Horror Gala by J Robbins

Answer 1

Horror Gala

by J. Robbins

"That was the best movie I've ever seen," said Pavel, causing his friends Damien and Nikko to groan and roll their eyes.

"You said the same thing after all six movies we've watched today," Nikko replied.

"For a film history major, you sure don't have very high expectations," agreed Damien.

"Well, this time I'm sure it was the best," retorted Pavel. "Even Professor Bram would have to agree that any movie with werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and pirates is a masterpiece. The only thing missing was Frankenstein's monster!"

The three friends ducked into a darkened doorway to avoid the crowd of moviegoers. The 40th Annual Horror Movie Gala had drawn a record number of people to the Nolan Movie Theater. Pavel, Damien, and Nikko had taken time off work and arrived at the movie theater before dawn to fit in as much movie-watching time as possible.

"Let's fuel up on snacks before the next movie starts," suggested Damien. Nikko nodded enthusiastically, but Pavel's attention was drawn to the door behind him. He turned the knob, and the door creaked open.

"What are you doing?" Nikko asked. "The sign says 'Keep out.' "

"Signs always say that," replied Pavel. "That shouldn't stop us from taking advantage of an unlocked door. At the very least we can get out of this crowd." Damien looked at the door nervously. The dim lighting created a spooky atmosphere.

"I don't think this is a good idea," he told his friends. "We make fun of people in movies who wander into creepy places and then act all surprised when they get eaten by werewolves!"

"There are no werewolves in here," Pavel laughed. "But just in case, make sure the door doesn't lock behind you." They crept forward into the darkness. Thick carpeting beneath their feet gave way to cold concrete. The sound of cheerful moviegoers vanished and was replaced with the eerie echoes of their footsteps.

"This may have been a huge mistake," whispered Pavel. "Let's turn back." As he spoke, a bright light flashed all around him, and he stumbled backward into Damien.

"What are you doing here?" demanded a gruff voice. As Pavel's eyes adjusted to the light, he saw an elderly man glaring at him from behind an antique writing desk.

"We didn't mean to disturb you, sir," Nikko answered. "My friends and I will just head back the way we came."

"Good," replied the stranger. "It's a devil of a shame that a man can't be left in peace in his own movie theater." Pavel's eyes widened as he realized that the stranger was C. Topher Nolan, the original owner of the Nolan Movie Theater and founder of the Horror Gala. The three friends raced back through the passage and past the concession stand. They stood outside in the blinding afternoon sun and tried to catch their breath.

"Can you believe we got to see Mr. Nolan in person?" Pavel asked his friends excitedly.

"Pavel, that can't have been C. Topher Nolan," replied Damien, his eyes wide. "He passed away in 1963." Pavel's smile faded as he looked at his ashen-faced friends.

"Then who did we just-" he started to ask.

"Let's just chalk it up to our overactive imaginations," interrupted Nikko. "We probably just watched too many horror movies today."

"Right," Damien agreed uneasily. "There's no other explanation." The three friends squinted at each other in the bright sun and tried to convince themselves that the only supernatural events in the Nolan Movie Theater were those happening on the screen.