Like most college tragedies, it all started as a prank.
Sophia and Skyler have been friends since High School.
They like the same music, laugh at the same memes and dreamed of going to college together.
Sophia had a head for math and exceled at computer science, while Skyler enjoyed more of the arts.
They found a common bond in entertainment technology and both applied to Carnegie Mellon University.
Both were accepted at CMU and Sophia started her studies in Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Skyler in Drama.
Skyler loved her classes and easily made friends.
Sophia found her course challenging, and spent little time socializing outside of their friendship.
It was no surprise when Skyler found a boyfriend and that consumed more of her time.
Scott was in his 3rd year at CMU and majored in Arts and Entertainment Management.
Skyler took Scott to all of her events and introduced him to her performing arts friends.
He and Skyler seemed inseparable. Until they weren’t.
Scott developed an infatuation with Crystal, a second year Arts student with incredible acting and singing skills.
He unceremoniously dumped Skyler and the two started dating.
Skyler was devastated, not only had she introduced him to Crystal, but had considered Crystal a friend.
They lived in the same dorm after all.
Sophia could see the pain that Skyler was going through, and they jokingly conspired to get revenge.
One day Skyer was working on a scene that involved the projection of a ghost sitting in a chair.
She was impressed with the technology and brought in Sophia to see it.
Sophia found it fascinating and started researching the mechanism involved.
It was Pepper’s Ghost, an illusion technique developed by John Henry Pepper around 1862.
Sophia told Skylar that she could create a version that they could project in their room using the glass from a broken teleprompter.
Skyler loved the idea, but how about using it in the dorm’s bathroom to scare an unsuspecting student.
And not just any student, but Crystal.
After a little trial an error they were able to create an illusion that could be seen in the bathroom mirror, projected from a stall.
Sophia would run the unit while pretending use the toilet.
They were ready by Halloween.
Crystal entered the bathroom to make final improvements on her makeup before going out to a Halloween Party.
After a few minutes Sophia activated the device.
An old man in a cloak, head hidden, walking forward, appeared in the mirror.
Crystal was staring intently when the man raised his head, his hood dropping, revealing a decomposing corpse.
Crystal screamed and covered her face,
Just then Sophia flushing the toilet, banged open the stall door.
She ran to Crystal to ask what happened.
Crystal stared wide-eyed, then turned and ran out the door.
Sophia calmly collected the projector, removed the reflecting glass from the corner and walked out into the hall.
Skyler could barely contain herself. She had been standing outside the door and heard the entire episode.
She relentlessly quizzed Sophia on what Crystal’s expression was and wanted a detailed account.
That night, once calmed down, Crystal told all of her friends what she had seen and was convinced that the bathroom was haunted.
Sophia would chuckle to herself on each retelling.
By Thanksgiving break Skyler and Sophia had pretty much forgotten about the prank.
But when they returned to school on Monday, the story had gone viral.
Besides Crystal many other students reported that they too had seen a ghost in the bathroom mirror.
The stories varied depending on the teller.
With the specter being either young or old, male or female, but they always ended with a ghoul reaching out for the victim.
While Skyler thought it amusing, Sophia was disappointed that her fellow classmates would believe in ghosts of all things.
This a well respected school of science and engineering; How could they be so gullible?
But the students in the dorm wanted more.
A group of freshman decided to try and “talk” with the spirit and would bring a Ouija board into the bathroom at night.
They left the board and planchette on the marble sink for anyone to use.
The Ouija sessions began to take on a life of it’s own.
With some students using it to ask for the phone number of a romantic partner they were pursuing.
While others would try to coax out the answers to upcoming tests.
No one seemed to notice that when only freshman asked a question, there was an obtuse response.
But when an upperclassman had their fingers on the planchette, the answers were quick and detailed.
The Universities Paranormal Studies Club could find no indication of a spirit, but that did not stop the rumors.
Since no one was talking about the ghost in the mirror anymore, Skylar wanted Sophia to do it again.
Sophia said it was to dangerous with so many people in the bathroom and the reflector would be discovered.
Plus someone would need to actually run the projector.
What they needed was something that could be remotely activated and would need no easily discoverable apparatus.
Then Sophia remembered a Raspberry Pi project called MagicMirror.
It was perfect for a CompSci student and she felt comfortable with the engineering required.
The project was basically placing a thin high-definition screen behind the mirror and use a small computer to run the display.
By removing the LCD screen from a flat panel monitor you could drive the screen using an HDMI cable from a Raspberry Pi computer.
The trick is making the mirror semi-transparent at the point of contact with the display.
All skills that Sophia had.
Her plan was to build it in the next few weeks, and install it over Winter break.
As the majority of the dorm headed home for the Holidays, Skylar and Sophia executed their plan.
Using a hot gun Skylar heated the mirror, loosening the adhesive back while Sophia gently pried it away from the wall.
Once the mirror was removed, they laid it softly face down, on a towel.
Carefully rubbing a solution of ferric chloride in small circles, Skylar was able to remove the silvering.
Starting at the bottom of the mirror, she cleared an area slightly smaller than the LCD panel.
While Skylar was working on the mirror, Sophia cut a small slit in the drywall at the meeting of the counter top.
Beneath the sink, she made a corresponding cut.
Using backing-tape, Skylar mounted the screen and then using electrical fish tape, installed the HDMI cable.
The Raspberry PI was hidden below the sink for easy access.
