Siskiyoutopia

4th Oct, 2008

Yreka Ghosts

So the seasons are changing and with them the cold arm of winter closes its grasp, ending the life giving warmth of summer. Autumn and winter, these are the seasons that have always been represented by death and the thoughts of despair.

So let’s talk Ghosts, the departed spirits of those once alive, the memories of faded lives gone by. Here in Yreka the old mining town, a place where every rock and brick has a story of greed and lust for the shiney mineral, I have come across several stories that send the hair on the back of one’s neck at attention. But it is the actual run-in to a couple strange occurrences that make me walk lightly around a grave yard at night.

It was the end of spring and we had just moved into our new shop in the Bottling Works Mall. I was staying late to try and catch up with the never ending process of moving. Now I had been versed on how to lock up the building and how to set the alarm, so I was sure that I was the only one in the Mall, but I kept hearing what sounded like voices coming from the hallways. I would call out asking if anyone was there, but as soon as I did the voices would stop. As the night grew into early morning I began to get upset as though someone was messing with my head, and would listen intently, and listen for clues to who it was. The voices seamed to be of two distinct people, sounding like a conversation between two old ladies, commenting on various items they saw whilst window shopping. I would go out and walk the hallways every time I heard these voices, but had no luck finding anything or anyone.

Now this was a strange occurrence but stranger than that was my run-in with what I call ‘the miner’. Now being freaked out by the voices I am a bit on the reluctant side to stay very late at the shop, but alas I found myself there working on various projects last winter. Our lil’ shop is located next to the back doors and the restrooms, so we have a pretty good sense on when someone enters, leaves or has to use the said restrooms. So needless to say there really isn’t any way someone can sneak into the mall or the restrooms after hours.

So, I am drawing my project to a conclusion and run to the bathrooms one last time before I hit the road. As I walk into the room, it seemed cooler than usual, as if the heater was turned off and out of the corner of my eye I see what looks like movement in one of the stalls at the end of the room. I slowly walked past, and see what looks like a small bearded man standing in the stall facing me through that little bit of crack that separated the door from the wall.

At this point I’m a bit angered that, one, there is someone in the bathroom that is not supposed to be there, and two, they snuck by me. So I say in my loud voice ” Ok, Dude you are totally trespassing and need to get the H@#l out now!” I get no response as I stare at the door, so I slam it open, to reveal absolutely nothing there. Needless to say I was out of there in record time, and don’t work late at night without at least my dogs keeping me company. Now that I have re-creeped myself out, I am reminded that we do live in an area that some call the vortex of the universe, so it is no wonder why this and other strange shades lurk in our community.