As before, as soon as I crossed the threshold of the hotel, the Elemental presence was obvious. A feeling of dread swept briefly over me, which even the attractive, albeit nervously smiling face of the receptionist couldn’t shift. It did fade though, thankfully. Something very different to when we were last standing in the reception occurred though. As we picked up our room keys, and made our to the stairs – I caught a glimpse of something below the FIRE EXIT sign, which sits just above the archway which leads to the front entrance. I took a closer look to ensure my mind wasn’t simply playing tricks on me – and there it was. I was staring into the empty eye sockets of a gleaming white skull, its jaw was wide open. Almost as if it was laughing at me. As mentioned – it was extremely white, as though it had been dipped in some ghastly concoction that had stripped away all evidence of the soft tissue that presumably once enveloped it. It vanished after a few more seconds. I kept this to myself at this stage.

As we made our way up to our rooms, cleanliness and tidiness of the hotel was still very much apparent. Really no reason why this hotel should be the way it is – other than its resident Elemental. I’m pretty sure we all sensed something was awry with this place. What was apparent to me was the Elemental knew damn well why we were here. The skull was kind of a give away. On that note, probably best for me to describe what I mean by the term ‘Elemental’. Without getting too involved (a full explanation would fill up several pages!), an Elemental isn’t a ghost. It is something that, by whatever means, has come into existence and is naturally in tune with the earth. Usually, they are quite benign and have been around for a LONG time. This one, however, is a far away from benign as State Statute is to common sense. How it came to be, I really do not know (not sure I want to) and do not presume to understand.

We spread our equipment around one of the rooms (and very impressive it looked too), and made our way downstairs to grab some food (courtesy of the hotel). The atmosphere in the bar and eating area was as pleasant as it was going to be, and I have nothing to report here. Some staff members hared the experiences with us, and we had a pleasant chat with some of their family members. All in all a nice relaxed start for us.

After eating and sorting ourselves out. Terry, a hotel employee (and our go-to guy for the duration) opened up the infamous ‘suicide rooms’. The rooms (116 and 110 – Locations 1 & 2 respectively) are opposite each other. Standing between them, I could really feel that charged sensation I have felt on other investigations, odd, and here at least – unpleasant. Entering each room had differing results for me. Room 116 is where a depressed and lonely woman tragically took her own life. You might think the room would thus have an unpleasant feel to it. Not so. Initially, feelings of relief and even a hint of happiness swept over me. Definitely seemed as though the life lost here meant the welcome end to a desperately unhappy life. Room 110 was very different. Extremely unpleasant. This was where a public schools inspector hanged himself. Imagine walking into a room and being surrounded by suffering and hopelessness, and you won’t be far off how it felt for me. No names from either room. We set up our cameras and trigger objects in each of the rooms, as well as setting up a trigger object in room 120 (Location 4), where a member of staff had reported staying with his girlfriend and dog, with a friend also sleeping on a zed bed. The dog apparently acted as if it was being stroked during the night. I didn’t feel anything in this room, at this point. We briefly left the hotel after this, to have a drink before we began the investigation in earnest.

Upon our return, I was feeling a little drained as we made our way back upstairs. Not tired, so much as emotionally drained. I hope this wasn’t affecting me too much, and am not sure if Clare, Tammy & Johan noticed this in me. I hope not! We had a long night ahead of us

We spent quite some time in this room, with good reason. It is certainly one of the most active rooms in the whole hotel. At least, from my perspective. From the moment I stood outside the door, I could feel something building up.

When we entered the room for out first vigil of the evening, things were fairly relaxed. We turned off the lights (why do we, as investigators, do that?! It makes no difference one or the other to the dead/phantoms etc. Ah well, guess we all have a flair for the dramatic). It was hardly pitch black in the room, and we could all see relatively clearly everything about us. As we sat in the darkened room, I did begin to think that maybe nothing would happen after all. That uneasy feeling that permeates throughout the hotel was still there, of course. But it didn’t seem this room was offering anything extra – perhaps I had been a little hasty before.

Then it DID happen.

