Narrator: WHEN A DARK SECRET IS UNCOVERED...
I FOUND WITCHCRAFT BOOKS, I FOUND SPELL-CASTING BOOKS...
THIS STUFF IS CREEPY. DO YOU THINK HE'S REALLY INTO THIS?
...AND THIS NECKLACE WITH A SERPENT AROUND IT.
Narrator: ...A FAMILY COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH EVIL.
Alliah: I TURN AROUND. I SEE THIS GIRL STANDING THERE.
SHE SAID, "WE'RE GONNA GET YOU AND KILL YOU."
AAH!
Narrator: CAN THEY BE SAVED...
NO, WAIT. DAD!
HE'S FINE. DAD, IT'S GONNA GET YOU!
Narrator: ...BEFORE FALLING UNDER ITS SPELL?
I SEE THIS HUMAN SHADOW, AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.
[ ROARS ]
AAH!
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS
AND IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLDS WE SEE...
SOMEONE'S IN MY ROOM.
...AND THE THINGS WE FEAR...
AAH!
...THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED...
AAH!
...NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IN MARCH 2012,
NURSING-HOME RESIDENT WILLIAM SMITH
SITS IN A NEAR-CATATONIC STATE,
OBLIVIOUS TO HIS SURROUNDINGS.
HI, WILLIAM.
IT'S AMANDA.
WHEN HIS RELATIVE AMANDA MORRISON
COMES FOR A VISIT,
HE DOESN'T APPEAR TO RECOGNIZE HER.
WILLIAM -- HE WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON IN OUR FAMILY.
HE WAS MORE A RECLUSE AND KEPT TO HIMSELF,
AND WE DIDN'T SEE HIM THAT MUCH.
HE ENDED UP HAVING TO GO INTO A NURSING HOME,
AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS WERNICKE-KORSAKOFF SYNDROME,
WHICH IS SWELLING OF THE BRAIN FROM YEARS OF ALCOHOLISM.
HERE.
I BROUGHT SOMETHING TO CHEER YOU UP.
DAVID MADE IT FOR YOU.
SEE?
Narrator: AMANDA ALSO HAS IMPORTANT NEWS FOR WILLIAM.
SO, UH...
WE'RE GONNA START WORKING ON YOUR HOUSE NEXT WEEK.
WILLIAM'S FINANCES HAVE BOTTOMED OUT.
TO PAY FOR HIS CARE,
AMANDA EXPLAINS HER FAMILY'S PLAN TO CLEAR OUT HIS HOME
AND PLACE IT ON THE MARKET.
WILLIAM?
YOU DO UNDERSTAND ALL THIS, RIGHT?
[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]
WILLIAM...
YOU'RE HURTING ME.
WILLIAM, STOP.
STOP! NURSE!
[ GASPS ]
WILLIAM.
WILLIAM, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
Narrator: WHILE WILLIAM'S REACTION IS ALARMING,
AMANDA IS DETERMINED TO HELP HIM.
A FEW WEEKS LATER, SHE, ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND, NATE,
AND TWO CHILDREN GET TO WORK ON HIS HOME.
OH, BOY.
OKAY.
[ SIGHS ]
OKAY, GUYS, IT'S GONNA BE FUN.
WE'LL BE LIKE A TEAM. WE'LL GET TO WORK TOGETHER.
Nate: YES, WE WILL. WE'LL SEPARATE THE JOBS.
WILLIAM DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT
FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
WE HAD DONE A LOT OF WORK ON OUR OWN HOUSE,
SO WE FELT THAT IT WOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH OF A PROJECT
TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY.
CAN I HELP PAINT?
OF COURSE YOU CAN, AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
Amanda: DAVID IS VERY MUCH A HELPER.
HE LIKES TO DO EVERYTHING, FROM FIXING A TOILET TO PAINTING.
ALLIAH'S NOT INTERESTED IN FIXING UP THINGS.
SHE'S VERY ARTISTIC.
SHE WAS VERY SUPER-GIRLY, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.
HEY, DO YOU NEED AN INVITE? COME ON.
ALLIAH. LET'S GO.
ALLIAH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SORRY.
COME ON, STOP TEXTING. LET'S GET OUT HERE.
KIMBERLY WANTS TO KNOW IF I CAN GO TO THE MALL.
I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS, IF YOU HELP WITH THE HOUSE.
OKAY. OKAY?
BUT DAVID BETTER NOT GET PAINT ON ME.
OH, MY GOSH. Nate: WOW.
OH, MY GOD.
Amanda: THE HOUSE WAS VISIBLY DARK.
ALL THE WINDOWS WERE LITERALLY SEALED SHUT,
AND THEN THERE WERE LAYERS OF OLD, DUSTY CURTAINS
CLOSED OVER EVERY SINGLE WINDOW.