While Sophia was testing the software, Skylar sprayed a small amount of silver nitrate onto the area effectively creating a two-way mirror.
Once the software was confirmed to be operating correctly, and the LCD brightness set to it’s highest level, it was time to remount the mirror.
They replaced all of the backing adhesive, heated it until it was tacky, and then mounted the mirror.
Working their way from the corners to the middle of the mirror, they made sure it was flush with the wall.
Once certain that the mirror was secure, they cleaned it and collected all the tools and chemicals.
The computer was programmed to activate when vibration was detected, and only in low lighting.
It took a few days, but finally a small group of 2nd years decided to use the Ouija while setting the mood by the light from there cell phone.
A wispy figure appeared in the mirror, staring at the girls and slowly shook her head while bringing a boney finger to her lips.
The all stared, open-mouthed for a few seconds, and then broke for the door.
News of an apparition being summoned with the Ouija board quickly circulated around campus.
The bathroom was a non-stop train of students wanting to experience the haunting.
Finally the TA decided that there needed to be a time limit and the bathroom would be closed to all but the dorm residents from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
Since the activity seemed to be more active at Midnight, the Paranormal Studies Club decided to try one more time to see what was causing the commotion.
They were given permission to investigate the bathroom the next Saturday night starting at 12:00AM.
Sophia heard about the PSC investigation on Friday morning, and immediately went into a panic.
She had to remove the MagicMirror tonight and had little time to do it.
With a full dorm, someone could walk in at anytime.
Faking stomach issues, she waited for an empty bathroom, then ran in and slammed the door.
Skylar stood guard at the doorway, telling everyone that Sophia was really sick and needed some privacy.
Sophia knew that removing the mirror had taken more than 2 hours and that was with two people. There was no way they could keep people out for that long.
So she just heated the bottom of the mirror, pried it just loose enough to lift it an inch from the wall.
That was enough room for her to slide the panel out. She disconnected the cable, and covered the slit with a piece of tape.
Removing the computer was simple, as it was taped to the bottom of the sink.
Looking intently into the mirror, Sophia could just detect area Skylar had cleared. But it was barely noticeable, and she had to know exactly where to look.
Fortunately, none of the stories stated a specific location in the mirror, and some talked about the image covering the entire thing.
The entire process took less than 20 minutes, and the bathroom was back in service, with Skylar helping Sophia return to their room.
The Paranormal Studies Club took over the bathroom at precisely Midnight of Friday.
Within a few minutes they had their cameras, EMF and motion detectors arranged across the sink, stalls and floor.
The investigation started slowly with no activity, but within 30 minutes all of the electronic equipment had quit functioning.
Not a single battery would hold a charge, and when they tried to plug in any devices the breaker would trip.
They brought in a single candle for light, and tried the Ouija board.
Since there was no recording of the events, only their notes and oral recitations would tell the story.
And the story spread like wildfire.
Not only had the PCS confirmed the haunting, but planned on publishing their findings!
Skylar and Sophia were in shock. Although Skylar had an open mind about such things, Sophia was beside herself.
How could anyone believe this? There was no such things as ghosts!
And Sophia planned to show everyone how she, yes, she, had fooled them all.
It was several days before Sophia could find a time to enter the bathroom alone.
Early on a Wednesday morning, she quietly padded into the bathroom, still in her slippers and pajamas.
She didn’t tell Skylar of her plan, as Skylar seemed to think that maybe the Ouija board worked all along.
She took her phone in with her and was going to video and narrate the entire procedure.
She found the Ouija board sitting on the counter top as usual, and moved the planchette so it was over the center star.
Then she commanded the pointer to “Move!”.
She watched intently, then let out a nervous laugh as nothing happened.
She couldn’t believe that she was so nervous, but then something did happen.
The star was no longer visible in the window. The planchette had moved, only a few millimeters, but it was definitely not where it started.
With short gasp, she squeaked out a barely audible “hello?”
And the planchette slowly moved, up and to the right. Stopping first at H and then I.
Sophia then heard a loud pop! and looked up at the mirror.
She swore that saw a vibration and something running towards her!
Then the mirror slipped off the wall and onto the marble top, toppling over it.
Sophia raised her arms in protection and that saved her eyesight, as the heavy mirror crashed over her head and sent shards of glass into her face.
The blow drove her to the floor.
The crashing sound woke the entire floor, but most just stayed in bed, not certain of what they heard and waiting for another noise.
Skylar stirred and when she saw that Sophia was not in bed, she bolted upright wide-awake.
She cried out and ran for the bathroom.
Those closest to the bathroom understood where the sound had come from and were desperately trying to open the blocked door.
By the time Skylar started banging on the door, the TA was screaming for them to force the door open.
Sophia had dragged herself to the door and then passed out in front of it.
It took four strong pushes open the door wide enough for someone to squeeze into the room.
That someone was Skylar as she fought her way to the front.
Looking down Skylar screamed seeing the amount of blood covering the tile.
She pulled Sophia away from the door and several dorm-mates quickly entered and wrapped her in towels to staunch the bleeding.
The TA called 911.
Sophia would make a complete recovery with only a few scars to remind her of her ordeal.
To this day she is not certain if she actually saw something, or it was just the weakened adhesive that made the mirror fall.
But either way, a sign was placed on the bathroom wall stating that:
OUIJA BOARDS
ARE NO LONGER
PERMITTED IN
THE RESTROOMS
