Narrator: IN NORTH CAROLINA,
THE LOCAL CEMETERY HOLDS A DEADLY SECRET.
WHAT IF HE REALLY IS SEEING GHOSTS?
BODIES MAY LIE IN PEACE,
BUT THEIR SPIRITS MAY BE ANYTHING BUT RESTFUL.
AND WHAT IF IT DOESN'T STOP?
[ BABY CRYING ]
WHAT DO WE DO THEN?
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
[ BABY CRYING ]
Aaron: COME ON OUT!
QUIT PLAYING GAMES!
GABLE?!
IF YOU'RE IN HERE, SHOW YOURSELF!
Narrator: JAMIE BRUCE AND AARON PENNINGTON
GREW UP IN WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA.
A LONG-TIME COUPLE,
THEY DECIDE TO BUY A HOUSE TOGETHER
IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD OF JACKSON ACRES.
IT'LL TAKE SOME WORK TO MAKE IT OURS,
BUT THE FOUNDATION IS SOLID, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GREAT.
Aaron: THIS HOUSE WAS MY FIRST HOUSE.
NOTHING EXTRAVAGANT ABOUT IT.
BUT IT WAS A START, AND IT WAS NEAR JAMIE'S FAMILY.
Jamie: MY VISION FOR THE HOUSE
WAS BEING ABLE TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN IN THE BACKYARD
AND VISUALIZING THEM BEING ON THE SWING SET AND PLAYING
AND RUNNING AROUND AND LAUGHING AND RIDING THEIR BIKES
AND CALLING IT OUR OWN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK IT'S HOME.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: IN THE FALL OF 2008,
THE COUPLE IS SETTLED IN THEIR NEW HOME
WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN,
1-YEAR-OLD LACEY AND 3-THREE-OLD MASON.
AND THIS ONE?
BASEBALL.
WHAT'S THAT ONE?
Narrator: AARON AND JAMIE ENJOY THEIR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD,
BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA
THAT MYSTERIOUS NEIGHBORS
WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
ALMOST EVERY WEEK,
THE FAMILY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE LOCAL PARKS.
ONE IN PARTICULAR BECOMES A FAVORITE.
CURIOUSLY, IT'S ATTACHED TO A CEMETERY.
Jamie: THE CEMETERY IS ONLY A FEW HOUSES OVER FROM MY HOUSE
AND ACROSS THE STREET.
AND IT'S A VERY OLD CEMETERY, FAMILY-OWNED AND KEPT UP.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S AS OLD AS CIVIL-WAR TIME.
I WANT TO GO IN. I'M GONNA CHECK IT OUT.
OKAY, WE'LL WAIT OUT HERE FOR YOU.
[ BIRDS CALLING ]
Narrator: JAMIE NOTICES MASON SEEMS PREOCCUPIED
WITH SOMETHING HE SEES AND HEARS.
[ LACEY CRYING ]
HEY, MASON, ARE YOU FEELING OKAY?
I WANT TO GO HOME.
OKAY.
HE WANTS TO GO HOME.
OKAY, LET'S GO. COME ON.
[ CHILDREN LAUGHING ]
Narrator: ON WEEKNIGHTS, AARON WORKS THE LATE SHIFT
AS A MANAGER AT A TRUCKING COMPANY.
SOMETIMES HE DOESN'T GET HOME UNTIL DAWN.
Mason: GOOD NIGHT, DAD. I LOVE YOU.
HEY, LET ME TALK TO HIM.
HEY.
ANY IDEA WHAT TIME YOU'LL BE GETTING HOME?
I WISH I KNEW.
STILL WAITING FOR, UH...
TWO MORE TRUCKS TO COME IN.
MY WORK SCHEDULE'S USUALLY
KIND OF LIKE A SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT COMBINED.
YOU GO IN AT 2:00, 3:00,
BUT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GONNA GET HOME.
AND IT PUTS A LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY ON JAMIE.
I MISS HIM, AND THE KIDS MISS HIM,
AND WE JUST WISH HE COULD BE HOME MORE.
Narrator: JAMIE SETTLES IN FOR ANOTHER EVENING WITHOUT AARON.
BUT SHE AND HER CHILDREN...
ARE NOT ALONE.
[ LACEY CRYING ]
[ CRYING CONTINUES ]
[ SCREAM ]
Jamie: WHAT HAPPENED?
A MAN CAME OUT OF THE MIRROR.
[ LACEY CRYING ]
OH.
COME HERE, BABY GIRL.
IT'S OKAY.
LOOK, MASON, THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO HIDE IN HERE.
WE ARE ALONE.
[ CRYING CONTINUES ]
LOOK, THERE'S NO ONE HERE.
Narrator: A FEW HOURS LATER, WHEN AARON COMES HOME,
HE LEARNS OF HIS SON'S DREAM.
