03x02 - The Attic

[bunniefuu]

Narrator: in this world
there is real evil

In the darkest shadows
and in the most ordinary places.

These are the true stories
of the innocent

And the unimaginable.

When single mother selena warner
moves into a new house,

A childhood fear
comes back to haunt her.

She tries to ignore it.

But when her sister encounters
something supernatural,

Selena can no longer deny
that what she fears is real.

Between the world we see
and the things we fear,

There are doors.

When they are opened,
nightmares become reality.

In the northern state
of michigan,

The dark shadow of winter
dominates much of the year.

Vast numbers of restless souls
are buried here.

Despite the barriers of ice
and hardened earth,

Their spirits roam
the frozen landscape...

Lost...

Unaware of their own death...

Still seeking the warmth
of human contact.

Thank you.

In the spring of 2000,

Selena warner separates
from her husband

And tries to make a fresh start.

This is my street!

Are you excited?

Selena: out of all the house
searching I had done,

There was nothing that was
quite like this house.

And, you know, it was perfect.

I was so excited
about getting the stuff in there

So I could just start living
my life in this big house.

Wow!

Narrator: selena's sister
adrienne lives nearby

And is a constant source
of support.

Adrienne:
selena and I are very close.

When she was a child, I always
played second mother to her.

And it grew stronger
as we grew older.

So, this is gabe's room.

Narrator:
selena's 3-year-old son, gabe,

Stays with her grandmother
while she finishes moving.

It's so much bigger
than his last one.

I know -- a place
for his toys, everything.

Now, which one's the closet?

This one right here.

It's big. It's nice.
It's too big for him.

Is that another closet,
or where does that go?

That actually goes
up to the attic.

Can I see it?

Okay.

Narrator: selena has always
been scared of attics...

Ever since she slept in one
as a child.

Well, there it is.

Well, go up.

Oh, all right.

[ Creaking ]

It's kind of small up here,

But this could be used
for somebody's room.

Don't you think?

Oh! Oh! Oh!

What's wrong?

My head.what is wrong?
Talk to me.

My head.

Okay,
you want to go downstairs?

Okay, let's go.
Oh, my god.

Selena: it was like my head was
filled with fog or something.

It was just a lot of pressure
and tension.

Are you okay?
Are you all right?

Can I get you something?

As soon as I got
to the bottom of the step,

It just lifted off of me.

I feel better now.

It just became calm again.

It was just
when we were upstairs.

All right, well...

[ Sighs ]

You know what?
I don't...

Will you help me put this
in front of the door?

I don't want gabe
going up there.

I tell you what.

Why don't we just go

Get the rest of your stuff
moved in, okay?

It's going be all right.

[ Hammering ]

What are you doing?

Oh, honey, that looks great!

Oh, sh**t.
Would you grab my -- thank you.

Got it?

Narrator:
later that day...

Take these.

Huh.

It looks like it's been cut.

It probably just breaks
that way.

That's okay, though.

I will fix this like
it was never, ever broken.

That night,
once the house is ready,

Selena picks up her son, gabe,
from her grandmother's house.

Come here.

Oh, god,
you're getting big.

Did you have a good day?
Yeah.

You had a good time?
Yeah?

That reminds me.

Did you get a chance

To think about that question
I asked you?

I did.

And?

Of course I would like
to watch gabe.

Narrator: with her grandmother
getting older,

Selena needs someone to take
care of gabe while she works.

Oh, thank you!
Oh, my god!

Selena: it was a very perfect
arrangement.

What are you going to
play with?

I knew that he was going to be
with someone safe

And, you know,
he would be okay.

Good night, sweetheart.

Mommy's big boy.

Gabe: mommy!

Mommy!

Mommy!

Hey, what's wrong?

I don't like it here.

Why don't you like it here?

It's scary.

Why is it scary?
'Cause it's new?

Selena: he couldn't really
explain to me what was wrong.

Oh, honey,
that's all right.

Lie back down.
Lie back down.

Good boy.

I am going to be here
with you, okay?

I'm always right down
the hall, all right?

[ Car alarm activates ]

Narrator: the next day,
adrienne returns to watch gabe.

Adrienne: hey, it's me.

Hey.

Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late.

