Three down

I have always been fascinated by the paranormal, though I approach it with measured skepticism rather than blind belief. Most people assume every odd sound indicates a ghost, but true paranormal events are extraordinarily rare.

One night, bored online, I found a local ghost hunting group seeking volunteers. Figuring I'd never hear back, I emailed them on a whim. To my surprise, they responded, and I soon joined them for an investigation, where my analytical approach earned me the role of "science officer."

Over many investigations that year, I logically explained away their supposed findings, frustrating my more credulous teammates. One night in a reportedly haunted park, my female colleagues and I probed the parking lot while the men explored a canyon.

Startled by an excited summons, we raced over. Two-thirds across the park, we were suddenly stricken by an unseen force. One woman collapsed, another doubled over, and I was winded as if punched. Shaken, they sensed a presence impeding us, but I insisted we press on.

The men were fine, having only wanted to share some voices they'd recorded. Though I could rationalize the voices as noise from a nearby street, I still can't explain what stopped us that night.