Aaron: WHAT WAS UNUSUAL ABOUT IT WAS,
THIS WAS TOTALLY OUT OF THE ORDINARY
FOR MY SON TO MAKE UP SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
OH, HEY.
[ GRUNTS ]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING AWAKE, HUH?
HE WOULDN'T GO BACK TO BED UNTIL YOU GOT HOME.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
AFTER AARON AND MASON LEAVE THE HOUSE,
JAMIE FINDS HERSELF EXPERIENCING...
THE UNEXPLAINED.
[ CLATTERING ]
Jamie: I WENT WALKING INTO THE KITCHEN,
AND ALL THE CABINET DOORS IN THE TOP WERE OPENED.
MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS, MAYBE I HAD DONE THIS MYSELF.
DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY
I WOULD'VE LEFT EVERY SINGLE DOOR STANDING WIDE OPEN,
BUT THAT WAS MY FIRST INSTINCT.
BUT STILL, IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
Narrator: JAMIE TRIES TO DISMISS THE EXPERIENCES
AND GOES ABOUT HER ROUTINE...
Jamie: YEAH, LET ME SEE THOSE GRUBBY HANDS OF YOURS.
OH, THEY'RE FILTHY!
FILTHY, FILTHY!
OTHER ONE.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
I'M GONNA GRAB YOU A TOWEL, OKAY?
...BUT THAT SOON PROVES TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.
Mason: NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE.
Jamie: I HAD STEPPED OUT OF THE BATHROOM TO GRAB A TOWEL
TO GET HIM OUT OF THE BATH.
AND AS I STEPPED INTO THE HALL,
HE STARTED HAVING, LIKE, A SERIOUS CONVERSATION.
MASON, ARE YOU TALKING TO SOMEONE?
UH-HUH.
AND I KIND OF LISTENED FOR A MINUTE.
COULDN'T REALLY MAKE OUT WHAT MY SON WAS SAYING.
MASON, WHO WERE YOU TALKING TO?
GABLE.
IS GABLE ONE OF YOUR TOYS?
UNH-UNH. HE'S A MAN.
A MAN?
UH-HUH.
HE WAS RIGHT HERE, BUT THEN HE...LEFT.
Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME, JAMIE BEGINS TO WORRY.
COULD GABLE BE MORE THAN
A FIGMENT OF HER SON'S IMAGINATION?
COULD HER NEIGHBORHOOD OR HER HOUSE...
BE HAUNTED?
MASON, MOMMY AND I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.
WHERE DID YOU HEAR THE NAME GABLE?
WAS IT ON TV OR AT SCHOOL?
HE TOLD ME.
WHO TOLD YOU?
GABLE.
AND I STILL KEPT THINKING THAT MAYBE HE WAS JUST IMAGINING,
AND HE KEPT TELLING ME HE WAS REAL.
HE PROMISED HE WAS REAL.
HONEY, WE KNOW THAT GABLE ISN'T A REAL PERSON.
HE'S SO REAL.
OKAY, WELL, UM, IF HE'S REAL, THEN WHERE IS HE?
IN THERE.
GABLE'S IN THE BEDROOM?
OKAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO AND GET HIM?
TELL HIM WE WANT TO TALK TO HIM.
Aaron: MY HEART DROPPED A LITTLE BIT AT THAT MOMENT...
WHEN HE SAID HE'S BACK HERE IN THE BEDROOM.
AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID, "WELL, IF HE'S BACK THERE, GO GET HIM.
TELL HIM I WANT TO TALK TO GABLE."
Jamie: HE REALLY DID WALK BACK THERE AND...
TALKED, SAID SOMETHING.
WHERE'S GABLE?
RIGHT HERE.
GABLE'S WHERE?
RIGHT HERE.
WELL, IF HE'S RIGHT THERE, THEN WHY CAN'T I SEE HIM?
HE'S RIGHT THERE.
HE CONTINUED TO SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, "MOMMY, HE'S REAL.
"HE'S RIGHT HERE. HE'S STANDING RIGHT THERE.
HE SEES YOU."
HE'S RIGHT HERE!
CAN YOU ASK GABLE A QUESTION FOR ME?
ASK HIM WHAT FIVE PLUS SIX IS.
I KNEW THAT MY SON COULD NOT ADD.
HE KNEW HIS ABCs, AND HE KNEW HIS COLORS,
AND HE KNEW HOW TO COUNT, BUT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ADD.
OUR MOUTHS JUST DROPPED.
OH, MY GOSH.
WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE IN?
DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR CHILD NOW OR NOT?
Narrator: JAMIE AND AARON ARE SHOCKED
THAT THEY MAY HAVE A GHOST
LURKING IN THE SHADOWS OF THEIR HOME,
AND ITS TARGET MAY BE THEIR SON.
IT KIND OF SENT SOME CHILLS, CHILLS UP MY BACK.