THE WALLS WERE BADLY STAINED WITH NICOTINE
FROM YEARS OF SMOKING.
THE CARPETS WERE FILTHY.
WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
THIS IS GROSS. I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE CAR.
UH, ALLIAH, COME ON, NOW.
WE PROMISED WILLIAM THAT WE WERE GONNA HELP.
Alliah: WILLIAM'S HOUSE WAS, LIKE, DIRTY.
THERE WAS STAINS, AND JUST EVERYTHING WAS GROSS
AND ALL OVER THE PLACE AND UNORGANIZED.
IT WAS VERY GLOOMY AND DARK,
AND THE WALLS WERE RIPPED UP.
THESE TVs DON'T EVEN WORK.
HONEY, I GUESS JUST... DIVIDE AND CONQUER?
YEAH. WE'LL CLEAR A PATH BACK THIS WAY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
I'LL START HERE.
LET'S GET A BOX GOING.
Amanda: I THOUGHT, "I CAN'T GIVE UP.
I CAN'T STOP WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR.
I CAN'T STOP HELPING HIM GET ALL THIS DONE."
[ BOX THUDS ]
I WENT INTO ONE REALLY LARGE BOX,
AND I FOUND WITCHCRAFT BOOKS, I FOUND SPELL-CASTING BOOKS.
AND WRAPPED UP IN A CLOTH
WAS THIS GOLD-COLORED NECKLACE THAT WAS KIND OF HEAVY.
IT WAS A STAFF WITH A SERPENT AROUND IT,
BUT IT WASN'T THE MEDICAL SYMBOL.
IT WAS DEFINITELY BAD AND NOT GOOD.
NATE!
NATE, CAN YOU COME HERE?!
NATE!
HEY. HEY.
NATE, LOOK. LOOK. LOOK AT THIS STUFF.
LOOK AT THESE BOOKS. THIS STUFF IS CREEPY.
DO YOU THINK HE'S REALLY INTO THIS?
OR WAS?
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? PUT IT BACK IN THE BOX.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. NO.
WHAT -- WHAT ABOUT THIS NECKLACE?
MY HUSBAND'S NOT LIKE ME.
EVERYTHING'S, LIKE, LOGICAL.
HE THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT WEIRD, JUST, "HMM."
BUT HE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, 'CAUSE HE'S REAL RATIONAL.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
I'M GONNA GET THE KIDS,
AND WE'LL JUST CALL IT QUITS, ALL RIGHT?
Nate: I KNOW THAT WILLIAM WAS A STRANGE SORT OF GUY,
BUT THEY'RE JUST BOOKS.
ALLIAH. OKAY.
PROBABLY RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA CALL IT QUITS, OKAY?
Alliah: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
I'M GONNA TURN THE LIGHTS OUT.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA GET DAVID.
[ STATIC CRACKLING ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
DAVID?
DAVID.
HUH?
ARE YOU READY, SWEETIE?
YEAH.
CAN WE GET SOME PIZZA ON THE WAY HOME?
SURE.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
NATE AND AMANDA RENOVATE AND CLEAN THE HOUSE.
AS IT NEARS COMPLETION AND IS READY TO BE PUT UP FOR SALE,
AMANDA PAYS A VISIT TO WILLIAM.
HEY, WILLIAM.
YOU'RE GONNA BE SO EXCITED.
WE'RE NEARLY FINISHED WITH THE HOUSE.
LOOK. I BROUGHT PHOTOS.
Amanda: THE LAST TIME I WENT TO VISIT WILLIAM,
I HAD BROUGHT PHOTOS OF ALL THE WORK THAT WE DID
IN AN ENVELOPE.
AND I SHOWED HIM HOW EVERYTHING HAD BEEN CHANGED
AND HOW MUCH BETTER, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS LOOKED.
LOOK AT THIS. TA-DA!
FRESH PAINT.
HE WAS INTERESTED AT FIRST AND KIND OF LEANING FORWARD
AND SQUINTING AND LOOKING.
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND, BUT SOME OF THIS STUFF
DID GO TO GOODWILL.
HIS WHOLE FACE CHANGED.
BECAUSE WE CLEARED ALL OF THAT OUT --
[ GRUNTS ]
Y-YOU DID THIS TO ME!
WAIT. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
HE STARTED TO GET MEANER,
AND HE SAID HE BLAMED ME BECAUSE HE ENDED UP IN A NURSING HOME.
Y-YOU PUT ME IN HERE!
GET OUT OF MY LIFE!
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE OR ELSE!
GET OUT!
