The Specter Files: #1 Pt 1.1: New Orleans

(Author’s note: A.Z.) - This was written by Amelia Zhang, for Lucia Benitez, who is too afraid to watch videos of ghost stuff. When you see the (parenthesis like this, that’s to let you know any comments are in my voice.)

(((((Other Author’s note: NWL))))) - This deals with important figures who will appear in the upcoming Junior Rangers Investigative Club Novel: The Specters of Mammoth Cave. Meet the Specter Detectors here, before their big book debut! And look out for more parts in the Specter Files. A new section of this website. Located in Online Press. More parts releasing as I am able.

Document transcribed by the intrepid Amelia Zhang. The Specter Files #1. pt 1.1

I’m writing this series of articles to describe some of my favorite Specter Detector Videos. (It was hard to choose!) I’m doing this for my friend Lucy Benitez, who is too afraid to watch ghost stuff even though she runs headfirst into abandoned mineshafts, has explored a ghost hotel at night while claiming not to believe in spirits, and once told Cassidy Case that she didn’t understand her interest in birds and lived to tell about it.

But she gets scared watching cartoons where mystery teams unmask silly villains dressed as ice cream flavored ghosts, and once threatened to break my phone if I made her watch a 2-hour special about ghosts living in her Civil War fort during a road trip. (That may have more to do with the fact that she doesn’t like long car rides.)

Anyway. The Specter Detectors are coming to Mammoth Cave!!! And I want her to know how awesome they are!!! So here we are. I don’t know how this is supposed to help. I always found it scarier to read about ghosts, than to watch videos about them. (When I’m reading, I have to imagine all of the scary things which makes them worse.) Whatever! She promised to read these if I wrote them.

Lucy! Pay attention! I’m not writing this just to practice my journalistic skills. Although, I hope my grandfather reads this and gives me pointers. (I love you Gong gong!) I’m writing these so you know how cool the Spector Detectors are in Case we see them.

Specter Detector Files #1 part 1.1: The Specters of Charity

The Video is playing, but the screen is dark when the narration starts.

“Ghosts don’t simply appear because someone has died. There needs to be a catalyst.” The voice is someone new. Cody speaks with a calmer demeanor and a bit of a southern accent. Sheryl’s narration is deeper, huskier. And it’s definitely not Klaus’s showy performance, Clancy’s no-nonsense drawl, or Mark’s nervous whispers. The woman continues gently, like she’s the cool professor explaining something to her less-cool students.

“We often use shorthand to explain why a ghost may appear. But these shorthands: trauma, violence, tragedy, surprise, etcetera, are all simple explanations for what’s really necessary to spark a spiritual continuation. And none of these, alone, are enough. For a ghost to occur, a death has to make an impact, an impact which leaves a lasting impression not just on the deceased, but the people around them. Or the places. Places can be impacted by trauma as well.”

When the picture appears, the team is standing outside of the Specter Mobile—their big white van. It’s night, and the four we can see are shivering, despite the leaves on the trees, and the palmettos in the background. (I heard that they filmed this in February, but that lots of trees in New Orleans never lose their leaves/fronds.) The narration was obviously inserted in post, because three of the four are smiling and talking while they pull various equipment from the van, strapping things to their belts, stuffing ghost hunting equipment into their pants pockets—or the pockets of a trench coat in Klaus’s case. He is the only one not shivering.

The last of the four, Sheryl, is also wearing a trench coat. Clancy and Cody are simply wearing their Specter Detector sweatshirts. (I don’t know why they wear different outfits. Technically, Sheryl and Klaus are the on-screen talent, but you can usually see everyone in their exploration videos. Although, sightings of their cameraman, Mark are kept to spare glimpses through mirrors, or his shadow when the team is back lit. Recently, Clancy has started to do some camera work too, and we Spectators have been getting to see more of Mark. My point is: I think they should all get trench coats.)