WHAT IF THERE IS A GHOST IN HERE BY THE NAME OF GABLE
AND MY SON'S TELLING THE TRUTH?
Narrator: THEIR FRIEND PAM MARSH IS STARTING TO BELIEVE IT, AS WELL.
STOP. IT'S MY TURN.
I SAID STOP IT.
MASON, IS GABLE GONNA BE JOINING US FOR DINNER?
HER SON'S DEMEANOR LET US KNOW
THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE.
UNH-UNH. HE HAS TO WORK.
WE QUESTIONED HIM.
AND THE ANSWERS HE GAVE US
LET US KNOW THAT HE REALLY BELIEVED THIS.
Jamie: MASON, QUIT BEING SILLY AND GO GET READY FOR DINNER.
COME ON, WE CAN'T PLAY IN HERE.
Pam: IT WAS REALLY ODD THAT...HE BELIEVED SO INTENSELY.
I'M BEGINNING TO BELIEVE HIM.
ME TOO.
IT WAS PRETTY WEIRD.
AND HE WAS DEAD SERIOUS.
Jamie: MISS HAMILTON? YES.
I'M JAMIE, MASON'S MOTHER.
OF COURSE. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
Narrator: SEEKING A RATIONAL EXPLANATION,
JAMIE CONSULTS MASON'S PRESCHOOL TEACHER.
WOW, HE DID VERY WELL.
LISTEN, I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND LIKE AN ODD QUESTION,
BUT DOES THE NAME GABLE MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?
GABLE?
NO. I DON'T THINK SO.
MASON'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE NAMED GABLE,
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS SOMEONE IN YOUR CLASS
OR A CHARACTER FROM A BOOK YOU READ TO THE CHILDREN.
I'VE NEVER HEARD THE NAME GABLE BEFORE.
IT'S AN UNUSUAL NAME.
MAYBE HE HEARD IT ON TV.
Jamie: HE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IT FROM ANYWHERE ELSE,
NOT EVEN OFF OF TELEVISION.
HE WATCHED...
ELMO.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW OF ANYWHERE ELSE
HE COULD'VE COME UP WITH SUCH A NAME.
I HAD TO FINALLY TRUST IN MY CHILD AND BELIEVE THAT
HE WAS DEFINITELY SEEING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.
Narrator: IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
JAMIE IS ON HIGH ALERT,
WATCHING FOR ANY SIGNS THAT GABLE IS REAL.
Jamie: AT TIMES, I HAD FELT LIKE
SOMETHING WAS STANDING BEHIND ME AND WATCHING ME.
I WAS A LITTLE UNSURE IF MY MIND WAS OVERREACTING
OR IF SOMETHING REALLY WAS WATCHING ME.
YOU HAD IT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND,
LIKE, SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
SOMETHING FELT OUT OF PLACE.
Narrator: SEEKING COMFORT FROM HER FRIEND PAM,
JAMIE IS INTERRUPTED, THIS TIME BY MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HIM ANYMORE.
I MEAN, HE TALKS TO GABLE MORE THAN HE TALKS TO ME.
OH, PLEASE. YOU KNOW AARON.
HE HAS AN EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING.
BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO SPEND HALF THE NIGHT HERE ALONE.
[ CHAINS RATTLING ]
I think someone's in the house.
Shh, shh, shh, shh! Just hang on a second.
[ RATTLING CONTINUES ]
Jamie: THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
AND THE KIDS WERE FAST ASLEEP.
[ BEEP ]
JAMIE: There is something going on in this house, Aaron.
i-I'm hearing noises. There's -- there's loud noises.
ALL RIGHT, JUST SLOW DOWN.
I-IT SOUNDED LIKE BIKE CHAINS --
LIKE BIKE CHAINS HITTING THE FLOOR, AND IT WAS LOUD,
AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE KIDS DIDN'T WAKE UP.
i-i don't how they --
D-DID YOU CHECK THE REST OF THE HOUSE?
Yeah, I did. I checked the rest of the house.
EVERYTHING'S FINE, BUT I KNOW I HEARD SOMETHING COMING OUT OF THAT ROOM.
I BELIEVE YOU DID HEAR SOMETHING,
BUT IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A CHAIN FALLING.
IT WAS PROBABLY JUST SOMETHING IN THE HEATING SYSTEM.
Aaron: I, MYSELF, ALWAYS LOOK FOR ANSWERS.
IF SOMETHING'S BROKEN, I WANT TO FIX IT.
IF IT'S THE UNEXPLAINED, I WANT TO EXPLAIN IT.
THAT'S MY -- I GUESS MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS,
THERE'S AN EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING.
AARON NEVER SEEMED OVERWHELMED.
HE WAS JUST WANTING ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S LISTENING.
Narrator: JAMIE TRIES TO CONVINCE HERSELF
THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR,
THAT HER HOME IS A SAFE HAVEN
WHERE SHE CAN BE PROTECTED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
BUT SOMETHING...