That's all right.

Oh, man, okay.

Okay,
gabe is taking a nap.

Okay.

I usually feed him
around noon.

Okay.

I'll be at work
if you need anything.

You know how to reach me.

Oh, and I made a key
for you, madame.

Thank you very much.

You're very welcome.

Call me
if you need anything.

Okay. Have a good day.
I'll see you later.

[ Creaking ]

[ Creaking ]

[ Creaking ]

[ Creaking ]

Adrienne: I knew somebody
was there, just watching.

Leave me alone.

Stay away from me!

[ Breathing heavily ]

Hey.

What's wrong?

I don't want
to freak you out,

But some really weird things

Have been going on
around here.

Like what?
What's going on?

I was bothered by the feelings
that I was having,

But I had to let her know.

I feel like
I'm being watched.

I could swear
there is somebody here.

Selena: my sister was like,
"well, you know,

Could something
be going on here?"

And I was like,
"I don't know."

Do you ever feel that?

She kind of shrugged it off
a little bit --

Didn't want to believe it.

I don't either.

[ Creaking ]

[ Crash ]

[ Breathing heavily ]

[ Water running ]

[ Breathing heavily ]

I mean, I seriously thought
I was going insane.

Narrator:
the next morning...

[ Television playing
indistinctly ]

Honey, you're standing
too close to the tv, sweetie.

Come on.

Now, isn't that better?

You are not going to get
any headaches now.

Oh, my god.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey!
How are you, darling?

[ Sighs ]

Are you okay?

Not really.

Is gabe okay?

Yeah, yeah.
He's fine. He's fine.

Um...i want to move out.

Narrator: selena believes
her house is haunted.

Adrienne does, too.

I think I got us
something that can help.

But she's more intrigued
than frightened.

Selena: she had brought in a
book that if you take a picture

If something's there, it's going
to come out on the picture.

Hopefully these pictures might
be able to tell me something.

We can figure out
what to do,

Or we can take the pictures
to the experts

And see if they can show us
what to do.

What do you think?

I think it's worth a shot.

Okay.

Here. I'll take this.

Okay. Thanks.

Okay, I'll be right back.

Selena...

Selena, come here.

Come here.
Take a picture.

There is something
right beside me.

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

Oh, that is so weird.

I told her that I felt
that somebody was there.

Okay.

It was so weird.

I didn't know what to think.

I had never experienced
anything like this ever before.

Let's take
the rest of the house.

Okay.
All right.

All right.

Okay.

Okay.

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

Adrienne:
are you okay?

Yeah. It's coming back,
but I'm okay.

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

Hey.

Narrator: the next night,
selena returns home from work

With the developed photographs

That she and adrienne
took around the house.

What's wrong?

Look at these.

Adrienne: sure enough,
right away I caught it.

It looks like a man.

It was a man,
a slender man, very tall.

I could see a cigarette

With smoke
coming from the cigarette.

And look at that.

Oh, my god.

Screaming -- it looks
like it's screaming.

Selena:
there was a face.

It was like a ghostly face,
and I was getting the impression

That he was screaming at me
to get out.

What am I gonna do?
What can I do?

I'm saving, but it's gonna be
a month before I can move out.

I knew I couldn't leave,

So I needed to try to figure out
what else I could do.

I mean, there's a head.

I was terrified.

I want to move gabe
into my room.

I want him to sleep with me.

I don't want him
near that door.

I completely understand.

I didn't know if what was there
was good or bad.

We'll get through this.
I promise.

Narrator: adrienne insists
that she and selena

Ask their neighbors what
they know about the house.

Look, this stuff happens
all the time.

Don't worry about it.

Whoever we talk to,
we can just ask them

If they've ever noticed
anything weird

Happening
at our house.

Selena:
I was a little embarrassed

To bring this up
because I know not everybody

Believes in certain things
like this.

Look, there's somebody
right there.

Come on.

Hey, there.

Oh, hi.

Hi.

I'm selena.

And this is
my sister, adrienne.

I'm louise.
Nice to meet you.

I just moved into that house
right there on the corner.

I'm glad to see
someone finally move in.

Um...

We were just wondering
if anything strange

Had happened in the house
or anything odd.

Nobody ever told you?

