Late Ghost Story

Judith Gilbert sent me a really eerie story. I KNEW this group would enjoy it!

EVER HAD THE FEELING YOU'RE BEING...WATCHED?

The minute I entered the Alamo I felt uneasy, like someone was watching me.

As I moved through this busy place, the feeling grew stronger. I glanced around and saw nothing unusual, so I shoved my uneasiness aside. I'm a history buff. The Alamo is literally a cemetery for hundreds of people, both Mexican and Texan, and nothing was going to stop me from touring the most visited historic site in Texas. I intended reading every plaque and scrap of paper in the place.

I spotted two small boys, maybe thirteen years old, dressed in period costumes, walking behind one of the tour groups. I figured the boys were actors, part of the props and smiled at them, only to see them become smoky, transparent and disappear.

My heart did a flip. Okay, the Alamo has ghosts. No surprise. For decades, people have been reporting bizarre tales. You've seen ghosts before. They won't hurt you, I kept reminding myself. But they died horrible, sad deaths and are restless. But you can't help them, my mind screamed.

I strolled toward the courtyard and fountain. The four sides are engraved with Bonham, Bowie, Travis and Crockett, defenders who lost their lives at the Alamo. What should have been a tranquil scene turned anything but tranquil. A deep sorrow filled me, so heavy, so intense I could barely catch my breath.

That's it. I've seen enough.

As I walked the grounds, I quickened my pace, heading toward the exit. A sharp pain pierced my side, filling me with a hot burning sensation. Instantly I had a sense that I was dying a thousand deaths.

Unable to shake the oppressive terror, I ran like hell, until I found myself outside.

Since then, I've talked to several people who've also reported similar feelings, as if experiencing the deaths of those spirits trapped forever within the Alamo.

I took a couple of paranormal classes as research for writing and mentioned this incident. The psychics contributed the strong reaction to a possible reincarnation, "What if you died at the Alamo?" I haven't been able to shake that question, but I don't believe in reincarnation. I only know what I saw and what I felt. Maybe I did feel the deaths of some of the people who died back then. Whatever it was, you won't find me visiting the Alamo again, not to relive my own past death, as some believe, or to feel how others died. That's the one and only time I've been terrified enough to run like hell because I really think there were too many ghosts for me to block feeling their horrible anguish and sudden, violent death.

J Gilbert, the dark side of Judith

www.authorjgilbert.com