WANTS HER TO FEEL OTHERWISE.
OH, MY GOD!
Jamie: I LOOKED UP AT THE MONITOR
TO CHECK ON THE CHILDREN,
AND I SAW SMOKE -- REAL THICK SMOKE
GOING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE TV TO THE NEXT.
I GOT UP THERE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
THERE WAS NO SMELL.
THERE WAS NO SMOKE, NOTHING.
I CALLED AARON,
AND HE SAID THAT IF YOU SAW SMOKE,
THEN THERE HAS TO BE AN EXPLANATION
AS TO WHY THERE WAS SMOKE.
EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE.
MAYBE WHAT YOU SAW WAS STATIC.
THE CAMERA COULD'VE PICKED UP SOME KIND OF INTERFERENCE.
NO, NO, NO. I KNOW WHAT I SAW.
IT WAS SMOKE.
MAYBE THIS WAS GABLE.
I THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME
TO LET ME KNOW THAT IT IS THERE AND IS PRESENT.
WELL, WHATEVER IT WAS...
IT'S OVER NOW.
NOBODY GOT HURT.
LET'S LET IT GO.
CALL IT A NIGHT.
FINE.
THE CHILDREN ARE STAYING IN OUR ROOM TONIGHT.
Narrator: JAMIE, AARON, AND MASON ARE FINALLY ABLE TO REST,
BUT THEIR DAUGHTER, LACEY, IS NOT.
[ LACEY COOS ]
[ LACEY CRYING ]
AND JAMIE IS TERRIFIED BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHY.
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?
MY CHILDREN ARE MY WORLD,
AND TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S SCARING THEM OR BOTHERING THEM
IS JUST DEVASTATING.
[ CRYING CONTINUES ]
I'LL STAY UP WITH HER TONIGHT.
AND WHAT IF IT DOESN'T STOP?
WHAT DO WE DO THEN?
[ CRYING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: JAMIE IS NOW CONVINCED
THAT THE ENTITY SEEN BY HER CHILDREN MAY NOT BE IMAGINARY.
[ LACEY CRYING ]
I'VE NEVER HEARD MY DAUGHTER SCREAM LIKE THAT.
SHE JUST KEPT LOOKING LIKE...
[SIGHS] LIKE SOMETHING WAS IN THERE.
[ SNIFFLES ]
HONEY, SHE PROBABLY JUST HAD A BAD DREAM.
WELL, OF COURSE, WHEN JAMIE TOLD ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED,
I SAID, "DID SHE HAVE A NIGHTMARE?"
AND JAMIE'S LIKE, "NO, THIS IS DIFFERENT."
SHE SAID, "PAM, THERE WAS ACTUALLY FEAR
IN MY LITTLE GIRL'S EYES."
I DON'T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS, BUT...
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO EXPLAIN IT.
STUFF LIKE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING
EVER SINCE MASON STARTED TALKING TO GABLE.
WHAT IF HE REALLY IS SEEING GHOSTS?
Narrator: WHILE AARON AGAIN WORKS LATE,
JAMIE TRIES TO SLEEP, UNAWARE THAT GABLE
MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ENTITY HAUNTING HER HOUSE.
[ LAUGHING ]
[ LAUGHING CONTINUES ]
Jamie: I FINALLY BRAVED UP ENOUGH TO PULL THE COVERS DOWN,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
WHEN I HEARD THE LAUGH,
IT WAS AS LOUD AS I'M TALKING RIGHT NOW
AND ONLY ABOUT TWO OR THREE FEET AWAY FROM ME.
AND IT WAS...
JUST...
SO REAL.
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS REAL,
THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING IN MY HOUSE.
AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS TERRIFIED.
Narrator: WHEN AARON RETURNS HOME,
HE KNOWS HIS FAMILY'S LIFE HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED.
Aaron: WE'RE ALL NOW IN THE LIVING ROOM.
ALL TOGETHER, ONE BIG BEDROOM.
Narrator: NOW IT'S AARON'S TURN TO LISTEN.
[ PIANO KEYS PLAYING ]
I STARTED HEARING THIS, LIKE, THREE NOTES.
SAME NOTES, SAME RHYTHM OVER AND OVER.
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
I WAS SITTING THERE LISTENING TO IT, AND THEY DON'T STOP.
THEY JUST DON'T STOP.
IT GOES ON FOR LIKE FIVE MINUTES.
I'M THINKING...
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
..."MAYBE IT'S ONE OF OUR KIDS'
"LITTLE TOY PIANOS IN THE BASEMENT
OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING IN MY CLOSET."
I DON'T KNOW. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
I'M SITTING THERE, TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
WHAT IS THIS NOISE?
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
[ LAUGHS ]
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: AARON IS DETERMINED TO FIND AN EXPLANATION.