IT REALLY UPSET ME THAT HE WOULD FEEL THAT WAY
AFTER EVERYTHING THAT I DID FOR HIM
AND PRETTY MUCH BROKE MY HEART.
[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: AT WILLIAM'S,
NATE IS PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE HOUSE
BEFORE IT'S PUT UP FOR SALE.
[ VACUUM MOTOR WHIRRING ]
[ CREAK IN DISTANCE ]
[ VACUUM CLICKS, SHUTS OFF ]
AMANDA?
[ VACUUM CLICKS, TURNS ON ]
[ CREAKING IN DISTANCE ]
[ VACUUM CLICKS, SHUTS OFF ]
HELLO?
AMANDA HAD LEFT, AND I WAS AT WILLIAM'S HOUSE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
I HAD A FEELING THAT I WAS BEING WATCHED.
Narrator: AS NATE MORRISON PREPARES TO SELL THE HOME
OF HIS WIFE'S ILL RELATIVE,
HE CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING HE'S NOT ALONE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
I TURNED AROUND AND SAW A TALL, SHADOWY FIGURE.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A HUMAN SHAPE,
ONLY MUCH TALLER AND MUCH DARKER.
IT WAS NOT FRIENDLY.
[ GASPING ]
[ BREATHING RAPIDLY ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ] [ GASPS ]
WHOA.
ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT'S WRONG?
HE LOOKED COMPLETELY STUNNED, AND I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD.
IS MY HUSBAND HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR SOMETHING?"
'CAUSE HE LOOKED VISIBLY WHITE.
I SAW SOMETHING.
OH, NO. WHAT?
IT WAS THIS BIG, UH, SHADOW, AND IT WAS --
IT WAS HUGE, AND IT WAS SHAPED LIKE A PERSON.
OKAY. WHAT WAS IT?
IT WAS SOMETHING, OKAY?
LOOK, I-I-I'M OUT OF HERE.
I GOT TO GO. OKAY.
I GOT TO GO. WE CAN LEAVE. IT'S...
FINE.
MY HUSBAND'S VERY ANALYTICAL,
AND TO SEE HIM SCARED,
TO KNOW THAT HE ACTUALLY SAW SOMETHING WAS VERY SCARY.
Narrator: AMANDA AND NATE LEAVE THE HOUSE
IN THE HANDS OF WILLIAM'S NEW GUARDIAN
AND RESUME THEIR NORMAL ROUTINE.
TO THIS DAY, THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF IT EVER SOLD.
Amanda: EVEN THOUGH THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT
THE WAY I HAD HOPED WITH WILLIAM,
I HAD GOOD INTENTIONS,
BUT I WAS VERY GLAD TO BE OVER WITH IT.
Nate: THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS
HAD BEEN WEIGHING ON US.
IT WAS NICE TO NOT HAVE A WHOLE OTHER HOUSE TO TAKE CARE OF.
Narrator: BUT LITTLE DO THE MORRISONS KNOW THEIR ORDEAL IS FAR FROM OVER.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
8-YEAR-OLD DAVID PLAYS WITH A SECRET SOUVENIR
TAKEN DURING WILLIAM'S HOUSECLEANING.
David: I FOUND THIS NECKLACE WITH A SNAKE AROUND IT.
IT HAD LOTS OF SCALES.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY COOL-LOOKING,
AND I THOUGHT I COULD SHOW MY FRIENDS.
I WANTED TO KEEP IT AND WEAR IT TO SCHOOL.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
HEY.
YOU STILL AWAKE?
IT'S LIGHTS OUT, OKAY?
IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT.
[ LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS ]
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
[ VOICES SCREAMING ]
AAH! MOM!
[ GASPS ]
DAVID? MOM!
NATE? NATE, WAKE UP. WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?
I THINK SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH DAVID.
SWEETIE.
MOM! SHH!
IT WAS -- IT WAS -- WHAT'S WRONG? CALM DOWN.
IT WAS -- CALM DOWN.
IT WAS A --
OKAY. HEY.
HE WAS CRYING OR YELLING, SAYING THAT HE HAD A NIGHTMARE.
I WAS VERY SCARED,
BUT I CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER THE DETAILS.
I JUST KNEW THAT IT FELT VERY REAL TO ME.
SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS JUST A BAD DREAM.
NO. NO. IT WAS --
Nate: I FIGURED THAT, IF HE WASN'T REMEMBERING,
IT COULDN'T BE THAT SERIOUS,
AND KIDS HAVING NIGHTMARES IS A FAIRLY COMMON THING.
DAVID, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN FRONT OF A CAMPFIRE,
YOU WERE IN DIAPERS.
[ CHUCKLES ] WAS I?
THAT'S RIGHT.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
WHILE THE FAMILY DEALS WITH DAVID'S RECURRING NIGHTMARES,
THEY BEGIN TO NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE.
