Narrator: CHRIS GIBBONS THINKS
HE'S FOUND THE HOUSE OF HIS DREAMS,
BUT IT SOON BECOMES A HOUSE OF HORRORS.
THAT HOUSE, IT'S HIS, AND HE DOESN'T WANT YOU IN IT.
Narrator: AN EVIL SPIRIT INFECTS CHRIS' EVERY WAKING MOMENT.
AND WHEN NIGHT COMES, THINGS TAKE AN EVEN DARKER TURN.
I WOULD HEAR MY DAD SCREAMING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
STOP!
Narrator: TO DEFEAT THE ENTITY,
CHRIS WILL NEED TO SUMMON UNIMAGINABLE STRENGTH
TO SAVE HIS HOME, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS SANITY.
AAH!
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLD WE SEE AND THE THINGS WE FEAR,
THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED,
NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
I ASK FOR WHATEVER LIVES IN THIS CABINET
TO BE RIPPED FROM THE EARTH
AND SENT TO A PLACE WHERE EVIL LIVES!
I ASK FOR WHATEVER LIVES IN THIS CABINET
TO BE RIPPED FROM THE EARTH
AND SENT TO A PLACE WHERE EVIL LIVES!
[ BELL DINGING ]
Kay: YOU GONNA PLAY SOME MUSIC FOR MOMMY?
YEAH.
IS EVERYBODY READY?
YEP.
Narrator: THE GIBBONS FAMILY PLAYS TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC
AT EVENTS IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.
CHRIS, AN ATTORNEY, AND HIS WIFE, KAY,
HAVE FOUR CHILDREN --
ANDREW, SAMUEL, SARA, AND PATRICK.
CHRIS BELIEVES THE BAND IS AN IMPORTANT FAMILY ACTIVITY.
Chris: THE FAMILY BAND PUTS EVERYONE IN A POSITION
WHERE, IN ORDER TO MAKE MUSIC, YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
Narrator: THE FAMILY HAS NO IDEA,
BUT WORKING TOGETHER JUST MAY SAVE THEIR LIVES LATER ON.
THE GIBBONSES HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR OLD HOUSE,
AND CHRIS THINKS HE'S FOUND A PERFECT NEW ONE
IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED HERITAGE HILL.
Chris: HERITAGE HILL
IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HISTORIC DISTRICT.
ALL OF THE HOUSES
HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION.
SO, IT IS TO A DEGREE A STEP BACK IN TIME.
Narrator: THE HOUSE SEEMS TO FIT THE FAMILY'S SIZE REQUIREMENT.
Chris: THE HOUSE WAS LARGE. IT HAD GREAT BONES.
EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE IN PLACE.
IT JUST NEEDED A LOT OF LOVE AND ATTENTION.
COME ON.
IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE
WHEN I'M DONE WITH IT.
I WAS GETTING A HANKERING TO TAKE ON A NEW PROJECT.
Narrator: IT TOOK NINE YEARS TO RENOVATE THEIR OLD HOUSE.
KAY DOES NOT WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER NINE ON THIS PROJECT.
Kay: THE HOUSE NEEDED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
AND THIS WAS A GREAT CONCERN TO ME
'CAUSE I JUST WANTED TO MOVE IN AND GET ON WITH LIFE.
I KNOW THIS IS YOUR DREAM HOUSE, BUT...
[ SIGHS ]
THE KIDS NEED A HOUSE THEY CAN LIVE IN.
Chris: I SAID, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
I'LL GET IT DONE IN A YEAR, IF THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY."
REALLY? NO, WHEN WOULD YOU SLEEP?
I KNEW HE COULD DO IT, 'CAUSE HE'S CRAZY THAT WAY.
IF HE SETS HIS MIND INTO SOMETHING, HE'S GONNA DO IT.
Chris: I MADE THE OFFER THAT DAY TO PURCHASE THE HOUSE.
Narrator: CHRIS WORKS NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS
TO GET THE HOUSE READY TO MOVE IN.
THE ONE-YEAR TICKING CLOCK FOR RENOVATION BEGINS.
A WEEK AFTER BUYING THE HOUSE,
CHRIS IS IN THE BASEMENT,
CLEARING OUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S JUNK.
Chris: THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF THE WORKSHOP MATERIAL LEFT.
I DECIDED TO HANG ON TO SOME OF THE HAND TOOLS,
'CAUSE THEY APPEARED AS THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE USEFUL.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
Narrator: LITTLE DOES CHRIS KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE FORMER OWNER'S POSSESSIONS.
CHRIS WORKS IN THE BASEMENT PAST MIDNIGHT.
HE FEELS SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WATCHING HIM.
Chris: THERE WOULD BE A SENSATION
THAT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WAS KIND OF, LIKE, HANGING OVER YOU.
BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING THERE.
Narrator: CHRIS ATTRIBUTES THE SENSATION TO EXHAUSTION.
Chris: HEY, GUYS!
Narrator: A FEW MONTHS LATER,
THE GIBBONS FAMILY MOVES INTO THE HOUSE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IS IT BIG? IS IT AMAZING?
YEAH.
YOU LIKE THAT, HUH?