BUT NOW HE HIMSELF BEGINS TO WONDER...
"WHAT IF THERE ISN'T ONE?"
[ THUD ]
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
[ GASPS ]
Do you hear that?
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
WHAT?
Real quiet. Listen.
[ PLAYING CONTINUE ]
Jamie: AND I LISTENED, AND SURE ENOUGH,
IT WAS A PIANO PLAYING JUST PLAIN AS DAY,
AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS IN THE NEXT ROOM.
WHAT IS IT?
I SEARCHED THE ENTIRE HOUSE.
I can't figure out where it's coming from.
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
IT SOUNDS LIKE OUR OLD PIANO.
Jamie: WE USED TO HAVE A PIANO IN OUR HOME
WHEN WE FIRST MOVED THERE.
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
But that doesn't make any sense.
Narrator: FIRST GABLE, THEN A CHILD'S LAUGHTER,
NOW TERRIFYING SOUNDS.
[ PLAYING CONTINUES ]
WHAT COULD BE NEXT?
Jamie: I WOKE UP TO A REAL MUFFLED SOUND.
[ MUFFLED, INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
[ CONVERSATIONS STOP ]
IT STOPPED.
I-IT'S LIKE THEY HEARD US.
WE INTERRUPTED THEM.
Jamie: WHAT I HAD HEARD 100% --
I KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO DENYING THAT.
Narrator: JAMIE AND AARON BOTH REALIZE THEY NEED HELP...
[ MUFFLED INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
...AND THEY NEED IT FAST.
[ MUFFLED CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE ]
FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," GO TO destinationamerica.com.
[ LAUGHING ]
Narrator: JAMIE AND AARON ARE HORRIFIED AND CONFUSED
BY EVENTS OCCURRING IN THEIR NORTH CAROLINA HOME.
JAMIE HAS DECIDED IT'S TIME TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE BIZARRE BEHAVIOR.
[ MOUSE CLICKING ]
Jamie: I FINALLY HAD TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND FIGURE OUT,
YOU KNOW, HOW BAD THESE THINGS CAN ACTUALLY GET.
I WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED
THAT I WAS NOT GONNA LET IT GET TO THAT POINT.
Narrator: BUT HELPFUL INFORMATION COMES IN A MOST UNEXPECTED WAY.
Man on radio: WE'RE BACK WITH BEST-SELLING AUTHOR PHILIP JAMES.
MR. JAMES IS A PARANORMAL RESEARCHER AND INVESTIGATOR,
AND HE'S WRITTEN A NEW BOOK CALLED "EARTHBOUND SPIRITS."
A LOT OF TIMES, WE HEAR...
Narrator: FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE,
AARON LEARNS FOR THE FIRST TIME
HOW THEY MIGHT DEAL WITH PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
THE EXPERT HAD SAID THAT IF IT KNOWS THAT YOU'RE AGGRAVATED,
IT FEEDS OFF OF IT.
IT'S GONNA CONTINUE.
IT'S NOT GONNA STOP.
Narrator: JAMIE LEARNS THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
SHE CAN DO TO RID HER HOUSE OF THE ENTITY
IS TO FACE HER FEAR.
MOMMY?
I'M SORRY, SWEETIE. DID I WAKE YOU?
NO. IT WAS GABLE.
HE WANTS TO PLAY.
IS GABLE HERE RIGHT NOW?
HE'S IN THERE.
Jamie: I DECIDED TO BE STRONG.
I WAS GONNA STAND UP FOR MYSELF,
FOR MY CHILDREN, AND FOR MY HOME.
GABLE, I NEED YOU TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE NOW.
IT'S TIME FOR MASON TO GO TO BED,
AND YOU'RE KEEPING HIM AWAKE.
I LOOKED OVER THAT DIRECTION,
AND I TOLD GABLE THAT HE NEEDED TO LEAVE,
THAT IT WAS TIME FOR OUR SON TO GO TO BED.
HE HEARD YOU. HE'S GOING.
GOOD.
Narrator: IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS,
THE HOUSE REMAINS QUIET AND PEACEFUL.
JAMIE IGNORES HER FEARS AND RECLAIMS HER LIFE.
SHE HAS NO IDEA THAT THE ENTITIES IN HER HOME
ARE CHANGING THEIR FOCUS FROM HER CHILDREN...
...TO HER.
Jamie: SOMETHING HAD STEPPED ON THE BACK OF MY PANTS' LEGS.
IT STARTLED ME, BUT I IGNORED IT.
AS I GO TO GET UP THE STEPS,
I REALIZED I FORGOT TO CUT THE DRYER ON.
[ DRYER WHIRS ]
[ DOOR CREAKING ]
SOMETHING GRABBED THE BACK OF MY CALF.
I FELT LIKE IT JUST WANTED ME TO KNOW THAT IT WAS STILL THERE.