HIS SISTER ALLIAH IS GROWING WITHDRAWN.
Amanda: ALLIAH WAS A VERY BUBBLY, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY KIND OF CHILD,
AND SHE STARTED TO PULL AWAY A LITTLE BIT.
ALLIAH, YOU GONNA JOIN US?
[ SIGHS ]
ALLIAH.
CAN'T YOU SEE THAT I'M BUSY?
WHOA. GOD.
I'M SORRY.
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
OHH.
Narrator: ALLIAH'S PARENTS ARE SHOCKED BY HER BEHAVIOR
AND HOPE IT'S TEMPORARY.
WE FIGURED IT WAS A PHASE THAT SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY
MOVE OUT OF.
Narrator: BUT ALLIAH'S ANXIETY ONLY GROWS WORSE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
Alliah: WHEN I WAS IN MY ROOM,
I FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS THERE, FELT LIKE I WAS BEING WATCHED.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERING ]
[ GASPS ]
[ PEN SCRATCHING ]
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
[ CRIES ]
I REALLY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MYSELF.
SOMETHING IN MY BRAIN WAS TELLING ME ALL THIS CRAZY STUFF
THAT I USUALLY WOULD NEVER DO.
[ GASPING ]
LIKE, SOMETHING WAS TRYING TO CONTROL ME.
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
[ THUNDER CRASHING ]
Narrator: FOR WEEKS, AMANDA MORRISON
HAS BEEN WORRIED ABOUT HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ALLIAH.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Amanda: ALLIAH.
SWEETIE, TIME TO GET UP, OKAY?
IT'S TIME FOR SCHOOL.
ALLIAH.
[ CRASHING CONTINUES ]
ALLIAH.
[ CRYING ]
HONEY!
ALLIAH.
WHAT HAPPENED?
SHE WAS SHAKING, AND SHE WAS CRYING,
AND SHE WAS VERY DISTRESSED.
I KNEW THAT IT WASN'T LIKE A JOKE.
SHE WAS, LIKE, REALLY, TRULY SCARED.
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
I SAW THE WORDS "HELP ME" CARVED INTO HER HEADBOARD.
OH, MY GOD.
[ CRASHING CONTINUES ]
BABY.
SHE STARTED CRYING,
AND SHE SAYS, "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THAT JUST HAPPENED."
IT WAS LIKE SHE BLACKED OUT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
Nate: WE STARTED TO BECOME MORE CONCERNED
THAT THIS WAS A MORE SERIOUS, MAJOR DEPRESSION
THAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH.
ALL RIGHT?
COME ON.
DOCTOR, WE'RE SCARED.
Narrator: HER PARENTS MEET WITH A PSYCHIATRIST,
WHO CONFIRMS ALLIAH IS SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION.
[ PAPER TEARS ] THIS SHOULD HELP.
SO, TAKE THIS TWICE A DAY,
AND HOPEFULLY, IN A MONTH OR SO,
WE SHOULD SEE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT.
Amanda: TO HAVE A CHILD WHO'S DEALING WITH DEPRESSION
OR SOME KIND OF AFFLICTION LIKE THIS,
IT MAKES YOU FEEL COMPLETELY POWERLESS.
EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY.
Alliah: IT WAS HARD WHEN MY MOM AND DAD
AND MY BROTHER WERE WORRIED ABOUT ME,
'CAUSE I FELT LIKE I WAS A BAD PERSON FOR MAKING ANYONE UPSET.
WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS. I PROMISE.
Narrator: IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOW,
THE FAMILY FOCUSES THEIR LOVE AND ATTENTION ON ALLIAH.
AH, I GOT IT.
I THINK IT LOOKS NICE.
YEAH. YOU LIKE IT?
MM-HMM.
THE ROOM HAS A LOT MORE COLOR.
MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE -- BRIGHTEN THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT.
Amanda: SINCE ALLIAH WAS FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE IN HER ROOM
AND TO GIVE HER A FEELING OF A FRESH START, I DECIDED,
"I'M GONNA GO BUY SOME SUPPLIES,
AND I'M GONNA CHANGE AROUND HER ROOM."
NOW, IF WE COULD JUST GET YOU TO PICK UP YOUR ROOM.
IT'S NOT DIRTY -- IT'S JUST ORGANIZED DIFFERENTLY, MOM.
OH.
IT'S FINE. I LIKE EVERYTHING WHERE IT IS.
ALLIAH.
WHAT?
DID YOU TAKE THIS?
NO. WHAT IS IT?
DAVID!
DAVID, GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW!
YES?
DAVID, DID YOU TAKE THIS FROM WILLIAM'S HOUSE?
