Paranormal Rag - March 2019 by ParnaormalRagMagazine

PARANORMAL RAG

March 2019

INSIDE: 50+ Pages of paranormal information. Real cases, personal accounts from staff, tips on self-protection, and some changes to our look.

THE PINK LADY - REAL CASES Not even her name is known because she was an unregistered guest. Now she haunts the halls of the Inn by appearing and making her presence known in other ways. Most common the Pink Lady will appear as a pink haze and go around the hotel sitting by the fire, going up the stairs, and sitting on the edges of peoples beds.

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The Pink Lady is a popular ghost tale from Asheville’s Grove Park Inn. A young woman staying with another guest was sitting out on the balcony of room 545 overlooking the main entrance. The room she was in was on the fifth floor and sometime during her time on the balcony she slipped and fell down the five stories to the ground and died.

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There have been no reports that she is ever a violent spirit or even a mischievous one. All reports say that the presence is very friendly and welcoming to people in the hotel. This young woman died from a very tragic accident but got to never leave one of the nicest hotels in the Asheville area and in the state of NC. Hotel staff are the ones that normally see the Pink Lady as they are in the hotel more often than the guests are. They have seen her as a pink haze as well as seeing her in a very physical form almost like she had never died from her fall but that she just decided to stay at the hotel. They mostly report that she sits at the fire place and waits or when she does “mess” with the guests of the hotel what she does is very tame. When she messes with the guests of the hotel they will report that their windows will open and close all on their own or that their toilet will flush itself. Her haunting the hotel is one of the most tame cases of hauntings in NC, and she is one of the most well known ghosts around. Her haunting brings in a ton of business to the hotel because every guest wants to have an experience with the Pink Lady.

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RIVERSIDE CEMETERY REAL CASES The age plays into the haunting of the area as well. There are some graves so old that the engravings have come off and stand blank marking the final resting place of an unknown person. There is not one spirit in the cemetery either. There are reports of the laughter of children coming from the cemetery at night. Laughing their way into the oblivion.

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Overlooking the French Broad River and spanning over 80 acres of land the Riverside Cemetery is one of the. Most beautiful burial grounds in North Carolina while also being one of the most haunted places in the state. The cemetery is so haunted because of the people who were burned in the cemetery and the amount of people who were laid to rest there.

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Another spirit is the one of an elderly man that roams the entire cemetery grounds during the day. But many of the spirits that roam the grounds of the cemetery are the souls of those who were brutally murdered or the souls of children who had died from the flu or pneumonia. Their spirits do not rest easy on the grounds of Riverside Cemetery even though their view is a breathtaking one of the river. They roam and haunt wanting some closure and explanation for what happened and why their life was cut short. Now owned by the county the cemetery is still active and still taking almost 250 burials and that can only mean that more and more spirits are being added to the collection of lost souls that are already there. It is a beautiful and wonderful place to visit and if the purpose of a visit is to find haunted places and investigate them it is hard to find a place more haunted.

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MOTHMAN - THE MAN, BIRD, THING - REAL CASES

First, if you are new to my articles, you may ask – What is a cryptid?

A cryptid is an animal species believed to exist on the basis of anecdotal evidence, not backed by mainstream science – essentially an animal who has not been scientifically verified to actually exist, but enough people believe it does. Examples of cryptids are Big Foot, the Loch Ness monster, the Beast of Bladenboro (please see the January 2019 issue), or the Jersey Devil (as discussed in the February 2019

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In this latest installment of my series on cryptids, let’s discuss one of the most wellknown cryptids…Mothman.

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The story soon spread nationwide. Five men digging a grave near Clendenin, West Virginia, described seeing a man-like figure flying low, just over their heads. Later two couples driving near the TNT Area (an abandoned munitions dump just north of Point Pleasant) claimed to witness a large gray creature with glowing red eyes and ten-foot wings. There were at least one hundred sightings of the creature from 1966 – 1967. The sightings abruptly ended after the collapse of the Silver Bridge (bridge carried U.S. Highway Route 35 over the Ohio River and connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia with Gallipolis, Ohio). Forty-six people perished in the bridge collapse. This incident gave rise to the theory that sightings of Mothman actually foreshadow death and destruction. This particular theory became more prevalent as similar sightings of a man-sized bird preceded other disasters. For example, there were numerous reports of Mothman appearances in and around Moscow, Russia just prior to the 1999 Russian apartment bombings. A series of explosions hit four apartment blocks in three cities between September 4 and September 16 of that year. Almost 300 persons were killed and more than 1,000 injured.

Another incident associated with Mothman sightings occurred in Freiburg, Germany when the creature frightened away miners just before the mine collapsed. Before the nuclear plant, Chernobyl, melted down there were multiple reports from workers of a similar creature flying over the facility. More chilling (at least to this writer because it hits so close to home), there were two photographs of Mothman taken in New York City on September 11, 2001. The pictures were taken after the Twin Towers were hit by hijacked airplanes, but just before the buildings fell. There were also a number of sightings of the cryptid just before the 2007 collapse of a bridge in Minnesota. This bridge was originally built in 1967 (same year as the Silver Bridge collapse in Point Pleasant, West Virginia) and is part of the U.S. Interstate 35 system (the Silver Bridge was a section of U.S. Highway Route 35). There are numerous theories as to the existence of such a creature. Some claim Mothman is an extraterrestrial (strengthened by reports of witnesses being harassed by government agents to keep quiet); others that the creature is an unknown animal species; and some that it is a supernatural manifestation. It has even been claimed that sightings of Mothman have incited witnesses to have precognitive abilities and others to experience threatening shadow figures.

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Mothman hails from the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia. First seen in November 1966, it was reported by the Point Pleasant Register as “…man-sized bird…creature… something.”

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Some reports state the creature has no head, but has two red glowing eyes in its chest; whereas others state it does have a head with the red glowing eyes. The one person to say she got a good look at Mothman’s face could only recount that it was monstrous. She was so horrified by what she saw, the woman suffered from nightmares and a nervous breakdown. It is also told that anyone experiencing a close encounter with the Mothman suffers from traumatic fear and long-term debilitating psychological distress due to the sense of pure evil emanating from its eyes. Skeptics tried to debunk the mythical creature as merely an unusually large heron or a sandhill crane (large American crane almost as tall as a man with seven-foot wingspan and reddish coloring around the eyes). I saw “tried” because the sandhill crane, nor any other large heron, are native to West Virginia or any of the other areas where Mothman has been sighted. Additionally, neither bird has a reputation as a carnivorous predator. Since the 19661967 sightings included multiple reports of missing dogs, we can assume either it was a great coincidence or that the creature (bird or cryptid) got hungry.