AT THAT POINT, I LOST IT.
I KNEW THEN THAT IT CAN GET PHYSICAL.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT TOUCHES MY CHILDREN?
Aaron: SHE CALLED ME, HYSTERICAL.
SHE SAID, SOBBING, "YOU NEED TO GET HOME."
JAMIE: It kept pulling me down!
ARE YOU OKAY?
IT BOTHERED ME TO THINK THAT,
IF, OKAY, IF SOMETHING CAN TOUCH YOU...
THAT'S -- THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME
'CAUSE IF THEY CAN DO THAT, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO?
STAY OUT OF THE BASEMENT. I'M ON MY WAY.
IF YOU'RE HERE, I WANT TO SEE YOU!
I WANTED TO LET IT KNOW, HEY, THIS IS MY WAY OF INVITING YOU.
GOT THE LIGHTS OFF. IT'S JUST ME AND YOU.
IF YOU REALLY WANT ME TO BELIEVE IN YOU, COME ON OUT!
QUIT PLAYING GAMES!
I WAS SO ANGRY AT IT, I WANTED TO SEE IT.
Narrator: BUT THE ENTITY REMAINS HIDDEN.
GABLE?!
IF YOU'RE IN HERE, SHOW YOURSELF!
Narrator: WHEN JAMIE'S FRIEND PAM MARSH
LEARNS OF THE HEIGHTENED PARANORMAL ACTIVITY,
SHE ENLISTS THE AID OF INVESTIGATORS
PAM NANCE AND ASHLEY FIELD.
AFTER REVIEWING THE PAST EVENTS, THEY ARE PUZZLED...
UNTIL THEY SUDDENLY MAKE A CONNECTION
TO THE GRAVEYARD NEAR THE HOME.
Field: THE FAMILY HAD VISITED
THIS CEMETERY ON THEIR PROPERTY.
WHEN THEY CAME BACK FROM THE CEMETERY,
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACTIVITY STARTED,
WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE
THAT THEY BROUGHT SOMETHING BACK WITH THEM.
Narrator: WHEN THE INVESTIGATORS ARRIVE AT THE HOUSE,
THEY FIND UNUSUALLY HIGH LEVELS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY...
[ DEVICE BEEPING RAPIDLY ]
...SIGNS THAT SUPERNATURAL ENTITIES ARE INDEED PRESENT.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
THEY DECIDE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH WHOMEVER
OR WHATEVER IS OCCUPYING THE HOUSE
BY VIDEOTAPING AN EVP SESSION
AND RECORD ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENA.
GABLE, ARE YOU HERE?
[ STATIC ]
ONCE THE EVP SESSION STARTED,
YOU COULD FEEL AN ENERGY BUILD IN THE ROOM.
ARE YOU HERE BECAUSE OF MASON?
[ STATIC ]
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH MASON?
[ STATIC ]
[ DISTORTED WHISPERING ]
[ STATIC ]
[ DISTORTED WHISPERING ]
[ GIRL LAUGHING ]
[ STATIC ]
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS.
WHO IS HERE WITH YOU?
[ STATIC ]
I VERY RARELY HERE VOICES WITH MY NAKED EAR
ON AN INVESTIGATION,
BUT THIS INVESTIGATION WAS DIFFERENT.
THE FEELING IN THE ROOM...
BECAME JUST ONE OF COMPLETE UNEASINESS.
IT WAS NOT GONNA GET BETTER. IT WAS GONNA GET WORSE.
JAMIE, WOULD YOU TURN ON THE LIGHT?
IT FELT LIKE A BUBBLE WAS FORMING
ON THE FRONT OF THAT MIRROR
AND PUSHING OUT A VERY NEGATIVE ENERGY,
AND IT WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.
Narrator: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS
PAM NANCE AND ASHLEY FIELD CANNOT BELIEVE THEIR EYES.
AS THEY WATCH SOMETHING TRY TO EMERGE THROUGH A MIRROR
IN JAMIE AND AARON'S HOME,
AN ENTITY,
THEY IMMEDIATELY DECIDE THEY NEED TO STOP.
Nance: MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE
THAT MIRRORS CAN ACTUALLY ACT AS A PORTAL
BETWEEN OUR WORLD AND THE SPIRIT WORLD.
THERE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN REPORTS
OF ENTITIES COMING THROUGH MIRRORS.
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TRYING TO GET THROUGH.
AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME, HAD I NOT STOPPED,
I THINK THE ACTIVITY WOULD'VE ESCALATED
ON A LEVEL NO ONE HAD SEEN YET
BY WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN BROUGHT IN.
I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING
BEFORE THIS BUBBLE OF NEGATIVITY EXPLODED OUTWARDS INTO THE ROOM.
INVESTIGATOR ASHLEY FIELD HAS COME PREPARED
FOR A PURIFYING RITUAL.