IT'S HUGE.
BIGGEST KID, BIGGEST ROOM. [ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: IT'S THE KIDS' FIRST GOOD LOOK AT THE HOUSE.
SARA GIBBONS IS 7 YEARS OLD.
SHE APPEARS IN SHADOW TO PROTECT HER PRIVACY.
Sara: THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE HOUSE,
I REMEMBER I THOUGHT IT WAS HUGE,
LIKE A CASTLE, LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR ROYALTY.
Narrator: THE MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECTS ARE DONE,
BUT CHRIS STILL HAS TO PUT ON THE FINISHING TOUCHES.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
TWO NIGHTS LATER,
CHRIS IS UP LONG AFTER THE FAMILY IS ASLEEP,
RESTORING THE LIVING ROOM TO ITS FORMER GLORY.
I HEAR A BREATH, LIKE A GASP.
I JUST COULDN'T FIGURE OUT
WHAT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE MOVED ENOUGH AIR
TO HAVE UNSECURED THE PLASTIC IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
KAY MAKES BREAKFAST FOR THE CHILDREN.
WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?
UPSTAIRS.
PATRICK?
PATRICK, BREAKFAST!
OKAY.
PATRICK?
MOMMY?
THERE'S MY LITTLE MAN.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME BREAKFAST?
ARE YOU GONNA SET ANOTHER SPOT AT THE TABLE?
ANOTHER SPOT AT THE TABLE?
WHAT, FOR YOUR LITTLE ROBOT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
NO, FOR THE OLD MAN IN MY ROOM.
Kay: MY SON WASN'T REALLY SCARED.
HE JUST LIKE, "HMM. THERE'S A MAN IN THIS ROOM."
WHAT MAN IN YOUR ROOM?
WITH HIS HAIR LIKE THIS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOUNG MAN,
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STOP FOOLING AROUND
AND HAVE YOUR BREAKFAST.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FIGMENT OF HIS IMAGINATION.
I JUST WAS THINKING HE MADE IT UP.
THAT'S WHAT LITTLE KIDS DO.
Narrator: THREE MONTHS AFTER MOVING INTO THE HOUSE,
CHRIS FINISHES THE RESTORATION OF THE LIVING ROOM.
Chris: YOU GUYS READY?
Together: YEAH!
YOU SURE? YEAH!
HERE WE GO!
TA-DA!
WOW.
PHASE ONE OF THE RESTORATION IS COMPLETE.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
CAN WE COME SEE? COME ON IN. LET'S GO.
Chris: THE WORK AND THE RESULT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.
Kay: IT WAS A LOT FOR CHRIS.
HE HAD A FULL LAW PRACTICE.
HE RENOVATED THE HOUSE.
BUT HE MADE IT WORK. HE GOT IT DONE.
AND HE'S THE MAN.
AND I KNEW THAT THE REST OF THE WORK
WAS GONNA BE DONE WITHIN A YEAR.
I THINK I'M GONNA TAKE A NAP.
YOU DESERVE ONE.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
KAY!
KAY?
KAY!
[ GASPING ]
I'M HERE.
WHEN I WOKE UP,
IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NOT THE AFTERNOON.
WHAT HAPPENED?
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
NOTHING. IT WAS...
IT WAS JUST A CRAZY DREAM.
I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF AN ODD DREAM TO HAVE,
BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS CAN COOK UP?
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator: CHRIS IS AFRAID TO EXPLAIN TO KAY
WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAW IN HIS DREAMS.
THEY FALL BACK ASLEEP,
UNAWARE THAT THEIR REAL NIGHTMARE IS JUST BEGINNING.
Narrator: CHRIS AND KAY GIBBONS ARE RENOVATING THEIR DREAM HOME,
UNAWARE THEY HAVE STIRRED UP
MUCH MORE THAN A CENTURY OF DUST.
ON THE SAME NIGHT THAT CHRIS HAS A HORRIFYING NIGHTMARE,
KAY EXPERIENCES HER OWN CHILLING REALITY.
Kay: IT FELT LIKE A HAND WAS ON MY ANKLE
AND MOVING UP MY LEG,
LIKE SOMEBODY WAS RUBBING MY LEG.
WHAT? NO.
I THINK WE HAVE MICE.
I'VE BEEN OVER EVERY INCH OF THIS HOUSE.
WE HAVE NO MICE.
NO, THERE WAS SOMETHING CRAWLING UP MY LEG.
LOOK, THERE'S NOTHING.
COME ON. LET'S GO BACK TO BED.
Kay: IT WASN'T A MOUSE. IT WASN'T CHRIS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE.
SO, WE WENT BACK TO SLEEP, AND THAT WAS THAT.
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER,
CHRIS IS ONCE AGAIN HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING.
I FELT NEAR MY HEAD TAPPING ON MY PILLOW,
AS THOUGH SOMEONE WERE PUSHING ON IT,
YOU KNOW, WITH A FINGER.
YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF THAT AT FIRST.
AND YOU THINK, "WELL, WHATEVER."
AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
Narrator: CHRIS AND KAY HAVE THE SAME PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE
INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, CHRIS AND KAY TRY TO IGNORE
THE BIZARRE INCIDENTS IN THEIR HOME.