Told me what?

The man who lived there
before you died in the house.

He died
of a drug overdose.

What happened to the family
after he died?

They moved...
Right over there.

That red brick right there,
that house.

Hi.

I just moved into
your old house on the corner.

Adrienne: um, some weird
have been going on,

And we were wondering
if those weird things happened

When you lived there?

My father
died in that house.

I'm so sorry.

So am i.

I was very, very reluctant to
show her the pictures at first.

I didn't know how she was
gonna react to them.

Does it mean
anything to you?

Where did this come from?

I took them in,
in my kitchen with adrienne.

That's my dad in the photo.

The last time I saw him
was in that house.

Hey, dad!

You said you quit.

We argued and...

Man: honey, I tried.
Honestly I did.

Do you know
what you're doing to us?

Do you know what
you're doing to us?!

No, it's just that...

I hate you!

He died of an overdose
that night.

I'm so sorry.

Do you think
that maybe his ghost

Is causing problems
in the house now?

No. He made mistakes, but...

Adrienne: the daughter had said
that he was a good man.

He wouldn't harm a soul.

[ Door opens ]

What's going on?

Hello.

These people
moved into our old house.

Hi.

Take a look.

It's his spirit, mom.

He's still there.
They took a picture.

How did you get this?

I-i took it in my kitchen.

[ Crying ] this is
how we used to talk.

He would stand there,
and we would talk...

The mother told me
when she did the dishes,

They would have conversations.

And that's what he was doing.

He was standing behind me,

Possibly wanting
to hold a conversation...

Possibly wanting
to get some help.

I'm so sorry
that we bothered you.

I'm just really sorry.

It's okay.

Selena: thank you.

Yeah.

Selena: I felt like I had
some questions answered.

I might be able to deal
with this a little bit better.

I knew that the man
that passed there

Was no harm to me or my son.

Narrator: the house remains calm
for a few weeks.

[ Footsteps ]

Jeez! God.
Hi.

Hey.

Sorry.

So, how was
everything tonight?

Oh, it was fine.

Yeah?
Nothing unusual?

No, no. Not at all.

Even with the attic?

No. It was dead quiet.

Okay. Good.

By the way, gabe wanted me
to show you this.

He drew this
for you.

Oh!

Yeah.
Oh, my god.

Yeah.

I don't know
what to do with it.

Gabe: mommy!

Gabe...

Oh, my god.

Honey, honey,
what's the matter?

Gabe, are you okay?

Oh, my god,
he's burning up.

Selena: I didn't know
what was going on with him.

Gabe, look at me.
Look at me.

He looked like he was possessed,
like he was in a trance.

We got to take him
to the hospital.

Adrienne:
okay.

Oh, baby.

I'll get your keys, okay?

Thank you. Thank you.
Just go, go, go, go, go.

Hey.

Did you see
my stethoscope?

You hold that while
I go talk to your mom.

There's -- there's no sign
of the high fever.

We've done neurological tests,
and everything's fine.

Okay.
Then what is it, then?

It could be psychological.

They told me
that possibly the reason

Why he was waking up this way

Was due to -- my husband
and I had split,

And possibly it was
affecting him because of that.

It's very traumatic
for a child.

He may still be
getting over the breakup.

It's okay.
He's gonna be fine.

Let's go back.

Narrator: despite
the doctor's reassurance,

Selena wonders
if the spirit in her home

Was causing
gabe's night terrors.

Hey. What is all this?

Well, I'm not gonna be afraid
in my own house anymore,

And I wanted to get stuff
that makes me feel safe.

She hopes that surrounding
herself with religious symbols

Will prevent the spirit
from becoming aggressive.

How was gabe today?

Oh, he was fine.
He was fine.

He was a little tired,

But I stayed with him while
he napped, so he was fine.

You are so good to us.

It's all right.

No, I mean it.
Thank you.

No problem.

[ Glass shatters ]

[ Creaking ]

[ Gasps ]

Gabe, honey, wake up.
Wake up.

Wake up.
We got to go, sweetie.

We'll go for a walk, okay?

You'll be just fine.
Okay.

Narrator:
after several paranormal events,

Selena decides gabe
will be safer

Staying with her grandmother.

