Darkness Awaits

Monica hated Halloween. She hated Halloween because of her older brother, Matt. Matt had been captivated by Halloween. He loved everything scary. And he loved to frighten Monica.

She could remember him chasing her with fake blood on his mouth and brandishing a knife. Yes, the knife, like the blood, had been fake, but to a three year old, it seemed real enough. And then, when she was five, he locked her in the cellar for three hours. He released her only minutes before their Mom arrived home. Monica tried to tell her mother what Matt had done, but he denied it. Of course, Mama had believed Matt. From then on, Monica was terrified of the dark.

For the next three years, Monica's life had been a nightmare. Matt did everything he could to torment and frighten her. He would turn mice or bugs loose in her room or chase her, dressed in some frightening costume. Monica had lived in terror.

Then suddenly, Matt ran away. One day he was just gone. Monica was glad, though her parents cried. The only thing Monica feared was Matt returning.

Now, eight years later, Monica worked in a movie theater. She worked the concession stand and the ticket booth. She would not go into the darkened theater, not even to watch a movie. However, after the movies were over and the lights were on, she often helped clean the theater.

This week was Halloween. The theater ran specials every night to entice customers in. Tonight was the last day of October, the true Halloween night. The theater had been packed all night. Since it had been so busy, four employees were working the late shift. So Monica wasn't worried when Shawn, her usual co-worker came up to tell her he was sick and had to leave. She nodded, knowing he was going to a party.

The last movie ended at twelve thirty and Monica began cleaning up the concession stand as the people filed out. Minutes later she glanced up as Mary, who worked the ticket booth called out good night. Startled, Monica yelled, "Wait, I need-," but Mary was gone.

Monica knew Pete, the new assistant manager was still in the theater, so she tried to relax. She finished counting the money in the cash register just as Pete came out of the theater. He took the bag of money and headed to the office. He had to recount it and verify the amount. Monica knew that would take about thirty minutes.

Nervously, she pulled the cleaning cart out of the closet and opened the door to the first room. It was dark. Gulping, she backed away. Pete had forgotten to turn the lights on. She left the cart and hurried back to the office to get Pete to go turn the lights on. The switch was in the control room.

Pete glanced impatiently at her, then at the clock. "Clean the other room first and I should be finished by then."

Monica returned to the cart and entered the other theater. The lights were on. She quickly moved down the aisle, picking up cups and papers. She was almost at the front of the theater when the lights went out. Monica screamed. Then the total darkness was shattered by the sound of an evil laugh. Monica froze.

She heard a whisper, "Happy Halloween, Sis. It's just you and me and the dark."

Monica forced herself to back up the aisle, toward the door. Without warning, the screen lit up and screams rang out through the room. Jason was slaughtering someone on the screen. Monica turned and ran as the screen went black again. She grabbed the door handle and pulled. It wouldn't open.

Matt laughed. "Sis, you know you can't get out unless I let you. Remember the cellar? How I loved hearing you cry and beg! And tonight we've got all night. Oh, in case you're wondering, I sent Mom a text message on your cell phone saying you were spending the night with Suzie Thomas. So, did you miss me?"

The screams burst from the speakers again as the sound was turned on, but the screen remained dark. Monica wiped tears from her eyes with a shaking hand. "Think," she whispered to herself. Suddenly, she remembered the emergency exits. The red lights over the doors should have remained on even with all the other lights off. They were dark. Still, she knew where the doors were. She began groping her way down toward the screen.

"Oh, yeah, Sis, I turned a few little rats, bats, and my favorite pet snake loose, so be careful where you step." As if on cue, Monica felt something brush by her head. She screamed and ran, tripping over the cleaning cart. The cart overturned and Monica fell. She tried to get back up but the floor was wet and slippery. She heard the squeak of a rat. Her heart began to hammer in her chest. She felt the old pain building. She hadn't had any trouble with her heart murmur in years, but now the fear was simply too great.

Suddenly, the door to the lobby opened. Monica could see a figure outlined in the doorway, holding a long knife. It was Pete. Confused, she tried to sit up as the door swung close.

Monica could sense him advancing toward her. She couldn't move, the pain in her chest unbearable. She jerked uncontrollably as his icy cold fingers caressed her tear stained cheek. Monica knew she was dying. She was literally being frightened to death by her own brother. Pete was Matt, disguised behind a beard and glasses.

Matt snapped on a flashlight so he could watch her face. As she began to lose consciousness, she heard him whisper, "Darkness awaits you forever, Sis." He smiled, his features twisted in the glow of the light. "I love Halloween! And I still have to visit Mom and Dad."