CHRIS CONTINUES WORKING HALF-DAYS IN HIS LAW PRACTICE,
RESTORING THE HOUSE IN THE AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS.
[ GLASS BREAKS ]
AH!
UH!
AH!
AAH!
[ GRUNTING ]
AAH!
AS I HIT THE GROUND, I WAKE UP,
COMPLETELY UNNERVED, IN AN UTTER STATE OF PANIC.
I FELT AS THOUGH ALL OF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME.
I FELT COMPLETELY ASSAULTED.
IT WAS, TO ME, A REAL ASSAULT.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT MONTH,
CHRIS IS HAUNTED BY NIGHTMARES OF HIS OWN DEATH
THAT BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN HIS DREAM WORLD AND REALITY.
STOP!
SHH.
GET OUT!
CHRIS SUSPECTS THE RECURRING DREAMS ARE PARANORMAL IN NATURE.
Chris: I CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS AN ENTITY,
A SPIRIT IN MY HOME, THAT DID NOT WANT ME THERE.
AND THE FACT THAT I COULDN'T SEE IT AND COULDN'T FIGHT IT
DIDN'T MEAN I DIDN'T FEEL THE DESIRE TO DEFEND MYSELF.
TO ME, IT WAS AN ASSAULT.
Narrator: CHRIS DOES NOT REVEAL TO HIS CHILDREN
HIS SUSPICIONS THAT THE HOUSE MAY BE HAUNTED.
HE DOES NOT WANT TO SCARE THEM.
[ GUITAR STRUMMING ]
BUT CHRIS' SECRET CAN'T BE KEPT FOR LONG.
[ RHYTHMIC CLAPPING ]
[ STRUMMING STOPS ]
[ CLAPPING STOPS ]
[ CLAPPING RESUMES ]
[ CLAPPING STOPS ]
MOM! MOM, I WAS UPSTAIRS PLAYING THE GUITAR,
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, JUST...
CLAPPING.
ANDREW, SON, COME ON. CALM DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, THE HOUSE IS 100 YEARS OLD.
I MEAN, EVERY NOW AND THEN,
YOU'RE GONNA GET A POP AND A CRACK.
BUT NOT IN PERFECT RHYTHM.
Chris: WE TRIED TO TELL HIM,
"THERE'S A LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE,"
AND HE WAS QUITE ADAMANT
THAT THERE WAS NOT A LOGICAL EXPLANATION
FOR WHAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED.
THE LOGICAL EXPLANATION IS THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED!
KAY AND I HAD REACHED THE POINT
WHERE WE BELIEVED WE WERE DEALING WITH A SPIRITUAL PROBLEM
IN TERMS OF A GHOST.
OUR INITIAL REACTION TO OUR SON WAS TO WAYLAY HIS FEARS.
WE CERTAINLY WEREN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE THE IDEA
THAT THERE'S A GHOST IN THE HOUSE
AND IT WAS IN HIS ROOM HAUNTING HIM.
BUT HE REALLY WASN'T BUYING IT.
Narrator: CHRIS AND KAY REALIZE
THEY CAN NO LONGER TRY TO IGNORE THE STRANGE ACTIVITY.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
I'M WORKING ON IT.
Chris: WE DECIDED I WOULD CALL THE PRIEST,
BECAUSE WE FELT THAT WE HAD A SPIRITUAL PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS
THAT WAS BEYOND OUR CAPABILITY TO DEAL WITH.
HEY, FATHER. HOW YOU DOING?
MORNING, CHRIS.
Narrator: CHRIS FINDS
EVEN BROACHING THE SUBJECT OF A GHOST DIFFICULT.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES AT THE HOUSE.
Chris: I INFORMED HIM THAT THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD
WAS EXPERIENCING ODD OCCURRENCES,
THAT IT WAS DISRUPTIVE TO THE HOUSE.
MY SON, WE'RE ALL SPIRITUAL BEINGS.
BUT GHOSTS AS YOU'RE DESCRIBING THEM,
I'M AFRAID THEY DON'T EXIST.
MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE
FOR YOU TO GO HOME AND PRAY WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Narrator: THE PRIEST DECLINES CHRIS' REQUEST
FOR A BLESSING OF THE HOUSE.
[ SIGHS ] WELL, THANK YOU, FATHER.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
BUT TO BATTLE THE SUPERNATURAL IN HIS OWN HOME,
CHRIS WILL HAVE TO FIND HIS OWN STRENGTH WITHIN
AND UNITE HIS FAMILY IN THE FIGHT.
WE FELT LIKE WE WERE ON OUR OWN.
THIS IS OUR PROBLEM,
AND WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO SOLVE IT.
Narrator: THE GIBBONS FAMILY IS TRYING TO COME TO GRIPS
WITH A DARK SPIRIT THAT SEEMS TO BE HAUNTING THEIR HOUSE.
CHRIS GIBBONS GOES TO THE LIBRARY
AND CHECKS OUT EVERY BOOK HE CAN FIND
ON GHOSTS AND HAUNTINGS.