Meanwhile,
adrienne is determined

To help her sister clear
the ghost from the house.

Adrienne: I got frustrated.
I got tired of it.

I wanted them gone,

And I went through every room

Rebuking in the name
of the lord.

"And these signs
shall follow them that believe.

In my name, they shall
cast out spirits."

[ Creaking ]
oh, god.

"And these signs shall follow
them that believe.

In my name,
they shall cast out spirits."

[ Breathing heavily ]

In the name of the lord,
I rebuke you!

I command you to leave!

I just felt
if I went any further,

Something bad
was gonna happen to me,

And I walked away.

[ Breathing heavily ]

I was so scared.

Am I doing something right,
or is this gonna get worse?

I'm just wanting
a house blessing.

No, we're not members.

Narrator: selena calls
several local churches,

Hoping to find someone
to bless her house.

You can't do anything
sooner than that?

But no one
is immediately available.

Okay. All right, father.
Thank you.

I may call you back.

Found it.

Adrienne has another idea.

Remember that program
I listened to

About those ghost hunters?
I found their number.

She heard a radio show

That featured
local paranormal researchers.

Just call them.

All right.
All right.

Selena:
I contacted this organization,

Requesting that they come
and do an investigation.

I've tried every other avenue,
don't know what else to do.

[ Telephone ringing ]

Hello.

Narrator: brenda mikulka
is the co-director

Of the southeast michigan
ghost hunters society.

Well, things like...

Brenda:
when I first spoke to her,

I became really concerned

Because she sounded
very frightened.

Would it be okay if we came out

One night next week
to investigate?

I wanted to do the investigation
right away.

She was pretty frightened.

Narrator: brad mikulka
is the team's director.

Brenda is going to
interview you

While I set up the technical
equipment around the house.

Brad: we met the tenant

And we spoke to her
for a very few minutes

About what our investigation
was going to entail.

If even half of what she said
was true

That was actually happening,

It was going to be
a good investigation.

Is there any room you don't
want us to go into?

No. No.
The house is yours.

Go anywhere
you need to.

Adrienne:
I felt a sense of relief.

Oh, gosh,
this is going to go away,

And we're going to get help.

Narrator: the team's psychic,
mary meyka,

Is drawn to the attic.

Mary: I could feel an entity
watching me.

Oh, jesus.

That energy did not want us
there at all.

It was very negative.

You could feel the entity
sucking energy from you.

Everybody living there
was invading on his space,

His privacy,
and he just wanted people out.

Narrator:
brad sets up a motion detector.

[ Beeping ]
it will trigger an alarm

When anything moves
in front of the camera.

Brenda: how many people
live here?

Selena: there is just two
of us -- my son gabe and i.

But adrienne babysits during
the day, so she's here a lot.

Adrienne,
you don't live here,

But you've witnessed
these events, too?

Yes, I have.

Both of us have felt
like we are being watched.

Selena:
they made me feel really calm

And let me know
that it would be okay

And they said they know it seems
like it's a bit overwhelming,

But they were hopefully going to
be able to tell me

What was going on there.

[ Groan ]

Narrator:
the spirit mary senses

Is far less hostile than the one
she encountered in the attic.

It's all right.

It's okay.

Mary:
I sensed a lot of sadness.

You can trust me.

I didn't sense
any hostility whatsoever.

He wanted to make good with his
family before he crossed over.

That's where the very sad energy
was coming from.

It's okay.

You can trust me.

Anything else
unusual happen?

A picture fell off the wall
in my room.

That was really scary.

[ Alarm buzzing ]

What was that?

Motion detectors.

[ Buzzing continues ]

Did we get something?

I don't know.
I'm rewinding it right now.

There.
Did you see that?

There.

What?

Did you see that?

What is it?

It's an orb --

Traces of a spirit.

There it is again.

Well, what's it doing?

I'm thinking, "oh, my gosh,
what did we get ourselves into?"

Well, what's it doing?

Are you okay?

Right here.
Let's go.

We have to go back,
review all the tapes,

Find out
exactly what you do have.

Narrator: after spending
several hours in the house,

The researchers are confident

That there are at least
two entities present.

So what happens now?

Selena:
how do we get rid of these?

