Chapter 1
It was an autumn afternoon. The sun had started setting below the horizon, casting shadows on the street. The air was crisp, hinting at colder weather. The scent of fallen leaves was in the breeze. It was a quiet and peaceful day that everyone wished for. Ron was sitting on his old couch, flicking through TV channels with a bored look. The voice of traffic outside was the only noise breaking the silence of the evening.
While searching for something to watch he stopped on a news channel. The news anchor was telling about five friends who got murdered. They were coming back from a matinee show when someone attacked them. They were slaughtered outskirts of the town. He was so engrossed in the news that he forgot about his surroundings. Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the table, bringing him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and sighed when he saw Joseph’s name.
He answered with a relaxed voice, “Hey, Joseph.”
Joseph's voice was enthusiastic on the other end, almost too eager for a quiet Tuesday evening. “Hey Ron, let’s go for a movie tonight.”
Ron groaned and rolled his eyes. “No, I’m not going to watch those fictional stories. Everything is predictable like we’re children.”
There was a pause before Joseph responded. Now his voice is lowering into a conspiratorial tone. “Don’t worry. This time, I’ve chosen a story that no one can predict… and escape from the suspense.”
Ron smirked listening to him and thought Joseph was just trying to pull his leg. “Why? Is it a real story?”
“That you’ll figure out tonight,” Joseph said, his tone oddly cryptic. “I’ll pick you and Sanaya up at 9:30. Sharp.”
“Okay,” Ron muttered before hanging up. He dismissed and shook his head at Joseph’s usual dramatics. He stood up, stretched, and looked out of the window. He noticed a shadow around the window. He was about to walk towards it when he heard, “Who was it?” a soft voice called from the doorway.
He turned around and found Sanaya, his girlfriend. Her black hair spilled over her shoulders as she wrapped a cardigan tighter around her. Her eyes flicked to Ron’s phone curiously.
“It was Joseph,” Ron replied, sitting back on the couch with a slight smirk on his lips. “We’re going for a movie tonight. Be ready by 9:30. He’ll pick us up.”
Sanaya raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile. “Sounds fun,” she said, already turning back toward the bedroom.
However, she suddenly stopped and said with a playful glint in his eyes. “Tell him to give us corner seats.”
Ron laughed lightly as she disappeared into the room to get ready.
As time passed by, the house grew quieter. The once orange-pink glow of the sunset was now replaced with the deep, inky blackness of night. Outside the breeze was cold and gentle. It feels like every wind feels like a gentle but spine-chilling touch, The trees swayed gently with the wind. The branches scratching against the windows feel like bony fingers with sharp nails.
Ron glanced at the clock: 9:15 PM. With every passing second the tension was building inside him and he wanted to cancel the plan however seeing the excitement of Sanaya he remained quiet. He grabbed his jacket, feeling a strange twinge of unease he couldn’t quite place. There was something different about Joseph’s tone tonight, something unsettling but he didn’t know what that was.
When Joseph pulled up in his dusty black sedan, there was an intensity in his eyes that neither Ron nor Sanaya could miss.
"Are you ready for a movie like no other?" Joseph asked with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Of course," Ron replied, forcing a laugh.
"What’s this all about, anyway?" Asked Sanaya.
"You’ll see." Joseph’s voice had dropped to a whisper. "Just remember one thing: once the movie starts, you can’t leave until it’s over. No matter what."
Ron and Sanaya exchanged uneasy glances. "Uh, okay," Sanaya muttered, sliding into the back seat.
A chill ran down Ron’s spine, and he exchanged another glance with Sanaya, her face now touched with doubt. But they both shrugged it off. After all, it was just a movie. Right?
“Where is Kiara and Alex? Aren’t they coming?” Asked Sanaya to make the environment a bit lighter.
“Are you afraid that I will kill both of you tonight?” Joseph asked with a colder tone making Sanaya question her decision to come tonight.
“They will meet us at the theater directly.” He added and Sanaya nodded.
Sanaya started sweating in the air-conditioned car. She quickly grabbed her phone and texted Ron, “We should not go there? Let’s head home.”
“We will leave early. Don’t worry.” He responded.
Soon the car stopped at a deserted road and there it was. The old Crescent Theater was right in front of them. It was dark shrouded in shadows. No one had been inside for years—until tonight. Joseph smiled looking at the theater and came out of the car followed by Sanaya and Ron.
“Why are there no people here?” Ron asked, seeing no one around. The road was silent with not a single sign of humans.
“Because the show has started. Let’s get inside.” Ron said, making his way to the entrance. Ron held Sanaya’s hand and started following him.