From my perspective sat on the end of the double bed in the room, the hazy form of male figure appeared on the chair in the right-hand side corner. I could see the figure was suited, but there was something odd about him. It took me a while to realise it, but the figure was sat too high in the chair, and his arms were astride seemingly invisible rests. Whatever chair this man was originally sat in – it wasn’t this one. I need to point out that the image I was seeing was precisely that – an image. This was not a spirit – I could sense nothing coming from it. This was a 3D projection that the best special effects guys and girls in Hollywood could only dream about. The suited figure stood up, and calmly walked towards the door. I did similarly. The figure stopped just in front of the door. And when I say ‘stopped’, I mean totally. No movement at all – as if some celestial pause button had been pressed. Now this was certainly unusual. Normally, displays such as these play out their little ditty, then just vanish. Here, I could literally wave my hand through the image. The man was shorter than me (I’m 6’1”). His head stopped around my nose level. I could not see his face as he was only a couple of inches form the door. His suit was dark blue, his hair short.

Of course, cameras were clicking all over the place, but I believe nothing was captured on film. The image eventually did fade, leaving me none the wiser as to whom it was. Just because there was a suicide on the room, does not necessarily mean this was him. I was sensing that the suicide was a spur of the moment decision. I realise this sounds odd. But that was what I was picking up on. And to be honest – nothing that happens in this hotel surprises me.

One other thing did appear in the room – or rather outside the window: The same gleaming skull, mouth agape, as I had seen downstairs. This time, it was suspended just outside the window. I strongly suspect this was the Elemental’s way of saying ‘I’m watching you’.

Again, I knew in advance that this was the other room where a suicide happened. In this case, a woman who had supposedly attempted it before. I had the same sense of foreboding that existed in room 116, but as I’ve stated – I could feel this all over the hotel. The main difference between this room and the last was the strangely tranquil atmosphere of the room. The room is smaller than 116, but is decorated in much the same way, albeit more ‘cosy’. This may have contributed to how the room well, but I honestly suspect not. Also – is it coincidence that the two rooms are opposite each other? That two people could take their own lives in the same hotel, on the same floor in this particular hotel does not surprise me. But to suggest they both may have been drawn to the place is entirely speculation on my part.

We could all feel the differing atmosphere in the room. But I could pick up on a very strong sense of relief. I’m quite sure that the death in this room was a welcome one, even if misguided. Nothing appeared to me here, no playback of past events. So I have no name of description to offer. Just that sense of relief. I have to admit it was a welcome distraction for me. I could happily sleep in this room, perhaps more so than anywhere else in the hotel.

Ok – definitely one of the more interesting locations in the hotel! Situated as it is directly behind the reception. Its frosted glass door and typical office looks offer no clues as to what has happened here. In our pre-investigative visit, I mentioned picking up on somebody blasting themselves through the head in here. A consequent of which making the atmosphere even more uncomfortable compared to elsewhere in the hotel, and making it almost impossible for (me at least) to concentrate in there. I was to learn a little more about this.

As we sat through our vigil here, I was becoming more and more anxious. I kept thinking of somebody blowing their brains out. It was becoming frustrating to me to the point I actually considered leaving the room and trying again later. I’m glad I didn’t. After a few minutes the image of a small grey bearded man in very old fashioned clothes, complete with tri-corner hat appeared. His clothes seemed to be purple, dark purple. Or rather his hat, baggy trousers and jacket were. A white shirt and dark waistcoat were visible. His boots were black. This chap was pacing up and down, obviously very agitated – with a pistol in his hand. This was no office however, this was outside. There were tress and what appeared to be a cobbled path. This happened long ago.

The man was agitated as he was waiting for a duelling opponent, I’ve no doubt he fully intended to fatally injure this (presumed male) opponent. His mouth was moving, but there was no sound. Though it was apparent that no opponent was forthcoming. Then, for reasons known only to the man, he slumped to his knees, brought the pistol up at a rather difficult angle – so that the barrel was pointing just below his right ear – and pulled the trigger. I don’t need to describe what happened. Though it is something I’ll have great difficulty getting out of my mind for some time. No wonder it was hard to concentrate in here.

This - the room where a member of staff had slept, and whose dog had acted as if it was being stroked - felt much the same as the rest of the hotel. I could pick up on nothing else here. That’s not to say there was nothing here previously, or that nothing will appear at time(s) in the future. Just nothing tonight. Was glad to grab a few relaxed minutes, actually!

