The Ghost Hunting Meme

[hauntedasachild]

Maybe you're part of one of those big paranormal research societies that have their own TV show, top of the line equipment, and everything. Maybe you're an aspiring director who's noticed the boom of paranormal TV shows lately and decided to cash in the time is right for your art. Or maybe you and your friends just decided that messing around in someplace that's supposed to be haunted sounded like a fun way to spend an evening, especially when there may or may not be beer involved. Whatever the reason may be, you've decided to go

GHOST HUNTING



Choose your haunting, or let he RNG pick for you:

1. Setting Up: You're on location, and the locals have told you about the place's super creepy history and why it's definitely haunted. It's time to start unpacking your gear and encountering some ghosts. You just noticed that the clouds in the sky are forming an X over the location - just like the electrical tape X's you used to mark locations for your infrared cameras! - so you know you're going to get a lot of activity tonight.

2. YOU GUYS WHAT WAS THAT NOISE: There's no way that was just the building settling, and wind definitely doesn't make a sound like that! Clearly, something paranormal is afoot (a spooky, disembodied foot) here.

3. Era Cues: One of the best ways to draw out ghosts is through the use of stimuli from the era in which they died - so put on some oldschool jazz, light up a cigar, and start cooking some down-home southern cuisine. It's for science!

4. EVP Time: Your completely uncalibrated EMF detector just started spiking, and you may or may not have felt a cold breeze just now, so the spirits must be with you! Switch on that tape recorder and start asking them some questions, and maybe you'll be able to pick their responses out of the background noise (what is a "pareidolia," anyway?)

5. Motion Detector Mayhem: The device you bought to make a horrific racket if anything moves is making a horrific racket, and what could possibly move in an empty, dark room where your teammates totally haven't been except for a ghost? You haven't even seen any huge moths since you began this investigation, so it has to be something paranormal!

6. COME AT ME BRO: Provoking the ghosts is a really good idea. Shouting and posturing at the air like a tough guy makes you look cool, and it's always the best way to-- oh god, did something just scratch you?!

7. The Infrared Camera Just Caught Something: Or maybe it was the ultraviolet camera, or hell, maybe even the regular old visible light camera. Either way, it definitely wasn't one of your teammates sneaking off to take a leak or a smoke without telling anyone else, unlike the last four times, because everyone is finally present and accounted for. Which leaves only one thing it could be...

8. That Object Just Moved!: Despite the fact that you finally wised up and placed the trigger object far away from your camera cords or anything that you could trip over, it just fell over. And that piece of concrete that just landed next to your foot? It totally didn't come from the ceiling - it had to have been thrown by something!

9. Possession: Suddenly, one of your teammates can't quite seem to remember his last name, and is talking about how he'll "scuttle your legs" - or maybe he's talking about how this place fills him with demonic rage, or just acting dumber than usual. Either way, he's obviously been possessed by an entity!

10. Other/Pick One: Choose your own haunting.

Comments

[aviophobia]

We knocked, but no one answered. Sorry!

[He puts his foot on the first step, testing his weight, then begins to pick his way cautiously up.]

Stay to the sides.

[hypospraying]

[She glances at him and gives a nod of agreement, shining her light against the steps so they can see their way up. At the landing, she points the beam of light down the hall at the several rooms.]

Hello? Any soldiers living here back from the war?

[aviophobia]

We'd like to talk to you, if you are.

[A creak, loud and dangerous-sounding. Leonard looks down at the floor in concern, but it didn't come from there. He glances at Christine, points ahead, eyebrows raised.]

[hypospraying]

[Well, that could very well be a "yes," couldn't it? She jerks her head in that direction and starts that way.]

Could you tell us what it was like, please? My friend here needs to be prepared if he's drafted.

[aviophobia]

I'm concerned about ...

[...whatever it was guys in the 40s were concerned about ...]

...most of it?

[hypospraying]

[Christine waits a long moment, listening for any creaks or moans. But there are none. Finally, she slowly moves ahead down the hall, shining her light against the faded wallpaper, noting tiny holes where picture frames once hung. She wonders what the couple looked like. At least at the last place, there had been a portrait.]

Let's go in here.

[aviophobia]

Okay. We're coming in.

[This last part is called into the room, and he pushes the door open, looking around.]

Hello?

[hypospraying]

[Unlike the last house, this one is cleared of furniture, so they're greeted with a chilly, empty room.]

If you're here, can you let us know?

[It's silent for a moment, but then there's a creak in the floorboards and Christine jumps slightly.]

That works. Umm, hello. I'm Christine, and this is Leonard.

[aviophobia]

Thanks for letting us in.

[Way to sound sure about that, Leonard.]

It was really generous of you. Agreeing to talk to us.

[hypospraying]

[Her lips twitch with a smile. Wasn't he against them doing this again, and now he's getting into it?]

Yes, thank you.

[The wind whistles through a crack in the window, making an eerie sound, and then she swears she sees a shadow move against the wall. She gasps, taking a step back.]

Did you see that?

[aviophobia]

[He puts out a hand in front of her as though to protect Christine, eyes darting from side to side.]

Yeah, I did.

Can you step into the light?

[hypospraying]

[It seems either this ghost isn't as willing to talk as the last, or else it can't muster the energy needed, because the shadow disappears, almost like it's evaporating.]

It's okay; we just want to talk. Or are you having trouble communicating?

[There's another creak in the floorboards, followed by another. They're footsteps, she realizes.]

You don't have to show yourself to us if it's too hard. Maybe you could just try speaking instead?

[aviophobia]

[There is another sound, a quiet creak, but it almost sounds like it could be a word. Leonard glances at Christine.]

Sorry?

[hypospraying]

[And she glances back, looking like she has no idea what it said.]

We almost heard you there. Can you try for just a little louder, please?

[aviophobia]

[Another creak, followed by a third.

Fright-ning.]

Lightning? Is that what you said?

[hypospraying]

I think it was "frightening."

[A thoughtful pause.]

Which would answer our question, wouldn't it?

[And now she looks rather somber.]

[aviophobia]

Yeah, I guess that pretty much sums it up.

[He turns back to the empty space.]

Were you always scared?

[hypospraying]

[The sound of the wind through the window crack shifts, almost like the ghost is using it to speak.

Yes, the voice says. Christine bites her lip.]

Then it's good you're home now, and don't have to be anymore.

[aviophobia]

Because you're not scared anymore, right? Now that you're here.

[hypospraying]

[The wind whistles, Christine shivers, and the voice answers, Alone.]

Alone?

[She glances over at Leonard, debating with herself, then says,]

You mean your wife, don't you?

[aviophobia]

Isn't she here?

[There's another creaking, like the word sometimes.]

'Sometimes?'

[hypospraying]

Maybe... we could help you find her?

[It doesn't feel right to Christine that they can't be together all the time. Especially since the wife's life was cut short.]

[aviophobia]

[Leonard flashes Christine a Look, then turns back to the presence.]

Yeah, we're happy to help.

[hypospraying]

[She gives him a shrug. It's not like she can help it. She needs to help people; it's like breathing for her, and if those people are non-corporeal, what of it?]

When you see her, is she usually in the same place?

[aviophobia]

[The creak, the breeze:

Yes.]

Can you tell us where?