The Warehouse Wraith

Intermission: Excerpt from Jason’s vlog

Investigation log: #447

08/18/2025

21:54

[Jason is standing slightly off-centre in the frame, in front of an old brick building with boarded-up windows.]

“So I read about some ‘angry electrician’ ghost at an abandoned warehouse outside Sacramento. No official mention of a **** on-site, but rumor says a young technician got fried by a live panel, and the foreman hushed it up, so I did some research and found out the original case was buried. Seriously, I had to dig through OSHA reports from the 80s.

I found the old Tri-Core service records. Most of the docs are garbage, but there’s one unsigned incident report from June 1986. Only mentions some initials: ‘M.T.’ and a fatal Electrocution. I checked everywhere for anything else, but there seemed to be no follow-up. I even checked the archives for the local newspapers around this date, and there was nothing. Someone really wanted this buried.”

“But that's enough of that, let's actually get inside the place.”

[The video cuts to black.]

22:11

“So, here’s the thing. This place hasn’t had mains power since what, 1980? But check this out…”

[He shines a flashlight up at the metal beams overhead, all draped in cobwebs. The air is thick with dust, but the lights are faintly flickering.]

“There have been reports of lights flickering and machinery humming, but no official investigation has ever come of it. Although all the reports are from kids who broke into the place, so it's not unexpected.”

[Jason pulls out a black handheld device with a row of lights across it going from green to red, and holds it up to the camera.]

“EMF baseline should be near zero, no live wires, no active devices. Oh wait….”

[Jason reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out his mobile phone. He holds the power button, then shows it shutting off to the camera.]

“Now there are no active devices.”

[The machine flickers on and displays nothing significant, staying firmly in the red.]

“Okay, so everything seems nor-”

[Suddenly, the EMF readings start climbing, the video starts warping, and static envelopes the sides of the screen. The meter reaches its highest value in a matter of seconds.]

“Whoa! I have never seen readings like this before.”

[The machine starts sparking and smoking, Jason drops it instantly, and all the static instantly dissipates.]

“Right, definitely never seen that before either.”

[he pulls out a spirit box from his bag and places it on top of a nearby service cabinet.]

“Alright, let's try this then. If anyone's here, anything even, you can try to speak through this. Just, uh… try not to melt this one… please?”

[White noise overtakes any other sound in the recording, and for about 30 seconds, that’s all that can be heard.]

“Nothing so far. Guess he doesn’t like to talk.”

[Suddenly, multiple lights start flickering, and machines nearby start whirring to life. Jason is shocked but maintains his composure.]

“Right, I get it, not the talkative type, well whoever you are, I'll get out of your hair, just have this.”

[He pulls something out of his pocket, a small, slightly squashed white flower, and gently places it on top of the cabinet.]

“I get it. You didn’t get a proper memorial. Just a bad memo, this is all I’ve got.”

[The whirring stops, the flickering subsides, and silence fills the recording. Jason sighs and reaches for the camera; the screen cuts to black.]

Vlog notes: Too hazardous, returning at a later date

Just as she made the announcement, Jocelyn lifted her cane and aimed its tip toward the back of the stage. She spun it once in a slow, deliberate arc, and the space behind her began to shimmer. A swirl of blue light coalesced and blossomed outward until a vast, humming portal was present.

When the circle of light steadied, she tossed the cane high. It turned gracefully through the air before landing back in her hand, perfectly caught by the base. With effortless flair, she swung it over her shoulder like a fishing rod and thrust it toward the portal.

The crooked end shot forward, detaching from the cane, and a taut, glowing blue line burst from the base, unspooling with a sharp whirrr like a reel under strain. It cut through the air and vanished into the portal’s depths, threading endlessly forward.

The sound went on and on, the line seemingly endless, until suddenly it stopped. Jocelyn’s arm jerked forward from the ****.

“Ooh, looks like we caught a big one,” she said, glancing over her shoulder with a teasing smile. Jason couldn’t tell if she was speaking to him or to the unseen audience she always seemed to be performing for.

She turned back toward the portal and started cranking her hand in the air beside her cane. The line began to whip back with quick, rhythmic clicks. Her arms flexed with effort, her body swaying exaggeratedly in what Jason surmised was more of a performance than any actual struggle.

Then, through the swirling light, a shape began to emerge, an ethereal blue figure, thrashing as it was pulled closer. Now that Jason could get a good look, he could tell that the bound creature was, in fact, a slim-figured woman. The glowing cords coiled around her torso, wrapping her in a way that seemed impossible, cinching her waist tight and drawing attention to her curves as she fought against them.

“What the HELL is going on?!” the captive yelled, straining against the bindings as Jocelyn gave one final, showy tug on her cane. The thread detached, and the crooked handle flew back to re-join its lower half.

“Now now, watch your language, don't want to ruin your first impression with your new master now, do you?”

“Master?” she snapped, rounding on Jocelyn with fire in her eyes. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you—”

She stopped mid-sentence as she noticed Jason sat on his velvet throne for the first time. Her gaze locked on him, a flash of confusion passing over her features, then shock, as if some recognition dawned in her, one that he absolutely didn’t share.

