Chapter Text
It’s Halloween night, and instead of being in your dorm and complaining to your roommate about a boy you met at a party who didn’t text you back while binge-eating candy like a little bitch, you decided to have a social life and get out more with your friends. Well…“friends” as in two girls you met in your Italian class this semester that surprisingly shared a similar interest with you in rock music. Like you, they admired and froth out their mouths for bands like Nirvana, Metallica, Alice in Chains, and hell even KISS.
Though, for weeks now, they’ve been fangirling over a band you never heard of before called Torchhead. From finding out about the band, you have only listened to one song from them and honestly, it sounded too shitty to even continue listening, making you not want to delve into the band’s music entirely. However, you had to give the band another chance since one of your friends, Aaliyah, told you that she got wind of one of their secret shows happening in an abandoned factory in the woods from a friend who was part of an internet fan club of the band, and she surprisingly invited you. But like really? The middle of the woods? That sounded like a good place to get killed you thought to yourself.
So now here you are standing next to your two other friends Molina and Aaliyah, Molina was dressed as a slutty nurse and Aaliyah was dressed as a sluttier version of the lead singer who usually had white skull-like face paint, except her face paint was red. You decided to go for a slutty bunny, something sweet, something that had a completely opposite vibe of a rock concert.
Your costume started with a strapless, form-fitting corset-style bodice made of shiny, hot pink satin fabric that accentuated your figure. The corset was adorned with playful white fluffy trims along the top and bottom, adding a touch of flirtatiousness. Attached to the corset, there's a fluffy pink faux fur tail that sits just above the derriere. The corset ends in a short, ruffled pink satin skirt that barely covers the hips, leaving plenty of your legs on display. Completing the ensemble are a pair of thigh-high fishnet stockings in a matching shade of pink, with lace-up details running up the back. As a cherry on top of your Halloween outfit, you had a pair of cute pink bunny ears made of satin or velvet, trimmed with fluff, and attached to a headband.
As you and your friends approach the old abandoned factory, Aaliyah complains about the long line of fans waiting to get in. "Ugh, this is taking forever," she groans. Unlike Aaliyah, Molina tries to stay optimistic. "Don't worry, the wait might not be long."
You nod in agreement as you take a closer look at the people around you. Some are dressed provocatively like you while others have gone all out with their costumes - zombies, ghouls, devils, and even a few with blood-dripping monster masks.
Finally reaching the entrance after what feels like an eternity of standing in line behind some questionable characters wearing very little clothing for October weather conditions; Molina pulls out her flip phone excitedly showing off pictures from Torchhead's previous concerts that they've played across other towns before tonight’s show which has been hyped up on social media by indie music enthusiasts everywhere.
As you stood in line for the concert nestled deep within the heart of the woods, an inexplicable sensation sent shivers down your spine. It was as though an invisible presence wrapped itself around you, an unseen gaze on you coming from the trees to your right. The forest, normally a sanctuary of tranquility, now held an eerie aura, a stage for the unknown.
When you turned your head, all you saw was the moonlight that trickled through the branches, casting elongated shadows that danced upon the ground, amplifying your unease. Each rustle of leaves beneath your feet seemed to echo with an unfamiliar weight as if the very forest floor concealed secrets longing to be unveiled. The soft whisper of wind through the trees took on an uncanny rhythm, whispering secrets in a language only nature could understand.
Your heart started to race like a wild stallion, its thunderous gallops reverberating through your chest. Every nerve in your body tingled with anticipation, heightened senses pricking at the edges of your consciousness. The air, heavy with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, wrapped itself around you like a suffocating embrace.
Breaking your stare from the darkness beyond the trees, Aaliyah shakes you.
“Yo, c’mon the line is moving.”
“Oh, shit sorry.” You scurried along behind them managing to steal another glance to your side again, this time catching a flash of a towering figure wearing a white mask marred with yellowish scars ducking behind a tree. Probably some asshole that didn’t want to wait in line with everyone else.
Once inside, your eyes widen at how massive everything seems compared to outside where there was hardly any light coming through windows covered with boards or graffiti tags leftover time. Since its abandonment years ago, it now turned into a makeshift concert venue complete with stage lights shining down upon performers playing loud guitars drums basses keyboards microphones surrounded by speakers amplifiers smoke machines fog effects strobe lighting making it feel more alive than ever before.
