Okay, I need to calm down for a second. I just burst in my front door not long after the most terrifying night of my life. I decided to write this out to help understand what happened and maybe even get some help along the way. But, after what I did, there's a chance no one will want to help me. I mean, I wouldn't blame you for actions if you were in my shoes, but I can't help feeling like I may have condemned the people I left behind. You must be wondering what I mean by that? Well, I'll start right from the beginning.
It was about a week ago that I received the email. It was addressed from one of my old high school friends. Back then, and even now, I didn't have many people that I could call 'friends'. So it was a surprise that someone I'd known, but hadn't spoken to in over three years, would be messaging me out of the blue. The email itself had the title "EPIC PARTY FRIDAY NIGHT!" I would have deleted it then and there if I hadn't have noticed the sender's name. I really wish I'd just deleted it as was my first impulse. Checking now, I actually still have it. Just reading it again sent shivers down my spine, but I'll copy and paste it here to save me explaining the situation.
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FROM: jo********@yahoo.com.au
TO: nj*****@hotmail.com, mi******@hotmail.com, bl*******@gmail.com... [more]
SUBJECT: EPIC PARTY FRIDAY NIGHT!
Hey guuys! I hope yall down for a wild night!! One of me mates knows the guy who runs that secret party hub in the run down factory on the edge of town. Guess whos got an invite with instructions that say: "Any of your friends are welcome to come along." THIS GUY! Now lemme tell ya, this is THE party that's been the word on the street for a few weeks now! I've heard that some people get so drunk and fuked up they never come back - so this is defs not for the faint of heart XD
Party starts at 9 this friday night, you know where, but heres the catch if you dont know already, no byo, if your caught with any drinks on ya, youll be turned away. But I dont know why youd do that anyway because they supply FREE BEER! If thats not enough to get you to come, then I can say no more.
Hope to see u there!
-J.
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Look, despite what you're thinking, he's not the most illiterate person on the planet. This was much worse than I'd ever seen from him; I would have thought he'd been hacked if it weren't for his old signoff "-J.". I can't tell you what possessed me to go that Friday. I'll tell you right now, it wasn't the free beer, since I hate the watery, bitter taste of it. In fact, I hate going out. I'm the most anti-social person you'll ever meet and yet, it just felt like the right thing to do. Maybe I was feeling a bit guilty over having lost touch with my old friends. I had noted that this email was sent through to not only me, but to a large number of people from strangers to old friends and acquaintances. By this point, I'd subconsciously made the decision to attend this 'party'. It wouldn't hurt to catch up with some people and maybe even have a little fun, something my life had been lacking lately.
Fast-forward to Friday afternoon. I was in my room getting ready. It was a bit early, but as my week had dragged on, it seemed that I was actually looking forward to this reprieve. The email had explained that the party was held in the old factory at the edge of town. I don't know what used to go on there, but they had a big bust up by the police a few years back over some undisclosed safety misconduct which resulted in many worker's deaths and disappearances and the place was shut down immediately afterwards. I honestly don't know the specifics; I didn't pay attention to the news back then and it wasn't any of my concern. Although I found it strange that the history of the place had been cleared from the net. I think I might have a good idea of why it's been covered up now, but I'll save my theories for another time.
It was a long drive to the factory. I was feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness and I could hear my heart thumping in the silence of my car. I was thinking that it was a little sad at the time, I usually avoid going out, and so I was getting anxious. As I was making my approach from the forest trail outside of town, I saw the tall spires of the two chimneys looming in the distance. The grey hulking mass was quite ominous at night. Not long after, I pulled into the old parking lot and checked the dash. The time read about 8:15pm. I was early, but I'd made extra time in case I got lost. Oddly enough, as I looked around the lot, there were only a few other cars besides mine. I'd expected there to be more of a reception, although, I was early.