Chris: I DID WHAT I NATURALLY DO,
WHICH IS TRY TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM,
DEFINE WHAT IT IS I'M DEALING WITH.
WHAT IS THE RISK?
WHAT IS THIS SPIRIT CAPABLE OF? I HAD REALLY NO IDEA.
CAN IT ATTACK MY FAMILY PHYSICALLY?
I MEAN, THE IDEA THAT THERE CAN BE GHOSTS THAT START FIRES
AND YOUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN
OR PEOPLE GET PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS
OR THE IDEA OF A SPIRITUAL POSSESSION.
WHAT'S ALL THIS STUFF?
[ SIGHS ] RESEARCH.
I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
I DIDN'T WANT A FULL-SCALE WAR IN MY HOUSE WITH A SPIRIT.
WHAT'S IN THIS FOLDER?
I PULLED SOME OF THE CITY RECORDS.
Narrator: FOR MORE CLUES,
CHRIS PULLS CITY HALL RECORDS ON THE HOUSE'S HISTORY.
HE DISCOVERS THE CENTURY-OLD HOME
HAD JUST THREE OWNERS BEFORE HE BOUGHT IT.
THEN HE FINDS SOMETHING INTRIGUING.
HERE YOU GO.
CHRIS HAS NO IDEA HE IS LOOKING AT A PHOTO
OF THE MAN HIS SON HAD SEEN IN THE HALLWAY.
THAT'S WHO SARA TALKED ABOUT.
CHRIS AND KAY DECIDE TO ASK NEIGHBORS
ABOUT THE HOME'S PREVIOUS OWNERS.
I KNEW THE FAMILY THAT LIVED HERE.
THEY LIVED HERE A LONG TIME.
THEY LEARN THE MOST RECENT WERE A MARRIED COUPLE
WHO LIVED THERE FOR 50 YEARS.
THE HUSBAND DIED IN THE HOME 20 YEARS EARLIER.
THE WIDOW REMAINED UNTIL SHE MOVED INTO A NURSING HOME
JUST BEFORE THE GIBBONS FAMILY MOVED IN.
THANK YOU, FOLKS. APPRECIATE IT.
I THINK I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR GHOST.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IF IT'S THE DEAD HUSBAND OF THE WIDOW?
Chris: THE THEORY FOR ME WAS
THAT MAYBE BECAUSE HIS WIFE HAD NOT PASSED,
HE WAS KIND OF LINGERING BEHIND,
WAITING FOR HIS WIFE TO JOIN HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE
BEFORE PASSING ON.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK I WANT WHATEVER'S IN THIS HOUSE OUT AND GONE.
Narrator: CHRIS AND KAY HAVE A HARD CHOICE TO MAKE --
LIE TO THE CHILDREN TO KEEP THEM CALM OR BE HONEST.
Kay: CHRISTOPHER AND I DECIDED WE NEED TO TELL THE KIDS
THAT WE THINK THERE'S SPIRITS IN THE HOUSE.
Chris: HEAVENLY FATHER...
Narrator: AT LAST, CHRIS AND KAY ACKNOWLEDGE
WHAT THE CHILDREN HAVE KNOWN AND BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR WEEKS.
Chris: WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD PRAY AS A FAMILY.
WE WOULD PRAY FOR THE SANCTITY OF OUR HOME.
WE WOULD PRAY FOR LOST SOULS.
AMEN.
Sara: WHEN WE PRAYED TOGETHER,
IT DEFINITELY MADE ME FEEL SAFER.
Narrator: AFTER THE PRAYER, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSE
SEEMS TO STOP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
FAMILY LIFE RESUMES AS NORMAL.
WE'RE THINKING, WELL, THIS IS GOOD, YOU KNOW?
THE SPIRIT LEFT.
Narrator: MONTHS LATER, CHRIS IS AT A NEIGHBOR'S PARTY.
AS ENTERTAINMENT, A PSYCHIC OFFERS FREE READINGS.
WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
SHE'S A PSYCHIC. SHE'LL TELL YOUR FORTUNE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I NEED IS A FORTUNE.
COME ON. IT'S JUST FOR FUN.
NAH, MAN. I DON'T BELIEVE IN STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD USE SOME FUN.
HOW'S IT GOING?
YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE IT A LITTLE EASY ON ME.
I JUST -- I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS STUFF.
ARE YOU TRYING TO RESTORE THE PAST?
THE PAST OF A GRAND OLD HOUSE?
Chris: SHE WAS PERCEIVING MY HOUSE,
SO I BECAME VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT THIS PSYCHIC HAD TO SAY.
GIVE ME SOMETHING FROM IT.
YOU HAVE A KEY?
Narrator: THE PSYCHIC HONES IN
ON THE SPIRIT LIVING IN CHRIS' HOUSE.
THERE'S SOMEONE UNWANTED IN YOUR HOUSE.
SOMEONE NOT LIVING.
Chris: SHE SAYS IT'S A FORMER OWNER
AND THAT HE IS VERY ATTACHED TO THE PROPERTY.
HE'S A LOST SOUL.
AND I ASKED HER, "WHY WON'T HE LEAVE?"
