The Feast of Fears

The Wedding

Today is a peaceful wednsday, Jameson was invited by his friend to go see his wedding that will be held in today's late night. The mansion, known as Ravenswood Manor, stood like a monolith amidst the rolling hills and dense forests of the countryside. Its stone walls were weathered to a moss-covered grey, with turrets and spires reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers. The windows were tall and narrow, their panes glinting like ice in the fading light of day.

As Jameson arrived, the sky above was a deep, foreboding grey, with clouds that seemed to swirl and twist like living things. The air was heavy with the scent of wet earth and leaves, and the distant rumble of thunder echoed through the valleys.

The grounds surrounding the mansion were a labyrinth of overgrown gardens and crumbling stone paths. Ivy crawled up the walls, its tendrils snaking around doorways and windows like grasping fingers. In the distance, the trees creaked and swayed in the wind, their branches like skeletal arms waving in warning.

Jameson entered the mansion, dressed in his finest attire, ready to celebrate his friend's wedding. The evening air was filled with laughter and music, the champagne flowing freely. He mingled with the guests, exchanging pleasantries and congratulatory wishes.

As he made his way through the crowd, Jameson couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. For a brief moment, he forgot about Mr. Henry's sinister plans and the horrors they had uncovered.

But as he turned a corner, his heart skipped a beat. His friend, Alex, was standing alone in the hallway, looking pale and shaken.

"Hey, buddy," Jameson said, approaching him. "What's wrong?"

Alex's eyes were vacant, his expression twisted in a mixture of fear and horror. "J-Jameson," he stammered. "I...I saw something terrible."

Jameson's grip on Alex's arm tightened. "What is it? What did you see?"

Alex's gaze drifted away, his voice barely audible. "E-Ethan...he's here."

Jameson's mind went blank. Ethan? What was Ethan doing here?

Suddenly, a chill ran down Jameson's spine as he turned to see Ethan standing behind him, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

Ethan's face was distorted, his features twisted into a grotesque grimace. His skin was deathly pale, and his eyes seemed to bore into Jameson's very soul.

Jameson tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat. He felt paralyzed with fear as Ethan began to move towards him.

Alex's eyes widened in terror as he stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet. Jameson tried to grab him, but it was too late.

Ethan reached out and grasped Alex's throat, his grip like a vice. The sound of Alex's desperate gasps for air filled the hallway as Ethan's face contorted into a twisted grin.

Jameson watched in horror as Ethan's grip tightened, and Alex's lifeless body slumped to the ground.

The music and laughter from the wedding reception seemed to fade away, replaced by the sound of his own ragged breathing. Jameson knew he had to get out of there, but his legs felt like lead.

Ethan's glowing eyes locked onto him, and Jameson knew he was doomed.

Jameson's mind was frozen in terror as he watched Ethan's twisted face, his eyes burning with an unnatural energy. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe.

Ethan's grip on Alex's throat remained tight, and Jameson knew that his friend was gone. The horror of the scene was too much for him to comprehend.

Suddenly, Ethan's gaze shifted, and he turned to face Jameson. The glowing eyes seemed to bore into his very soul, filling him with an unspeakable fear.

Jameson's paralysis broke, and he stumbled backward, desperate to get away from the monster that once was Ethan. But his legs felt like jelly, and he collapsed onto the cold floor.

As he looked up at Ethan, he saw that the man's face had changed. His features were no longer human, but twisted and contorted into a grotesque visage. The skin was gray and decaying, with veins bulging beneath the surface.

Ethan's voice was low and menacing, his words dripping with malevolence. "You should not have come here, Jameson," he hissed. "You should not have meddled in things you do not understand."

Jameson tried to scream, but his voice was stuck in his throat. He tried to move, but his body felt heavy and unresponsive.

Ethan loomed over him, his eyes burning with an otherworldly energy. Jameson knew that he was doomed, trapped in a living nightmare from which there was no escape.

THE DESPERATE CALL:

Jameson's vision began to clear, and he realized he was lying on the cold floor, his head throbbing with pain. He struggled to sit up, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of Ethan. The mansion was silent, the only sound the distant hum of the party still going on.

He slowly got to his feet, his legs trembling with fear. Jameson knew he had to get out of there, to find help and safety. He stumbled towards the door, his eyes fixed on the exit.

As he reached the entrance hall, he saw that the partygoers were oblivious to the horror that had unfolded behind him. Jameson's mind raced with thoughts of Maya, his only hope for survival.

He quickly made his way through the crowds, weaving past laughing and chatting guests. Finally, he reached the front door and burst out into the cool night air.

Jameson took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He pulled out his phone and dialed Maya's number, his fingers shaking as he waited for her to answer.

"Maya, it's Jameson," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm at Alex's wedding reception. It's...it's a nightmare."

Maya's voice was calm and concerned. "What's wrong, Jameson? What's going on?"

Jameson took a deep breath before launching into a frantic explanation. "Ethan is here, Maya. He killed Alex. He's not human anymore. His face...his eyes...it's like nothing I've ever seen."

Maya's tone turned urgent. "Jameson, stay calm. I'm coming to get you."

Jameson nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Hurry, Maya. Please hurry."

As they talked, Jameson glanced back at the mansion, half-expecting Ethan to emerge from the shadows at any moment. The trees seemed to loom over him, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.

"I'm getting in my car now," Maya said. "I'll be there in 20 minutes."

Jameson nodded again, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Thank you, Maya. Please hurry."

As they ended the call, Jameson looked around nervously, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that Ethan could appear at any moment, and he had to get as far away from him as possible.

He took off in a sprint, racing towards Maya's car as if his life depended on it.