Another particularly active – albeit slightly less glamorous! – location. This is where in our previous visit, I had felt the wall of ‘energy’ crossing form the gents’ toilets into the ladies’. I could feel that same energy again, and if I stood in its path – I felt really charged. The ladies’ toilets are where somebody reported seeing an old woman whilst they were using the sink. When they said hello to the woman and no response was forthcoming, the old lady apparently vanished. And so it was here that we sat our vigil.

The more time I spent in hair, the more I became agitated. More so than in the old manger’s office. I found myself pacing up and down, unable to stand or sit still. After a while, my old friend the gleaming skull appeared. Not once, but several times. Its dark eye sockets seemed particularly eerie down here. I even tried to grab it a couple of times, but the skull would simply vanish and reappear somewhere else. I will admit, I was finding this skull a little disturbing.

The build up sensation was making me very uncomfortable. I kept asking whatever was going to manifest to do exactly that. Seconds felt like hours until, finally, she appeared. In the mirror which over hangs the sinks, the image of an old woman with long, grey hair appeared. A wispy image, a typical ghost. Transparent and just standing there, staring at us. She only appeared in the mirror at this point, wearing a long flowing dress. The dress seemed red to me, but it was dark. It could easily have been brown or mauve. Her expression was empty, not really menacing, she just stared at us. I stood where she should have been standing as dictated by the mirror but could feel nothing. Names were rushing through my mind quicker than I could comprehend. Then she faded from view. Then that damn skull again, this time on the wall.

The mirror apparition was cool, but I was about to be rewarded with an even better vision: After a few minutes, that build up of energy resulted in the manifestation of this aged lady walking through each of the three stalls within the toilets. She walked, briskly, through each of the walls, head forwards, her arms swaying as she strode onwards. This time a name – Mistress Jacobson. Definitely ‘Mistress’ not ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs’. Fantastic stuff! No background info on her was available to me, so just the name in this case. Still, much better than nothing.

The actual basement of the hotel is probably one of the creepiest parts of the hotel, but I guess this it to be expected. The path that Ms Jacobson took through the toilets would have led her somewhere into the basement and then on to where ever. It certainly is creepy down here. I could feel the Elemental presence down here. Dark, soulless, a kind of void but not a void. Hard to describe. Imagine feeling lost and helpless, whilst being surrounded by friends. That might get you close to how I felt.

That said, nothing manifested. An old room, once used as a bedroom for overnight stays of the hotel manger – is where we staged our brief vigil. The room, now water damaged and in no condition to be slept in offered us something – albeit not during our vigil, but on our walk around earlier on: A hanging ceiling spot light began intermittingly flashing as I stood beneath if. Something that Terry stated did not happen on the many occasions he had entered the room previously. All the lights are on the same circuit, so a general wiring problem can be ruled out. This happened during our pre-investigation too. Seems odd to me that it did not start flashing again during our vigil. Perhaps maybe because I was tired? Was I somehow unintentionally affecting it? Again, I have no idea.

Nothing resulted from our vigil here. Which is a shame. There is so much more to learn form this hotel

In conclusion then: The extensive basement of the hotel, seems to me to be where the Elemental is primarily focussed. And I don’t think the fact the Cathedral is so close is a coincidence. I purposely haven’t focussed on the close proximity of the cathedral in my report as it would be lead me down a tangent. It has something to do with the Elemental, but I do not know what. I know the Elemental is there, but that is all. It certainly didn’t offer me any information. I wish I could focus on it, but I cannot. It is my belief that the suicides, the haunting, the whole ‘feel’ of the hotel are all connected to it. But we have scarcely scratched the surface of what’s happening here. And that’s the problem.

The hotel is affected by the Elemental. This won’t ever change, and I honestly do not envy anyone who works there. I certainly couldn’t. It took me a week to get back to normal after my last visit, even longer after this one. And I still see that damn skull when I close my eyes! Is getting better though. That said, the hotel itself really is quite pleasant. As are the staff. If the whole place was situated somewhere else, it would run perfectly.

Terry and James were an enormous help, and I sincerely thank them for their time. Particularly Terry, with us keeping him up into the early hours of the morning! Thanks too, to the rest of the staff for their professionalism, and pleasant smiles. Can’t have been easy with four intrepid ghost hunters wondering around their workplace.