Ghost Story

Our old house on the water, in Kaneohe, was home to many spirits, ghosts, and ancient Hawaiian legends. Our family would hear and see these supernatural beings almost everyday, but mainly during the time that darkness swallows the earth. The confinement felt as if a pair of endless, erratic, eyes were embedded in the ceiling, watching our every blink, as our eyes gradually slipped into a deep sleep. Almost like the house itself, had carried on each generation of residents like a book carries on its history. But, the house didn’t convey a heart-dropping-stomach-tingling-experience. The spirits never attempted to hurt us, they just presented many mind-blowing reminders that they were too, present in the house.

The encounter began when my mom spotted an orange flame out of the corner of her eye. The night was still, with dead winds, and dangerous silence. My mom put me down for bed and returned to the movie she and my dad were watching. A half hour later, the movie ended and my mom shut off the television as the credits reeled from the bottom to the top of the screen. My parents flicked off all of the house lights and headed for the bedroom. A reflection emerged on the back window, like a line of bright yellow carpenter ants scurrying across the glass. There was just one problem, carpenter ants aren’t flaming yellow. My parents stood in a daze, as they watched the mysterious lights float by, wondered where the lights were coming from, and feared the events that would follow. “Wait, that isn’t a reflection”, my dad thought to himself. It was miniature torches floating slightly above the water in the distance. Once my dad caught a quick glance at the tiny figures carrying the torches it hit him, “Night Marchers!”

“What did you say Lou? What is it?” my mom questioned.

“Karrie, do not look them in the eye or you will go blind” as he rushed to turn her away from the window, her eyes glued to the traveling flames. My dad grew up on Big Island, so he knew all about the remarkable Hawaiian legends. The Night Marchers were the second ghostly presence in the house. From that time on, the dead winds and silent nights brought with them more than stillness. They brought the Night Marchers.