In 2002, the Mothman legend re-emerged stronger than ever with the release of the Richard Gere movie, The Mothman Prophecies, based on the 1975 book by parapsychologist John Keel. The movie received mixed reviews, but overall follows the legend closely through a modern retelling of the Point Pleasant bridge disaster. Point Pleasant has embraced its Mothman legacy. Since 2002, the city has celebrated the Annual Mothman Festival. If you’re a fan of the cryptid or just interested in learning more, head on out to Point Pleasant during the third weekend of September for guest speakers, a Mothman pancake eating contest, Mothman vendors, and a hayride showcasing locations of Mothman sightings.

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So what exactly does Mothman look like? Most sightings, even across continents, closely resemble each other. Mothman is a winged bipedal (two feet) cryptid. It is known to be anywhere from dark gray to black to brown in color, the size of a man (roughly six to seven feet tall), with a wingspan of ten to fifteen feet.

HOW TO CLEAR YOUR ENERGIES - REAL CASES

What causes this magnetism between souls? Why do we become so attracted to some people’s energies?

If you’ve ever felt that someone’s energy has residually gathered within you, it may not always be positive. If you have felt negatively affected by someone else’s energy sticking to yours, you may be frustrated with their lingering aura.

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Have you ever felt as though someone has ‘stayed with you’? Almost as though their energy has somewhat stuck to yours like glue…

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You might be wondering, “How do I get rid of this energy? How can I cleanse my own aura?”

Letting go of any negative feelings you may have, and finding peace, is vital to the healing of your aura.

If you’re being ‘haunted’ so to speak, by someone’s unhealthy, or toxic energy, what can you do to cleanse yourself?

It goes on to give a meditation example— imagine, a white light filling your body and clearing any negative parts, dark places, or things that don’t belong. As the white light fills all the space within you, it pushes out any negative or dark places.

1. Getting some good ole’ vitamin D. Getting sunlight can truly change your aura more than you would expect. A little sunlight is healthy every now and then, warming our skin like a soft, heated blanket. It can be therapeutic in its own mysterious ways. 2. “Swimming, especially in salt water: If you have access to the ocean or a saltwater pool, a quick dip can help. The salt is physically and emotionally cleansing for removing minor psychic debris,” according to www.powerofpositivity.com. 3. Meditation is always a great way to cleanse your aura. It’s a truly powerful way of turning your emotional and mental condition around. It’s been known to release negative energy and emotions. 4. Healing the aura is sometimes necessary before cleansing can even happen. Hiring a professional therapist or even a clairvoyant who can identify blockages within your aura is a good idea. “Just like your mental well-being, the vital energy of your aura can become damaged due to traumas experienced in life,” the site explains.

I do a similar guided meditation with my yoga students: I tell them to picture with their third eye a waterfall of the purest, most pristine and beautiful water pouring over their foreheads. I tell them to imagine the water cleansing all the dark places in the minds and hearts, anything that is not ‘of you’. I tell them to imagine that this pure, heavenly water is rinsing all the negative and heavy parts weighing them down, out of their bodies and giving them back to the earth. With this mutual exchange, the Earth can take these things we don’t want or need and turn it into nourishment. In turn, we can ask of the Earth any strength or nourishment for our bodies, minds, and souls that may need. 09 MARCH 2019 | ISSUE 03

Luckily, there are many ways to clear your aura of emotional baggage, or blocked energy.

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This is a great way to cleanse the aura, and I find that afterward my students are filled with a calm and refreshed energy. As a protective gesture, try and work toward managing your empathy. Being empathetic toward others is a wonderful thing—but sometimes we feel the emotions of others to a fault. It’s best to keep in mind the practice of not letting ourselves become so empathetic that we feel others’ pain at the expense of our own mental wellbeing. “If you are sensitive to the aura energy of others, you can accidentally pick up their negative energies, which can affect your own aura.” This happens to me often. A way to avoid it is this: “Recognize when the emotions that you feel belong to someone else.” “Identify that emotion and acknowledge it, but remind yourself that it is their anger, not yours,” the article suggests. This is a surefire way to protect our own auras, while making the effort to be open and understanding with others in an attempt to help them heal as well.

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HELEN'S BRIDGE TRUE CASES The evil that surrounds the bridge comes from Hell. Demons are said to walk around that area and have been conjured there. They can be coaxed to come out but this is a terrible decision as no one will survive an encounter with a demon. The evil from this area also seeps into the objects that pass along the bridge.

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Helen’s Bridge a place that is writhing with more paranormal evil than the rest of Asheville, NC. The name comes from a young woman who had just lost her child and decided that she had nothing left to live for and tied a noose around her neck and jumped off of the bridge to hang herself. This is the event that gave the bridge one of its many spirits and its sad name.

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Most common what happens when people visit the bridge is that they will get in their car either the next day or while they are in the bridge and the battery will be dead, even if it is a new battery, or some other car trouble will go on rendering the vehicle completely useless and unable to move from where it is parked. This happens for a few reasons, people hanging around the area too long trying to get a glimpse of Helen walking back to the bridge or anything else that is patrolling the area and whatever is there will disable the car. Or the visitors to the bridge can be disrespectful and leave trash and call out to the demons and the evil in the area. If this is done the=en the challenges will be met by the demons in the area and the disrespectful visitors will not have a good time on the bridge or after their time on the bridge. When visiting the bridge everyone is told to be respectful and to not challenge the demons and the evil that lurks around. They are also told no to stay very long as their presence also provokes the evil in the area and it will come to them whether they are respectful or not and they will not be able to leave with their vehicle. Helenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bridge is hands down one of the most dangerous haunted areas in North Carolina and perhaps even the world with the evil things that lurk out in the area taking victims whenever they can.

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CRIMSON TIDE GHOSTS REAL CASES Most of the country’s college football fans either LOVE the Tide or HATE them. For purposes of this article, I will refrain from expressing my own opinion.

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To anyone who even remotely follows college athletics, if you hear “Roll Tide Roll” you know exactly who and what it means. University of Alabama. More specifically, Bama sports. And more likely than not, it’s associated with Bama football. The university and the team are quite famous. After all, they won seventeen national football championships.

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Ghosts! Since its inception in 1831, the hallowed campus grounds in Tuscaloosa, Alabama have experienced trauma and bloodshed (and not always related to football rivalries gone bad). In the early days, it was common for gun fights to break out on campus. Later on, the university was turned into a military academy to train Confederate soldiers for the Civil War. After the war, it reverted back into an institute of higher learning, but violence still marred the land and gave rise to numerous reports of paranormal activity. The Little Round House, also known as Jason’s Shrine, was a cadet guardhouse during the Civil War. Three Union soldiers still reside there after their grisly murders. The legend tells that two Confederate cadets stayed behind while the Union army burned the buildings on campus. One cadet was accosted by Union soldiers looking for whiskey. He directed them to the cadet guardhouse where the other cadet ambushed the soldiers and killed them. The soldiers’ boots can be heard stomping around inside the building. When someone ventures in to check out the cause of the sounds, no one is there.

