The Scary 3rd Floor of the Toy Museum

Photo credit: MINT Museum of Toys

I used to work in a privately owned museum which has a bistro in the basement, some tables on level 1 for people to drink, rooftop bar on the 5th floor. During closing, my duties were to close up the gift shop, and go up to each level of the museum and turn the lights off.

Ten mins before closing time, I would announce that the museum would be closing and for guests to leave. I saw a lady on the 3rd floor (the floor which displays antique dolls) with her back toward the CCTV. I announced again that the museum is now closed and for all guests to leave. They have to walk pass me to get out of the entire place, so I sat there watching the CCTV and waiting for her to get out. But, she was still there.

So I decided to just go up and shut off everything and meet her on the 3rd floor to usher her out. Take note that this is a museum displaying antique stuff and sunlight should not be allowed in. Even the lights are dimmed down so the items won't get damaged. It has got a pretty creepy vibe in the museum, but I was quite used to the place so I wasn't that spooked.

Except for the doll room.

I have an intense phobia of dolls and used to get physically sick when I know there is a doll nearby. When I lead tours around and get to the doll room, I try my best to not look at the dolls at all times (or I will puke on the guests). When you turn the lights off, the entire room is plunged into pitch darkness. Cannot even see your hand in front of you type of dark. 4th floor goes fine. 3rd floor. I have to walk all the way into the room, go to the very end, off the lights and walk back out in pitch darkness. I had forgotten to bring my phone with me so I had no flashlight.

I walked in trying to spot the lady but there was absolutely no-one there. I stopped in the middle of the room and go "Well, fuck my life." Speed walked to the end of the room, turned the lights off, and tried my best to calmly walk away like nothing was wrong. The next night, the bar and bistro were getting quite busy and I decided to give the wait staff some help. After turning off all the lights in the museum, I went to the basement bistro. The manager asked me to get a certain beer for this customer. Thing is, the beer tap for that certain beer was located on the rooftop bar accessed by the lift. The lift from the basement was through a very dark little corner of the kitchen. NONE of the staff liked to go to that corner and would rather walk up 6 flights of stairs and down 6 flights again with a tray of beer. I, being the lazy and clumsy ass that is me, decided to take the lift. The lift opened up at the 3rd floor on the way up.

It opened up into pitch darkness with no-one around, and refused to close. After pressing the close button for about five long mins, it closed and went on its way. After getting the beer, I questioned myself if I wanted to take the lift down again. Lazy me decided, yes fuck it. Sure enough, the lift opened again on the 3rd floor. By this time, I was scared but frustrated as well. So I said out loud, "Mai siao siao hor."

After a minute, the door closed. I decided I wasn't going to stay for this shit any longer. So after serving the customer his beer, I went to the staff room to prepare to leave. Trick is, staff room is on the 2nd floor and I would have to walk in pitch darkness to get to it. Took the lift again (call me crazy or brave). As I was getting my bag, there was knocking on the staff door. I said "What? Just come in lah, it's open what." 

Nothing.

Then another round of knocks. I decided to open the door. No-one. I was like thinking to myself "Walao! Shit man!". I just turned back in and grabbed my bag out of the locker as quickly as I could. Just before I left the staff room, the chef came in. I told him what happened and he said there was once after work around 4am, he took the lift down because he was also feeling lazy, and instead of going down, the lift went up to the 3rd floor and remained open instead of closing.

​He almost shat his pants and ran out of the building using the stairs. On my last day, I heard that the boss had called a priest to bless the place because there were too many such incidents and a lot of staff quitting. I do not know how the place is now after the blessing though.