for us, but curiosity told him to go upstairs! He did use his
video camera to capture the bouncing ball on film occurrence before he began upstairs.

 

He "Knew" no one was to go to the second floor alone! We were all four to go up together.
Sebastian didn't know what David was doing, because he was in the kitchen examining cans of
unopened food scattered all over the floor. They had exploded from the inside and were all
covered with maggots and mold. Sebastian didn't see the butcher knife floating off the floor,
held by an unseen hand. He never saw it hovering behind his neck as he excitedly jotted down
his description of the cans of food.

 

Suddenly, the butcher knife plunged deep into the back of his neck, severing his spinal cord
as it twisted deeper and deeper. Sebastian fell to the floor with a thud, but no one heard a
sound as his body pushed cans of food against the walls. The kitchen floor turned red with
Sebastian's blood. As Emily sat in her car, looking at the house, she wondered what was happening
inside. She wondered if we had discovered anything unusual.

 

She wondered if we had caught a glimpse of her grand daughter Tabitha. She felt a tear roll
down her cheek as she wiped it anxiously away. That was when she gasped as she saw Sebastian's
body hanging out the kitchen window, his face looking at the ground. His face quickly turned
red with blood, as Emily shook and shook. She was frozen, unable to speak, unable to honk her
horn, unable to drive away! She knew Sebastian was dead!

 

With each step David took on the stairs, the boards beneath his feet informed the house and
the spirits within it that he was going upstairs. He was trembling, but it was more from
excitement, then fear. He knew something was trying to make contact with him! Or was it?
Regardless, he had his video camera, and whatever he might see would be caught on film! When he
reached the top of the stairs, it became a long hallway, extending from one side of the house
to the other with seven doors.

 

David was sure that 6 of the rooms were bedrooms and the seventh a bathroom. He hesitated,
unsure of which direction to turn, before making his decision. As David peered first left, then
right; he saw nothing. He looked down at his video camera and it was still running. How cool it
would be he thought if he could actually capture something more credible then a bouncing ball!
Something unmistakable and supernatural.

 

He was about to begin checking rooms, when he remembered that he wasn't supposed to be upstairs.
I had told everyone to wait until the entire main floor had been investigated. At that moment, I
called for a radio check with everyone, and Jenny was the first to respond. She hadn't encountered
anything unusual; yet! David was next. He didn't mention that he was already on the second floor.

Sebastian cut in and said he was still checking out the kitchen area. I asked everyone to meet
back at the bottom of the stairs, unless they found something worth investigating and everyone
agreed. The only problem was the voice I had heard and thought was Sebastian wasn't Sebastian.
Sebastian was dead! His blood drenched head hung out one of the windows, facing Emily and she
was going insane!

 

When Emily saw Sebastian's limp body, and the blood, she desperately tried to honk her horn, to
get someone's attention, but it made no sound! Next she turned the ignition key, but the motor
didn't start. As fright filled her soul, she grabbed the door handle to get out, to run to the
front door and yell inside, but as she tried to open it, something unseen pushed back, each time.

Time and time again, she pushed on the door to no avail. Something wanted her to remain in the
car! Exhausted, Emily lay back in her seat, out of breath, crying, helpless to help anyone inside
the house.

 

All she could do was watch! Jenny had entered the first bedroom we had found on our
side of the house, while I walked into the second bedroom. Jenny had found a child's room. She
wasn't sure what age the child may have been, but she was sure it was a girl's bedroom.

She anxiously jotted down details! The room was simple, and plain. She saw nothing out of the
ordinary at first. Then, as her eyes became adjusted to the darkness, her flashlight shone upon
the small bed with a handmade bedspread. There, in the middle, towards the edge, was the ghostly
shape of a long haired child who looked about 8. She was looking down at her hands, as if she
were unaware of Jenny's presence.

 

In her hands was a small Raggedy Ann doll. As her fingers in her right hand stroked the doll's
hair, she looked up, almost surprised. Jenny was still writing in her notepad but not looking
down. For a moment a smile was shared between the apparition and Jenny. All of a sudden, Jenny
cried out; "No, please don't, we don't mean anyone harm, please let us help"! Jenny felt desperation
rushing through her mind; her heart was racing as she tried to back up!

 

What Jenny thought was a little girl, was far from that, as she watched it change shape. As it
stood, the shape became a horrible figure with what looked like winged arms, a slender body,
and even though her flashlight shown upon the creature, it's black head had no facial features,
just two glowing eyes. There was a stench that filled her senses and she tried to scream as it
approached her, but no sounds came out.

