During my high school years, I was employed at a coastal resort for the summer, where I found myself drawn into a quirky and eerie occupation. Inspired by the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, I took up a position in a funhouse, bringing his stories to life. Little did I know, I was about to encounter more than just the echoes of Poe’s tales.
Early on, I noticed peculiar footsteps echoing down the lengthy corridor, abruptly ceasing without a trace. Initially dismissing it as mere coincidence, I carried on with my tasks. But as the days progressed, these enigmatic incidents multiplied, each marked by odd lights, the jingle of keys, and footsteps vanishing into thin air. Whispers of these occurrences began circulating among the staff, infusing the air with a sense of the uncanny.
Amid the whispers, two distinct patterns emerged: the playful Allen and the elusive Edgar. Allen’s antics took on a mischievous charm, as he showered us with light before vanishing into the shadows. Edgar, on the other hand, seemed perpetually restless, pacing the halls, ascending the front stairs, and passing by the haunting graveyard scene.
The second year marked a new arrival—an enigmatic runaway. A bandana she carried became a focus of attention. One day, it inexplicably appeared, double-knotted, in the graveyard scene, despite her belt loop remaining intact. Odd pranks and tricks followed her, harmless yet persistent. As her connections grew, so did the involvement of Edgar and Allen. One chilling day, as she sat engrossed with a guy, a heavy 2×4, secured to bar the door, defied logic and flipped over, striking her.
An intense meditation session revealed visions: the runaway biting a man’s hand, and her hitchhiking perilously, especially in September. Urgently, I conveyed this message to her, pleading with her to avoid hitchhiking during that month. The universe, it seemed, had granted me an ominous insight into her future.
Destiny took its course, as she was invited to a party by an acquaintance. This sinister gathering led to a harrowing incident involving multiple assailants, culminating in a traumatic event that shook her to the core. In September, her decision to hitchhike back from a Grateful Dead concert brought her into the path of the authorities, effectively saving her from further harm.
In the midst of these bizarre events, whispers of an eerie past surfaced, with rumors suggesting that the site had claimed lives during the construction of the original structure a quarter-century earlier. It’s as though the spirits of those bygone workers had lingered, orchestrating their protective intervention when needed most.