Part 16 (1/2)
”Right now the energy is so strong, it feels like my head is going to blow off my shoulders as I'm trying to drive down Route 28 in Salem, New Hamps.h.i.+re,” I said, my voice raised a couple of octaves above the norm. ”This is not good!”
Over the continuous beeping of the EMF meter, Ron said, ”Maybe this is his way of getting back at us for not allowing him to channel.” He hesitated. ”He's going to kill us both.”
An involuntary sigh escaped my lips. ”Ohhhhhhh, now's not a good time to channel.” I mentally shoved back with greater force than I did at Stonehenge.
”Do you want me to drive?”
”No, I can handle it,” I said, more determined than ever to remain in control.
Ron, sounding a bit nervous, said, ”Okay, but don't channel.” He reached into the duffel bag lying between his feet and pulled out the familiar blue bottle of ”special blend.”
SPECIAL BLEND.
Ron's trademark method of protection. Reportedly a special mixture of liquid sage, holy water, and Jack Daniels (according to Ron) in a blue gla.s.s bottle with an atomizer. Only Ron knows the true ingredients.
Instantaneously the meter stopped, as if the spirits feared the mixture.
We looked at each other, wide-eyed, our voices resonating as one. ”Oh-my-G.o.d.”
”Oh, my...do you believe that?” I said.
”That's freaky,” Ron said.
Suddenly remembering that we were recording the event for a podcast, I said, ”Okay, we have to say what just happened here. I'm still feeling energy, by the way. I think he's in the backseat,” I emphasized. ”Ron whipped out the holy water and sage mix... and at that very second the EMF beeping stopped.” I continued, ”What does that tell ya?” My sentence broke off with a laugh. ”That the spirit knows he's going to be spritzed.” I glanced in my rearview mirror, the energy so strong I half expected to see him sitting there staring back. A little nervous, I said, ”He's in the backseat, Ron, if you wouldn't mind spritzing there too.”
Ron turned and began spraying over his shoulder. He looked at me. Reading my thoughts, his demeanor changed. His voice was now laced with concern. ”Wow, this is definitely not good.”
The energy began swirling around me, closing in as if the spirit were trying to escape being sprayed and was intent on sharing my body. It suddenly became difficult to see. My peripheral vision was getting hazy. I dug my fingers into the steering wheel and mentally pushed back once again. The sudden haze in my vision receded. There was no way I could allow this to happen. I was driving, for G.o.d's sake! ”This isn't a joke, you know. I am totally serious.” I became even more determined as I gripped the steering wheel tighter. ”Don't worry; I am in control.”
Ron fidgeted in the seat to remove the EMF meter from the front pocket of his jeans. He turned to me, holding the meter in the air. ”You tell me this. How can my meter go on, when it's switched off?”
My jaw dropped. ”Oh my G.o.d.” Although the switch was turned off, Ron's meter was beeping wildly. I could hardly believe my eyes.
A sudden jolt of energy seared my forehead. ”Ohhhh...I can feel energy,” I yelled.
”Wait a minute,” Ron said. He lifted the blue bottle once again. ”I got the spritz.”
I choked when I swallowed a mouthful of special blend.
”Can you drive and channel at the same time?”
”Ahh, I don't know. I've never done it.”
”Do you want me to drive?”
”No. Why don't we say a prayer?”
As we began to recite the Our Father, I couldn't help but notice the sky in front of us. With each verse we recited, the cloudless sky, through the winds.h.i.+eld of my Audi, began dramatically changing from blue to a deep crimson to flaming orange. ”Ron, check that out,” I said, giving a quick nod.
”Holy s.h.i.+t!”
The energy seemed to subside, but I wasn't convinced. I was nervous to keep driving, and I was hungry, so I told Ron we were pulling over.
Once in the Wendy's parking lot, Ron asked, ”What now?”
”Well, I don't know. You think we should spray the car with the special blend?”
”Probably.”
With all four doors open, he began dousing my black leather seats with spray. I cringed; what the h.e.l.l was I thinking? My poor leather seats.
We went into Wendy's, ordered, and found a table.
Ron said, ”So, now that I'm thinking about it, we may have only chased him out of your car and into the parking lot...What do you think would happen if he followed you home?”
I scanned the room, replaying Ron's question in my mind. Hmmm. I shrugged my shoulders as I took a bite of my cheeseburger. ”It hasn't happened while working with you yet, but when it does, I'll let you know.”
Little did I know these words would come back to haunt me.
RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
Although America's Stonehenge was relatively quiet, aside from the annoying Native American spirit, the trip home was full of excitement. By carelessly forgetting to protect our vehicle, we unintentionally invited an unwanted guest along for the ride. Although we were able to protect ourselves from the spirit's advances, his energy was so strong that later, when Ron attempted to replace the battery in his EMF meter, the leads were found fused to the battery.
episode thirteen
THE CONCORD COLONIAL INN.
CASE FILE: 6498923.
CONCORD COLONIAL INN.
Location: Concord, Ma.s.sachusetts.History: The Inn, rumored to be built on a Native American burial ground, is comprised of three buildings and sits across from Monument Square in historic downtown Concord. The left side of the building is the oldest, built by Captain James Minot prior to 1716. In 1799, the right side of the building was built, the home of Henry Th.o.r.eau and his aunts. The center building was used during the Revolutionary War to store weapons. In 1855 it became a boarding house, and in 1900 it became the Colonial Inn.Reported Paranormal Activity: Room 24 seems to be the focus of paranormal activity. Although some guests clamor to sleep in haunted Room 24, staff and others refuse to enter. Doors open and close by themselves, books fly off the shelves, and full-bodied apparitions have been seen.Clients: Arthur (head waiter).Investigators: Ron (lead investigator), Maureen (trance medium), Leo (photographer), Linda (Leo's wife), Janet (Ron's wife), Clay (tech manager), Janet (Clay's wife).
Ron and Maureen at the Concord Colonial Inn
Maureen and I sat with our laptops in the crowded, haunted Room 24 of the Concord Colonial Inn, antic.i.p.ating another remote episode of Ghost Chronicles Ghost Chronicles. It was 9:55 p.m., five minutes before we were due to begin, and our guest had yet to arrive. David Grossenburg, the manager of the inn, had invited my wife and me to spend the night, but first we had to do the show. The other members of the NEGP sat on the bed, waiting. As I s.h.i.+fted in my chair, a soft knock interrupted my train of thought. I breathed a sigh of relief when the door opened and I realized it was Arthur, our guest. Finally. Pulling out the chair, I quickly motioned for him to take a seat. Not trying to hide the irritation in my voice, I said, ”Cutting it close, aren't we?”
”Well, I was busy downstairs with...”
I cut him off. I really didn't care. There was no time for explanation. ”It's showtime.”
Our producer, Erik, echoed over the headset, ”You're live.”
”Good evening everyone, welcome to another edition of Ghost Chronicles Live Ghost Chronicles Live, on TogiNet. I am Ron Kolek, your host, the gatekeeper to the realm of the unknown, the unexplained, and the unbelievable, New England's own Van Helsing. With me tonight, as usual, is my co-host, psychic investigator for the New England Ghost Project, the Queen of Pain, Maureen Wood. We're broadcasting live from the haunted Concord Colonial Inn in Concord, Ma.s.sachusetts, and our special guest is Arthur, the head waiter.