It was at 4 am that I heard the first thump. Then, silence. And another thump.
A door creaked somewhere, as doors are wont to, when sticking to traditions that go beyond our age and time. I rubbed my eyes, got off the bed, and groped with my feet for where I thought my slippers lay. They touched nothing but smooth tile.
Barefoot, I crept forward. The house was quiet, and suitably tomb-like. I shivered, tried walking bravely, and then realised I missed my mommy terribly.
There was nothing, just furniture lying around the way it always had. I got to the living room and opened the door, bracing myself for the kind of stuff you get when you rent a VCD titled 'Night of the Living Dead'. The aisle outside was empty, just stairs following each other into thickening slabs of darkness.
Yet, I could have sworn I heard, faintly, the clank of chains being dragging down, step, by step, by step.
I know what you're thinking: This guy needs all the help he can get, right? It's either serious paranoia, or a compulsive disorder, isn't it? But I'm hardly the only one. There are millions of events, sightings, and seemingly inexplicable incidents that constantly happen somewhere on the planet even as we read this. All you have to do is know where they happen, and meet the people who stand as unwilling witnesses to them.
Experts call this sort of unexplained phenomena, the 'paranormal.' I prefer the phrase 'Scary stuff to scare the crap out of you.'
The criteria for labelling something under this category includes topics like ghosts, UFOs, near death experiences, psychics, aliens, spirit guides and, by popular demand, even the X-files TV Series.
A good place to start off on a quest of your own is the Paranormal Search Engine. At the click of a button it lays before you the best of the web related to UFO encounter reports, image collections, prophecies, government cover-ups, ghost sightings, life on other planets, and also the best in science fiction from Hollywood.
Then, there's Obiwan. Not the guy from that Star Wars flick, but the guy who hosts a UFO-Free Paranormal Page. It claims to be the oldest true ghost story archive online, with stories dating back to 1993.
Yeah, that old!
The site also has an official FAQ for the alt.folklore.ghost-stories newsgroup, apart from hundreds of paranormal links, a lot of information on haunted places, true ghost stories from people like me, a list of haunted places to visit, ghostly photos and some info about Ouija.
To be honest, mere ghost sightings can get a bit mundane at times, especially after everyone from your grandmother to a neighbour's milkman begin to claim one of their own.
Which is why I appreciate how Paranormal Phenomena goes beyond the merely sensational. It lets you read about Visions at the Hour of Death, for example. Or lists some Psychic Pet Stories, and even talks about the Ghost That Solved Its Own Murder -- supposedly a true story about the Greenbriar Ghost who testified about its own violent death and even named the murderer!
Just the kind of stuff our Mumbai police could use every once in a while.
Since we are talking about the paranormal, for some vague reason, there's also a lot of the occult online. The word is derived from the Latin 'occultus' which means 'hidden'. It has been defined as any activity that is esoteric, depends upon talents which lie beyond the five senses, or engages with the supernatural. A little know fact is that 'occult blood' is a medical term referring to blood which cannot be seen except, perhaps, under a microscope. The Occult covers related topics, including conservative Christian beliefs about the occult, the 'real' occult, and more.
Also, the Occult World Ledger reviews and rates books on the occult and occultism, while Occult Resources (http://www.spiritonline.com/) is perfect for those interested in understanding and discussing religion and metaphysics.
Back to topics we're more comfortable with, via Paranormal.com. It boasts lots of discussions forums, current news, links, and even a free paranormal.com email account.
Can things get any better?
Yes. If you log on to Paranormal News, that is. Where else can you get news stories on how David and Victoria Beckham have discovered that their house is haunted by a ghostly lord who rides around on horseback? Or that Bonnybridge, a central Scottish town, has reported over 60,000 sightseeing Martians and other unexplained phenomena? Add to these juicy titbits some image archives and web videos, and you can forget about sleeping for a minimum period of one night.
Did you also know that there are professionals who handle this sort of thing? They're called parapsychologists, and the International Society for Paranormal Research is a good place to find out more about them. The ISPR has been around for over 28 years now, and boasts the first and only professional parapsychological investigative team of its kind, internationally, under the direction of founding Parapsychologist, Dr. Larry Montz, who happens to be the only 'degreed' field parapsychologist - whatever that means -- in the United States.
Why am I mentioning this? Just in case you have problems with monsters under your bed, old women stalking your garage, or aunts who claim to be psychic; and don't know whom to mention it all to. ISPR investigators have also routinely assisted police agencies with missing persons and homicide cases, in addition to scientific investigations of paranormal activity.
There's loads more online, obviously. After all, they don't call it the information superhighway for nothing.
X-Project Paranormal Magazine gets you a daily paranormal newswire via email. Perfect for those who love poring over topics like aliens, Cryptozoology, and gothic folklore, over their morning cuppa. ParaScope is more interesting because it concentrates on investigating, researching and reporting on the most shocking stories of our time. A highlight here is its section titled ParaDocs: Paranormal Government Secrets, where you can see pictures of a Soviet 'psychotronic generator' in action, or get the low down on electromagnetic mind control experiments. Finally, for victims of paranormal activity, the Straw Guy's Home offers help dealing with the dead, information about witches, magical herbalism, and spirit guides.
As for me, I live with my parents now. And a dog. And a licensed pistol.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Mystical
A good place for all things mystical.
Occult 100
Has an occult search engine, links, online shopping and other resources.
Museum of Unnatural Mystery
Want bizarre science? Try this 'cyberspace museum.'
Anomalies
A huge database of supposedly paranormal events, objects, and people.
Occult-Shop
An online store for all things dealing with magic, witchcraft, and the occult.
The Paranormal
A paranormal encyclopaedia of sorts, with information on different aspects of the paranormal.
Paranormal Research Primer
A fairly comprehensive overview of subjects that fit under the 'paranormal' label.
The Spirit Website
For information on ghost hunting and paranormal investigations.
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