Haunted College

As I drove to Lees-McRae College in my blue Volks Wagon convertible, I let my brunette hair flow in the wind as I sped to the campus and turned into the school ground. The view of the mountains was spectacular so was the school.

I came to the college for a campus tour back in June and fell in love with it. The stone structures of the college looked like a castle off the cliffs of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it was beautiful and they have lots of activities and clubs to join. I knew I wanted to study here.

I approached the Tate Dormitory.

“Hi Stephanie, I’m glad you made it,” Debby said, smiling. She was the resident advisor.

“Still beautiful,” I said, while looking up at the dorm and taking a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.

“Oh yes.” Debby said. “You’ll be on the fourth floor, room 411.”

She handed me the paper work. “Here are your forms…”

“Thanks, can I sign them later?”

“Sure” said Debby, “do you need help with your stuff?”

“That would be great.”

“Paul and Michael. Get over here and help her,” shouted Debby.

Two guys, hanging out by the dorm entrance, jumped up and began grabbing boxes and suitcases out of my car. When we entered the building, students were everywhere and they were settling into their dorm rooms and unpacking their things. We walked up to the fourth floor and found room 411.

Inside, there were two beds, desks, closets, and dressers. It was nice; I especially the window view of the mountains, it look great from my window and the guys dorm building too. Anyway, luckily I have drapes for I closed them for they won’t see me getting undress.

“Thanks guys…the bed near the window, please.” I said, directing them where to place my things. They put the boxes and the suitcases where I indicated.

“My pleasure,” Paul said.

“See you later,” Michael added, after setting down a box of my clothes.

“Of course, later,” I muttered. Michael was cute too.

Michael helped out other girls too who wanted his help as well. So, off he went – I bet he hit on every girl in the dorm while helping them unpack. I placed my forms on the desk and began settling in. It took a while to unload all my things and put them neatly away. Dresses, jeans, and shirts went in the closet, nightwear, t-shirts, and socks into the dresser.

Just then, I heard a knock. It made me jump. It was Debby.

“Wow,” I stammered, “you startled me!”

“Hi, Stephanie. Did you get a chance to sign the papers?” Debby asked, with her perky eyes.

“Oh no, not yet.” I grabbed them from the desk, read through them, and then walked over to Debby. My hands touched the door and it swung closed, but not all the way. Debby handed me a pen and I put the paper against the wall then signed it.

“If you need anything just call me. You know where I’m staying,” she said as I finished signing. “Oh, and don’t worry – you’ll have a roommate soon.”

I nodded as she walked away.

When I went back in my room, the dressers and closets were empty. All my clothes were back in the boxes. How could this happen? No one was in the room and I was only gone a matter of seconds!

I ran back into the hall and called frantically for Debby.

“Hey!” I cried.

“Yes?” Debby asked, looking surprised.

“My clothes and stuff are all back in the boxes.” I said, with a shaking voice.

“Did you unpack?” Debby asked.

“Yes, I did” I replied.

“Hmm. Are you sure? Maybe the excitement of moving made you forget you hadn’t unpacked?” Debby had a quizzical look on her face.

“Okay?” I said. I was puzzled. I knew I had unpacked! Maybe she was right though, and the excitement of the first day had me hallucinating?

I placed the luggage on top of my bed and opened it. But, as I was unpacking (again?) I heard another knock. It was my new roommate.

“Hi, my name is Tori Pullman,” she said. She reached out to shake my hand.

“Stephanie Ryan, and I got this side!” I said, motioning towards the window. I really wanted to keep that excellent view.

“Just move in?” Tori asked.

“Just moved in,” I said.

A few hours later, we had orientation. As we walked around the campus, learning our way around, the beauty of the mountain scenery and the vast landscape, rich with fall colors and it struck us. They sure made the university a brighter place to learn.

I wondered if I should ask someone about the incident that happened in my dorm earlier. Who would pack all my clothes in a matter of seconds? Would everyone think I was crazy? I stayed quiet.

Later that day, there was a party going on in the cafeteria. It was a little chilly in there, so I decided to get my jacket. When I entered the building and climbed the stairs to the second floor, I strangely found myself back on the first floor.

Whoa. How could that have happened? I thought. I knew the floors were identical and all, but still…this was weird. I went up again, and this time I emerged on the third floor. I had somehow gone from the first to the third floor! Had I been drinking? No I haven’t.

I tried one more time , and this time, I came out on the right floor. Finally! I went in my room, opened the closet and grabbed my jacket. Eager to get back downstairs, I walked back into the hall, but as soon as I stepped out, I felt someone was watching me. I looked back into my room and there was no one in the room. I sauntered back to the cafeteria with a slight chill, confused about what all just happened.

Bam! Our bedroom door slammed open. It was middle of the morning. Tori and I jumped out of our beds. I ran to the door. I looked out and all the other dorm rooms were closed. Everyone was still asleep. They must not have heard our door slam.

It couldn’t have been a draft, because the windows were closed in the room. The windows in the corridor was also closed too. Was someone in our room, maybe?

Since Tori and I were up, and the cafeteria will be opened soon, we decided to get dressed, do a little studying, and then get breakfast. When we got to the cafeteria, we were the first in line. We got our food quickly then sat down, both of us eager to discuss the morning’s spooky events.

A few minutes later, Michael shuffled over to our table.

“Hi, ladies. How are you this morning?” he asked? He was smiling at us.

“Tired,” Tori said.

“Both tired,” I said.

“Why?” Michael asked, his smile being replaced with a look of mild concern.

“Our door slammed all by itself this morning, and woke us up,” Tori said.

“Did you leave your window open?” Michael asked.

“No, it was closed” I said.

“Weird” he replied. “Were either of you standing at the window this morning?”

“No. Why?” I asked, confused. “We were both in the bathroom this morning.”

“I saw someone in your room,” Michael said, looking grim.

“Can you describe her?” Tori asked.

“I was getting ready to go for a run this morning and while I was tying my shoes, I looked up and saw a woman staring at me from your window. She had shoulder-length hair and wore a black-and-white gown. When she turned sideways, she disappeared.”

“You saw a ghost in our room?” I asked a little surprised.

“If it wasn’t either of you, then yes, I guess I did” he replied.