I ASKED HER IF THE GHOST WERE WAITING FOR HIS WIFE TO PASS
BEFORE CROSSING OVER.
[ Deep voice ] NO! I HATE THAT WOMAN!
Narrator: THE PSYCHIC BECOMES MOMENTARILY POSSESSED
BY THE SPIRIT HAUNTING CHRIS' HOME.
[ Normal voice ] I'M SORRY. THAT WASN'T ME.
Chris: HER RESPONSE WAS HE'S NOT WAITING FOR HER.
HE'S JUST IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE THAT'S HIS PLACE.
HE LOVED LIVING IN THAT HOUSE, AND IT'S HIS,
AND HE DOESN'T WANT YOU IN IT.
Narrator: CHRIS' ENCOUNTER WITH THE PSYCHIC
SEEMS TO RE-IGNITE HIS CONFLICT WITH THE ENTITY IN HIS HOME.
Chris: [ GASPING ]
Kay: CHRIS STARTS HAVING HIS DREAMS AGAIN,
THESE NIGHTMARISH DREAMS.
Narrator: CHRIS' RECURRING DEATH DREAMS ARE BACK.
ONLY THIS TIME,
THEY ARE MORE FREQUENT AND MORE VIOLENT.
YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO BED
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING.
WHAT'S COMING IS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE
WHERE YOU'D BE BROUGHT TO A PHYSICAL, VIOLENT DEATH.
AAH!
Narrator: THE ENTIRE FAMILY NOW FEELS THE STRAIN
OF THE PARANORMAL ENTITY IN THEIR HOME.
SARA OFTEN HAS TROUBLE SLEEPING.
Sara: NO ONE FELT COMFORTABLE IN THE HOME.
WHEN YOU WERE ALONE IN THE HOUSE,
YOU WOULD HEAR THE KNOBS SHAKE A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN YOU'D HEAR FOOTSTEPS
OR, YOU KNOW, JUST CREEPY SOUNDS.
YOU WOULD TRY TO BLAME IT ON THE WIND,
BUT IT REALLY WASN'T THE WIND.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
Narrator: FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," GO TO...
Narrator: CHRIS GIBBONS IS TERRORIZED
BY AN UNSEEN ENTITY IN HIS DREAMS.
BUT HIS FAMILY NOW FEARS THEIR WAKING HOURS.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
Sara: HE LOOKED AT ME FOR...
WELL, IT WAS PROBABLY LIKE THREE SECONDS,
BUT IT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER THAT HE WAS STARING AT ME.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.
[ FOOTSTEPS ]
HEY, PRINCESS. WHAT'S GOING ON?
HEY.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
IT'S OKAY. YOU CAN TELL ME.
I...
I SAW THE GHOST.
WHERE?
STANDING IN THE DOORWAY.
Narrator: CHRIS INSTANTLY KNOWS THAT THE ENTITY IN HIS DREAMS
IS THE SAME ONE APPEARING TO HIS CHILDREN.
HE HAD SLICKED-BACK HAIR.
NEWS THAT THE GHOST
HAS PHYSICALLY APPEARED TO HIS DAUGHTER
AFFECTS CHRIS EVEN MORE
THAN THE TERROR HE EXPERIENCES IN HIS DREAMS.
IT ATTACKS HIS CORE MISSION AS A FATHER.
Chris: WHEN THE GHOST INVOLVES THE CHILDREN,
YOU KNOW, THAT DYNAMIC CHANGES.
BECAUSE NOW THE PEOPLE I'M SUPPOSED TO PROTECT,
I'M NOT PROTECTING.
Narrator: CHRIS IS NOT SURE HOW TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY
AGAINST SOMETHING HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.
HE CONTINUES THE RESTORATION OF HIS HOUSE.
THIS HE KNOWS HOW TO DO.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ LIGHT BULB SQUEAKING ]
[ CLICKING ]
AH!
OH!
[ GASPING ]
[ WHEEZING ]
NO!
WHAT HAPPENED?
Narrator: FOR CHRIS, THE DREAM OF BEING SUFFOCATED
WAS THE WORST ONE YET.
WHY DON'T YOU GO UPSTAIRS, TRY TO GET SOME REST?
FOR WHAT?! SO HE CAN DO IT AGAIN?
THE NIGHTMARE IS AN ESCALATION
THAT MAKES SLEEP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
Chris: EVERYBODY LIKES TO GO TO BED WHEN THEY'RE TIRED.
EVERYBODY LIKES TO WAKE UP RESTED.
THE ASSAULTS IN THE DREAMS ACT TO DEPRIVE YOU
OF THAT BASIC KIND OF NORMAL HUMAN FUNCTION.
Narrator: A WEEK LATER,
CHRIS AND KAY HAVE TWO FRIENDS OVER FOR DRINKS.
YEAH, WE'RE TRYING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH -- IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE.
Kay: I WAS LISTENING TO EVERYBODY.
IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HAVE FRIENDS OVER.
AND I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
[ Voice breaking ] IT'S BEEN VERY HARD.
Chris: KAY IS REALLY KIND OF THE ROCK IN THE HOUSE.
FOR HER TO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN LIKE THIS
JUST OUT OF THE BLUE WAS VERY UNUSUAL.