I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL. COOL?
YOU DON'T TAKE THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG TO YOU.
I'VE TOLD YOU THIS.
I'M SORRY.
Amanda: AS A MOM, I WAS KIND OF UPSET
THAT DAVID WOULD GO INTO THE BOXES
AND JUST START, LIKE, RIFLING THROUGH THINGS THAT WEREN'T HIS.
I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT.
I DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT.
Narrator: MONTHS PASS, AND DESPITE TAKING PRESCRIBED MEDICATION,
ALLIAH'S DEPRESSION ONLY DEEPENS.
Alliah: IT STARTED TO GET TO THE POINT
WHERE SHE STARTED TO WEAR A LOT OF DARK CLOTHING --
BLACK CLOTHING, LIKE, HEAD TO TOE.
THE FEAR OF POSSIBLY LOSING YOUR CHILD
TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS --
WE WERE VERY, VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY
AND HOW IT WAS GONNA CHANGE HER, HOW IT WAS GONNA AFFECT HER,
WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE IT STOP.
[ GASPS ]
I FELT LIKE I WAS TRAPPED FROM MY DEPRESSION.
I WAS REALLY SCARED.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY.
WHAT?
[ GASPING ]
WHAT?
[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: WITH NO WAY OUT,
ALLIAH BECOMES A PRISONER OF HER DARK THOUGHTS.
[ Echoing ] ALLIAH. ALLIAH.
Alliah: IT WAS LIKE THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
AND I STARTED HEARING MY NAME CALLED.
BUT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IN MY HEAD.
ALLIAH.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ SINGSONG VOICE ] ALLIAH.
AAH!
Narrator: 13-YEAR-OLD ALLIAH MORRISON
HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ANXIETY AND FEAR.
Alliah: I FELT, LIKE, A LOT ANGRIER, SO I DIDN'T TALK TO ANYONE.
I JUST WANTED TO DO NOTHING AND JUST STAY IN MY HOUSE.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY.
Narrator: AN EVIL FORCE APPEARS TO BE CONTROLLING HER THOUGHTS.
[ SINGSONG VOICE ] ALLIAH.
I TURN AROUND.
I SEE THIS, LIKE, GIRL STANDING THERE.
SHE HAD BLACK HAIR THAT WAS KIND OF COVERING HER FACE.
SHE WAS SAYING, LIKE, "WE'RE GONNA GET YOU AND KILL YOU."
AAH!
[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]
MOM!
IT'S IN MY ROOM! I SAW IT!
PLEASE, YOU CAN'T LET IT GET ME! IT'S COMING TO GET ME!
MOM, PLEASE, DON'T LET IT GET ME!
Nate: WH-WHAT IS IT? WHAT DID YOU SEE?
Amanda: ALLIAH CAME INTO THE FAMILY ROOM, CRYING.
SHE SAID, "THERE WAS A BLACK SHADOW
THAT ROSE UP OUT OF MY FLOOR
AND WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY BED, AND IT SAID MY NAME."
SHE WAS REALLY, TRULY SCARED.
WHERE'S YOUR BROTHER?
DAVID, DAVID. COME HERE, COME HERE, COME HERE.
SIT WITH YOUR -- SIT WITH YOUR MOM HERE.
HERE. ALL RIGHT.
David: IS SHE OKAY? NO, WAIT. DAD!
HE'S FINE. DAD, IT'S GONNA GET YOU!
ALLIAH.
[ SOBS ]
AMANDA.
[ SIGHS ]
WHAT IS ALL THIS? COME HERE.
LOOK AT THIS.
SHE'S SKETCHING ALL THESE.
NATE, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
I DON'T KNOW.
OUR CONCERN IMMEDIATELY WAS THAT THESE ARE HALLUCINATIONS,
AND VOICES IS A CLASSIC INDICATION
THAT SHE'S DEVELOPING
A PSYCHOSIS GREATER THAN WHAT SHE WAS ORIGINALLY HAVING.
AMANDA AND I WERE VERY AFRAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE HER.
Narrator: THE FAMILY TAKES ALLIAH BACK TO THE PSYCHIATRIST.
I'VE TALKED TO ALLIAH FOR SEVERAL HOURS,
AND I'VE DETERMINED THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANY TYPE
OF SCHIZOPHRENIA OR DELUSION.
HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEVELOPMENT
OF A NEW MENTAL ILLNESS
BUT SOMETHING THAT HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN.
I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE HER MEDICINE,
AS HER DEPRESSION IS STILL SEVERE.
THEN WHAT IS SHE SEEING?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU --
SHE BELIEVES THAT SHE'S SEEING SOMETHING IN HER ROOM,
AND HER FEAR IS VERY REAL.
