Movie Night

A small horror story...

It’s after midnight when Cassie locks the front doors behind the last few stragglers of the late night movie. In the front of the movie theater she begins methodically sweeping the debris of candy and popcorn, dropping empty cups into garbage bags as she goes. ‘People can be such slobs,’ she thinks disgusted, grateful it’s an old one room theater with only a small balcony, lobby and bathroom in need of cleaning. Her co-worker went home sick, so she’s stuck by herself. Bent under a seat to get a box of chocolate, the catchy sound of “Let’s All Go to the Lobby” gets her attention. ‘Somebody lost a cell phone,’ she decides. Scanning the seats she spots a shape at the back of the theater in the balcony’s shadow.

“Hello?” Cassie calls out tentatively, pulling a small flashlight from her pocket, walking closer. She could’ve sworn the seats were empty when she came through earlier. “I’m sorry, Sir, we’re closed.”

Caught in the beam of light is a man slumped in the seat. Head tipped forward his slit throat spills down the front of his shirt seasoning the red splattered tub of popcorn in his lap with a coppery tang. A squealing shriek rips from her throat as the flashlight falls from numb trembling fingers. Cassie’s heart falters, thumping away at a staggering beat. ‘Run!’ her mind screams in panic. ‘Now!’

Racing into the lobby she grabs her cell phone and keys from behind the candy counter. Crossing to the door she fumbles with the deadbolt twisting with all her might. Grunting, the metal refusing to budge, her hand flies free as one of her fingernails rips off. Biting back a scream, exposed nerves on fire, she clutches the injury. ‘Screw it,’ Cassie decides taking deep ragged breaths, ‘I’m breaking the glass.’

Unhooking the velvet ropes used to corral patrons she picks up a gleaming golden pole, wielding it like a bat as she swings at the door. THRACK! The force vibrates up her arms, turning muscle to jell-o, but the glass doesn’t crack. Rearing back for another swing the lights give a loud humming BRRZZZTCRICK and explode. Dropping, Cassie covers her head as a shower of glass rains on her. Plunged into darkness she lifts the pole, tightening her grip for another go at the door. A flicker of movement in the glass catches her eye. Someone is behind her. With a shrill banshee shriek she whips around swinging, the pole connecting with something solid and meaty.

A body crashes in the darkness and Cassie runs, racing up the stairs to the balcony. She can barricade herself in the projection room. Tripping, stumbling, heart thundering in her ears, she smacks into the rail of the balcony teetering dangerously. Pulling herself upright Cassie fumbles in the darkness, banging into seats, groping for the door. Movement echoes up from below with the sound of humming. Heart seized in panic, gasping, suffocating, she chokes on air. Somebody’s coming! Desperately she rips out her cell phone using the dim light to find the projection booth. Slipping inside she turns the lock dragging shelves, chairs, and anything that moves in front of the door. The Humming grows louder as footsteps come from the balcony. Jumping away from the door, Cassie crouches, praying they won’t get her.

Someone starts singing.

“Let’s all.”

The floor creaks.

“Go to the.”

Shoes shuffle.

“Lobby.”

The doorknob jingles.

Biting her arm to muffle a scream, Cassie listens to the door rattle. Blood rushing in her ears, fighting back tears, she wishes the person would go away.

Silence.

Heart fluttering a staccato her eyes fly to the projection window. It’s too small to fit through, she knows, but her throat closes tight at the scraping tap of nails on the window frame. A velvety chuckle fills the darkness as footsteps drift towards the stairs. Standing, cramped legs aching, Cassie steps back, starting to call the police. Hitting into something hard and warm two vice like arms close around her. The cell phone clatters to the floor. Body frozen in fear, mind screaming to struggle, Cassie feels lips press against her ear.

“Let’s all go to the lobby.”