The three of you push your way through the crowd, making your way towards the center stage when suddenly something catches Molina's eye causing her to stop dead in her tracks pulling both yours & Aaliyah's attention back towards whatever had caught hers so abruptly: It was one member who stood apart from rest- lead singer whose voice echoed, filling every inch space available within walls reverberating deep within chest cavities leaving listeners feeling entranced under his spellbinding performance captivating audiences, drawing them deeper into a world he created onstage.
"Wow...he really knows how to work a crowd doesn’t he?" You say aloud without realizing just how much admiration laced your words, turning to see the ecstatic expressions on the faces beside you.
"Yeah...he's something else." Molina nods in agreement.
"I told you guys he was worth stalking for all these months!" Aaliyah smiles giddily.
As the night goes on and Torchhead continues to play their hearts out, you can't help but feel a sense of excitement building within your chest as you were amongst a sea of diverse souls, each uniquely absorbed in the music, merged together, dissolving boundaries as you all surrendered to the infectious melodies. The dance floor transformed into an arena of liberation. In the midst of the chaos, there were those who embraced the rhythm with grace and finesse.
The air crackled with contagious energy, amplifying the impact of every jump, stomp, and twirl. Sweat-soaked bodies, fueled by adrenaline and the pulsating sound waves, reveled in the freedom of movement. The collective shouts and cheers merged with the music, becoming a chorus of celebration.
“I gotta shit!” Aaliyah yelled as you and Molina danced.
“Ok? Then go shit” Molina shouted back.
“Ok, imma be back!”
Aaliyah practically got swallowed by the swirling mass of bodies when making her way away from them.
“She’s probably gonna sneak backstage after to spend some time with the lead, wanna get drinks!?” Molina yells as she rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, sure!”
At the makeshift bar, the both of you are drinking shots of this oddly flavored electric blue drink that you don’t even know the name of while looking out to the collective euphoria of the concert. With every crashing guitar chord and thunderous drumbeat, the crowd became a living, breathing entity, moving in synchrony with the pulsating heartbeat of the music.
“Do you guys usually go to concerts like this?” You shouted at Molina.
“What?” Molina responded loudly
“I said, do you guys usually go to rock concerts like this!??”
“Only on special occasions, like spring and summer break or Halloween. You should join us sometime, you’d really like it! It’s more lively now since it’s Halloween and shit.”
“Oh ok. Well, do people usually sneak into these types of concerts?” you asked. It was so loud you could barely hear your own voice over the music.
“Well, kinda. I mean I did a few times. Why do you ask?”
“Well, I saw some tall ass guy walking behind some trees toward the back of the concert. It didn’t look like he was gonna wait in line.”
“Then he was probably sneaking in then, I mean for these types of concerts you need to know the password from someone apart of the fan club of the band I guess. Aaliyah knows more about this shit than me, I really don’t know.” Molina throws back her head, taking in the entire shot of alcohol. “Well, imma continue dancing, you stayin?”
“Yeah,” you replied seeing Molina swerve her way into the wave of people. It was just someone crashing the show, right? You never understood why you get extra jumpy and anxious on Halloween. It’s not like the person was a fuckin masked murderer or something. Not wanting to get any more in your feelings you joined Molina and danced with her.
*****
Hours passed as the band passed through song after song. It felt like you were spent, while Molina seemed energetic as ever.
Molina continued screaming her lungs out to the song while you grew worried for Aaliyah who has yet to show up.
“Where the fuck is she?” You yelled at her.
“Where’s who?”
“Aaliyah.”
“She’s probably backstage, who knows.” Molina replied as she glided across the dance floor, her movements fluid and captivating, as if each step was an expression of her intimate connection to the music.
“It’s been fuckin forever. Imma go find her.”
“Yeah go do that! We can leave and go get donuts after this”
You turn to her, giving her a questioning look. What the fuck is she talking about right now? Her friend hasn’t come back for hours and she’s thinking about getting…donuts? You shook your head and turned around, pushing your way through the sweating bodies of people that were all too into the music.
In the dimly lit depths of the old abandoned factory, a grimy bathroom awaited a hidden realm of decay and neglect amidst the pulsating energy of the music. Stepping through the worn door, the assault on your senses was immediate and overwhelming. The air was thick with a pungent amalgamation of odors—stale sweat, a potent cocktail of disinfectant and urine, mingled with the faint hint of cigarettes. Layers of grime and graffiti adorned the wall’s surfaces, obscuring any remnants of cleanliness that may have once existed.