The shadow of a young woman who committed suicide by lighting herself on fire still wanders the 13th floor of Tutwiler Hall. Others experience feelings of foreboding and of being watched in the basement of the same building. The tramping of horse hooves can be heard throughout the main floor of Smith Hall, located on the Quad, where there is an exhibit of its namesake, Dr. Eugene Allen Smith’s carriage. It is accompanied by the sounds of disembodied horses neighing and horse whips cracking. There are also reports of voices, and when someone investigates, they find desks that had been arranged neatly just moments ago to be in disarray. The room where this phenomenon occurs happens to be a former boiler room where a boiler explosion killed several students. Marian Gallaway, former theater director, still roams the Gallaway Theater in Rowand-Johnson Hall. Some theater students claim a person can call forth Mrs. Gallaway by standing center stage (alone) and asking her, “How’s my blocking, Mrs. Gallaway?” Her ghost also voices her displeasure if students are not working hard enough by slamming doors to get their attention. One student claims that after the opening night performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the main theater, one student came up to a group gathered in front of Mrs. Gallaway’s portrait.

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But do you know what else Bama is famous for?

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He remarked that he saw Mrs. Gallaway in the audience and she appeared to thoroughly enjoy the show. When the group laughed and stated that was impossible, he pointed to the portrait and affirmed that was the woman he saw in the audience. He was shocked to discover Mrs. Gallaway had been deceased for some time. An interesting side note is rampant speculation that Mrs. Gallaway was the inspiration for the character of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ play, A Streetcar Named Desire.

Following college football as closely as I do, I am surprised to find there has not been a reported sighting of the ghost of the legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. If anyone happens to come across him, please let me know. There are a hundred plus football coaches that would like to pick his brain for game day strategy. Perhaps that is how Nick Saban is such an amazingly winning coach – is he channeling the Bear? Whether you love Bama or hate Bama, one thing is clear – even death can’t stop Bama faculty, or students from hanging around campus for their Crimson Tide.

What’s a college ghost story without a haunted library? The University of Alabama is no different. The Gorgas Library is still overseen by its namesake, Amelia Gorgas. She mostly haunts the fourth floor, so much so that the elevators have been programmed to NOT stop on that floor. However, students in the library late at night have experienced the misfortune of the elevator stopping and the door opening on the fourth floor.

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Mrs. Gorgas is not alone though. Her husband, former University President and Confederate General, Josiah Gorgas, haunts the Gorgas House where he lived and died. Reports include claims of the sound of his sword banging against the walls. Most colleges have a center of campus, commonly called a quad. Well, Bama students are wise to avoid the Quad on foggy nights. If one is unlucky enough to have to traverse the Quad on such a night, walk fast. Otherwise, you may bear witness to up to three ghosts – a Confederate soldier in full military garb of a Commandant, and two deceased professors whose bodies were cremated and their ashes scattered across the campus.

EDINBURGH - REAL CASES These range things as cinematic as ghosts on the hallways of the castle to things as mundane as spirits roaming the streets at night.

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Edinburgh the former seat of Robert the Bruce, home to several festivals, a lot of Scottish culture, and more ghosts than can be counted. There are stories from all over the town about the strange happenings that go on in the streets, in homes, and businesses that can’t be explained by logic or anything normal.

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The most famous spot for hauntings is definitely the Heart of Midlothian. Located just outside St. Gile’s Cathedral and on the royal mile the Heart is where a prison stood and hit was the exact location of where the executions took place. To show disdain for the people who were executed there citizens of Edinburgh still spit on the Heart as they walk by. But, during the night and on certain days walking by the Heart the wails of prisoners can still be heard; the pleas of the damned still resonate on the spot where they were executed.

Though the downtrodden were not the only ones that frequented the Vaults. Predators went there to take those that found shelter there and disrupted what some saw as a safe place for them to escape everything that was going on in the city. While steeped in history Edinburgh is one of the most haunted cities in Scotland. Go there and take time to see the sights but to also see the spirits that roam the streets and learn of some of the darker history the city has to offer you.

On the more mundane side of hauntings of the city is the spirit of a man who walks down the street. Not many people have seen him, but many visitors and locals have heard him behind them. The “tap tap tap” of his cane on the sidewalk or down an alley behind anyone walking giving them the feeling that someone is behind them and following them. When they turn around they see no one leading them to think that they just thought up the entire incident but there are too many stories and they have too many similarities for anyone to have just imagined the incident when it happens to them.

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The last place to be particularly haunted in Edinburgh are the vaults. Resting under South Bridge death lurked around there. During the 18th and 19th centuries overpopulation became a large problem in the city as well as outbreaks of Cholera. This caused people to seek refuge from everything in the Vaults that once served as the first supermarket for Edinburgh.

MEDITATION AND GHOSTS - REAL CASES Naturally, it makes me wonder whether meditation could actually heighten one’s sixth sense. After all, you are technically working to open your third eye when you meditate, therefore activating an extra sense or sight.

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As someone who has begun meditating regularly, I’ve noticed my intuition and awareness in general getting more sensitive. I actually feel that it’s already easier to sense people’s emotions and auras.

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The question remains, does meditation make us more sensitive or aware of spiritual presences around us? Many people have reportedly experienced an ‘unexpected opened door’ after meditating. They have heard whispers and sometimes even had supernatural appearances within their homes. It’s an understandable thing to be worried about. After all, not everyone wants a sudden surge of entities floating around in their houses. According to seekghosts.blogspot.com, “This kind of experience happens because when a person meditates it changes the vibration of their brain waves. The increase in these vibrations narrows the gap between the dimension humans live in and the next.” Knowing this is a possibility, should we continue meditating? Should we be afraid of opening up our connection to the spiritual dimension? Seekghosts says no. “Most of these encounters with the “other side” are harmless and for the few that are not they can be controlled.” Apparently, some people actually meditate for this very reason—to be able to interact more easily with the spirit realm.

“Most who have encountered spirits as a result of meditation share that the experience becomes less scary and more just a matter of whether they want to acknowledge it or ignore it.” The post goes on to explain that in a rare instance in which a negative energy is encountered, it’s best to keep in mind that you still have control on the direction things go. Even dark energies respect free will, so ignoring any negativities you come across is the best way to avoid an interaction. Telling yourself it simply cannot harm you takes away any power it would’ve otherwise gained. So, rest easy, folks. It sounds to me like it’s pretty easily controlled by our own interests and desires. Don’t let any fears of the supernatural get in the way of self-centering and exercising control over your mental space. Meditation yields so many benefits, and should be viewed in a positive light. Just like most things in life, it seems that you get what you put out there. Seek out positivity and maintain a happy energy, and that’s probably what you’ll find awaiting you. 19 MARCH 2019 | ISSUE 03

What all comes with this practice? When working with energies and meditation, it’s always a good idea to be aware of any risks and side effects.