THIS WAS NOT A FIGMENT OF HER IMAGINATION
OR THE PRODUCT OF AN ILLNESS
BUT WAS AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION
THAT SHE WAS SEEING,
AND HER FEAR WAS REAL.
THE WHOLE MOOD IN OUR HOUSE STARTED CHANGING.
IT WAS TAKING AWAY OUR PEACE,
AND THE AMOUNT OF STRESS QUADRUPLED.
Nate: WE DID FEEL, AS PARENTS,
THAT WE WERE FAILING AT TIMES.
WE WERE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD TO HELP HER
AND SUPPORT HER.
IT WAS PUTTING A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR MARRIAGE,
OUR FAMILY LIFE.
IT WASN'T A VERY GOOD TIME.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
[ MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ON TV ]
[ CREAKING IN DISTANCE ]
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
[ CREAKING CONTINUES ]
DAVID?
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ CREAK IN DISTANCE ]
[ CRACKLING CONTINUES ]
[ CREAK IN DISTANCE ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
D-DAVID?
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]
[ GASPS ]
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ GASPING ]
[ ROARS ]
AAH!
Narrator: FOR MONTHS, AMANDA MORRISON DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE
WHEN HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER
CLAIMED THEY WERE SEEING AN UNEXPLAINABLE TERRIFYING ENTITY,
UNTIL NOW.
[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]
[ GASPS ]
Amanda: I SEE THIS HUMAN SHADOW GROWING TALLER AND TALLER.
[ ROARS ]
AAH!
AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.
BABY. BABY.
NATE, NATE, NATE!
OH!
WAIT. NATE. I-IT'S REAL.
IT'S OKAY. IT'S REAL.
I SAW IT. I SAW THAT THING -- THAT --
THAT THING THAT YOU SAW.
WHAT? WHAT? I SAW THAT SHADOW --
THE -- THE THING -- THE -- IT...
Nate: MY RATIONAL MIND SAID, "IT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THAT."
MY RATIONAL MIND DIDN'T LET ME ACCEPT THIS IMMEDIATELY.
THE THINGS THAT MY FAMILY HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING
WEREN'T SEPARATE --
THEY WERE ALL CONNECTED TO THIS DARK ENERGY.
Amanda: THAT WAS LIKE A TIME-CHANGING MOMENT RIGHT THERE.
"WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON."
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
Narrator: NOT KNOWING WHERE TO TURN,
AMANDA SEARCHES FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN PERFORM A HOUSE BLESSING.
SHE FINDS SAMANTHA HARRIS
OF THE MICHIGAN PARANORMAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION.
I'M A DEMONOLOGIST, PUBLISHED AUTHOR,
AND A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR.
INTUITIVELY, I WAS PICKING UP ON A LOT OF HEAVINESS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF NEGATIVITY IN THE HOME.
IT WAS REALLY OBVIOUS THAT THE MORRISON FAMILY
WAS EXPERIENCING SOME SORT OF STRAINS AND STRESSORS
IN THEIR FAMILY LIFE.
WHEN I WALKED INTO ALLIAH'S ROOM,
I WAS INSTANTLY HIT WITH A HEAVINESS.
I COULD SENSE IT VERY CLEARLY
THAT SOME SORT OF DEMONIC OR NEGATIVE ENTITY
IS ACTUALLY IN THE ROOM WITH ME.
IT'S HERE.
Amanda: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEMONIC PRESENCE IN YOUR HOME.
I FEEL IT THE STRONGEST HERE IN ALLIAH'S ROOM.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
IS THERE SOME WAY THAT YOU COULD HAVE BROUGHT IT WITH YOU?
IS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY,
UM, INVOLVED WITH THE OCCULT OR THE DARK ARTS?
WE RECENTLY FOUND SOME THINGS AT A RELATIVE'S.
Narrator: THE MORE AMANDA TELLS SAMANTHA ABOUT THE BOOKS
AND OBJECTS SHE UNCOVERED INSIDE HER RELATIVE'S HOME,
THE MORE CONVINCED SAMANTHA BECOMES
THAT WILLIAM WAS INVOLVED IN SATANIC RITUALS.
Samantha: AMANDA FOUND THIS BOX
THAT INCLUDED A DEMONIC SORT OF NECKLACE.
DAVID ACTUALLY TOOK THIS NECKLACE
WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY.
I THINK THAT ACTION RELEASED THIS DEMONIC ENTITY
INTO THEIR HOME.
Amanda: WHEN SAMANTHA TOLD US THAT ALL OF THE BAD, NEGATIVE DARK STUFF
CAME FROM WILLIAM'S HOUSE,
I FELT LIKE I UNINTENTIONALLY SABOTAGED MY FAMILY,
LIKE I DID SOMETHING WRONG.