Anyway, Sheryl is also shivering, despite having her hands jammed into her trench coat pockets. She faces away from the rest of her crew. Her grim look is focused slightly upward. When she speaks, the video shifts to live audio. You can hear some traffic in the background, (and see passing headlights,) The three others are still discussing what equipment to take with them. But the audio focuses on Sheryl’s on screen voice. “This place definitely has an energy too it, a sadness which permeates the atmosphere. We’ll find something in there.”

The camera follows her gaze, gliding up and to the right, as Mark shifts focus to shoot through a tree. Behind branches, washed out by heavy streetlights, there’s darkness blotting out the night sky. The camera zooms, and the darkness takes shape. A tall, sprawling, angular structure comes into view. Which is to say: a nearly pitch-black rectangle. The building Sheryl is focused on is mostly visible as reflections in windows from of lights cast by surrounding structures. An surrounding buildings must be shorter, because about halfway up, the reflections vanish, and the shape of the building is then only recognizable as an absence of stars in the night sky.

The camera abruptly shifts, and we are looking across a four-lane road up at the same structure. Mark has crossed the street. Trees line the far sidewalk, and a chain link fence surrounds the building Sheryl was looking up at from below. Three of other Specter Detectors are standing across the road, leaning next on their van, which is parked on the sidewalk. There is also a black SUV parked in the driveway leading into the old structure. Cody isn’t in sight.

The building itself is massive. The central tower is at least 18 or 19 stories. (I tried to count windows, but it was hard because the entire thing was dark.) Two shorter wings jut out at left and right angles from the tower. These angles become arms enclosing a central courtyard we can’t see because it’s hidden behind a large metal gate and a pair of low concrete gate houses.

“This is Charity Hospital.” Cody, the missing Specter Detector, speaks. He must be standing near Mark. “Before Hurricane Katrina, it was the second largest operating hospital in the United States. It was known for being a number one trauma center and for being the hospital for people without insurance. They could still find help here. It was also a teaching hospital.”

“It’s huge.” Mark’s voice is nervous, like always.

“And we’re only seeing half of it.” Cody replies. “The two side wings also extend on the back half. The place along with all of the medical facilities, had dorms, cafeterias, and even a gym with a basketball court near the top floor.” The Camera rises and zooms in following his words. “It was built in the 1930’s, and operated until 2005, when the last patients and staff were evacuated several days after the basement flooded, killing the generators, and forcing doctors and nurses to treat patients in sweltering temperatures with limited electricity from a few emergency generators.”

“Did anyone die?” Mark asked.

“It’s a hospital, with an ER and an ICU. People probably died all the time.” Cody replied. “A lot of people were saved too.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Mark sounds annoyed now, instead of nervous. The camera wiggles a bit, and across the street the other three are waving them back over, eager to get started.

“I know.” Cody smiles for the camera, “Relax, buddy. Anyway, yeah. There were lots of critical patients here when the hurricane hit, and doctors and nurses had to fight for days to get everyone evacuated. Unfortunately, not everyone made it. Most did, but not all. That’s not our question.”

It’s obviously a set up. Maybe it’s even planned ahead of time. Mark takes the bait. “What’s our question?”

Cody smiles. “We want to know if anyone is still around.”

The camera shifts again. They are standing in the hospital’s front driveway, the road probably used by ambulances before the metal gate barred entrance and the lights went out. Mark, behind the camera, follows the other four team members as they walk past the SUV in the drive.

Klaus waves at a man sitting inside. He’s wearing a security uniform, and wave’s them past. Clancy, Cody and a second security guard pull the big metal gate aside. This new guard waits until the whole team steps through, before pulling the gate shut behind them. The camera focuses on the gate as she closes it. Locking herself out, and them in.

((Ok. We will stop here for the week. Stay tuned next time for what they find inside in The Specter Files #1 pt. 1.2: Entering the Hospital.)) - A.Z.