OPERA AND JEWELS REAL CASES The Albemarle Opera House opened in 1908 and closed seven years later in 1915, shortly before the greatest flu pandemic of the twentieth century struck in 1917. Although vacant, many report that the building is not exactly uninhabited.

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Although closed for over one hundred years, the building that housed the grandest theater in Albemarle, North Carolina has also experienced the highest level of paranormal activity in Albemarle.

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A lady in a white flowing dress graces the stairs going up to the balcony. Shadows of people dance across the stage. Voices of a little boy and a little girl can be heard in the balcony, with the little boy confiding that he likes to play tricks – according to the owner of the building, the little boy does just that quite often. Locked doors unlock themselves and open, much to the chagrin of folks looking for privacy in the bathroom of the jewelry store located on the first floor of the building. The sound of footsteps in the balcony and in other parts of the building when no one is there. Once during a rare performance in the opera house for the local historical society, a female singer felt someone brush against her on stage while she was singing. All point to one conclusion…the Albemarle Opera House is one of the most haunted sites in North Carolina. The building was constructed in 1907 with the opera house opening in 1908, along with Huneycutt’s Furniture Store, Starnes Jewelry, and Hall’s Pharmacy. All of the various businesses there have experienced some form of paranormal activity.

The opera house’s claim to fame is that Thomas Edison visited the theater and provided a music concert with his first phonograph. The current owner, and grandson of the original builder and owner of the property, confirmed that there was a musical performance using one of Edison’s phonographs, but there was no evidence that Thomas Edison himself was present at the time. Regardless, the building hosted traveling shows, including magic shows, plays, and even comedic operas until it closed in 1915. However, the building itself has its own intriguing history. During the pandemic of the Spanish influenza from 1917 until 1918, there were so many deaths that Huneycutt’s was used as a funeral home. And when space ran out, they cut out a wall from the mortuary and used the theater as a morgue. Some of the deceased awaited burial while stored just off the stage of the opera house.

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An apparition of a tall man in a dark suit and hat appears on the stage and in the balcony of the old opera house.

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Several paranormal investigators have been in the Albemarle Opera House. They’ve captured orbs on camera (a common indicator of spirits), picked up sound waves in response to questions, and experienced up to thirty degree drops in temperature. The most convincing experiment by a paranormal group consisted of twelve flashlights on the stage. While the investigators sat over sixty feet away and asked questions, the flashlights were turned on and off in apparent responses to their queries.

No one has ever complained of sensing anything evil in the building. Several paranormal investigation groups have conducted hunts there, and none reported anything malevolent. The building owner also stated that, at least in his experience, all the ghostly encounters have been associated with the opera house, nothing to do with the vast number of deaths from the flu. This was also the conclusion of the paranormal groups who have visited the opera house. The Albemarle Opera House may not be open for business any longer, but that doesn’t seem to stop the musical performances. If you’re lucky, you may catch a ghostly concert walking by the building, having some good food in the attached restaurant, or perusing the sparkling jewelry in Starnes Jewelry Store.

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According to the building owner, one of the fun aspects of working in the building has been the playing of music from the vacant theater. Albemarle citizens report you can hear the band from October until March, what would have been a typical season for musical performances in the theater. The ghostly happenings aren’t limited to the opera house. Disembodied voices can be heard in Huneycutt’s Furniture Store and sometimes items move by themselves. Employees refuse to be alone in the building at night. The jewelry store computers and other electronics cut off and on; store merchandise (and personal belongings) are moved and hidden; and the store clocks chime in unison, but not on the hour. Hall’s Pharmacy was turned into a restaurant where employees and patrons claim items move on their own. An apparition similar to the well-dressed man in the opera house has been reported to be seen in the restaurant as well. When an employee followed the man upstairs to tell him no one was allowed there, he found the space empty.

ASTRAL PROJECTION - CAN IT BE DONE? - REAL CASES Then, upon hearing the term, it actually clicked that I had heard it before in “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” on Netflix. I know, don’t judge.

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First off, what is astral projection? If you’re unfamiliar with the term, don’t feel bad. I was completely in the dark about the name for this concept until couchsurfing with someone who had a whole book in his house dedicated to it, called “Journeys of the Spirit”.

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They were talking about one of the main characters leaving his body by way of a spell, and transporting his soul somewhere else (he was under some kind of supernatural house arrest).

In the third, General Patton sees visions of his death in past lives. It is said that he could remember battles he fought in throughout history. He believed profusely in reincarnation, even as a child.

Therefore, astral projection means to project one’s soul outside the body. Now you’re all caught up!

He was said to have had a very strong “sixth sense” when it came to military intelligence, often being two steps ahead of the coming information. The stories his visions procured are an interesting read to say the least.

The three kinds were: Charles A. Lindbergh’s out of body experience, Ernest Hemingway’s near-death-experience, and General George S. Patton’s recollection of previous lives. Knowing two of the three names, the stories obviously attracted my attention. It was electrifying, reading their words. I’ve heard people claim this kind of thing before, but to read the recounts of historically significant and famous people on the matter was powerful. It became more difficult to write the stories off as unreliable—these were people we read about in grade school. These particular stories, of course, were left out. There are eerie similarities in the first two scenarios. They both claim to have viewed their own bodies from above, their essences floating.

Patton’s experiences classify as “soul traveling” since his spirit has apparently moved through multiple different bodies and lifetimes by way of reincarnation. So, is astral projection real? It is possible? What causes such experiences with some people, and why does it never happen to others? “The Trigger of Astral Projection: Sylvan Muldoon's Research” on www.neardeath.com gives some powerful insights and scientific connections. “Astral projection is closely related to the out-of-body experience (OBE), near-death experience (NDE), lucid dreaming, and even remote viewing,” the site says. “The difference between them is that astral projection is a consciously induced OBE,” it goes on to explain. “Such OBEs provide an excellent argument when it comes to evidence for the survival of consciousness.”

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The book I skimmed at my host’s home was pretty interesting—it laid out a few different instances when people throughout history have reported experiencing three types of astral projection.

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Therefore, astral projecting is the act of consciously doing what happened accidentally to our three story tellers. What’s more mind-blowing is that Muldoon actually developed a method for astral projection that he himself used many times throughout his life.

