My Adventures at Zak Bagan's Haunted Museum

Chapter 2 -The Lobby

Chapter 2 The Lobby

A few minutes after we handed over our waivers, the line moved. They had let the group in before us. We were going to be next. It gave me a chance to check out more of the things around me. Amber and I were right between the gargoyles that were in the front of the mansion. The line to get in went right between them. Suddenly, I started to feel dizzy and weak. I felt drained and tired when previously I'd felt just fine. I had to sit down. I sat on the side of one of the gargoyles, because there really wasn't anywhere else to sit.

"Hey, you okay?" Amber held my elbow.

"I don't know. I'm tired all of a sudden. I don't know why. I felt fine just a few minutes ago."

"Maybe it's the heat. Or just being in the desert. It's tough if you're not used to it."

I shook my head. "I have a bottle of water with me. I don't think it's that."

We continued our conversation, getting to know each other, as I got more tired. Our talk went from where we were from to how long we were staying in Vegas. I found out Amber was a local. She could come to the museum whenever she wanted. Totally lucky. But then our conversation got into what kind of protection we had brought.

"I have a cross and a pentacle against the things that are inside. Never can be too careful," I said. I touched the cross and pentacle hanging around my neck, and felt a lifting. All of a sudden, I felt a whomp of energy come up through my feet and energize me again, and I was no longer dizzy. "Wow, Amber. I'm starting to feel better. Just as I was talking about the protection and religious connection, I felt a lifting off of me."

"Really? What was it?" Her eyebrows had gone up.

"Whatever it was, I think it was draining me of energy. But when I was talking about my protection symbols, and touching them, it lifted off of me. And then, I felt a surge of energy again." I shivered. "That was so weird." I stood up from the gargoyle base, not needing it's support anymore.

"Wow, this place is weird." Amber shook her head.

"Time for the fun to begin." One of the mortician ushers behind a podium got our attention. The line was moving forward. I quickly got next to Amber, and we filed through the line up to the double doors that was the entrance to the lobby of the Haunted Museum. We entered with a group of another 10 or so people. It was in the small groups of 12-15 people that they were taking everyone through the museum. We got in line to pay for our tickets and turn in our waivers.

The mortician usher began to talk to us as we shuffled into place. His voice had that low, drone like quality you here when people talk to a group, or how you'd think a mortician spoke. It reminded me of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion ride. "This is the lobby of the Haunted Museum. Feel free to take pictures in here only. It is the only place in the museum where cameras are allowed. It is also the only place for the bathroom." He waved over to a far hallway with clearly marked restroom signs. "The tour is an hour an a half long. It is best to use the restroom now before you start the tour."

I didn't have to be told twice. I went down the short hall, into the women's restroom and found a stall to help take care of the fact I'd been drinking so much water outside. I was hoping I'd make it through the almost two hour tour. Well, I thought. Like going to a movie. I washed my hands, and came back into the lobby to hear people all excited about something.

"I can't believe he was here." Amber rushed up to me.

"What? Who was here?" I saw other people excited too.

"Zak. He walked through the lobby," a man on a bench near the double doors that led to the line outside said. "He went through the double doors outside too. He said 'Hi' to us all before he did."

"Oh no. I missed it all. That totally sucks." I felt that inner pout start. Zak was known to occasionally go outside and meet his fans and take pictures. And I had missed it. I sent out a thought. I really hoped he'd come back. Please let him come back. 

There wasn't much I could do, but get in line now, turn in my waiver and buy my ticket. I made it to the front, got my ticket, which had a picture of Peggy the doll on the front. Then, started looking around at the other things in the lobby while I waited for the rest of the group to pay.

The walls were all painted a dark brown or had fake wood paneling. The lighting was somber and dark as well. There were shelves filled with creepy items like dolls, artificial candles, an old fashioned TV playing episodes of Ghost Adventures, a skeleton creature holding a sign that said "The Haunted Museum", and a warning sign. The warning sign was the most interesting because it said: "Warning: This building is known to contain ghosts/spirits and cursed objects. By entering you agree that management will not be liable for any actions by these unseen forces." I took a picture of it to just show all my friends later on social media.

I had just taken the picture of the sign when Amber came up behind me and said, "No joke is it. He's pretty serious about the warnings. Big sign. Waiver."

Suddenly, there was movement behind us, and we heard someone shout, "Hey, Zak."

We both turned, and saw a man coming through with a black derby, long black coat, and black pants. I could see from the side, it was Zak Bagans, owner of the Haunted Museum and lead investigator/host for Ghost Adventures.

He seemed to be on a mission and was walking quickly between us all to a red curtain at the other end of the lobby. I shouted quickly, "Hey Zak. How about a quick picture." He stopped for a moment, half his body through the red curtain, smiled, putting up the peace sign. I snapped a picture of him, and he was gone.

That's when a tour guide cleared her throat. "Welcome to the Haunted Museum. You were all very lucky. He usually doesn't stop and do that. Now, it's time to begin our tour."