I FELT GUILT.
WHY IS THIS THING AFTER ALLIAH?
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S MORE AT RISK.
IT'S REALLY COMMON
FOR DEMONIC ENTITIES TO FOCUS AND TARGET ACTUALLY ADOLESCENTS.
ALLIAH IS A PERFECT, PRIME TARGET.
BASICALLY, IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR ENERGY.
THEY'RE AT A SPIRITUAL CROSSROADS.
THIS DEMONIC ENTITY REALLY TARGETED HER
AND, I THINK, WAS TRYING TO WILL HER TO THE DARK SIDE.
WE NEED TO DO A BLESSING IMMEDIATELY.
YEAH.
OKAY.
Amanda: AT THIS POINT, IT WAS OUR LAST OPTION.
IT WAS OUR LAST RESORT.
Samantha: OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO PRAY NOW,
AND YOU CAN JOIN IN AS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT'S IMPORTANT
IS THAT YOU REMAIN FOCUSED, OKAY?
OKAY. OKAY.
Nate: SAMANTHA GOT EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
IT WAS A FAMILY ACTIVITY TO CLEANSE THE HOUSE.
HEAVENLY SPIRIT, I BOW IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU.
All: I CLAIM THE PROTECTION OF THE LIGHT FOR MY FAMILY,
MY FINANCES, MY HOME, MY SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY.
I SURRENDER MYSELF COMPLETELY IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO YOU.
I TAKE A STAND AGAINST ALL THE WORKINGS
OF DARKNESS AND NEGATIVITY...
Nate: IT REALLY FELT LIKE MY FAMILY AND I
WERE FIGHTING TO RECLAIM THE HOUSE,
AND THE PRAYER WAS A BATTLE CRY.
All: HEAVENLY SPIRIT,
I BOW IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE BEFORE YOU.
I COVER MYSELF WITH THE WHITE LIGHT
AND PROTECTION OF GOD...
I LOOKED UP, AND THE LIGHT ABOVE OUR TABLE WAS FLICKERING.
All: MY FINANCES, MY HOME,
MY SPIRIT, MY SOUL, AND BODY...
Samantha: ALLIAH WAS KIND OF HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME
CONCENTRATING ON THIS PRAYER
AND STARTED TO FEEL ILL.
All: ...AND EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO YOU.
I TAKE A STAND AGAINST ALL THE WORKINGS
OF DARKNESS AND NEGATIVITY...
Alliah: AS WE WERE SAYING THE PRAYER,
IT FELT LIKE THE DEMON'S TELLING ME,
LIKE, "DON'T SAY IT. DON'T GET RID OF ME."
All: HEAVENLY SPIRIT, I BOW IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE BEFORE YOU.
Samantha: THE DEMONIC ENTITY WAS TRYING TO DISTRACT HER
OR TO CLAIM HER BACK.
All: I COVER MYSELF WITH THE WHITE LIGHT AND PROTECTION OF GOD.
I CLAIM THE PROTECTION OF THE LIGHT FOR MY FAMILY,
MY FINANCES, MY HOME, MY SPIRIT, MY SOUL, AND BODY.
I SURRENDER MYSELF COMPLETELY IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO YOU.
[ SINGSONG VOICE ] ALLIAH.
FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," VISIT...
All: I SURRENDER MYSELF COMPLETELY IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO YOU.
Narrator: THE MORRISON FAMILY
IS ATTEMPTING TO SPIRITUALLY CLEAN THEIR HOUSE OF A DEMON
THAT IS AFTER THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, ALLIAH.
All: I CLAIM THE PROTECTION OF THE LIGHT FOR MY FAMILY,
MY FINANCES, MY HOME, MY SPIRIT, MY SOUL, AND BODY.
Amanda: WE KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS TRYING TO GET TO ALLIAH
AND TAKE CONTROL OF HER, AND WE WERE TERRIFIED.
All: I COMMAND IT TO LEAVE.
HEAVENLY SPIRIT,
I BOW IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE BEFORE YOU.
I COVER MYSELF WITH THE WHITE LIGHT AGAINST ALL THE WORKINGS.
ALLIAH!
KEEP GOING.
I COVER MYSELF WITH THE WHITE...
Narrator: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR SAMANTHA HARRIS
URGES ALLIAH TO STAY STRONG.
Nate: CLAIM THE PROTECTION... ALLIAH!
PRAY WITH ME! ALLIAH!
All: ...BOW IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE BEFORE YOU.
Narrator: BUT THE DEMON KEEPS BECKONING HER TO THE DARK SIDE.
