Horror Business by Ryan Craig Bradford

Author:Ryan Craig Bradford [Bradford, Ryan Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA, horror, male lead, death, dying, humor
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Published: 2015-02-02T08:00:00+00:00

***

In October, the movie theater in Silver Creek only shows horror movies. It’s a single screen relic with sticky floors and stale popcorn, but it shows original 35 mm prints. I’ve come to know the theater crew over the last couple of years, so they sometimes listen to my suggestions, but tonight they’ve decided to play The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a standard. I’ve seen this movie close to thirty times.

I arrive at 11:30 p.m. and Steve isn’t there. I hang outside for twenty minutes. The fluorescent light from the marquee buzzes, turning people into pale-skinned zombies. I buy a ticket.

A stoned kid runs the box office. He’s reading the Anarchist Cookbook and looks up with bloodshot eyes when I approach.

“One, please.”

“Right on.” Prints the ticket. “Enjoy, Chief.”

I ask if I can use the phone. He makes like he exerts an enormous effort to let me use it.

I dial Steve’s number.

“Hey,” he says.

“Where are you? Movie’s about to start.”

“Oh shit, sorry. Parents say no way I’m going out tonight.”

“What the hell, man? This was your idea. It would have been nice to know sooner.”

“Hey man, it’s not my fault you don’t have a cell phone. I was planning to come, honest. My mom’s being a real bitch right now. You know, the curfew and everything.”

“Whatever.”

“We all don’t have cool dads,” he says. He severs the line. I give the phone back to the kid.

Fuck it, I’m already here.

The theater is empty except for four other people who have made sure to sit as far away from each other as possible. I catch on and find the most inconspicuous seat on the side. I have a choice between a cushion with a spring poking out and one with a stain on it. I weigh the odds that the stain might be jizz and choose the spring chair. I sink down; the seat provides no comfort and squeaks loudly. One of the other patrons shushes me.

The lights go out.

Nothing happens; the projectionist can’t thread the film.

One of the few people in the audience laughs.

It begins as a chuckle.

It becomes hysterical.

We all sit in the dark, listening to this terrible laughter.

Someone retreats; footsteps pass by me. I’m too afraid to do anything.

Nobody tells him to be quiet.

Finally, the whir of the projection sends a blinding square onto the screen. The laughter stops. The movie begins.

I sit up and make out the outline of the guy sitting in the front row. The Laugher.

The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy that befell a group of five youths. …

The hood of his coat is pulled over his head. There’s probably a skull underneath. Death has come to Silver Creek to see the midnight movie.

For them, an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes. …

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