“You…” the newcomer muttered under her breath. Not long later, however, her eyes shot up, and a look of panic and confusion completely took over her features. “Ho- hold on a second, you guys can see me?”

“Of course my dear, wouldn't do much good to have a contestant the audience can’t see now, would it?”

“I- I don’t understand,” she stammered. “You can see me. You can actually—”

“—see you, yes, yes,” Jocelyn interrupted with a disinterested tone, twirling her cane. “Lovely feeling, isn’t it? Though more importantly right now, it’s rather loud keeping that portal open, don't you think?”

She tapped her cane against the floor twice, and with a low hum, the swirling blue gate folded in on itself, collapsing into a single spark that vanished with a soft pop. The sudden silence was deafening.

“And while I'm at it, let's get you out of that nasty binding. You should look your best, introductions are important you know,” she said with a tut, another tap from her cane and the threads melted away from Mika’s figure.

Mika turned in place, as though expecting the darkness to swallow her again. “It’s been- I don’t even know how long. Decades probably. Nobody’s ever—”

“Introductions, dear,” Jocelyn said sharply with a clap of her hands. “You’re on stage. Give the audience your best hello.”

Mika looked at her blankly, still reeling. “My what?”

“Your name would be a good start, sweetheart, perhaps a little about yourself as well.” Jocelyn leaned on her cane, the faintest smirk on her lips.

“I-I can’t, I just—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Jocelyn sighed, stepped closer, and tapped the tip of her cane against Mika’s forehead. “We are on a schedule, people, what part of that aren’t you getting?”

Jason watched as the glowing girl's whole body stiffened up, and just like him before, she started speaking, almost robotically.

“My name is Mika Tanaka. I was 24 years old when I died. I was a full-time electrical engineer working for Tri-Core Electrical maintenance and repair. I have zero sexual experience. I died fixing a faulty control cabinet after my coworker failed to cut the power as I requested. The lazy fucking jackass said he’d already done it.” Mika seemed to grow restless; light sparks flew from her as her hair stood on end.

Jocelyn seemed surprised at the sudden outburst and started giggling in delight, “Oh wow!” She started clapping in delight and grabbed Mikas' cheek with a light tug. “Aren't you just precious? You must have a serious amount of pent-up anger to break out of my control like that,” she said in what could only be described as the way one would talk to a baby that just used the potty correctly for the first time.

“I should make sure to try harder next time.” she added.

Next time? The thought cooled Mika down like a bucket of water to the face.

“Now deary, that is much better. If you don't want that to happen again, please tell our audience how it is that you know our dear master here.” Jocelyn said, pointing her cane towards Mikas mouth like a microphone.

Wanting to avoid having her autonomy completely removed again, she leaned forward and grabbed the cane, only to be swatted away. By a pair of gloved hands.

“Nuh uh uh… no touchies,” the hovering blue woman chastised her with a wag of her finger.

Mika just nodded and looked around the empty auditorium. She didn't know what was going on here, but she certainly knew that it would be better to just play along, given the power this woman had already demonstrated over her.

“Uhm, well, I wouldn’t say I know him, he broke into my- I mean, the warehouse one night and took a bunch of photos while talking to himself, it was pretty weird, so I thought I'd scare him off like all the kids that break in. You know, flicker a few lights, make a few machines rumble, but he didn't seem to care; if anything, he seemed excited by it. Oh, and he left a little flower behind before he left, which I thought was even weirder.”

Jason's eyes widened at the new information. Mika Tanaka… Tri-Core electronics…

A mix of realization and excitement overtook his thoughts. “M.T.! Oh my God! It's really you! From the report, from the warehouse incident, this is huge!” he exclaimed, getting up and rushing over to greet her.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, really!” he beamed, reaching out to shake her hand.

Mika flinched at the sudden burst of energy that was directed towards her from the previously silent man.

“Yeah, sure… a pleasure…” she replied with not even a fraction of the enthusiasm Jason was exuding.

She limply reached out to Jason's hand to shake back, but as her fingers reached his, they just passed straight through. “Oh, yeah, I guess that hasn't changed,” she added, disappointment obvious in her tone.

“Fascinating! Completely incorporeal, yet a faint static tingle, oh! Where's my notepad?” The newly energized man reached up to unclip one of the many pockets on his jacket.

“Ahem, Ahem,” a loud cough echoed behind the pair. Jason froze in place.

“Now I'm all for the master showing interest in his haremettes, but this will have to wait until after the introductions, m’kay?” Jocelyn drawled, sugary-sweet and condescending.

“Uhm, yes ma'am,” Jason said with a submissive nod, meekly walking back to his grand seat. Mika however, was silently directed towards one of the stools opposite him.

Did she just say five more? I get to meet even more of the ghosts I have investigated? Jason thought gleefully, mentally kicking his legs.

“So there's Contestant number 1 for ya!” Jocelyn said with a wink, “Certainly a shocking first pick, I know.” She paused as if waiting for something to happen before continuing. “But that's enough about our darling Mika, time for contestant number two!” the host declared.

“Barbara Dalton!”