If these people could prove that they’ve separated their souls from their physical bodies, especially the reincarnation stories of General Patton, then this could solidify the unproven, yet widespread belief that our consciousness indeed survives beyond death.

He even connects it to sleep paralysis. He explains how the two phenomena are similar, and that sleep paralysis is simply a shortened version of an OBE.

It could shed some light on what actually happens when we die, and where we go. Of course, the theory remains unproven because the people who have experienced this have no way of proving it, do they? However, contemporary research continues.

This makes sense, as the former happens when the mind awakens before the body. It seems, therefore, that it can happen to people automatically, and it can also be purposefully done following certain steps.

Scientists and physicians have prompted further discussion on the topic. Brazilian physician Dr. Waldo Vieira actually founded the International Academy of Consciousness (IAC) to promote more research.

“Astral projection can be induced by: OBE techniques, surgical operations, brain traumas, sensory deprivation, near-death experiences, psychedelic drugs, extreme stress, dreams, sleep paralysis, and forms of Astral projection and proof of its existence meditation among others.” has yet to be reached, but the journey continues... This all brings us into a whole different, and much larger conversation, but one that is no less intriguing. The ‘survival of consciousness’ topic is exactly the train of thought I had as I read these recounts in “Journeys of the Spirit”.

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CHEROKEE SPIRITUALITYREAL CASES something very mundane like seeing an extraordinary deer from far away or something as earth shattering as an encounter with a bear.

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The Cherokee are a very spiritual people like all Native American peoples. Their faith in the world and nature guided their society and how they worked for generations. Their spirits in their mythos were based on the animals they lived around. A meeting with a spiritual creature could range from -

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The meanings were just as varied as the encounters, but the most important part of it is that every encounter no matter how mundane or extreme had a meaning and it was to be heeded. The more mundane the encounter the smaller the message was for the person. If they saw a spirit animal out. In the woods but did not get to interact with it the meaning was more along the lines of a small change coming in their life. Though not extreme that did not mean that these encounters were in any way a common occurrence. The type of animal would also show what trait of that animal the person needs at the time. The Cherokee believe that animals rarely come to us to give us. Lesson in power but come to us instead to give us a gift. Animals remind the Cherokee that they are part of the Earth because they are animals themselves. This is one of the animals most valuable gifts. It is a deep understanding of the world and an understanding that while an animal and a human may look very different they are not different in the eyes of nature.

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This spirituality lead Cherokee culture and can still be experienced on the reservations. It is a great way to learn about the power of nature and the spirits that surround us that want to give gifts rather than the ones that mean us harm.

GHOST MEMORIES FICTION She doesn’t answer. Instead, she continues staring out the window pane. Her brow is furrowed—as though she’s trying very hard to figure something out.

“Coffee, Mom?”

“Mom?”

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Joan sits at the windowsill in her living room, staring out the dirty glass. A middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair hobbles into the room behind her.

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“I’m waiting for Emma,” she replies with frustration. “She should’ve been here by now.” Joan’s son sighs, lowering his head a little. He slowly walks over to where his mother sits, and gently helps her up. She obliges reluctantly, craning her neck to continue peering out the glass.

A few more months pass by. Joan’s husband is now retired and caring for her full-time. He walks into the living room. He resembles their son almost identically, but twenty years his senior, and with all gray hair and no black. “Hey honey, you wanna go for a walk? The weather’s pretty nice today.”

“Come on, let’s sit over here and watch a movie. Dad should be back in a few hours.”

“Okay, maybe Emma wants to come, too.” Joan’s husband hesitates.

“From where?”

“Honey, Emma’s not here.”

“He had to drive a truck load to Texas, remember? This is his last run, before he retires. Then, he can be home with you every day.”

“Yes, she is.” “What do you mean? Where?” “She’s sitting over there, by the window.”

“Why would she do that? That’s horrible.” Her son patiently explains that the character is jealous and going through emotions she doesn’t know how to control yet. “You and Alice raised Emma so well, she would never do anything like that,” Joan said proudly. “No, she wouldn’t. You’re probably right,” he replied, his voice breaking. “Where is she? Don’t you think she wants to watch this movie with us?” “I think she’s seen it already, Mom.”

Joan looks at her husband as if he’s losing his mind, with a tinge of worry in her voice. He looks to the window and sighs. “Sweetheart, Emma can’t be here. I know you want her to be, but she can’t.” “Why not?” Joan frowns. “Emma died…ten years ago. Remember? She’s gone.” Joan pauses, seeming unsure. She looks back and forth between her husband and the dirty window, sunshine still managing to stream through. “Well, I don’t know about that, because she’s right here. She’s not gone,” she says matter-of-factly.

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The two watch “Atonement”, a favorite of Joan’s. She asks her son questions throughout, demanding to know the reason for the main character’s motives.

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“You don’t even know who I am some days now, but you’re so sure that Emma’s here. In this room.” Joan nods, eyeing her husband as if he’d just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. “Alright, I tried. Tell her to put on her shoes, then.” The two walk along the sidewalk, leaves crunching under their feet with each step. Between them remains a wide gap. Joan walks happily alongside her husband, the gap still between them, without a worry in the world.

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WTF IS AN NDE? REAL CASES Many talk of a ‘white light’. Others describe actually coming into contact with who they thought to be Jesus and God. Some even claim to have seen the gates of heaven.

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NDE’s, or near-death-experiences have been long reported throughout history. People of all ages, races, and backgrounds have claimed to have had a sort of consciousness and memory while being inches away from death.

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“Some themes tend to pop up again and again in reports of near-death experiences — bright lights, out-of-body experiences, an overwhelming sense of love (although not always),” Lucia Peters observes in a Bustle article. The post goes on to list out a few different stories involving NDE’s, things those people who nearly died said when they ‘came back’, and some of what they saw, or experienced while gone. Most NDE’s seem to be positive and leave the person filled with gratitude, understanding, and peace. Not all of them are this way, though. “…according to the International Association of Near-Death Studies, 9 to 23 percent of people have had negative NDEs characterized by fear, void, emptiness, pain, and even nonexistence,” Michael Shermer writes for Bigthink.com article. “Instead of going to heaven, some of these people find themselves in hell.” Those words ring eerily in one’s ears. Phyllis Atwater, NDE researcher reports that “the hellish NDEs are experienced by “those who seem to have deeply repressed guilt, fear, and anger, or those who expect some kind of punishment after death."