 

She tried to turn, to run, but her feet couldn't move. Suddenly she felt two hands upon her
throat, as she began to be strangled. Her tape recorder was still on and it recorded her desperate
attempts to gasp for breath until the last sounds heard on the tape was of her neck breaking. The
demon had claimed another life. He didn't let her fall to the floor. He held her off the floor,
turning her lifeless body left, then right.

 

Then he looked at the boarded up window and one by one, unseen forces pushed the boards outward,
till they fell upon the ground. Once more, he hung the body half way out of the window, just
within the sight of Emily! The sight of another body was horrible to Emily. One by one she was
being forced to watch each of us being killed! She wanted to warn us, but couldn't! She wanted
to flea, but couldn't even get out of her car.

 

She knew, after the last of us were murdered, that she too would die! I was in the bedroom next
to Jenny, but hadn't heard a sound. I knew everyone had checked in, so I felt everything was
going well, so far! I was in the bedroom of a man. His dresser had a shaving cup, and razor.
There was a black tie at the other end. It was a beautiful oak dresser. The curtains were a
light white and I really didn't need my flashlight on, so I turned it off.

 

The closet was full of suits, as well as boots and shoes. Nothing was out of the ordinary. That
was, until I turned to my left and saw the desk! Sitting in the chair with his back to me was a
middle aged man, with a balding head. He had a soft aura surrounding him. I should have been
making notes of what I was seeing, but in the surprise of the moment, I didn't. He was looking
down, with a pen or pencil in his right hand, writing on a sheet of paper.

 

Though I hadn't made a sound, he hesitated and stopped writing! He raised his head, and swung
his swivel chair around and faced me. There was sadness in his eyes. A sadness that meant he
wished we hadn't come here. I could feel it so clearly, as if he had spoken those words to me.
Then; he spoke! "There is an evil within the walls of this house; a terrible evil. It is too
late for us, but there's still time for you to leave.

 

To leave and never come back"! His tone of voice was one of finality! "I need to find Tabitha";
I need to give her something very special from her grand-mother. Will you allow me to do that
first"? I never thought that a ghost could cry. But tears were rolling down his cheeks as he
shook his head no! "He keeps her very close to him! He draws upon her power. We are helpless,
as helpless as all of you are now. We cannot leave this place.

 

I fear that you too will become a prisoner here. You must leave; now"! When he had finished
that warning; he faded away. I grabbed my radio and called for Jenny, but she didn't respond.
So, I went to the room I saw her enter and opened the door. It was dark, so dark. The window
was boarded up and I saw no one in the room. When I came out, I called Sebastian but once more,
no response! Where were they? They were supposed to follow the instructions we agreed to before
we entered the house!

 

I began searching rooms at the other side of the house, but found no one in any rooms. Could
they have gone outside? No, they would have radioed me. They would have said something was
wrong! I had never heard such a deathly quiet until that moment I stood at the bottom of the
stairs! I knew no one had gone upstairs! Each of them knew we would search the main floor first,
and then together, as a team; work our way upstairs!

 

I was about to go out the front door and see if any members were outside, plus check with Emily,
when I heard something at the top of the stairs and looked up! My eyes watched in horror as David's
Video Camera bounced down the stairway, end over end, until it broke into pieces and littered
the stairway! I knew that for some reason David had gone upstairs without my knowledge or

permission. Maybe all three had gone upstairs? I found it hard to believe that all three would
do what they knew was wrong!

 

But I had no other explanation as to the whereabouts of Jenny, David and Sebastian. My instincts

were to look outside first; and I guess I should have followed my instincts, but I didn't. Something

told me to go upstairs. I was sure that I would at least find David upstairs. We would argue later why

he disobeyed me. At that moment, I took hold of the hand rail and began to walk upstairs!
                                                                                                        
I had only taken two steps up the stairs, when the blast of cold air in my face made me
almost take a step backwards! It was the coldest, empty feeling I had ever experienced!
Then the room began to brighten and as I turned my head around to look behind me; there
it was! I don't know what I thought we might find in the house, but nothing imagined,
compared me for what was between me and the front door! A dark shaped silhouette of something!
It had glowing eyes, and winged shaped hands.

 

It felt menacingly evil! Above its head hovered eleven glowing objects! I could feel myself
shaking. There was no way to escape and in that split second, I held my two-way radio to my
lips and yelled out the names of my friends! Jenny, Sebastian, David; get out, get out NOW"!
As I stared at the entity, it waved one of its winged arms and three of the glowing objects
moved away from the others!