HEY, WHAT'S WRONG?
I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL YOU.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Narrator: EARLIER THAT DAY,
KAY HAD AN EXPERIENCE IN THE BASEMENT.
I HAD A FEELING THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT.
LET GO OF ME!
Narrator: KAY SENSES THAT THE GHOST IS SHOWING HER
A SCENE FROM THE PAST,
A MYSTERIOUS IMAGE OF VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST A GHOST CHILD.
LET GO OF ME!
Kay: I COULD FEEL HER. I COULD FEEL HER SOUL.
SHE WAS SCARED.
SHE WAS NOT EXISTENT, BUT SHE MATTERED.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
I THINK SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENED IN THIS HOUSE.
Narrator: KAY FEARS THAT THE GHOST, WHILE LIVING,
MAY HAVE ABUSED A CHILD IN THEIR BASEMENT.
SHE HAS NO IDEA WHO THE CHILD MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
I ABSOLUTELY PERCEIVED THAT EVENT
TO BE A THREAT TO MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN.
ABSOLUTELY.
I KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HELP.
Narrator: THEIR FRIEND SUGGESTS
THEY CONTACT A LOCAL SPIRITUAL HEALER.
BUT WE'RE CATHOLIC. I MEAN, WE JUST CAN'T --
Chris: AT THIS POINT,
I WAS LOOKING FOR ANY HELP I COULD GET.
AT THIS POINT, WE'LL JUST -- WE'LL TRY ANYTHING, I GUESS.
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, THE SPIRITUAL HEALER
AND HER HUSBAND, WHO WORKS WITH HER, ARRIVE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THE HEALER HAS AGREED TO SHARE HER STORY ANONYMOUSLY,
AS SHE RARELY BECOMES INVOLVED
IN THE CLEANSING OF SPIRITS FROM A HOME.
Woman: WHEN I INITIALLY GOT THE CALL,
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHOLE FAMILY,
SO IT WAS PRIMARILY MY INTUITION
THAT SAID I NEED TO GO RIGHT AWAY.
PERFECTLY RESTORED.
DID YOU DO THE WORK YOURSELF?
ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS SHE ASKED ME WAS
HAD WE BEEN RENOVATING IN THE HOUSE.
YES. WHY?
DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO --
NO, NO. SHH, SHH, SHH.
Woman: THE ENTITY WAS PRESENT IN THE HOUSE
WHEN THEY BOUGHT THE HOUSE.
WHEN THEY RENOVATED THE HOUSE
AND DISTURBED ALL OF THE DARK PLACES,
THAT'S WHEN THIS ENERGY BECAME MUCH MORE ACTIVE.
THERE WAS A VERY STRONG DRAW TO THE BASEMENT.
SOMETHING IN THE BASEMENT WAS NOT RIGHT.
I CAN SENSE...
DO YOU FEEL WHAT I FEEL?
VERY MUCH.
YOU NEED TO -- YOU NEED TO STAY BACK HERE.
YOU TWO NEED TO STAY BACK HERE.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
Woman: WE WALK INTO THAT ROOM
WITH THE INTENTION OF GETTING RID OF THAT THING,
AND IT KNOWS THAT IMMEDIATELY.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TOLD THAT OUT LOUD.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHERE IT WAS EMANATING FROM IMMEDIATELY.
CAN WE OPEN THAT?
YEAH.
GO AHEAD.
Chris: THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE GHOST WAS IN THE CUPBOARD,
AND THEY HAD TOLD ME, "HE'S IN THAT CUPBOARD."
Narrator: THE SPIRITUAL HEALERS BELIEVE
THEY HAVE CORNERED A GHOST,
THE DARK ENERGY THAT HAS BEEN TERRORIZING THE GIBBONS FAMILY
IN THEIR HOME.
IT'S THE SAME CLOSET FROM WHICH CHRIS WAS ATTACKED
IN ONE OF HIS DREAMS.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, JUST STAY THERE, OKAY?
Woman: IT TRIED TO PUSH BACK.
AND IT TRIED TO FIND WAYS
OUT OF THE CIRCLE THAT WE WERE CREATING AROUND IT.
AND WE JUST KEPT PUSHING, PUSHING...
...UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT SHOT OUT THE WINDOW ALL AT ONCE.
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S OUTSIDE NOW.
SHOULD I GET RID OF HIS WORKBENCH AND ALL HIS OLD TOOLS?
IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
MAKE SURE YOU PUT IT OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY LINE, THOUGH.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME ATTACHMENT BY THIS ENTITY
TO HIS PERSONAL THINGS THAT REMAINED IN THE HOUSE.
SO, IF WE WANTED TO AVOID THAT CONNECTION,
THEN WE HAD TO MOVE THAT CONNECTION OFF OF THE PROPERTY.
Narrator: THE SPIRITUAL HEALER SUSPECTS
THE GHOST MAY BE STILL LURKING OUTSIDE.
CHRIS WANTS TO REMOVE THE WORKBENCH AND TOOLS --
ANYTHING TANGIBLE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE GHOST
WHEN IT WAS ALIVE.