Perhaps, then, the individual experience of each person differs based on their mental expectations. If that’s the case, does this mean it’s all ‘in their heads’? Cardiologist Pim van Lommel reports that 12 percent of his 344 cardiac arrest patients who were successfully revived had NDEs. “In his book Consciousness Beyond Life he echoes what most people believe—NDEs are evidence of the survival of the mind without a brain.” A famous NDE story that occurred in 1984 tells of a woman in Seattle who suffered a heart attack. After suffering another cardiac arrest in ICU, she was resuscitated and explained how she left her body. Floating above, she watched the medical staff work on her. She moved around the hospital where she saw a shoe sitting on the ledge of a third floor window. “Her ICU social worker says she went up to the third floor and found a shoe on a window ledge: ‘The only way she could have had such a perspective was if she had been floating right outside and at very close range to the tennis shoe.” It makes sense to acknowledge that these experiences may be very real, but to also keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily prove a life after death.

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What do the consistencies (or inconsistencies) in their stories stem from? What do they all mean? Does any of this prove anything about what actually happens when we die?

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“Many lines of evidence converge to support the theory that NDEs are produced by the brain and are not stairways to heaven,” Shermer observes. He goes on to utilize David Hume’s maxim as a judgment call for the likelihood of the stories being ‘proof’ of anything. “And we can ask ourselves what's more likely: that NDE accounts represent descriptions of actual journeys to the afterlife or portrayals of experiences produced by brain activity?” The phenomena that are near-death experiences continue to strike mystery and uncertainty across the world. It seems, we may not find out until it’s our time.

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SHADOW CREEK AND AN OPEN DOOR - FICTION Relentlessly Casey's parents held a deep dark secret that no-one knew about, not even Casey.

Left alone with constant despair by her parents, Casey Andrews managed to live a happy life at Shadow Creek, always living life to the fullest.

Ironically she started to hear strange noises from the basement which left her in dismay. When confronting her parents to what she believed was very strange, her parents denied hearing or seeing any apparitions.

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She was only thirteen, characterized by her amazing personality yet secluded and locked inside the only home she knew.

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As the days went by, strangely Casey began to hear footsteps, she saw shadows of disappearing figures sweep by her and felt coldness upon her skin. Her heart raced as she waited in the dark silence and slow footsteps getting closer and closer.

The cold air, the faceless figures and the thumping footsteps came to light, as I felt an evil presence beside me on the sofa the smell of death also submerged and right before Casey's eyes her parents made their presence known.

Suddenly she heard thumping steps rushing towards her from behind and as Casey turned around, there standing in front of her was an ambush of men.

As they stared at Casey with the haunting eyes of evil, the Paranormal within them wrapped around Casey's body and ruthlessly they became one.

Disguised with black masks of terror and holding razor sharp knives and guns, was a Home Invasion. Paralyzed in fear and wondering where her parents were at this point and why she was alone was mind boggling.

One entity of a Paranormal force that would soon create a rampage against the masked men that dwelled within their home.

A cold chill that swept the frigid air, the faceless figures moving back and forth, the sounds of footsteps shuffling against the wooded floor and then the smell of death. Sitting still as these men continued to threaten her life and burglarize the home, the unimaginable happened.

Cranking the gun and engaging to shoot with fear the spirt carved evil within his neck decapitating him without any moment of screams. Casey's father continued to dwell the home until he saw the second man involved in this horrific crime, without hesitation as the man turned the dial to the safe he could feel a sudden cold freeze and sharp nails scratching up and down his neck. 35 MARCH 2019 | ISSUE 03

Agonizing in fear in this nerve wrecking moment, Casey drowned herself silently and nervously as the men held a knife to her neck and threatened to end her life. Gagged and bound, rakishly the men went from room to room ransacking all they could touch. Crazed by these Psychopathic and Sadistic Killers, Casey suddenly felt that coldness lurking upon her.

Supernatural horror hung over Shadow Creek as it tip-toed from room to room, until menacingly the Paranormal was faced with one of the three men involved in the Home Invasion.

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As he rapidly approached to grab his knife his eyes burned from the inside out as blood tears rushed down his face, the razor sharp nails slashed his neck and cut him free of the belongings of Casey's family. Anger surrounded the house as the ceiling opened up and the blood just poured out onto the floor. As the third man heard all of he commotion, it was enough to know that he was not welcomed in this house of horrors. Trying to make his way to the front door was his last mistake. Casey was on the other side waiting for revenge towards what belonged to her and her family as she grabbed the man’s gun and rammed it into his mouth. The man stared back horrified with fear as his palms sweated in agony and Casey howled forcefully into his face exposing her fangs of death as she blew out his brains. Protecting one another was always what Casey Andrews was all about, she loved Shadow Creek and for her it was a day unlike any other. She lived life to the fullest but never underestimated the power of what was passed onto her. The Paranormal within.

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COLEMAN AVENUE FICTION Call it superstition, but I call it the beginning of a very frightful and unimaginative Supernatural and Paranormal experience of the unknown presence. As the unforeseen shadows of entity stared at me through the shattered glass, I had bonechilling quivers within knowing that there would be no resolution or an ending.

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Darkness loomed over my residence at 793 Coleman Avenue as the evil presence entered in a threatening and terrifying way. Feelings of solitude and gloomy existences crept within, leaving a paralyzed fear of dismay. They say that one receives seven years of bad luck when a mirror breaks.

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One could usually feel as if someone was standing behind you, but at the given moment while sitting at my desk, I had the dreadful feeling that someone was.

One chilling evening my daughters Veronice and Carly approached me with what seemed to be one of the most repulsive stories I had ever heard.

Afraid and terrified to look back, I just stood still for a few moments and continued to work.

Stating that while they were in the game room of our house, they looked up and seen a little boy walk from behind the bar through the kitchen and straight into the garage.

When out of the blue an unearthly feeling of a chilling Phenomenom was standing behind me. My heart felt as if someone was pushing down on my head with extreme force.

Not only did this sound bizarre, but they both stated that the boys face was smudged, almost as if his face was erased. At this point I did not know what to think. Thinking that maybe their imaginations were on overdrive or they just wanted to scare me as a practical joke.

A fast palpatating heartbeat started to pound inside my chest, as I stood still with dreadful horror upon me. Alone and afraid in that heart stopping moment I began to walk backwards with my eyes closed so I wouldn't be able to see what was there.

My anxiety levels were very high as I slowly tip-toed into the game room with a look of horror on my face. Maintaining the chilling and creepy feelings to myself, slowly I walked in checking behind the curtains and the wet bar. Constantly I assured myself that there were no such things as ghosts and my daughters were just making this story up. Two weeks passed by and everything seemed like that of normal, until one day I was working from home late at night on my computer.

Truly believing that there was an eerie sinister evil that lurked within my home had me vigilant for my life and my three children. Another few weeks came and went and the third incident took place. It was a cold, dark, gloomy and rainy night with booming sounds of thunder. While doing laundry in the garage; Veronice, Carly and T.J. kept me company. This was a usual typical weekend for us all. In the bedroom as I folded clothes, I could hear my three children calling my name.

