Tipsy Moon

O'Connell took an old oil lamp (which added to the creepy atmosphere) and walked ahead of me, showing the way. I lighted up my way with the flashlight on the camera.

By the way, the connection in the castle was completely lost.

"Guys, there is no connection at all", – I said, switching the camera to myself. – "Please leave comments later, whether you heard the steps on the video. And now we are climbing a narrow spiral staircase that leads to the Bloody Chapel. The staircase, by the way, is quite well preserved. As is the entire castle".

I stepped very carefully, afraid of falling on these narrow ancient steps…

"Tell me, why did they build such huge rooms with ceilings several stories high in all the castles, but not normal stairs?!" – I complained to our subscribers. – "Well, they obviously figured it out later, of course, because the estates of a later period that Bridie and I had already visited had gorgeous grand staircases".

We finally reached the highest point, where I spent a couple of minutes catching my breath, bent over. And O'Connell looked like he hadn't walked up the stairs at all… Had he gotten used to it over the years of excursions?

To my right, I heard a rustling sound, like a whisper. I immediately forgot about the lack of oxygen, straightened up and looked in the direction from which I had heard the strange sounds. Birds maybe? The manager had said something about ravens…

But to my right, there was only a blank wall with a window without glass. The wind maybe?

"Do you need any help from me now?" – O'Connell asked, interrupting my inner thoughts.

"I guess not", – Bridie replied, switching on the infrared camera. – "Thank you, Mr. O'Connell. You've already helped us a lot by allowing us to conduct investigation here, and by staying with us".

"You're welcome", – the manager bowed slightly. – "I'd be happy to join you. I find these investigations quite interesting. I wonder what they're like. Those who live on the other side…"

After these words, I got the impression that he was hiding something… Who lives on the other side? Had he someone specific in mind maybe?

Usually, the employees and owners of castles and estates are very skeptical about supernatural phenomena and always try to find a rational explanation for them right away. But this manager… It was as if this was his world. Nothing out of the ordinary… Big deal, footsteps and voices…

I wonder if the camera caught that whisper. I'll watch the footage later.

"So, Bridie, shall we get started?" – I asked my partner.

"Yeah, let's do it. It's already dark".

"I'll film from this angle near the entrance. Your camera is pointed at the three of us, so the viewers will see that we're not doing anything to fake any kind of supernatural phenomena. Bridie, tell our friends on the other side of the screens what other equipment we have here, and what they are used for".

"Yes, of course. In the center of the room, on the floor, in a circle we placed a chain of special lights that react to electromagnetic radiation. In fact, most of our equipment works this way. For example, that music box that stands by the window, and the rampod on this stone pedestal, which is closer to the second window. By the way, Mr. O'Connell, can you tell me what this pedestal was used for? While I was setting everything up, the rampod went crazy here several times… "

"This is an altar. They say that some kind of rituals with sacrifices were held here", – the manager said in an absolutely calm voice.

Lucky for him… He tells everyone about it almost every day. I guess he's used to it by now. And my throat suddenly went dry from what I heard…

"Ah, well then, let's leave the rampod there for now. Maybe we'll be able to talk to one of the victims", – unlike me, Bridie was not a timid person, so without her I never visited places with such a terrible history.

A little to the right of the altar I noticed a bright green light.

"Bridie! Flux!" – I pointed my hand at a small triangle on the floor.

"Oh! Do you agree with me? Will you talk to us today?" – Bridie exclaimed excitedly.

"Guys, Flux is a motion sensor. On one side it lights up green, which we usually interpret as "Yes", and on the other side it lights up red, which we understand as "No", – I explained to the camera.

"Kat, EDI", – Bridie pointed to the window that was closer to me. On its windowsill there was a small device with several types of multi-colored lights. I turned the camera there.

"Blue. Air pressure. Guys, this device records changes in various atmospheric parameters: pressure, humidity, temperature. Oh! And red too. The temperature has dropped. Listen", – I turned the camera to Bridie. – "Maybe I should move it from the window? After all, it has no glass, and the air temperature drops at night".

"Yes, you're right. Let me move it closer to you".

"No, there might be cool air coming from the door. Let me put it closer to the lights. See, guys? A lot can be explained by the wind, or the natural sounds of the building, for example. Well, we have ancient stones here, which means we can’t explain the strange sounds by the settling of the building. By the way, Bridie, did you come down the stairs about twenty minutes ago?"

"No, I was here the whole time. Why?"

"I heard someone’s footsteps coming from the stairs when we were sitting in the living room. I thought maybe it was you…"

"No, it definitely wasn’t me".

"I see…" – I said quietly and went to move the EDI.

When I approached the window, music started playing.

"Oops! Guys, it’s me. Don’t be scared!" – I smiled and moved away from the window. – "As you can see, the music box reacted to my phone. Now, most likely, the lights will go crazy too".

I placed the device in the center of the circle of lights, which, as I expected, all began to flicker at once.

"Look, huh? You've got all the devices going crazy! Look at the EDI – it's twinkling like a Christmas tree!" – Bridie scolded me jokingly.

"Uh… I didn't do that… EDI doesn't respond to radiation. But let me step back just in case".

I returned to my original position near the entrance, where O'Connell was standing quietly, leaning against the door with his arms crossed over his chest. He was watching us with a very serious face, as if he was waiting for something to happen.

I shook my head. Okay, I need to push these thoughts away.

"Kat, should we try the recorder?" – Bridie asked.

"Yeah, go ahead. Maybe we can catch something. When I came in here, I thought I heard something, like a whisper".

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the manager turn his head sharply in my direction.

"Did you hear it too?" – I asked him.

"No… I didn't hear anything…" – he answered with genuine surprise in his voice.

Does he always hear what others hear? And did I hear what others didn't?..

"Maybe it was just a rustling sound, not a whisper", – I tried to calm him down (or myself?). – "Or the sound of the wind, or mice… Or a bird. Downstairs you said something about ravens".

"Yes, you may be right", – he said calmly. – "And the ravens’ nest in that wall over there on the left. There are several steps down leading to a small observation room".

Bridie and I looked towards that wall. There was indeed a rustling sound coming from there, and a moment later a huge black raven flew out. It flew across the room and landed in the window opening. It sat there for a few seconds, looking at us with an inquisitive gaze, and then suddenly took off and flew straight towards me, landing on my right shoulder.

I almost dropped the camera in surprise! But I quickly came to my senses and turned my head towards the bird.