Dim flickering lights cast eerie shadows across the chipped tiles and stained fixtures. A flicker of recognition revealed the remnants of a sign that had long lost its battle with time, its once-bold letters now faded and barely legible. The discolored tiles, once vibrant, now showcased a patchwork of dirt and mystery, a testament to the untold stories whispered within the confines of this dismal space. Graffiti sprawled across the walls like a chaotic mural, each scrawl and crude drawing a testament to the anonymous frustrations and fleeting moments of rebellion.
“Hey Aaliyah, you here?” you shouted. There was only silence.
You approached the sink that was marred with rust and encrusted with soap scum, when you turned it on it emitted a sluggish trickle of brown lukewarm water. You turned it back off not wanting to risk a possible disease or something. Looking at yourself in the cracked mirror above the sink that reflected the tarnished state of the bathroom itself, you checked your makeup, which had become smudged a bit by sweat after all the dance and frantic movement. Damn, you worked so many hours to perfect it. I mean you shouldn’t be surprised, it was a rock concert after all.
The sensation of needing to pee consumed your thoughts, commanding your attention with relentless persistence. You look out at all of the stalls with disgust, each one was somehow dirtier than the next. Fuck it.
You went into a stall but didn’t sit on the disgusting fucking uncleaned toilet seats. Instead, your butt hovered over the seat trying to not let that shit touch you. While relieving yourself, the stench of the unclean toilets mingled with the musty dampness that clung to the stained floors, evoking a sense of abandonment and decay. You could still hear the roar of the audience in the bathroom after you were done and fixed yourself up in the stall. As you were about to leave the stall you heard the door hinges of one of the stalls squealing in protest as it was opened and closed again.
“Shit Aaliyah, is that you? Stop fuckin around we're about to leave.” You halted before you could touch the door handle when you noticed a pool of blood spreading underneath your stall. You freeze for a moment, trying to process what's happening before finally calling out to your friend.
“Aaliyah Is everything okay?”
There's no answer. Just more silence.
Your heart races and panic sets in, but you force yourself to take a deep breath and try to remain calm. You decided to leave your stall. Silence and faint rock music greet you when you come out, making your skin crawl with unease. Slowly moving your shaky legs forward, you peek under each stall door along the way until finally reaching the last one where the trail of blood ends.
You take another deep breath before pushing open the door slowly revealing a gruesome sight - your friend's lifeless body slumped over on the toilet seat with multiple stab wounds visible all across her chest area. Your piercing scream makes its way throughout the stall. You back up onto something hard and slowly turn around.
Looking up you saw it, a white mask, a macabre fusion of horror and human visage, a grotesque representation of a distorted soul, looking down at you. The sickly complexion of the mask appears as if the very life force has been drained from its wearer, leaving behind a deathly pallor. Dark, matted hair cascades over the mask, framing the face with an unkempt and disheveled appearance.
The man’s dark blue eyes, cold and devoid of humanity, pierce through the mask with an unrelenting intensity. They bear witness to the depths of darkness that dwell within, revealing a glimpse into a sinister abyss. The lifelessness in those eyes sends a chill down the spine, a silent reminder that the presence behind the mask is driven solely by a malevolent purpose. His worn and tattered light brown coveralls hung loosely on his towering frame. The man cast a long shadow over you that seemed to devour the light that came from the mirrors above the sink.
"No...no! This can't be happening!" You screamed out loud while tears start streaming down uncontrollably from both eyes simultaneously without warning from the sheer terror mixed with sadness that comes flooding through every fiber of your body after seeing a girl you used to sit next to in class sit lifelessly on a shitty concert toilet right before your very own eyes. You tried to bolt for the door, but his huge hands grasped a chunk of your hair and threw you back towards the wall. Your pink bunny ears fell on the grimy floor in the process.
“Please don’t kill me!” you cried.
He tilted his head quizzically at you.
You feel the cold sweat on your forehead as you watch in horror. The tall and muscular man towers over you, his eyes filled with a sinister glint.
"Please, let me go," you plead, your voice trembling with fear.
The man doesn’t respond.
In one swift motion, he grabbed you by the hair and slammed your head against the wall, and your whole world fades to black.