THE WORKBENCHES DOWN THERE HAVE BEEN BUILT BY HIM.
I HOPED HE WOULD FACE THE SAME FATE THAT HIS BENCH HAD,
WHICH IS DESTRUCTION.
AND SO, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS CREATE A PERIMETER HERE
WHERE WE'RE GONNA WANT THE NEGATIVE ENERGIES
TO STAY OVER HERE
AND THE POSITIVE ENERGIES ON THAT SIDE.
NOW, THE TASK OF CREATING THIS BOUNDARY IS...
Narrator: THEY USE A WATER-BASED SOLUTION,
DIFFERENT SALTS, SANDS, AND HERBS.
YOU'RE THE NURTURER.
YOU'RE GONNA BE THE ONE TO PROTECT THIS HOUSE.
Woman: ANYONE CAN DO THE SEALING OF THE PROPERTY,
BUT IT'S BEST GIVEN TO THE MOTHER.
THIS COMES FROM THE TRADITION AND THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT IT IS WOMEN WHO CREATE AND HOLD SPACE.
OKAY? ARE YOU READY TO PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS?
Kay: SHE TOLD ME I HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL,
I HAVE TO TELL THE GHOST TO LEAVE AND HE CAN'T COME BACK.
IT HAS TO COME THROUGH MY HEART, MY MIND, MY SOUL,
AND I HAVE TO MEAN IT.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE.
NO NEGATIVE ENERGIES ARE WELCOME HERE.
Woman: WHAT WE ARE CREATING IS AN ENERGETIC WALL
THAT THOSE NEGATIVE ENERGIES CANNOT CROSS BACK IN.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE!
I FELT VERY EMPOWERED TO KNOW
THAT I'M A PART OF GETTING THIS GHOST OUT OF OUR HOUSE
AND NEVER TO RETURN AGAIN.
...AND OUR FRIENDS.
Narrator: AS KAY COMPLETES THE PERIMETER,
CHRIS BRINGS THE LAST OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S BELONGINGS
TO THE CURB.
Chris: ALL THIS JUNK, IT'S YOURS.
IT'S LIKE YOU, IT'S GONE. IT'S ALL GOING TO THE DUMP.
WHY DON'T YOU FOLLOW IT?
MY INTENT ABOUT THIS GHOST WAS HOSTILE.
SICK OF THIS!
SEE ALL THIS STUFF? IT'S YOURS.
IN MY HEART, THAT GHOST COULD ROT.
Woman: IF YOU FEED AN ENTITY
THROUGH NEGATIVE EMOTIONS LIKE FEAR OR ANGER,
IT CAN CREATE A DOORWAY FOR IT TO RE-ENTER.
YOU'RE BAITING IT.
YOU'RE ASKING IT FOR A FIGHT.
Narrator: THE CHILDREN ARE INVITED BACK INTO THE HOUSE
TO CELEBRATE AND SEAL THE CLEANSING.
Woman: OKAY.
I WANT YOU TO THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS.
I WANT YOU TO THINK LIGHT BEING ALL AROUND US, OKAY?
OKAY.
[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]
WE CALLED IN ALL OF THE ENERGIES OF THE UNIVERSE
THAT ARE WITHIN SACRED LAW
THAT BRING LIGHT AND LOVE,
AND WE ATTEMPTED TO FILL THAT HOUSE
WITH AS MUCH LOVE AND LIGHT AS WE POSSIBLY COULD
SO THAT THERE WASN'T ROOM
FOR ANY DARKNESS IN THE HOUSE ANYWHERE.
MAY THERE BE NO MORE DARKNESS IN THIS HOUSE.
All: NO MORE DARKNESS.
Woman: MAY THERE BE ONLY LIGHT.
All: ONLY LIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
THANK YOU.
Sara: THANK YOU. Boy: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR PREPARING US.
NO, THANK YOU. I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.
Kay: I THINK THE CLEANSE WORKED.
I MEAN, INSTANTANEOUSLY.
I MEAN, YOU KNEW.
YOU KNEW. YOU COULD FEEL IT.
WE FELT PEACE IN OUR HOUSE.
Chris: IT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE'VE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE
THAT I FELT LIKE WE WERE US AGAIN.
I FELT A SINCERE SENSE OF RELIEF.
Narrator: FOUR WEEKS LATER, THE CLEANSING STILL HOLDS.
CHRIS, NOW RESTED, TAKES UP RUNNING AGAIN...
ONLY TO BE WATCHED BY A FAMILIAR FIGURE.
Narrator: FOR CHRIS GIBBONS,
AN EARLY-MORNING JOG BECOMES A RUN-IN WITH TERROR.
THE GHOST HE BANISHED FROM HIS PROPERTY MONTHS AGO
IS LURKING JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.
Chris: THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT THAT WAS THE GHOST.
Woman: IF IT'S STILL HANGING AROUND,
THEN IT'S STILL ATTACHED TO THAT ENVIRONMENT
IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THIS ENTITY WAS TRYING TO CROSS BACK ACROSS
AND GET BACK INTO CHRIS' HOUSE.
MAY GOD REBUKE HIM.
WE HUMBLY PRAY.