 

In a mocking, deep and sinister voice that sent shivers up and down my spine, it answered
the question on my mind! "Your friends are there, and their souls belong to me, just as yours
will too! There was a confident laughter in the tone of his voice! Suddenly, the spirit of
Tabitha appeared at his side and he held her hand in a tight grip! Though she tried to pull
free, she could not.

 

She had such a sad expression on her face. With the wave of his other hand, I found myself
shoved forward and landed on the floor at his feet! He was in total control, and in no hurry
to take my life! I remembered the gold locket Emily had given to me to give to Tabitha. I
knew I was about to die, but I had vowed that if I had seen Tabitha, I would give her the
locket, and I took it from my shirt pocket and tossed it at her.
                                                                                                    
She caught it with her right hand and examined it in the dimness of the room. It's from
Grandma Emily, Tabitha; she wanted me to give it to you"! Even in the darkness of that room,
I saw her eyes sparkle! The demon became enraged and his body turned a brighter fiery red!
Mean while by chance or fate, Emily had tried her door and it opened. It opened so unexpectedly,
she tumbled out onto the ground. Her only thought was to warn us to get out of the house!

 

Quickly, she ran up to the front door! As I felt invisible hands begin to choke me. My hands
struggled to break free of the grip to no avail. Tighter and tighter I felt the hands, as rough as sand

paper squeeze the life from me.  Suddenly Emily threw the door open and stepped inside! When she

saw Tabitha, she dropped to her knees and called her grand daughter's name. That was the moment

the demon was caught off guard!

 

Not only did he lose his grip on Tabitha's hand, but on my throat as well. Tabitha ran to her grand

mother's arms and they embraced, as I fell to the floor, gasping for air! The demon was rushing to

Emily and Tabitha, in a fit of rage as the love between a grand mother and a grand child filled the

room with brightness! As the demon wrapped his winged arms around them both evil did not win

this time. The love felt and shared at that moment caused the demon to explode into a million pieces

of light; dispersing into every direction. Such a horrible, scream was heard, until all was quiet. At
that moment; Emily kissed Tabitha on the cheek as tears flowed down each of their cheeks.
"I love you Grand ma, I love you!

 

Suddenly, Emily hurriedly said to me, "Hurry, leave this house now, hurry, there is no time"!
My instincts kicked in and in a few seconds, I was outside the house, when astonishingly, the
entire house disappeared! All that remained was the two brick fireplaces! Suddenly, all eight
murdered people appeared, plus Emily and Tabitha. They greeted and hugged each other as if it
were a family reunion! Jenny, David and Sebastian also appeared and came to me. Promise not
to carry guilt because of what has happened to us Raymond. It was not your fault. All things
happen for a reason, and we three are embarking upon a journey few people who believe in the
supernatural have taken. There were tears in Jenny's eyes, but not from sadness!

 

She came closer, and said; "I will miss you so much Raymond and I will miss more the
investigations that await you in the years to come. Be strong, please be strong, and never
look back to regrets! One day you too will make the same journey we are, and perhaps, yes I
hope so, that we will meet again. It was hard to see at that moment because so many tears
were falling from my eyes!

 

That was when Tabitha came and stood before me, wearing her gold locket! I knelt down for
both of us to see each other better! "Thank you for setting us free"! She began wiping her
eyes as she looked at the spirits of my three friends! She placed her hand upon my cheek
and said; "I'm sorry your friends died"! I placed my hand on top of her hand and kissed her
cheek. Then she hugged me tight and returned to her grand mother's side.

 

Slowly they all disappeared; first Tabitha, Emily and all her relatives, then my friends as
they waved good-by to me. In a moment I was alone; all alone. I never expected things to work
out this way. Had I known, I would never have come to Port Angeles! The skies were beginning
to clear, and rays of sunshine surrounded where everyone had stood, as if to take them on
their journey.

 

I don't know how long I stood there, lost in thought. It would be a very sad trip back to
California. I had so much to think about. I didn't know what or how I would express in my
journal what had happened here today, before writing "Case closed" at the bottom of the lost
page. As I got back into my van, for the first time, I felt the pain on my neck and glanced
in the mirror. My neck on both sides was black and blue.

 

It would take quite a while for these bruises to go away. I backed up the van and turned
around, taking one last look at where the house once stood! I was glad Emily warned me to
get out. She had given her life, to be with her grand daughter and relatives, and cared
enough about me, to tell me to leave before the house was gone! I will never forget Emily,
Tabitha, or my friend's!
 
© 2006 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)