I want them gone.
I told them I couldn't move out.

I could care less
if the nice one stayed,

But the one upstairs
has got to go.

Once we know more...

Narrator: the researchers
are reluctant to tell selena

That they may not have
a solution.

You have to be careful
because you can't tell someone

Who might not have
the means to move,

"You need to get out now

Or something bad
is going to happen."

So you have to
kind of tread lightly

And just advise them
the best that you possibly can.

Okay, thank you.

Selena:
so I was trying to force myself

To be a little bit more
comfortable with it,

But on the inside,
I was terrified.

Selena: yeah, sweetie,
I'll be home for dinner tonight.

Okay? All right.
I'll see you later.

Can you put nana on the phone?

Narrator: selena keeps gabe
at her grandmother's house

While she waits for news
from the investigators.

Yeah.
Thanks again.

Okay, yeah,
I'll talk to you later. Bye.

What's wrong?

What if they can
hear us?

At least they know we are
trying to get rid of them.

That's what
I'm worried about.

[ Knocking ]

Are anybody?cting
no.

I'm not either.

Narrator:
adrienne recognizes the daughter

Of the man who died
in the house.

You remember
my sister adrienne.

I'm here so I can make peace
with my father.

Selena: she says,

"I think this is going to be
the only thing

That is going to help my dad
move on."

This is a friend of mine,

And I think she can help
my father move on.

I'm a spiritualist,

And I'd like to try
and communicate

With the spirit
in the house.

If you guys don't mind,

I'd really like to walk
around the house.

Not at all.
Please.

Thank you.
That's exactly what we need.

Narrator: the woman will use
purified saltwater and prayer

To bless the house.

Dear lord, please protect me
from harm and wickedness.

Narrator: selena and adrienne
hope that her blessings

Might also expel
the angry spirit in the attic.

You have passed on.

You don't belong here
anymore.

Your family loves you
and forgives you.

You can be at peace.

Narrator: the daughter returns
to the basement

To make peace
with her father's spirit.

Dad, it's me.

Do you know
what you are doing to us?

I never want to
see you again.

I just want to let you know

That you don't have to
stay here anymore.

We want you to be
at peace.

I love you very, very much.

And I'm not angry at you.

I forgive you.

And I hope
that you can forgive me.

How did it go?

I think he's crossed over.

Oh, that's great.

Yeah.
Good.

It feels kind of different
in here, doesn't it?

It seemed like there was light
in the house.

If anything changes --

If you feel anything
different,

Anything unusual happens,

Please feel free
to give me a call.

Anything unusual.

Okay.
Okay.

Thank you so much.

Selena:
it was like an instant calmness.

A ton of tension
was just lifted off of us.

Narrator: the house remains
peaceful for several days.

Selena decides it's safe
to bring her son back home.

You want some cookies?
Yeah.

Yeah? How many does mommy
let you have?

Two.

I will let you have three.
[ Chuckles ]

All right, I'm going to go
get some cookies, okay?

All right.

Here, just...
Does that look good?

Yeah.

Okay.
I'll be right back.

Okay.
Okay.

Gabe?
[ Screams ]

Gabe!

No! No!
Gabe!

No.
Gabe. Gabe.

Oh, look at me.
Look at me!

Come on.
There's nothing there.

Come on.
Look at me, sweetie.

Come on, beautiful kid.
Come on.

Come on. Come on.
Gabe.

Help me, come here.

What happened?
I don't know.

I just turned around,

And the minute
I turned around --

I'll take him.
Come here, sweetie.

He was on the ground.

It was just like before.

Can you get his coat?

Selena: you could see,
just the look in his eyes,

That something was wrong.

Here she is.
Okay. Okay.

"I'm out of here."

I knew that the man
who had passed hadn't done it.

He went on
to where he needed to be.

But that thing in the attic
stayed behind.

Narrator: that night, selena,
adrienne, and gabe

Finally leave the house
for good.

Knowing that I didn't have to
go back to the house

Was a relief.

Is he good?

Yeah, he's all right.
Go ahead.

Okay.
Are you sure?

Selena:
when I left that house,

It was like an instant sense
of peace.

I just hope that whatever
that was, it's moved on

And it no longer hurts
or bothers anybody else.