Ding-ding-ding. Stan's phone chimed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was his sister, Sharen.
Huh? Why is she calling me at this time? Did something happen? He looked up at the group of architects he was chatting with and forced a polite smile. "One second, guys. I apologize, but I have to take this."
"Oh, it's okay, take your time, Stan," one of the young ladies said. "We'll save you a seat inside. Just don't take too long—you wouldn't want to miss an award if you get called up!"
"If?" Zane, a colleague, joked. "Hell, he's probably going to snag every award there is. Go on, man."
Stan chuckled and nodded. "Thanks, Zane. I'll meet you all inside."
He stepped into a quieter hallway and swiped to answer. "Hello? Is everything alright, Sharen?"
"Hey… did Nora go back home or something? Did you pick her up?" Sharen's voice was thin and confused.
Stan's stomach dropped. He went through the day's events in his head like a frantic photo book, but the answer was the same. "No, I didn't. What do you mean? Is she not at the house?!"
There was a terrifying silence on the other end. Sharen sounded like she was holding back sobs. "She isn't, Stan. I'm so sorry. I've tried calling her and texting her a dozen times, but she isn't picking up."
Stan's mind raced. He knew exactly what had happened. The party. "It's okay. Let's not panic; it'll only make things worse. I'm on my way. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
[11:46 PM - Friday]
Deep in the industrial ruins of the city sat an abandoned warehouse. It was tucked away, hidden behind rusted fences and overgrown weeds—noticeable only if you were looking for it. The air vibrated with the screams of teenagers and the constant, bone-shaking impulse of 808 bass. It was the perfect place for a party where no one would hear the neighbors complain.
Inside, the building was a neon nightmare. Flashing RGB lights and massive speakers surrounded a central dance floor. Everything was draped in shadow, illuminated only by glow-in-the-dark bracelets and neon paint smeared on faces and fists.
At the bar on the far right, a guy with short brown hair stood on a table, chugging from a beer keg.
"Chug! Chug! Chug!" the crowd roared.
"Woooo! This party rocks!" someone shouted over the music.
Nora stood with her friends, face-palming. "Oh my god, this fool is going to drink himself into the hospital."
"Hey, cutie! Can I have some too?" a short blonde girl yelled from the floor.
The crowd shifted their chant: "Dooo it! Dooo it!" The guy on the table—Jake—grinned and sprayed the beer hose directly into the girl's mouth.
Ashley leaned over and bumped Nora's shoulder. "Your boyfriend is a real rockstar, huh?"
"I told him not to go crazy, and look at him," Nora hissed. "Fuck you, Jake."
Nora stormed off, disappearing into the wall of dancing bodies.
"Hey, idiot! Your girlfriend is pissed!" Ashley yelled at the table.
Jake jumped down, landing on his feet before his knees gave out, and he tumbled onto his stomach. "Noora, waaaait!"
Nora spun around, looking at him sprawled on the grimy floor. "You really are a jackass, you know that?"
"Hey, I'm sorry! I didn't mean—"
"SHUT UP! I didn't come here to be embarrassed, you asshole! Don't talk to me ever again!" Nora turned and vanished toward the back of the building.
"See what you did, jerk?" Hailey snapped at Jake before she and Ashley chased after Nora.
The girls slammed the heavy metal door of the restroom shut. Inside, the 808s became a dull, rhythmic thumping, like a heartbeat through the walls.
"I can't believe that bastard," Nora yelled, pacing the cramped, graffiti-covered space. "After everything I did for him, that's how he treats me!"
On the dance floor….
The DJ switched over to a heavy new beat. The strobe lights shifted to match the pulsing rhythm, and the crowd surged as everyone started dancing. Amidst the chaos of bodies and neon, no one noticed the massive figure stepping onto the dance floor.
He stood eight feet tall, towering over the teenagers like a mountain of tattered fabric and muscle. He wore a blood-stained, shredded red and white sweater, and his face was hidden behind a stitched-up, expressionless mask. In his massive hands, he wielded a thick coil of rusty barbed wire.
A guy dancing nearby pointed him out, shouting over the bass. "Yo, look at this guy! He looks insane! Check out that costume, man—it looks awesome! A bit early for Halloween, but this is dope!"
"I know, right? That barbed wire looks sick," another guy added, reaching out to touch the metal. "So... Big Guy, who are you supposed to be? Wait, don't tell me. Is it Leatherface?"
"No, you jackass," his friend responded, shoving him playfully. "Have you had too much to drink? Leatherface has a chainsaw. That's 'The Strangler' from that one movie. You're talking about something totally different."
"Oh yeah, that's right. Now I remember."
The giant didn't speak or respond. He stood perfectly still for a heartbeat, and then, with terrifying speed, he looped the wire around the first guy's neck. He tugged violently. The barbed wire bit deep, puncturing the boy's throat and crushing his windpipe before he could even let out a gasp.
The crowd nearby stopped dancing. For a second, they thought it was a show. A prank. Then, the giant tossed the limp body aside like trash and began to uncoil more of the wire.
The screaming began.
The music was still pumping, but the sound of panic rose above the 808s. People began to scramble, tripping over each other in a desperate rush for the main exit.
Back in the bathroom...
Nora stopped her pacing. "What is that?"
"The music?" Hailey asked, though she had turned pale.
"No... it sounds like people are screaming," Nora whispered. Then she shook her head, trying to stay calm. "They might just be having a dance battle or something. We're probably missing out on all the action."
Suddenly, a heavy banging erupted against the door. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
"NORA! IT'S ME, JAKE! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE! THERE'S A MONSTER ON THE FLOOR KILLING EVERYONE!"
"Nice try, idiot," Ashley said, shaking her head in disbelief. "If you think a fake prank is going to move her, you've got another thing coming."
But then the door flew open. A group of terrified girls pushed Jake aside, piling into the bathroom for safety. "There's a guy! He's killing people! He has wire!" one of them shrieked, her eyes wide with genuine terror.
Nora's heart hammered against her ribs. This isn't happening. This can't be real.