I walk up to a mansion like something out of a scary movie. There is a graveyard on the side of the house which kind of creeps me out. Fog is floating over the graves and everything. I don't know exactly why I'm here, all I know is it's Halloween and I'm with a group of people venturing up the steps to the front door of this huge mansion. And I don't have a very good feeling about it. The group of teenagers leading the way ring the doorbell and we all wait as an eerie gush of wind blows past us, full of whispers of the dead. I want to turn around and run, but something keeps me there, almost against my own will. Maybe my curiosity, and candy. The door creaks open and reveals a short man that looks like someone hired Beetlejuice as a butler. Except his hair is mossy green and his smile is much wider and creepier. "Come in," he beckons still smiling. I follow the group of people inside while thinking to myself "What the hell am I doing?" My intuition is nagging at me to run, yet I almost feel hypnotized to stay and see what will happen. "But do I really want to find out," I hesitate and start to turn around, yet it's too late; the creepy butler has already noticed my uneasiness and walks over to me. "Why hello there, miss." He says in an exuberant voice. "You're in for a real treat," he starts to chuckle and I nervously swallow. I feel trapped, like if I tried escaping, the door wouldn't budge. Everyone else seems to be having a grand time, talking and laughing and following this man down a long hallway leading to who knows where.
"Oh, I'm so excited, aren't you?" A man dressed like Zorro looks over at me.
"Excited for what?" I ask with a look of genuine bewilderment on my face.
"You'll see..." He grins and takes off towards the front of the line.
The suspense is driving me crazy, I tap a girl next to me on the shoulder. "Um, excuse me, but do you know what we're here for?"
She turns to look at me, "You mean, you don't know?"
I shake my head and she gets this weirded out expression on her face, "Um, it's for the Dance of The Dead, of course." She tells me as if I'm supposed to know that and then quickly turns back to her friends as they continue talking and laughing.
"The Dance of The Dead...." I ponder what kind of dance that could be as we enter a huge ballroom decorated like a dancefloor.
The little man goes up to the front of the stage and grabs a microphone, "Glad you could all make it tonight," he chuckles, "It's only once a year that the dead rise from their graves to dance with us." Suddenly he makes eye contact with me, my eyes full of fear, and he winks. "Now, it's time to summon them and begin the party."
The lights dim down and everyone seems excited, I feel out of place. This is just all so strange and I've never been here before.
"Now, let's chant together!" He raises his hands as if beckoning the dead to rise from their graves, "Sepulka Lenova Talasia! Mortis Geminius Rastolken!"
I begin to panick as everyone start to chant along with him and moaning is heard from outside.
I feel trapped and alone because no one understands my confusion and I'm immobile, partly due to fear. I turn back around and look at the door, it's so inviting, I feel it pulling me towards it.... I start to slowly make my way towards it, eyes glaring at me from all angles. I continue walking anyway, as the strange man chuckles again and it echoes through his microphone making it sound more intimidating and I start walking faster. But just as I'm nearing the big majestic doors, they slam open and zombies begin to pour into the hallway, moaning and limping. I quickly turn around and start running back into the room where all the people are and just as I do, they start ripping their face masks off and revealing zombies underneath. "All zombies unite, from graveyards everywhere!" The man starts to dance on stage, clicking his shiny heels. A zombie reaches out his hand for a dance and I step away from it just to bump into another zombie who puts a hand on my shoulder. I shake him off and start running towards a corner of the room, as he continues to reach his hand out; a smile forms on his rotting face, exposing decayed teeth and worms falling out of his mouth. He slurps the worm in and winks, as he runs a hand back through his dirt covered ratty hair. I am mortified as I panick to find an escape, this is so surreal. I am completely freaking out, surrounded by hoards of terrifying zombies and they are blocking every possible exit. I am being encompassed by them and my fear is eating me alive, I can't handle it. And soon, they'll literally be eating me alive.
"Fresh flesh..." I hear a zombie mutter, "Fresh flesh..." They all start to repeat.
"Oh fuck," I quickly scan the room, "Now that they've caught on I'm not dead like them, they're going to eat me if I don't get the hell out of here...." Suddenly an open window catches my eye, just as a group of zombies that are standing in front of it began to disperse around the room dancing and twirling each other around. I was shaking off every slimy cold hand that touched me, and I was trying hard not to look at any of them because I was already horrified enough. The creepy butler jumps out in front of me as I am making my way through the gaps in between the dancing corpses.
"Enjoying yourself?" He asks as I shake my head and try to push past him, "Why are you in such a hurry? The party has just begun."
I ignore him as I continue sliding past everyone in my way; he is following closely behind me and I am picking up my pace with every step he takes towards me. "I have to jump out that window, it's my only option..." I think to myself as I'm nearing it.
"Oh come on," the man insists, "At least give me one dance."
Just as the dancefloor clears in front of me, I see my chance to dart across the remaining space between me and the window. I run and dive through the window, rolling myself up like a ball and landing on the ground below. I feel something hard next to me and I run my hand across it, feeling engraved letters in it. My heart starts beating fast and then it sets in "Oh no... I'm in the graveyard..."