THE CLEANSING OF THE MIRRORS WITH THIS LEMON-BASED WATER
IS A LOW-COUNTRY RECIPE TO SEAL A PORTAL.
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATOR KNOWS
THAT THE POWER IS NOT ONLY IN THE RECIPE.
Field: CLEANSING IS ALL ABOUT INTENT.
IT'S NOT A POWER THAT ANYBODY GIVES YOU.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS, WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT THERE.
IF YOU'RE PUTTING OUT GOOD AND YOU'RE WISHING FOR GOOD
AND YOU WANT THE BAD GONE
AND YOU'RE PUSHING AWAY NEGATIVE ENERGY,
IT'S LIKE GETTING AWAY FROM BAD PEOPLE.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO GET RID OF WHAT'S ALREADY HERE.
THE SAGE WILL FREE THE ROOM OF THE SPIRITS.
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATOR USES A NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITION
KNOWN AS SMUDGING TO PURIFY THE AIR.
Field: YOU START FROM THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, AND YOU MOVE OUTWARD,
PUSHING ALL THE NEGATIVITY OUT OF THE ROOM.
YOU START IN ONE ROOM, AND YOU KEEP MOVING THROUGH EACH ROOM.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DOOR OR A WINDOW CRACKED
PRIOR TO STARTING THIS PROCESS
SO WHATEVER'S IN THERE CAN LEAVE.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE JUST CHASING IT FROM ROOM TO ROOM.
Narrator: NEXT, SHE SALTS THE PROPERTY --
A CHRISTIAN TRADITION IN THE SOUTH.
Field: SALT'S USED FOR ITS PROTECTIVE QUALITIES.
IT'S A PURE SUBSTANCE. IT ALSO REPELS EVIL.
YOU START FROM THE CENTER OF THE ROOM,
AND YOU FLICK THE SALT FORWARD.
THE SALT WATER I USED WAS FROM AN OUTGOING TIDE.
IT'S BASED ON THE SAME PRINCIPLE OF BAPTISM IN THE OCEAN.
YOU ALWAYS BAPTIZE ON AN OUTGOING TIDE
TO PULL AWAY YOUR SINS AND THE NEGATIVE.
Narrator: WITH THE CLEANSING COMPLETE,
THE INVESTIGATORS HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONFIRM
THAT THE ENTITIES ARE GONE.
[ BEEPING ]
THEY ARE NOT.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
Nance: I TYPICALLY TAKE THREE PHOTOGRAPHS AT A TIME.
THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPH WAS NORMAL.
SECOND PHOTOGRAPH, THERE WAS A VERY DARK SHADOW
COMING DOWN ACROSS THE CAMERA'S FIELD OF VISION.
THE THIRD PHOTOGRAPH CLEAR AGAIN,
AND AT THAT EXACT SAME MOMENT,
WE DID GET A SPIKE ON OUR EMF METER.
[ BEEPING RAPIDLY ]
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE THERE IS ONLY OTHER WAY
TO COMPLETE THE CLEANSING OF THE HOME.
THEY NEED TO RETURN TO THE PLACE
WHERE THE BIZARRE OCCURRENCES BEGAN.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
PAM, COME LOOK AT THIS.
WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE CEMETERY,
WE WERE READING THE GRAVE MARKERS,
AND THERE WAS A GRAVE FOR GABRIEL.
"GABRIEL JACKSON. 1838 TO 1864."
HE WAS THE SON OF THE ORIGINAL PLANTATION OWNER.
HE HAD BEEN IN THE CIVIL WAR
AND HAD BEEN KILLED IN THE CIVIL WAR.
THE TRAUMA OF THAT SUDDEN DEATH
IS THE PERFECT STORM FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT.
WE ASSOCIATED THAT GABRIEL
WITH THE GABLE THAT THE LITTLE BOY WAS EXPERIENCING.
Narrator: THE INVESTIGATORS ALSO LEARN
THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAUGHING YOUNG GIRL TAUNTING JAMIE
MIGHT ALSO HAVE A PHYSICAL CONNECTION TO THE AREA.
Nance: IN OUR RESEARCH, WE DID FIND
THAT THERE WAS A GROUP OF PONDS BEHIND THE ORIGINAL HOMEPLACE,
AND THE STORY GOES THAT A YOUNG GIRL DROWNED THERE.
WE SUSPECT THAT THE LITTLE GIRL
MAY HAVE BEEN A SLAVE ON THE ORIGINAL PLANTATION.
[ LAUGHING ]
Field: SHE DIED A TRAUMATIC DEATH -- A SUDDEN DEATH.
AS WE'VE SEEN THROUGH OTHER INVESTIGATIONS,
SHE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT SHE IS DECEASED.
SHE MAY STILL THINK SHE'S LIVING.
