By edanHalloween 2024 was one of those nights where curiosity and the promise of adventure led Laura and me to the Ancient Ram Inn in the Cotswolds. The chill of October settled around us as we arrived at the inn at 9 pm, our costumes adding a layer of mystery to the evening. I embodied the Grim Reaper with an extra-menacing mask, while Laura drifted by my side as an ethereal Victorian ghost. Our company for the evening boasted an eclectic mix of souls, including Mike Myers, ominous witches, ghostly apparitions, and a particularly startling woman with screws poking through her lips.
Inside, the inn was a tapestry of curiosities: skeletons peered from shadowed corners, and ancient paintings whispered stories of bygone eras. As the night's activities unfolded, an air of anticipation thickened; we were to summon spirits, we were told. The inn, ancient as it was, seemed a fitting stage for supernatural encounters. History wrapped its arms around the room as we formed a circle, hands clasped in the dark.
I volunteered to take a solitary seat at one end of the chamber. The darkness was thick, almost tactile, as I waved my hands around, convinced a prank was about to strike. Some reported senses tingling, eyes allegedly catching a glimpse of a glow at the doorway. I rolled my eyes; that glow was likely the LED from the room's camera.
Despite my skepticism, I sought something tangible, a whisper or a shiver, and met silence as I ventured alone into the attic with only the faint glow of my Apple Watch to guide me. No spirits, no shudders—just silent, watchful shadows. Meanwhile, an unexpected scream shattered the night. Laura's encounter with an innocuous spider sent the night rolling in fits of laughter as she hastily apologized for the scare.
The evening carried on with a Ouija board session. A curious ring of seekers huddled close. I couldn't resist the urge to nudge the planchette, humoring myself at the resultant tears when one woman swore it was her brother's spirit. The night unfolded like theater, shadows playing tricks on willing minds.
We left the inn earlier than expected, untouched by spirits but warmed by each other's company. Poppy awaited at our hotel room, welcoming us with sleepy eyes. Surprisingly, breakfast presented its own challenges, but a nearby bakery sufficed with bacon sandwiches. As we drove home, I savored the laughter we shared, content to leave specters behind and embrace the mundane and the joyful of true life together.