Nevermore

All Hallows Eve.  A night of tricks and treats. A night where the children come out to play after the sun has set. The one night a year where parents encourage their children to take candy from strangers. The one night where it is said that the spirits of those who have passed from this life can return to walk the earth.

I'm sure everyone has their own ways of celebrating. I, for instance, took the opportunity to journey on a new adventure. I gathered up my friends, and we embarked to see a theatrical presentation of Edgar Allan Poe's most famous works at "Poe Evermore".

We pulled up in front of the huge Victorian mansion, and turned the car off.  Walking down the deserted paths towards the mansion's main entrance was quite the sensation.  The darkness creeping in on every side threatening to swallow you if it weren't for the small slivers of light coming from the mansion's windows.

Once inside the mansion's walls, the atmosphere didn't make you feel much safer.  Walls that have seen countless years and creaking floor boards greet you beckoning you to journey farther into their embrace.  Rounding the corner we found the box office to retrieve our tickets.

We are then directed towards the Ballroom.  A beautiful room filled with chairs facing a dark ominous stage.

All of this mixed together to create an atmosphere perfect for the rainy Halloween night. We found our seats and took in our surroundings attempting to figure out what we had walked into. A small group of five performers were decked out in historical garb ready to lead our way through the night's affairs.

We were thereupon welcomed to the mansion/asylum. The order of events for our evening were laid out as each performer introduced their characters. We were in for a night of fear, macabre, and suspense. 

After being dismissed from the Ballroom we found ourselves being directed to the Chapel.  Here we were met by Edgar Allan Poe who was only more than too willing to share two of his most famous works: The Raven and The Tell Tale Heart. We were whisked away to the chamber door and watching out for the black raven which quoted "Nevermore". From the chamber room door we were taken to a house blanketed in the dead of night. An old man with a vulture eye that tormented a soul to the point of murder. "God! — no, no! They heard! — they suspected! — they knew! — they were making a mockery of my horror! — this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! — and now — again! — hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! —

“Villains!” I shrieked, “dissemble no more! I admit the deed! — tear up the planks! — here, here! — it is the beating of his hideous heart!”

The lights came up and applause broke out for the performance. With hearts racing in our chests we were dismissed from the Chapel and led to the Hall. 

Here we had our choice of two rooms (both showing the same story, but a different actress portraying it). We found ourselves once again shut into a small space with our fellow adventurers, and again we were drawn into the darkness of our imaginations. 

We were trapped.  Trapped within an unknown dungeon in the complete darkness. Hands pressed against the walls we attempted to figure out the shape and size of our prison to no avail. After barely escaping a fall into a pit that would have surely ended our lives, we found ourselves now strapped to a bed. Rats...rats everywhere biting, devouring, torturing! Then a calm...the rats would be our escape. 

You close your eyes and try not to feel them cover you gnawing at the straps holding you down.  Finally, you're free, but your captors are not so easily fooled.  Suddenly the metal walls begin to radiate with scorching heat and pressing in closer to you, forcing you ever closer to the pit in the middle of your prison. You scream out knowing, that after all you've done, you are lost. But then! "There was a discordant hum of human voices! There was a loud blast as of many trumpets! There was a harsh grating as of a thousand thunders! The fiery walls rushed back! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell, fainting, into the abyss. It was that of General Lasalle. The French army had entered Toledo. The Inquisition was in the hands of its enemies."

The performance ended and the doors slid open allowing our exit. We followed the group back into the Ballroom where we were treated to one final performance for the night. The Cask of Amontillado. 

We were allowed to follow as two men, one drunk on wine the other drunk on rage, slowly descended into the dark, damp, vaults where the wine was stored. Down and down and down we continued. The only light now was from the single lantern. You can see the hatred in his eyes, and you fear the worst for our poor drunk friend. You want to scream out, to warn him of his impending tragedy, but your voice is stuck in your throat.  

All you can do is sit and watch as brick by brick the wall closing him up is built.  You heart sinks when you realize that the man is coming out of his drunk state and starting to fully comprehend what it is happening to him. Trying to laugh it off as a great jest he begs with his friend to stop, but he doesn't. Another brick...then another...and another... until all that's left is a small hole for one last stone.

You hear the chains holding him rattling as he struggles to free himself then..."FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MONTRESOR!"
"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!"

But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud --

"Fortunato!"

No answer. I called again --

"Fortunato!"

No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick -- on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I reerected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.

In pace requiescat!"

The lights blacked out and we now sat in total darkness left with our memories of what we had journeyed through that night. As the lights rekindle, applause erupts from the crowd. What an adventure it had been. Was it really so quickly over? 

We left the mansion and once again found ourselves shrouded in darkness. A perfect Halloween night! 

Thus ended our Halloween adventure. Though, I have to wonder... What is it that draws us to the darkness? The fear? The adrenaline rush? What do you think? What draws you? 

I believe I shall leave you with what the author of our adventures himself said, "Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality."

Goodnight.

MelLew