Okay, I’ll admit it-I get scared super easily.

That is more than likely a large understatement. I am that person who shrieks if someone turns a corner too fast in front of me, who goes into hysterics whenever I see a bug and has other slightly irrational fears.

That being said, I signed on to go to the Haunted Tour of the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., on Saturday night from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. knowing full well that I would likely be scared out of my mind.

These tours are led by professional ghost hunters and limited to a small number of attendees (roughly 10 this time around). Once I signed the liability waiver, I knew this was serious stuff. That’s not to say that I doubted the existence of paranormal activity-I firmly believe aliens exist-but I have never had a personal experience that would lead me to believe in ghosts.

After receiving a history lesson on the theatre itself, including its resident ghost Irv, we were taken on a quick tour of the place. Following that, our destination was up to personal discretion. The lights were turned off and dimmed along walkways, and we were expressly told not to travel alone-for liability reasons and in case we saw something out of the ordinary.

Everyone brought along equipment of varying sorts-I was simply armed with a digital camera and a flashlight-while others had their own video cameras, EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) Recorders. The coordinators even had an ovilus-a tool used to decipher what the ghosts are saying. It was repeatedly said that we should take what we hear from the ovilus communications “with a grain of salt.”

I would have been highly skeptical of the mostly gibberish that came from the ovilus had I not been in the dressing room when I heard George, one of the ghost hunters, communicating almost rationally with a “spirit.” It was highly agreed upon that although most of the words spewed from it were nonsense or programmed words, but when “Irv” or “George” were mentioned, one could not help but be freaked out.

And spooked as I was, only towards the end did I become comfortable with what was taking place around me. I gasped a few times during sessions and couldn’t help but hold my breath or shake at other times. I was constantly worried about becoming a “runner”-someone who freaks out because of a supposed paranormal encounter and takes off. We were assured that the ghosts inhabiting the theatre are all quite friendly and we were in no danger, but I found that less than comforting, especially when a door mysteriously slammed shut.

I found the ovilus sessions to be particularly interesting. Irv seemed to have a strong attachment to one of the ghost hunters, while sharing few kind words with another. One person in the group heard their name mentioned, while other frequent phrases included rabbits, the Ides of March, Saturn, a possible car accident on the highway and the outside, among other things.

No matter whether you’re a believer or not, this is definitely something worth checking out. The four hours are intense-anticipation and curiosity fill the air. Even if the paranormal doesn’t interest you, touring the theatre at night and learning its secrets is a rare opportunity.

In the end, I left the theatre not nearly as scared as I came into it (besides the fact that we were told the ghosts sometimes come home with you) and with a few pictures that could possibly have “orbs” in them.

Before you dismiss ghost hunting as a weird hobby, it might be beneficial to experience a tour like this. Not only will you gain a respect for the people who do it, the equipment they use and the theories they share, but the experience is likely to cause you to wonder about your own paranormal beliefs.