A Conveniently Located "Haunted" Building

I like rooting around in decrepit, empty old buildings.  It's pretty obvious if you check out this blog's posts from the last few years.  I like the mystery, the shadows and history these old buildings possess.  I don't touch anything, I just like to record the silent traces of the countless unknown events that must have transpired in them. The moment I step into one of them something changes.  The outside noise somehow seems to get canceled out and I hear nothing but the sound of my own footsteps, which I consciously try to minimize so as not to disturb the atmosphere.  And just in case some of the suites are still occupied, inhabited by stubborn last-straggler residents or workers who might resent an outsider with a camera recording what they considered their own domain.

I was glad, therefore, when I came upon a derelict, an actual condemned building in an area not far from my home.  It had a sign affixed to it that warned against entering, as there were loose structures within and safety could not be guaranteed;  however, there were no fences or tape physically barring entry, so of course I chose to enter (don't try this at home^).

I don't normally experience fear or anxiety when I explore these dingy spaces;  the curiosity and excitement, the expectation of discovery are enough to override any feelings of discomfort that might arise.

But it's also true that I had never previously encountered an environment that was literally left to fall apart.  Which this building was -- clearly, it had been slowly rotting away for years. 

The ceilings were caving, the walls were peeling and crumbling, and many of the windows no longer had panes in them.

Then, as I stood there clicking away on the fourth floor, suddenly I heard a soft, high-pitched groaning sound, seemingly right behind me.  It sounded just like a woman's voice.  I just about jumped out of my skin!  I whirled around in shock and terror, but there was no one.  Instead, I saw that it was just a door creaking in the draft.  But then, just as I was letting out a huge (metaphorical)sigh of relief, I heard a thud or dull banging noise from downstairs.  Not from the floor below, but seemingly farther down, and not very loud but still quite distinct.

That was it.  That did it for me.  I was thoroughly creeped out and there was nothing to do but leave, and quickly.

While hurrying down the stairwell I was NOT looking to find out who or what had made the noise.  On the contrary, I prayed I would not run into the party responsible, be it a ghost, a homeless person or a fellow urban explorer.  Boy, was I glad when I made it out without incident.  Into a silent, empty alley in the gloomy gray light of a heavily overcast late afternoon -- but glad.

A Stray I Saw Today

admist my "favorite" condemned buildings.

(Click to expand)

Condemned

This afternoon I went on a random jaunt, as I am wont to do every so often.  I didn't know where I was going, but I had decided to explore some areas in my local neighborhood that I don't usually frequent.  So I just picked a direction and set out on foot.

For a while there was nothing particularly interesting, just the usual rows and rows of impersonal apartment blocks, prettified villas and small shops, and I was on the verge of giving it up as a bad job and turning back when I spotted something that seemed more promising.  Some ways down a side street off the main road I could see some rather desultory-looking buildings, with what looked like broken furniture and trash strewn about.  As I turned the corner and went down the lane, the buildings became more rundown and before long I finally came across a subject that's right up my alley -- a whole block of condemned apartments!

They obviously had been abandoned for quite some time.  They were all open to the weather and overgrowth and trash littered the sidewalks.  Loose wires hung down from windows.  The only living things I encountered were two stray cats -- one calico, one tabby.  Although I would have dearly liked to explore the interiors, some of the buildings actually had "Danger -- do not enter" tape stretched across the entrance.  I chose not to enter.

I wonder why the buildings were simply left to rot, rather than being subjected to demolition.  Maybe the city ran out of budget.  In any case, it was to my profit.