Midnight Screaming

I head to Google whilst my friends sit and watch me. I head to the cinema site and scroll to the midnight screening of Danger. The loading screen spins and spins some more until it pops up with the seating plan. Auto-selected are the four middle seats on the balcony. The torches hit my eyes as I hit Apple Pay, and the confirmation emails bing away.

I put my phone away, and the dare was complete. The boys cheered, and then I knew I had got them.

"So who is taking the other three seats?"

The silence was deafening with fear. None of them had thought that through. The youngest stood up and pretended to look at the time.

"My mum is here to pick me up."

He leaves, leaving four of us.

"Perfect." I clap my hands as the other boys' eyes fill with regret. I stand up and head downstairs. I wave out the door, grab a bowl of crisps, and kiss my mum's head.

"We are going to the cinema tonight."

"That will be nice, just be careful of Mr. Sander."

"Always, Mum."

We snack on the crisps till the clock hits 11:30.

"Let's go."

I walk down the stairs and head to my car. I wait for the other three to clamber in. I watch as they all nervously fiddle with their hands, picking their nails.

I drive down the quiet roads, not a single car in sight, just me and the twisting roads of a small town. I reach the deserted car park, park bang in the middle, and climb out, followed by three now cowardly boys. I open the door, and Mr. Sander appears.

"I see you booked four tickets upstairs."

I nod my most confident nod.

"Head on up, you paid for a drink and popcorn, so grab that and enjoy the show."

I grab a drink from the concession stand and head upstairs. Once we are all seated, Mike, the jock of the group, turns to us all.

"Mr. Sanders felt very animated today?"

"That's Mr. Sanders; he loves being in a theme park."

I look over the bannister and see a single girl all alone. Peter nudges me, and he throws a piece of popcorn. It hits her in the back of the head. She turns, and I yell,

"Sorry, my friend's a jerk."

She jumps back to the screen as Peter leaves, I think, to join her. The lights go off and the screen lights up. I feel Mike's finger tracing my shoulder, trying to scare me. I take a bite of my popcorn. Something wet hits my hand. I take a sip of my drink, the condensation wetting my hand. I take another bite, but something drips. I look at my hand, a dark spot where the wetness lies. I wipe it onto my jeans and carry on watching the film. The screen goes black and all the lights come back on. I look down and the popcorn is red. Mike faints and Dan looks at me and says, "I told you it was a bad idea." I look up and see two eyes looking down on us. I blink and they are gone.

Mr. Sander runs in and stands at the end of the aisle.

"You three need to follow me."

"What is happening, Mr. Sander?" Dan asks.

"You know the stories of this place."

"Of course," we all echo.

"Well, tonight is the anniversary."

We all look at each other.

"Mr. Sander, how do we get out?"

"Follow me."

I kick Mike awake, and Mr. Sander guides us to the back of the balcony and unlocks the door. We file through and see all the videos and projectors. He unlocks the next door as a cardboard cutout of James Bond holds his gun and points towards us. We push through the door as the gun goes off. Mr. Sanders leads the way when Ryan grabs my arm and points at Mr. Sanders' leg, where the trousers had ripped by the ankle. I shrug it away and carry on following, then I see it: his leg is silver, reflecting the light. We stand back and wait.

"Mr. Sander,"

The other two nudge me to stop. He twists his head a full 180, followed by his body.

"Yes?"

"What happened to Peter?"

"Oh, he escaped."

"Escaped what?"

"The fate you're about to receive."

We all nod and run back. We try the projector room door, but it's locked. We look at the window where a cardboard James Bond stares at us and shoots; the glass shatters all over the floor. Dan jumps through the window, shoves his hoodie off, and wraps it around the gun on James. I jump next, and then Ryan, just before Mr. Sander reaches the door. I slump across the door.

"We need to split up."

We nod, Ryan heads out the door onto the balcony. Dan looks at me, and I pull him in for a kiss, his sweat dripping into my mouth. I nod, and he leaves out the other door, holding my hand as he slowly leaves. I hide behind the door and let it fling open. Mr. Sanders hobbles in, unties James, and I run up the passage once again, left and right, and see an exit sign. A scream erupts—Peter's. I look at the exit and the way of the scream. I head towards the exit and go to grab the door, but it is locked. I turn to see Mr. Sanders looking at me. I jump over the props and grab what I can only assume is Captain Jack Sparrow's and run. I am on a safe path and just run; I don't know which direction I am facing. I see a door, and it's open. I run through and take the steps down. I open to find the foyer.

I see Peter with the girl holding an Indiana Jones whip. He sees me and shakes his head. The girl is laughing at him and holds his wrists to the ground. I take the opportunity to jump on her.

"Hello, we have a new toy to play with."

A hand grabs me and pins me against the wall,

"You're Mary."

She looks at me.

"You're the girl that was thrown off the balcony and had popcorn thrown at you, who died from an infection from the melted butter in the cuts."

"And how do you think it feels being called popcorn girl?"

"You were never popcorn girl to us. We always said Mary, you were the one that made us come here."

"But he, he threw popcorn at me."

"He is very sorry," Peter screeched.

I look at her and notice how she shakes.

"You don't want to do this, do you?"

She shakes her head. The hand lets go of me as I fall to the floor. I crawl up to her and take her freezing hands.

"Who makes you do this?"

She points behind me and it's too late. I turn to see Mr. Sander holding a wand. Mary pushes me out of the way, and the light shoots her. I kick and trip him, and he face-plants on the floor. I help Peter up and kick down the front door. I push him out, I head back in, and he grabs my arm. I shake my head.

He nods and takes out his phone. I run back and see Mary fighting Mr. Sanders.

"They are on the balcony," Mary calls.

I run up the stairs and try the door, but it's locked. I kick and kick, but there's no movement. I race back down, see the wand, and grab it. I race back upstairs, and with a wave of the wand, the doors fly open. Mike comes for an attack; I dodge as he flies into the wall. Dan stares at me, runs for a hug, and sighs. Ryan comes next, out of breath. I take his hand, and we head down the stairs. I push them both out the door, and Dan holds on a little tighter. I manage to escape his grasp as Ryan and Dan hold him back. I turn and grab the fire extinguisher. I pull with all of my strength and hit Mr. Sander in the back. He curls over, and Mary looks at me.

"How can you be free, Mary?"

"Let me watch the whole of Cinderella."

I nod. She heads into the screen, and I head to the projector. When I open the door, a gun hits my shoulder. James Bond stands there. I kick the cardboard back and snap it in half. I grab the hoodie and tie it around the blood seeping from my shoulder. I pick up James and shove him into the passage as I hunt for any Cinderella. I finally find the live-action and shove it on. I jog downstairs and make some popcorn, sweets, and a drink. I head into the screen and pass them to Mary.

She smiles as she whisks away into the screen.

I head outside as the police start to arrive. I feel Dan's arms, and the world fades away.

I open my eyes to the white room, my mum holding my hand.

"A cinema trip?"

I see Dan smirking.