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For my three children it was a hair-raising macabre as well to experience and see shadows of spectered apparitions.

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Waiting until I finished folding laundry before acknowledging what was soon to unfold as a Paranormal Entity, I hear my children yelling my name again.

At 3:00 a.m. I heard loud screams coming from my daughter's bedroom, as I rushed to their bedside, my youngest daughter Veronice was crying and buried in fear.

Approaching the garage door as it was ajar, I see Veronice, Carly and T.J. huddled in a corner with their faces as white and pale as a ghost.

Shockingly she told me that as she slept she was awakened to noise and movement in her bed.

Paralyzed with such a revolting, ghostly and eerie experience, they asked me why I was sitting on the floor in front of the garage door while laying my face on my knees.

Throwing herself on my shoulder and hardly unable to breathe, she stated that upon opening her eyes there was a man sitting at the edge of her bed with dark black eyes and long black hair and big sharp teeth.

Stating that they called out my name several times and I didn't answer, I just got up and Putting his pointer finger over his lips as to walked away very slowly with my head letting her know not to make any noise, down. then he opened the window and left.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, I nervously grabbed my children and cautiously headed for the front door as I trembled with panic and fear. When unlocking my vehicle I made sure Veronice, Carly and T.J. were in the back seat as we drove away distressed from what appeared to be a house of horror with unusual, unknown and supernatural events. After driving for a few hours it seemed that my only choice at the time would be to stay with my parents for a few days until things calmed down a bit.

At this point I figured that she had a very bad nightmare considering what we had all been through, so I scratched her back until she feel asleep. Morning came and the situation still laid heavy on my mind. Creating a reenactment of these bizarre Paranormal happenings that had occurred to myself and children, I suddenly remembered that the night before I had locked all the windows with the hinges. Rushing over to my daughters bedroom, I was terrified to find their window unlocked and at this point I knew deep within my soul that what my daughter experienced was not a nightmare but the Paranormal Beast.

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Assuring my children that I was nowhere near the kitchen or the garage door, my adrenaline just rushed vividly through my body, as I felt that this was the worst nightmare I was in.

TELEKENESIS FICTION My name is Jason Reed. 40

Having Telekinesis powers was something I was born with and beyond my control. Ruthlessly I kill and engage to destroy everything in an unknown and archaic way.

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Terribly horrified to fall asleep and panicstricken over the most revolting and petrifying nightmares that I experience every night, I fight to stay awake for I could see, hear, touch, taste and smell the evil I engage to people.

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While awake during the day I strangely live a different life, but as the time ticks away and the moon comes out shining upon the night, I slip into the Abyss.

An incontrollable rage entered within my soul as I laid in bed scared and fearful of the strange yet bizarre behavior that took upon me.

Thinking that this is a trick of the imagination is far from my realization.

Doing everything in my power to be able to stay awake, alone and afraid I continued my day as usual but cautiously avoiding any mishaps due to the burns I inflicted upon myself.

There I rose from the concrete floors staring silently beyond the hidden obstacles in the night. Strangely all the grim horror that I caused while in my nightmares, I could actually feel inflicting upon my merciless body as well. Unable to maintain self-control, I walked down a road and I could see a gas station ahead and people all around. There were two men arguing with one another. Beyond my self-control my eyes looked up to the power lines that hovered over the store. Within my mind I used my thoughts to swing the power lines onto the pumps which in turn caused an explosion, killing many people in a dreadful and vicious way. Walking back and forth wreaking havoc upon a town called Lionsville, all I could smell was fire as the ashes fell upon my face and the taste of smoke left a choking stench within my soul.

Sitting on the ledge of my window I stated into the night and wondered why my life was born so selectively tangled in a web of endless yet violent viciousness. Having telekinetic energy gave me the bizarre ability to ruthlessly destroy victims in a vicious way. Before realizing it my body drifted into a deep rem sleep, only to fall into another nightmare of stricken horror. Feeling a wave of emotion and using all of my sense, a premonition allowed me to hear a massive car pileup that would soon unfold into destructive death. Walking towards the inevitable, using my telekinetic powers watching the traffic lights sway back and forth forcefully, I moved the lights within my mind so that they would detach themselves and fall onto traffic. 41 MARCH 2019 | ISSUE 03

Instead I wake up within my nightmares and cause destruction in a merciless way.

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One by one the cars slammed into each other in a dangerous way as the victims lay stll in their seats and the silence of death rose out of the cars. Seeing the hidden evil, hearing the screams of the distressed and smelling the collisions of explosion made me taste the blood of my curse. Before long I woke up from this horrific nightmare again only to feel my hips broken and feel the blood gushing from my head. Stuck in a world of a never ending ruthless yet vicious point of no return, I knew that Psychokinesis was driving my mind in motion and deep within my thoughts I would always maintain the Poltergeist within the Beast of my soul.

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WHISPERS - FICTION Unknowingly, Mr. Lee purchased this real estate which lay over a cemetary and a burial ground. I am Corbin Lee's nanny, Brittany.

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Corbin Lee and his family just moved to their new neighborhood on Foxwood Lane. Having a wife and a daughter who both contracted Malaria on a recent trip to Africa was just the beginning of Corbin Lee's nightmare.

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They were the happiest family I ever worked with. Until the day of destiny became them. The Lee family took a vacation to Africa and upon returning to his new home, Ashley suddenly developed a very strong headache with fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. Out of nowhere Corbin Lee grabbed his daughter in an unexpected tremble and Ashley began having seizures and convulsions. Silently Ashley's body became limp and she unexpectedly passed away. Holding his daughters lifeless body and in a state of shocking confusion, all he could think about was how this horrific tragedy could happen to him and his wife Adrienne. They both mourned and wept throughout the night with feelings of sadness, anger and the distress intrigued them both. The Lee's decided to keep Ashley close to them so they buried her in their backyard. Daylight soon approached and Corbin Lee woke up only to find Adrienne dead as well, for the Malaria took a token on their lives.

The feeling of anxiety silently went through his veins as his tears flowed freely down his face. Within days he lost the two most important people in his life and just like that he was alone in a dark place where his heart was frozen with the uttermost pain and the emptiness flowed throughout his body. Day and night he sat by their graves and whispered how much he loved them both. Meanwhile as I stared out the window sharing my deepest sympathies within, I was bewildered and appalled at what I encountered in the house. It was a distant shadow of a Paranormal faceless being with almost a ghost like appearance. Closing my eyes and opening them several times in disbelief and in shock, hoping that this was just my imagination just made the presence even stronger and closer. It was a spine chilling and hair-raising moment of demented fear. A Sinister Phantom of a cold and dark Paranormal with a premonition of death. Paralyzed in fear I tried to slowly head for the door to catch Mr. Lee's attention but as I looked outside, Corbin Lee was nowhere in sight. The house began to make creepy sounds, the walls were cracking, while blood just dripped down the ceilings and onto the walls spelling the words, "Death becomes you."

