Ghost claims credit for Victoria Building misery

Have you ever experienced chills, illness, or panic-attack symptoms while studying in the Victoria Building? You might have thought this was just the ‘vibe’ of the notorious building, but it’s actually the after-lifelong dedication of the nameless spirit residing on the third floor. 

“If you’ve seen a figure with suspiciously large fingers, your chair was impossibly uncomfortable or you went to the water fountain to quench your habitual dehydration and found you’d have to put your mouth to the nozzle for even the smallest drop of water and went ‘aw dang’, that was me.”

The spirit recently revealed itself to our writers here at the Abnormal School. It offered us the opportunity to interview it, so long as we could correctly answer its riddles three. We’re not smart enough for that, so we googled the answers. Our editing team is confident there won’t be any supernatural consequences for that. 

“I died in 1929. Since then I’ve done hauntings in City Hall, Mackenzie House, and a handful of apartment buildings. My work here is by far my favourite” it explained. “Even if it does get written off as carbon monoxide leaks, black mould or malfunctioning elevator brake systems.”

The spirit says that having their supernatural heavy lifting written off as mundane is once again starting to take a toll on its mental health. 

“Some of my more common Vic-tims will start shaking and crying every time they have to come anywhere near the building,” it said. “Then they go and say that it’s because they failed an exam here once. No! It’s because I work day and night to ensure the stairwells are perfectly damp, the smells are disgusting and that their experience is as miserable as it possibly can be.” 

The spirit says it has haunted the Victoria Building for nearly 50 years, moving in a few years after Toronto Metropolitan University purchased the space from the O’Keefe Brewery Company. 

“I think the fact that it used to be an office building means it still carries some of that nine-to-five sadness, and that’s something I can really take advantage of,” it said. “I used to have a soul-sucking job in finance, so I get it.” 

The spirit explained that while it can be frustrating, maddening even, the fact that their work goes unnoticed is almost a testament to the skill with which the spirit operates. 

“I think people just forget what this place was like before me. That it was once a respectable building,” it said.  “It’s hard to be upset for too long. The students, their little fearful noises and panicked eyes are why I do what I do.”