SHE'S STILL ACTING OUT THE SAME LIFESTYLE
SHE WAS LIVING BEFORE HER DEATH.
I FEEL LIKE THAT THIS IS STILL THEIR LAND IN THEIR EYES,
AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STILL ROAMING AROUND.
Narrator: WITH THE INVESTIGATORS NOW UNDERSTANDING
THE ENTITIES AT HAND,
CAN THEY FINALLY FREE JAMIE AND HER FAMILY
FROM THEIR PARANORMAL NIGHTMARE?
Narrator: FOR JAMIE AND AARON,
WHAT BEGAN AS A VISIT FROM THEIR SON MASON'S
IMAGINARY FRIEND, GABLE,
HAS EVOLVED INTO A PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE
FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
[ LACEY CRYING ]
INVESTIGATORS HAVE DETERMINED
THAT MORE THAN ONE ENTITY HAUNTS THE HOME.
[ LAUGHING ]
WHILE THEY NOW HAVE AN IDEA WHO THESE LOST SOULS MIGHT BE...
...THEY KNOW THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO PUT THEM TO REST --
THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAYER.
Field: NOW I NEED YOU TO DO SOMETHING.
I NEED YOU TO SAY A BLESSING
TO COMPLETE THE CLEANSING AND TO RECLAIM YOUR HOUSE.
THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD ALWAYS BE PRESENT WHEN YOU DO A CLEANSING.
IT'S THEIR HOME.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE BACK OWNERSHIP.
THEY NEED TO BE THERE WITH YOU.
THEY NEED TO REITERATE AND REINFORCE WHAT YOU'RE DOING
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LEAVE, IT'S JUST THEM AGAIN.
WHAT KIND OF BLESSING?
ANY KIND AS LONG AS IT'S SOMETHING YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN.
TO EFFECTIVELY DO A CLEANSE,
IT HAS TO BE BASED ON WHAT THE HOMEOWNER BELIEVES IN.
OUR FATHER...
[ SCREAM ]
...WHO ART IN HEAVEN...
HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME...
...THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!
GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD...
...AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US!
OH, MY GOD!
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION...
[ LAUGHING ]
...BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL!
[ LACEY CRYING ]
...FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM...
[ SHOUTS ]
...THE POWER...
AND THE GLORY...
FOREVER.
GABLE?!
IF YOU'RE IN HERE, SHOW YOURSELF!
AMEN.
THEY'RE GONE.
AREN'T THEY?
NOTHING HERE CAN HURT YOU NOW.
[ SIGHS ]
Jamie: IT WAS A-A LONG NIGHT,
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING.
HEY. SWEETIE.
GET ANY SLEEP?
NO, NO SLEEP.
THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME MY HOME BACK.
WE DIDN'T DO THAT. YOU DID THAT.
THE POWER IN THE RITUALS CAME FROM YOU,
AND IF ANYTHING LIKE THIS STARTS UP AGAIN,
JUST REMEMBER, YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP IT YOURSELF.
THANK YOU.
I WAS VERY THANKFUL FOR HAVING THEM COME
AND TO GIVE ME THAT STRENGTH AND TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT,
I OWNED THAT HOME.
I KNEW BY THEM TELLING ME THAT I COULD DO THIS
AND THAT I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS THAT I COULD DO IT,
AND I WAS DETERMINED I WAS GONNA DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID.
Narrator: FOR JAMIE, AARON, MASON, AND LACEY,
THEIR PARANORMAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER.
HEY!
OH, I MISSED YOU!
Aaron: AFTER THE CLEANSE, IT WAS LIKE A HUGE BURDEN LIFTED.
JAMIE WAS SMILING MORE.
SHE FELT VALIDATED.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE,
MAYBE WE CAN PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF, YOU KNOW?
TIME TO FOCUS ON OTHER STUFF.
[ LACEY CRYING ] OH, IT'S OKAY.
HEY, HEY, IT'S OKAY.
Jamie: YOU READY?
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Jamie: THE TALKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS MADE ME REALIZE
THAT WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS
AND THAT IT WAS THE LAND, I BELIEVE, IS WHAT IS --
WHERE IT'S ALL COMING FROM.
Aaron: BEFORE, I HAD LISTENED TO THE STORIES OF FILM, TV.
I'VE ALWAYS JUST AUTOMATICALLY THOUGHT,
"THERE'S ALWAYS AN EXPLANATION."
NOW THAT I'VE SEEN IT AND HEARD THINGS, THERE HAS TO BE MORE.
IF YOU'RE CLOSE-MINDED TO ANY IDEA,
THEN THE LESS YOU'RE EVER GONNA LEARN.
I WOULD TELL ANY SKEPTIC TO BE MORE OPEN-MINDED.
YOU JUST NEED TO LISTEN.
JUST LISTEN.
[ CHIRPING CONTINUES ]