Festival 2 “The Harvest”

On the day I left the hospital it was unusually cool. I still showed many of the symptoms that put me there in the first place, including the headaches and insomnia. But with the help of medicine I had been able to diminish both to an acceptable level. Not wanting to spend more time inside, I headed to the local fall festival, hoping the air would do me good.

Every year, for nearly as long as anyone can remember, Autumn has been defined by the attractions of the local festival. At first it was a Gnostic based, harvest festival. But as time passed, Halloween and the Autumnal Solstice were brought together into a single event, spanning the month of October. There are many things to see there, but by far the most popular is the haunted house.

The person who arranges this is a local man who is known to have a great deal of money. How he came into the income is unknown, but he is a great patron of the theater and the restoration of old buildings. Every year he devotes a great amount of attention to the purchasing of parts and construction of the new haunted house. Building begins in early September, and completes shortly before the season starts. It then remains till the end of the month, and then on November 1st it is dismantled.

There is no consistency in his plans, and every year he creates a new set of blueprints to be executed. He is known to stand on site, overseeing the construction in a heavy fur coat.

This year was the largest construction yet, occupying two floors and nearly twenty rooms. After a great amount of deliberation, the final arrangement of rooms was agreed upon and the attraction became open to the public.

I entered the place with little expectation. At the door, I was directed to refrain from the use of a flashlight, and that my phone was to be off throughout the proceedings. I obliged, and was led to a rope attached to the wall. We were instructed to not to leave the rope under any circumstances, and that we were to make our way forward without disturbing any of the objects kept within. Then we were asked to sign waivers, and after completing the paperwork we were brought inside.

The place was completely dark, save for intermittent flashes of light every couple of seconds. It was enough to keep us going at a consistent pace, but not enough to let us truly get our bearings. There were various people in cloaks, along with grotesque statues, malformed with violence. These scenes were graphic, and as we walked the dark clothed figures would whisper to us, though would never speak loud enough to be understood.

Room after room passed without incident, but as we moved further I could hear the distinct sound of heavy breathing.

By the time we reached the ninth room, the breathing was sharp and clear. The room flashed quickly with light, revealing only momentarily what was within. It wasn't long, but it was long enough. The sight stopped me dead in my tracks. There were at least nine of them, in various positions around the room. Their skin was gray and glassy, dark muscles shimmering as they shifted in the light. Their eyes were pale, and revealed no direction for their sight. Those with me became speechless.

I felt panic building inside of me, even as those around me became excited. They all thought it was just a very good piece of acting, along with some talented practical affects. But I knew different. Those things in the ninth room. I had heard about them before. Those things that lived in alleys, curled into balls and enraged by the light. They were staring right at me...

They shifted and moved like a singular mass, clicks filtering into the air. My fellow customers were enthralled by the act. Some of them were even giggling. Then one of them, ignoring the rules set down in the beginning, pulled out their phone to get a better look. There was a howl of rage as the things backed into the corner, trying to escape the light. Then one of them broke off from the rest and rushed forward. However, it wasn't heading towards the man with the phone. It was headed directly for me.

The others customers began running like hell, and I was too, careening as fast I could down the halls. I went ahead blindly, crashing into several door frames as I rushed through. I could hear the loud thump of that thing closing in behind me, their hands and feet slapping against the tiled floor. I could see the exit, could see people leaving. My hand was on door handle. Only then I felt something pull hard against my leg.

In an instant I was on the ground, its weight pressed against me. A thick tongue ran its way over my shirt, a heavy squeal of delight emanating from its mouth as the foul smelling thing clawed at my chest. I tried to move away. I even tried to hit it. But when I did, it simply pulled me back and sunk its teeth into my thigh. As it grasped at me, it hit me on the side of my head until my blood was swimming in my eyes. Pain pulsed in my chest as I continued to try and pull away. But I couldn't.

I could hear a commotion coming from the exit. Someone entered into the doorway, sending a thick beam of light into the darkness. In an instant the thing was off of me and I was free to breath normally. There was another shriek as it rushed the silhouetted figure. Then my vision faltered as another wave of pain hit me and I blacked out.

Sometime later I awoke to the scent of smelling salts. Sitting over me were medical personnel, working to flush out my wounds. The creature was “revealed” to have been a mentally unstable actor. He had supposedly been deeply troubled and had sneaked in after his behavior had caused him to be dismissed. I later met the owner who claimed that the creatures were just part of the show, and that security would be tightened for the rest of the season.

When asked if I wanted to press charges I said no. They insisted, but I was adamant in my refusal.

I was asked to go to the hospital but decided against it. I believe that something is broken, but I won't put myself in that place again. The pain is excruciating, but the medicine they gave me for my headaches seems to cover it. After a week or so I am sure I will be able to walk normally again. I tried to contact my friend, but I got no response.

I know that I should just believe the story I was told, that what I saw was just an act of madness. But I know what I witnessed, though no one will believe me. You cannot fake flesh like that. The feel of bone under membranous tissue...you can't fake that.