C&T Publications Eye On Fine Art Photography - October 2014 | Page 77

Haunted Places
by Cindy Ackley Nunn

From big city to small village nearly every place has its tales and
legends of a haunted location, whether it be an old house, cemetery,
hospital, sanitarium, various other buildings or even the local woods.
There is just something about an abandoned structure or area that
lends itself to stories of ghostly lights, screams in the night and misty
apparitions that stare at the world with black, soul-less eyes.
Maybe these derelict places are not really haunted in the normal sense
of the word by spirits of the past. Could it not be that an old house,
once used to the lively voices of children and the every day sounds of
lives being lived, creates its own haunting, pulling memories from the
very fabric of the walls to recreate a form of life within its walls? We
will probably never know the answer, but no matter what the
explanation it is undeniable that some places just gives us the willies
and send shivers up and down our spines with a tingle of fear.
Some people, like myself, are inexplicably drawn to these dark and foreboding relics, who, instead of taking the safest course of
running away, we instead head straight into the dark abyss, searching for clues and asking for signs. No matter how gripping the
fear, and ignoring those little warnings like hairs standing up on the back of one's neck or a sudden burst of icy cold wind in a
windless room, we carry on further into the inner sanctum. Suddenly, a sound echos in the dark, jarring us out of our comfort zone
and into the realms of delightful terror. This is what we came searching for, and now that we have it our first instinct is to find a
safe place to hide, but where? In that moment as you frantically look around the decrepit chamber you realize that there is nowhere
to hide from a presence you cannot see. Your heart races, your hands become slick with sweat and your mind begins sending out
frantic unspoken messages... “Get out! NOW!” “Go, go, GO!” You find the doorway, or what is left of it, and flee through it like a
bat out of hell, never stopping until you reach the safety of the great outdoors, and under the welcome light of the moon you, along
with your companions, collapse to the ground, gasping for air and trembling as adrenaline races through your body. And then,
someone issues forth with a small tentative giggle, and soon everyone is laughing, joined in the shared relief of having survived the
unknown horrors lurking in the dark.
The rush was immense, the thrill indescribable,
the fear delectable. You all rise, turn toward the
abyss, and enter again for another round.
Oh yes, these places that send cold darts of terror
into our hearts also lure us back in to their velvety
darkness with whispered promises of secrets
revealed.
The mystery of haunted locations is an enduring
tradition throughout the world. Lets hope it stays
around for future generations to also enjoy the
thrill of a little scare.
The ruins of Ravensworth Castle near the former stables. © Cindy Ackley Nunn

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