Samantha: THE DEMONIC ENTITY WAS AFFECTING ALLIAH,
KIND OF AS ITS LAST CHANCE TO TRY TO CLAIM HER BACK
OR TO SOMEHOW HAVE POWER OVER HER.
[ Echoing ] ALLIAH.
All: I SURRENDER MYSELF COMPLETELY IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO YOU.
I TAKE A STAND AGAINST ALL THE...
Alliah: I SAID, "NO, I WANT MY HOUSE BACK,
AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP IN MY ROOM AT NIGHT."
SO I TOLD, LIKE, THE DEMON IN MY HEAD, "NO.
JUST GO AWAY."
ALLIAH!
All: I TAKE A STAND AGAINST ALL THE WORKINGS
OF DARKNESS AND NEGATIVITY.
I COVER MYSELF WITH THE WHITE LIGHT AND THE PROTECTION OF GOD.
I DESTROY ALL EVIL AND COMMAND IT TO LEAVE!
Alliah: AFTER WE WERE DONE WITH THE PRAYER,
IT FELT LIKE A BUNCH OF WEIGHT WAS LIFTED OFF.
IT'S GONE!
I DON'T FEEL IT ANYMORE.
MOM, IT'S GONE!
Nate: WHEN THE HOUSE CLEANSING WAS DONE,
THERE WAS JUST A BRIGHTER FEEL,
ALMOST LIKE WE HAD CLEANED THE WINDOWS
AND MORE SUNLIGHT WAS COMING IN.
WE WERE ALL JUST KIND OF HAPPIER.
IT REALLY DID SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT AWAY.
YOU DID GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU DID GREAT.
YOU GAVE ME MY FAMILY BACK.
Amanda: THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT I FELT LIKE I GOT HER BACK.
THAT'S WHEN I HAD MY, LIKE, EXHALE MOMENT,
WHERE I'M LIKE [EXHALES DEEPLY] "IT'S REALLY GONE."
WE KNEW IT WAS ALL OVER,
AND ALL THIS DEMON STUFF CAN GO AWAY,
AND WE CAN LIVE A HAPPY ENDING.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Amanda: OKAY, UM, WHO -- IT'S YOUR TURN.
TO THE LEFT. OKAY.
[ HUMMING ]
[ CARDS TAPPING ] OOH!
THAT'S SOME REACTION. NO.
OHH, I THOUGHT HE WON. I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Nate: WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES
SINCE THE HOUSE CLEANSING.
OKAY. SO, IT'S MY TURN.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ACES?
NO, I DON'T. GO FISH. OHH.
IT FEELS MUCH MORE PEACEFUL.
DAVID SAID THAT HIS NIGHTMARES HAD STOPPED.
OKAY. UH, ACE, PLEASE.
YEAH, THANK YOU. OH!
YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT ONE.
David: MY LIFE IS HAPPY NOW.
EVERYTHING'S GOOD AND BACK TO NORMAL.
MOM, DO YOU HAVE A QUEEN?
Amanda: ALLIAH IS SLEEPING MUCH BETTER.
SHE'S SLEEPING IN HER ROOM. SHE'S NOT WAKING UP AND CRYING.
Nate: I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER GET OVER THE EXPERIENCE.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY CHANGED ALL OF US.
TO BE SCARED OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT
THAT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THAT MOMENT.
Amanda: IT'S STILL AFFECTING ME TODAY.
I GUESS, IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I'M JUST PRAYING TO GOD
THAT IT JUST DOESN'T EVER BOTHER US AGAIN,
YOU KNOW?
I'M STILL KIND OF ON GUARD.
I KNOW NOW THAT THERE REALLY IS GOOD AND EVIL
AND THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT AND IT'S SOMETHING
THAT CAN ACTUALLY COME INTO YOUR HOME AND BOTHER YOU.
Alliah: BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED, I DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IN,
LIKE, DEMONS OR GHOSTS.
NOW I BELIEVE THAT, IF YOU LET THEM,
THEY'LL JUST MAKE YOUR LIFE MISERABLE.
YOU TWO ARE GANGING UP.
DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD.
Narrator: AS FOR WILLIAM, WHOSE DEALING WITH BLACK MAGIC
IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CONJURED THE DEMON IN THE FIRST PLACE,
THE MORRISONS NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
PROBABLY 'CAUSE IT'S HIS LAST ONE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS
IS HAPPENING RIGHT THERE.
AH.
YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH THAT CARD.
David: CAN YOU? I CAN.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS. ALLIAH.
SWEETIE.
ARE YOU OKAY?
YEAH.
YEAH. YEAH. I'M -- I'M FINE.
Alliah: IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU CAN'T REALLY GET OVER OR FORGET.
IT'LL STILL ALWAYS BE THERE.