Ghost Stories & Paranormal Encounters

This is a fictional twist on a story I’ve heard told in Massachusetts. There’s a seaside hotel that claims to be haunted by a lady in a blue dress that walks along the beach at night, staring out at the sea.

Ping Ping. The arrow pointing down illuminated and the old elevator doors creaked open for the young man. He sighed and stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the bottom floor. It was obvious something was causing him distress as he sighed and ran his fingers through his brown hair. The elevator pinged twice more when it reached his destination. He slowly walked across the grand lobby of the old hotel. The floor was filled with light dazzling off the many large, ancient crystal chandeliers despite the lateness of the hour.

He crossed the lobby without noticing any of the grandeur, the rustic mahogany furniture and the few people lounging elegantly at the bar. He made his way, deep in thought, towards the farthest wall opposite the entrance, which led to large oak doors that opened out to sweeping wide white steps. He eventually reached where it appears he wanted to be, and leaned heavily against the thick railing. He needed a bit of ocean breeze. He hoped it would calm his nerves.

It was almost completely dark out at this hour and the only light came from the windows of the bright lobby and the occasional light of the other rooms. He glanced up to these rooms for a long moment and sighed. Things had been out of control for awhile now. He kept getting into heated fights with his girlfriend and he had hoped that this trip could help them both. He turned back out towards the ocean. It was black with only the motion of whitecaps and the sound of the incoming tide to distinguish it from the dark sky.

He spent a long time staring out there and listening when he at last sighed again and was thinking he should finally go back to his room when he say something glitter out the corner of his eye. He turned to look and saw a sparkling shape about thirty feet away. Intrigued, he started walking cautiously towards the figure. It soon took a more clearer shape. It was a woman in an elegant, if not old fashioned, gold dress. He’d never seen anything like it, the dress caught the slightest bit of light and moved in the sea breeze like it was lighter then air. He also realized that the woman was standing on the ledge.

He was not far from her now and could see her staring out towards the sea. “Um, excuse miss? Are you alright? It may not be safe to stand on the ledge like that.” She didn’t answer. He was close enough now to notice a curious necklace around the woman’s neck. It was perhaps more beautiful then her dress. it was also made of gold but did not sparkle but rather had a soft glow to it. It hung around her neck from a thin gold chain and had a sort of triangular Celtic knot design. In the center of the intricate knot was a small ruby, perfectly round. He was so entranced by this necklace that he did not notice the lady slowly glancing toward him, and then back out to the sea. He also didn’t notice her lift her arms up as if to embrace something and lean forward.

“Hey!” he shouted as she fell off the ledge. He grabbed her wrist just in time and braced himself against the railing. “Hey!” he shouted again, “Give me your other arm!” She looked up at him, with obvious surprise and fear. There was a great roar and the seawall bellow the ledge gave way, crumbling into the surf that was crashing about the beach. His eyes widened and fear crushed his mind. Let go! Let go and run! his thoughts screamed . His grip on the lady’s wrist slipped. This jerked him back and he screamed above the oncoming sea, “Give me your arm!” and reached down an grabbed her other wrist and with all the fear and strength he could, pulled the woman back onto the patio.

All was quiet. All except his breathing. His heartbeat. He looked to his side. Nothing. Confused and out of breath, he looked up. She stood there graceful, glowing softly against the dark night. She was smiling in a bewildered way, “Young man, you are the first one to ever save me. I have been waiting for this so long.” Her voice was soft as well, and seemed to echo off of nothing, “You are the only one who has ever held out against the power of this necklace.” She leaned down to him, placing her hand on his cheek and whispered, “Thank you.” Once more she stood and said, “I leave you this necklace. It was given to me by my fiancé, it will protect you from… unwise choices,” she smiled.

The lady was now fading and soon was gone, there was only the light clatter of the necklace landing on the stone patio before him, the ruby now gone. In it’s place, a small diamond glittered.

Sent in by Shel, Copyright 2008 True Ghost Tales