I found out about the haunted house from my friend Chi Chi at the mental hospital. Our group was talking about how rude it was that some people create haunted houses with an asylum theme, and ChiChi shared that she and some friends were part of a haunted house group that charged money at Halloween. She said they made over ten thousand dollars every year. I could not believe it and I said, “Chi Chi, can I be part of the cast? I could seem really scary if I need to. Maybe like a scary clown or something.” Chi Chi said “yes of course you would be awesome, you are one of my best friends now.”
So we kept in touch and in October I got my clown costume together. I decided not to add any blood or evil streaks. I just felt that a normal clown costume did the trick.
We practiced jumping out and scaring people and set up interesting scenes in the house. These haunted house people were really artsy and a lot of the rooms were more interesting than scary. There were mirrors and dripping water and music that alternated from low cello sounds to soft crying to distant shrieks.
“Chi chi, I don’t like the demon holograms,” I said. Chi Chi said, “there are no demon holograms.” I realized that it was my own hallucinations from my illness.
Opening night came and there was a long line of people who heard about our house on the radio.
I was nervous but jumped out at people just like we practiced and I didn’t feel bad when they screamed. But I saw more hallucinations and could not tell the fake ghosts from the visions.
I said, “Chi Chi, is one of the actors dressed as a zombie maid? Because that person really scared me.”
Chi Chi said, “what do you mean, a zombie maid? What kind of maid outfit?” I said, “old fashioned, like brown and gray and a longer skirt.”
Chi Chi said, “oh my gosh, that is what I thought. Was it long hair in a bun with blue ribbons?”
“Yes,” I said, “whose costume is that?” Chi chi said, “that’s not a costume, it’s really the person who died in this house fifty years ago.” She then showed me the portrait in the living room.
“Ok,” I said. “I am kind of scared but maybe she will target the visitors.” Just then I saw two guys dressed in black try to sneak away with the money box. “Hey, come back,” I said. But I knew they were too fast for me. I saw them head towards the woods. But then I saw them fall down. Something had stopped them. It was the zombie maid. She came back to the front door and handed us the money box. “I look forward to this every year,” she said.
"and no real life creeps are going to ruin it for me".