Narrator: FEARING A RETURN OF THE GHOST,
CHRIS LEADS HIS FAMILY
ON A NIGHTLY CLEANSING OF THE HOUSE.
Chris: I MADE IT MY POINT TO CLEANSE THE HOUSE,
AND I ALSO MIXED MY OWN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS
WITH CATHOLIC PRAYERS.
...FOR THE RUIN OF LOST SOUL.
AMEN.
Narrator: CHRIS PERFORMS THE CLEANSING RITUAL
EVERY NIGHT FOR WEEKS.
BUT THE FAMILY TIRES OF IT.
YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING TONIGHT
WE COULD REALLY FOCUS ON THE THIRD FLOOR.
Kay: CHRIS WOULD COME HOME FROM WORK AND SAY, "LET'S DO THE RITUAL,"
AND I'M LIKE, "I DON'T WANT TO DO THE RITUAL ANYMORE."
I'M DONE WITH THIS RITUAL.
THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE.
I QUIT. I GAVE UP.
I MEAN, THE KIDS AND I NEED YOU.
THAT'S FINE!
I CAN DO IT MYSELF.
SO, THE GHOST HAD DEFEATED ME.
Narrator: CHRIS CONTINUES THE CLEANSING RITUAL ALONE.
Chris: I ASK FOR WHATEVER LIVES IN THIS CABINET
TO BE RIPPED FROM THE EARTH
AND SENT TO A PLACE WHERE EVIL LIVES!
I ASK FOR WHATEVER LIVES IN THIS CABINET
TO BE RIPPED FROM THE EARTH
AND SENT TO A PLACE WHERE EVIL LIVES!
Narrator: CHRIS CONSCIOUSLY REALIZES
HE'S IN ANOTHER OF HIS TERROR DREAMS
AND HE CAN CONTROL HIS MOVEMENTS.
OH. I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'M IN A PARANORMAL DREAM.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ME THIS TIME.
...AND SENT TO A PLACE WHERE EVIL LIVES!
[ GRUNTS ]
AH!
AND I HIT HIM, YOU KNOW, WITH MY FIST.
IT FELT GOOD.
AND I LIKE TO THINK
I'M A PEACEFUL PERSON, REALLY, AT MY HEART,
AND HERE I AM, HORRIBLY BEATING SOMEONE SENSELESS.
AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, "THIS IS WHAT I'VE COME TO?"
Narrator: CHRIS REALIZES THAT HE HAS TRIED EVERY APPROACH
TO ATTACK AND DEFEND AGAINST THE ENTITY EXCEPT ONE --
LETTING GO OF HIS ANGER TOWARD THE GHOST.
IN PUTTING MY ANGER DOWN
AND TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS SPIRIT,
I REALLY DID COME TO SEE US AS EQUAL CREATIONS.
HE EXISTS BECAUSE GOD CREATED HIM.
I EXIST BECAUSE GOD CREATED ME.
I REALLY CALLED ON EVERYTHING
THAT I THOUGHT WAS GOOD AND RIGHT IN THE UNIVERSE
TO COME HERE AND TO SHOW HIM
AND TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENT CHOICE FOR HIMSELF.
DEAR LORD, PLEASE CONFIRM UPON THE LOST SOUL IN THIS HOUSE
ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND LIGHT.
WHEN I APPROACHED THE SPIRIT WITH A SENSE OF LOVING INTENT
AND A SENSE OF FORGIVENESS,
WHEN I MADE THAT SHIFT,
THAT WAS THE END OF IT AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED.
Narrator: CHRIS BELIEVES THE ENTITY HAS LEFT THEIR HOME.
AMEN.
I LOVED HIM OUT, 'CAUSE I COULDN'T MAKE HIM LEAVE.
Narrator: THE FAMILY MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO PROVE
THAT THE GHOST IS GONE.
BUT YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE HAUNTING,
AND THE GIBBONS CLAN HAS SEEN NO SIGN
OF THE ENTITY THAT THREATENED TO DESTROY THEM.
Sara: IT WAS OUT OF LOVE THAT THE GHOST LEFT.
AND IT WAS OUT OF LOVE
THAT WE STAYED TOGETHER THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.
HEY! WE READY TO MAKE SOME MUSIC?
I THINK, HAVING SURVIVED THIS HAUNTING,
THAT WE AS A FAMILY HAVE GOTTEN REALLY CLOSE.
CAN I GET AN "AMEN"?
Children: AMEN!
1, 2, 3, 4!
Kay: OUR KIDS, I THINK, ARE VERY PROUD OF US
FOR WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH
AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TO GET RID OF THE GHOST,
ESPECIALLY THEIR FATHER.
Narrator: BUT FOR THE PATRIARCH OF THE GIBBONS CLAN,
THE LACK OF DEFINITIVE PROOF
THAT THE GHOST HAS PERMANENTLY DISAPPEARED
WILL ALWAYS LEAVE HAUNTING DOUBTS.
Chris: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S OVER.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHOICE THE GHOST MADE.
I HOPE THAT HE HAS TRULY MOVED ON.
BUT IF HE WANTS TO COME BACK, I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH HIM.
[ IRISH MUSIC PLAYING ]