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In college, I was a member of Wilmington Paranormal Research, a paranormal investigation team in Wilmington, NC. I was their “Historian/Researcher.” Last April, we were scheduled to investigate an undisclosed historic fort near Wilmington. I had to work that night, but it would have been my last investigation before I graduated and moved to Atlanta so I was not going to miss it. Not to mention it was also the location of my very first paranormal investigation. I had come full circle so to speak. 

So, after my shift was over at work, I headed over to the fort. I would be meeting my team there a little late, but no big deal. 

Anyway, the fort is in the middle of nowhere, deep in the swamp surrounded by nothing but old historic plantations and mosquitoes. The best way to get there is to take a highway right off the interstate for about 15 miles, eventually the highway becomes just two lanes. Then, you take a left onto a bohunk country swamp backroad for another 10 miles, then you turn onto a short windy driveway that leads to the fort. 

As I am driving down that highway, it’s about 10:00 at night, the amount of traffic slowly diminishes as you drive out of the the suburban town attached to the interstate. Therefore, it was curious that there was still a set of headlights behind me as I was now well out of town. I thought, huh, I didn’t know anyone lived this far out here.

I just shrugged it off. Until they turned behind me onto the bohunk country swamp backroad... Thats weird, I thought I was the only one coming late tonight. All I could see in the dark were a pair of headlights following preeeeetty close behind me. Wait, I AM the only one supposed to come late tonight.

PANIC 

WHO. IS. THIS. ITS A MURDERER. DAMN ITS DARK OUT HERE. LIKE REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY DARK. YOU JUST WALK FIVE MINUTES INTO THE SWAMP THEY AINT NEVER GONNA FIND ME! IM GOING TO BE A LAW AND ORDER EPISODE. NO IM GONNA BE A BONES EPISODE BECAUSE IM GONNA BE BONES BEFORE THEY FIND MY ASS. OH GOD. THIS IS IT. Im saying all of this out loud in my car by myself by the way. I learned that when I am truly terrified, my voice gets suuuuper duper hight and my southern accent gets suuuuper think, which retrospectively I think is hilarious. I am also so scared that I’m speeding like a Duke running from the Law with a load of ‘Shine in my trunk. 

Ten miles later, this mystery car is still behind me. The thought did cross my mind that maybe, just maybe... its the police, we know that the police do rounds around this area at night, maybe its them thinking the same exact thing I am: that nobody should be here but me right now. 

I wasn’t about to count on it though. I figured if it was the cops and I ended up with a ticket, that was better than being murdered, raped, or worse expelled (Couldn’t resist). But, the road was too bumpy and windy to risk trying to call one of my fellow investigators to tell them what was going on and to have the gate open when I got there. I was worried I would wreck, and then what?

Just get to the fort. I thought. Just get to the parking lot and then you will be with the group. Safety in numbers! They wouldn’t dare try anything with that many people around right? 

I had a small stun gun in the door pocket of my driver side. When the fort closes, the security closes the gate and we lock it back when we leave, I decided that if the gate at the end of the driveway was closed, I’d have to use it. I hope with every fiber of my being that damn gate would be open. I’m not the praying type, but I was probably praying. 

I turned onto the driveway, the car turned behind me. The gate was locked. My heart sank.

This is it. I thought. I reached for the stunner. I’m gonna have to fight. Better square up girl. You ain’t going down without a fight. Get your screaming voice ready-

Blue lights. It was the god damn Sheriff’s department the whole time.  

HOLY SHIT YOU BASTARDS COULDN’T HAVE PULLED ME OVER 15 MILES AGO??????????

I’ve never felt so relieved to see police in my life. I pulled over and the officer asked for my ID. I gave it to him, explaining that I was doing a paranormal investigation at the fort that night and that I was late because of work. He asked me some routine questions and stayed with me until some of my team members came to unlock the door. 

It didn’t even cross my mind that these people could have been phony cops and raped and murdered me anyway. And, I definitely experienced some white privilege because I DEFINITELY should have gotten a major speeding ticket. But,I was a cute, scared, young, white girl just looking for some ghosts with her college club. If I was anyone else, they probably would have given me way more trouble. 

Hey everyone! It’s me again talking about my paranormal research group, Femme Fatale Paranormal Research! I get asked quite often why I ghost hunt. And, honestly, it’s the same reason I decided to make our documentary, because I love the stories. I love the research and the history and the people we come across. I have learned things about my state, and my home town that I never would have known without doing paranormal research. I feel that I can really get to the root of the story of America through interviewing the people who live and work in haunted places and investigating the paranormal. 

This video describes an experience I had while investigating the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, NC that not only opened up my mind so much more to the possibilities of the afterlife, but directly inspired me to make a documentary that went beyond simply looking for evidence and analyzed the actual meaning of that evidence to attempt to piece together the stories of who might be haunting these places and why. 

In order to tell these stories however, we need to raise about $2,000.00 for travel expenses, investigation fees, new equipment and documentary production costs. We are selling some pretty cool merchandise on Redbubble that features our official logo as well as accepting donations through our GoFundMe campaign! 

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