House Of Wax : Nick Jones FF ✅

Twenty. 20

As Lilian swung open the creaking door of the garage, her eyes fell upon the dusty Ford parked inside, its engine lying dormant. A row of windows on the garage door hinted at the outside world beyond. With determined steps, she made her way to the driver's side and yanked the door open.

Inside, she rummaged through a handful of keys, her nerves adding an unsteady tremble to her hands. The first key proved futile, as did the second. Panic began to gnaw at her. But on the third attempt, relief flooded her as the key slid smoothly into the ignition, eliciting a triumphant smile. "Thank god," she muttered to herself.

With a swift motion, she shut the door and turned the key, only to be met with the strained groan of a dying battery. Desperation crept into her voice as she pleaded with the car to start, but each turn of the key yielded nothing but disappointment. Her gaze flickered to the rear-view mirror, acknowledging the windows that marked her every move, yet she persisted, hoping against hope.

As the realization of a dead battery settled in, her composure shattered, tears streaming down her face like a frightened child. Yet, amidst her fear, determination surged within her. She exited the car, her resolve unbroken, and approached the garage door, peering out cautiously.

Suddenly, hands burst through the glass, seizing her by the neck with a vice-like grip. Panic turned to defiance as she fought back with every ounce of strength, frantically searching for a weapon. Her eyes landed on a row of tools, and without hesitation, she reached for a nearby hacksaw, wielding it like a lifeline.

With swift and precise strikes, she brought the blade down on her assailant's hand, the sound of his screams echoing in the confined space. Drawing upon reserves of strength she never knew she had, she delivered another blow, forcing him to release his grip.

Escaping his grasp, she darted out of the garage and into the house, her heart pounding in her chest. In the hallway, she raced towards the back door, her hands fumbling with the lock in her haste. With one last glance over her shoulder, she saw no sign of her attacker. With a surge of determination, she sprinted out of the house, her destination clear: back to town, away from the terror that lurked behind her.

Lilian's heart raced as she sprinted down the dimly lit street, her feet pounding against the pavement. With each passing moment, the town came alive, lights flickering to life in storefronts, homes, and even the surrounding trees. Suddenly, she found herself bathed in the harsh glow of streetlights overhead, her panic mounting.

Driven by fear, she dashed along the sidewalk, her breath coming in frantic gasps. As she passed by the community pool, the joyful sounds of children's laughter and a lifeguard's whistle reached her ears. Relief flooded through her at the familiar sounds of life in the town.

Without hesitation, she hurried to the entrance of the pool, slipping inside the glass door and entering a small lobby. Behind a cluttered desk, an office lay beyond a glass partition, while a long corridor stretched towards a door marked "POOL."

The echoing splashes and whistle of the lifeguard urged her forward, the promise of sanctuary driving her onward. Pushing open the door, she stepped inside, only to recoil as her foot skidded on the slimy surface.

Her hopes of safety shattered as she took in the scene before her. The once pristine blue pool was surrounded by chaos, with broken bleachers, chairs, and other debris littering the area. Despite the lifelike sounds of laughter and whistle-blowing, she realized they emanated from old speakers mounted on a moldy, ceramic wall.

Lilian's lungs burned as she sprinted back towards the front doors, her heart pounding in her chest. But as she reached the entrance, terror gripped her like a vice. Through the glass door, she saw Bo peering in, his lips twisted into a sinister grin. "Want to go for a dip?" The game was back on, and Lilian's instincts screamed at her to flee.

Without a second thought, she pivoted and raced back towards the pool, her mind racing for an escape route. Inside, she frantically scanned the area, her eyes landing on a sign above a door across the pool: "Ladies Changing Room." It seemed like her only option, but navigating the maze of debris blocking her path would be no easy feat.

Suddenly, the lights flickered and went out, plunging Lilian into darkness. Then, a solitary pool light flickered to life, casting an eerie glow. Bo's voice echoed through the darkness, taunting her with the offer of a dip.

Desperation gripped her as she edged along the pool's edge, the threat of falling into the unknown depths looming over her. With Bo's footsteps drawing closer, she pushed on, her fingers gripping the broken bench for support.

But as she neared the end of the bleachers, disaster struck. She ended up slipping, but it was not water she fell into -but a deep, gooey, a layer of blue wax ovens, the entire surface of the pool, hiding what's underneath; water thick with stagnant, green algae. Bo's mocking voice filled the air as she struggled to pull herself out, her panic mounting with each passing second.

"Awe shucks -- you went in without me."

The pool light now highlighting several silhouetted figures submerged in the murky water below the newly created opening... could they be bodies? Hard to tell.

Finally, with a burst of adrenaline, she clawed her way to safety, scrambling out of the pool and darting into the ladies changing room. Inside, the dim light revealed a labyrinth of broken ventilation ducts and scattered debris. Ignoring the chaos, Lilian raced towards the exit door, only to find it chained shut.

Stunned but undeterred, she picked herself up from the floor and searched for another way out, her determination unyielding in the face of danger.