I was reminded by a friend of their family horror story. It happened only five years ago. There were multiple family witnesses, all adults over eighteen years of age. The elderly mother, who had sold the family home had taken the proceeds and in turn rented a two-bedroom home. Her oldest son, now divorced, but with health issues, was to live in the finished basement. He easily converted this into his living space. He has three adult girls, the youngest then 22, would visit her father, aunt and grandmother often. And usually, especially on weekends would bring her pack of friends. Meanwhile, the mother and daughter had bedrooms on the first floor.

The Exorcist Marathon

The family attests that things started to go awry after the son, we’ll call him Steve, who grew up with The Exorcist phenomenon of the ’70’s, decided to show his daughter and friends the film down the basement. This was all unbeknownst to the grandmother and aunt, who staunchly forbade any even vaguely occult practice. The group intrigued, watched the film and the director’s cut in a marathon evening. The next few gatherings, the group of friends made a drastic decision. One of the girls’ parents had a said Ouija board!

Playing With The Devil

Sure enough, the girls rallied at the house and headed for the basement. Steve wasn’t home yet, but the aunt Carol, and Grandmother Ethel, were preoccupied upstairs and paid no mind. After hearing a few giggles and shrieks from the basement, Carol decided to see what the motley bunch was up to. When she descended and seen that they were huddled around the Ouija board she chastised her niece. Carol told her that she knew better and to never bring that into the house. She made them, then and there take it out into the firepit. Carol had to tell her mother Ethel, who panicked. Ethel personally went to supervise the burning. Only, it charred but would not fully ignite. {Now I have heard this before from a relative’s friend. They had a bad experience and tried to burn the board. It would not catch on fire.} They pulled it out of the firepit and promptly put it in the outdoor trash bin.

Things Go Bump

Not even a week later. Carol thought she had seen a shadow in the kitchen. In another instance Ethel swore she seen the dark silhouette of a man in the short hallway leading to the basement door. They said nothing to each other. When all were gathered for the weekend festivities, including Steve, his three daughters and their large group of friends they funneled outside for a cookout. Carol was trailing Ethel when one of Steve’s daughters turned to say something to Carol. There was a tall dark shadow figure behind her. Her niece said, “who’s that?” The figure promptly bolted down the hallway and dissolved into the basement door. It rattled them. Outside, still shaken, it was the talk of the weekend.

Girl Running

A week later, in the kitchen Carol saw an 11- or 12-year-old girl in a blue gingham dress dart out of the corner of her eye. Once more, Ethel had seen the same girl in the kitchen and had to pause thinking who it could be, before the girl vanished. One of Steve’s daughters stopped to visit, and while sitting in the TV room which is open from the kitchen, seen the same girl running from one side to the other side of the room. She jumped up and cried out “who’s that girl!” Then all three women collaborated on what they had witnessed and seen. The girl in the blue gingham dress.

Basement Handyman

Carol’s boyfriend, rendered some services down the basement, helping to rearrange furniture and hang a few things. No stranger to the supernatural he told me, “There’s definitely something down that basement. The hairs on the back of your neck will stand up! I told them to get out of there as soon as possible.” {He was instrumental later on, in finding another home for all of them. He has had several exceptional experiences which I have documented in other posts.}

The House Blessing

This is where I come into the story, though my memory had to be jogged. Carol called me frantic, asking me to bless the house. I wasn’t free that upcoming weekend, but I would absolutely supply her with Holy Water, and though she isn’t Catholic, a much-needed Crucifix if she was comfortable with that. She was and then some. She told me that her mother and Steve’s three daughters went from room to room, praying and blessing each. She splashed Holy Water and told the evil to leave, and she meant it. After the blessing, all was calm. But not taking ANY chances, they soon found other accommodations.