Classification: Ethereal Entities

Temporal Range: 19th Century

Geographic Range: Bell Family Home, Tennessee, USA

Diet: Fresh fruit (and possibly anxiety)

Horde: Hauntings

In the early 1800s, nestled in the quiet fields of Red River, Tennessee, an unassuming farmhouse became the stage for one of America's most infamous hauntings. The Bell Witch, a malevolent poltergeist, tormented the Bell family from 1817 to 1821. Her primary target was John Bell, the family's patriarch, though his daughter Betsy also fell under her spectral wrath. Whispers among the locals accused their neighbor, Kate Batts, of witchcraft and the source of the hauntings, though these claims have never been substantiated.

The Bell Witch's mischief was both eerie and violent. Objects flew across rooms, disembodied whispers filled the air, and the dreadful sounds of chains dragging or claws scratching on walls echoed through the house. Early accounts from the Bell family described strange creatures approaching the farmhouse, including an enormous bird and a dog with the head of a hare.

Curiously, the Bell Witch seemed to have a peculiar affection for John’s wife, Lucy, often leaving her gifts of fruit. Many have speculated upon this peculiar behavior, suggesting it hinted at a deeper reason behind John’s persecution. When he finally succumbed, an empty vial of mysterious liquid was discovered by his bedside. With his death, the haunting largely ceased, though whispers of the witch’s return have surfaced from time to time over the years. It is said she now resides in the Bell Witch Cave, named in her honor—a place best left undisturbed. For those who dare to provoke her, beware: you might just become her next fixation.