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Taking care of Adrienne; Corbin Lee's wife and Ashley, the two year old and only daughter of the Lee family has always been a blessing.

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Quickly and apprehensively I ran upstairs and to my dismay Mr. Lee was sitting on the rocking chair of his bedroom.

Where the dark powers lay near the foggy graves and the skeletons were dormitory in their crypts by the bone orchards.

Rocking back and fourth with the creaking of the chair on the wood floors.

There I was, alone in the deep foggy burial ground and cemetery underneath the Lee's house. Walking ever so slowly and unable to breathe because of anxiety and fear within my soul, I came across a tombstone which mysteriously caught my eye and was so mind boggling.

Scared stiff to even come close to having any contact with Mr. Lee was beyond my expectations. Having no idea what to do or where to hide was just a puzzling mystery to me.

The tombstone read: The Lee Family.

Running down the stairs as fast as I could do, I ran to the door and while trying to open it to get out of the house, I could feel movement behind me. With shivers running down my back, I slowly turned around and there standing before my very own eyes was Adrienne, Ashley and Mr. Corbin Lee. The entire room was filled with corpses and was haunted by ghostly appearances. All of the lifeless bone chilling shadows of fear had this house marked for death. As the doors and windows locked, all I could hear were the whispers of the unknown. Soon the house crumbled with a vengeance. Caving into a pile of rubble while sinking into the shadow of death, there I was being sucked into a Catacomb Underground Cemetery.

Corbin Lee, Adrienne Lee and Ashley Lee, almost like a dream or premonition. Continuing to walk in this nightmare all I can hear are ghost whispers and can feel the fog upon my face as the creeking and the rattling of chains continued throughout the night. Disturbingly I came across tombstones, bones, skeletons, coffins and nothing but thick fog. As I continued to walk I tripped over something and when I looked down my heart stopped beating as I gulped my saliva, it was a tombstone with my name upon it and contained the year I was born until the day I died. Suddenly out of nowhere the grave opened up and a hand pulled me down into my own dark grave. Unable to breathe and buried alive, I knew way down deep that this was my destiny to die.

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My adrenaline was pumping fear into my body within as I walked slowly towards Corbin Lee, in one freak moment his whole head and neck turned completely around as if he was possessed and muttered, "Get out, death awaits you!"

NIGHT OF THE GARGOYLES - FICTION Historic statues with bat like wings and the most terrifying look as though they might break from their stone moorings and take flight.

Staring at these phenomenal creatures put me in a fight for flight situation as I could only imagine the outcome of these grotesque monstrous style creatures converting from stone to life-like appearances.

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Indecently set as stone, there laid on top of a tall story building, hideous winged Demons perched high above the city of Pittsburgh.

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It was a cold January winter day in Pittsburgh as I entered my middle school and presented Mrs. Beadle with the historical picture I took of the tall building that held the stone evil creatures. All while staring at this picture, Mrs. Beadle decided to embark in the most notorious school projects I had ever participated in. She stated, "Mary this is good. I never gave thought to it, but the classroom will all participate in creating our own two sculptures of stone Gargoyles to put on top of our school building." Having difficulty swallowing my saliva, I stared at her in dismay, as I never imagined that the classroom would be contributing in creating monuments of evil. Mrs. Beadle assured me and the class that this would be a historic adventure and would be a huge part of our history grade. She paired us into groups, as I always worked side by side with my best friend Hillary. Together we were destined to make our work the best in the class. Hillary and I carved into the clay making, each cut more life-like and recognizable into the existence of evil.

Day in and day out we carved and carved until eventually Mrs. Beadle was ready to fire out these stones of evil in the oven. School was out and all the students headed home unlike a usual day, they hurried home due to the rain. On the other hand, I accidentally left my books and had to return back to the school house. As I approached the school house entrance, I felt a sudden fear enter my body as I tiptoed inside ever so slowly. One breath and one step at a time I walked over to my desk and pulled out one book slowly, cautiously and careful not to make any noise as I felt as if someone was staring at me. Finally grabbing my books I started to walk towards the door when I head a voice calling my name. This was not an ordinary voice but a rather peculiar deep voice almost as voice over narration. Turning around ever so slowly and walking back towards my desk I could hear the voice again, this time it called for my best friend Hillary. As I looked around, and followed this hidden etitity, it led me to the back of the school house where Mrs. Beadle had left the stone winged creatures to dry.

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As I took a picture of these bat-winged Demons, I was apprehensive to bring it to class with me, but felt it was a good idea for a school project.

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In a heart stopping moment the eyes of these stone creatures turned yellow and grew grotesque fangs and knife size nails as his bat wings opened and flapped back and fourth like two winged Demons. There they were with a life-like demonized appearance as they spoke to me. "Mary, why did you sanction us, by taking our picture?" You needed our authority and consent to do so before showing anyone our authority figure. "Now you must pay the price of death along with the others." You have crossed the forbidden line of humanoid life and now I must sentence you to death so you can become us." Ever so scared I struggled with these winged Demons of death, but ironically my body was turning to stone, my nails grew into long and pointed. My arms grew bat wings and my teeth were long fangs of evil. Without a doubt I turned into stone and froze into their world of demonized evil. Morning soon came and all of the students returned to school. Everyone wondered why I had not attended school.

As Mrs. Beadle walked to the back of the school she was in disbelief at what she encountered. Instead of two Gargoyled creations, there were now three. As she approached the dragon stone architectures and stared into their eyes, she to became transformed into this evil nature of grotesque monstrous style creatures. As I saw Hillary coming outside, I fought within my stone walls to free myself from these evil creatue carvings, but it was useless. I was trapped within the soul of the devil. Before long she was also attacked and convicted for sharing their authority figure. One by one, each conversion at a time all the students from Pittsburgh Middle School had become a victim of these Gargoyled creatures resembling dragons and winged Demons. The people of the city of Pittsburgh with higher authority decided to place the Gargoyles on the buildings exterior high above the city to reinforce the idea that evil dwelt outside their school while salvation dwelt within. No-one ever spoke of these evil incidenses again nor were there any pictures taken. Respectfully all the Gargoyles were left alone to lay as stone monuments of evil within with a collection of stone creatures throughout the city and the night of the Gargoyles was always remembered at Pittsburgh Middle School.

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Walking step by step and inches at a time, I soon stood directly face to face with the project we all worked so hard on as a group.

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March 2019

THE END: Got questions? Want advertising information? Want to write to us? T.Starnes@EtherealCrack.com