Content Warning: Male POV, weight gain, immobility, hypnotism, brainwashing,
It was the night before Halloween. All month long you and your girlfriend Maria had been hosting what you both called Friday Fright Nights, a weekly horror movie marathon. Tonight was going to be your last Fright Night, and you were both pulling out all the stops. This included purchasing a comfortable new couch at your local furniture store that was so plush and soft you could sink right into it, gathering a plethora of snacks for you both to munch on throughout each film, and subscribing to a brand-new streaming service Maria found called Eerie.
You started your night by sifting through the pantry for snacks. Maria's stockpile had grown threefold in the last 4 days. She purchased all the snacks online, and they had some strange names like Greese's peanut butter bats, Cursey's green chocolate bars, and Hariboo gummy squirms. You were loving their Halloween theme, but you weren't sure if you'd be adventurous enough to try all of them. You tossed them on the serving tray anyway. After loading up the sweets, your attention turned to the stove where a large pot of popcorn was popping away. Maria always loved your homemade popcorn, it tasted way better than store bought. You collected the fresh popcorn in a large bowl and then brought your cornucopia of snacks to the living room coffee table.
After you laid down the snacks, you plopped down on the new green sofa. It had oversized soft cushions that you sunk right into. The gentle embrace it gave you made you feel safe, cozy, and at ease. It had an old-school 1970s vibe which was perfect for the movies you wanted to watch tonight. You were still missing one thing before you could start the movie marathon. Maria hadn't come home yet. It had been over an hour and you were waiting for her to burst through the door any second but after another twenty minutes; you texted her.
You: Hey is everything okay at work?
Maria: Yea... we're just a little hung up at the lab. Something with our latest formulation went bad and the research team needs me to stay late.
You: But it's Fright Night...
Maria: I know, I know, it shouldn't take much longer. Just do me a favor and start without me. I'll be home soon.
You: Start without you? But this is our thing...
Maria: I promise to be home soon. I'll likely only miss the first film.
You tossed your phone onto the couch next to you and sighed. You were really looking forward to spending time with Maria. It dampened the mood, but you went on without her in hopes she wouldn't have to stay too late at the lab. You picked up the remote and went to the Eerie app on your TV. Upon opening the app, a large E appeared on the screen and then the letter was imprinted into an orange pumpkin as a soft spooky piano theme played. After the logo introduction, the app brought you to a menu that said "Halloween Favorites." Next to the movies, there was an option that said, "Eerie's Countdown to Halloween." With a great deal of curiosity, you selected the option to watch the countdown. The TV paused for a second while it loaded your selection.
"Welcome back to Eerie's countdown to Halloween girls and ghouls. It's me, your host who's not afraid of ghosts, Evelynn." A scantily clad woman dressed in an almost see-through black dress greeted the audience. Her outfit was sleek and slimming which accentuated her curves. The dress had black webbing around the arms and around the bottom that mimicked spider webs. She sat on a large throne made of bones and skulls in a room that looked like a dungeon.
"Woah, this is really old school." You said to yourself. It had been years since you'd seen a movie marathon host with corny jokes and puns. As a kid, you'd always loved watching the Crypt Keeper or Elvira. You couldn't believe that Maria was going to miss this.
