The Haunting Melody

The quiet town of Ravenswood has always been a peaceful haven, where the full moon shines brightly down on the town, untouched by the chaos of the outside world. That was until one fateful night when Mary-Ann and Jason were out for a nighttime ride in his new Honda Civic that his dad bought him for his 18th birthday. They drove to explore the nightlight outside their town. They were coming back from the inner city when they came across a mysterious nightclub that emerged from the shadows, nestled on the outskirts of their small town. They didn’t know how it came to be, but its presence was undeniably frightful. It casts an eerie allure over the unsuspecting teens. It was a tall, imposing building with blacked-out windows and a neon sign that read "The End" in flickering red letters. The buzzing sound of lights and the ground-shaking music were almost nauseating. 

“That’s strange,” Mary-Ann said. “What is a nightclub doing in the middle of nowhere?” 

Jason didn’t reply to Mary-Ann’s question. She turned to stare at him in the driver's seat, but he was gone. She turned back around facing the club and saw Jason staggering towards it like an invisible rope pulling him in. The club doors begin to open, and you can see the flashing neon lights bouncing from wall to wall. Jason was getting too close to the threshold of the doors before Mary-Ann shouted, 

“Jason, get away from there!” 

Whatever had Jason let him go, throwing him backward and snapping him out of his trance-like state. He fell on his back, hitting his head on the ground from the impact. Mary-Ann jumped out of the car and ran to him, crashing to the ground and plopping his head in her lap. He was out of it for a minute. Mary-Ann caressed his head, pulling back his long brown hair that covered his forehead. Mary-Ann’s eyes watched the once-lit club grow dead. The lights shut off, and the music stopped booming. It was quiet for a minute until Jason woke up gasping for air. 

“Oh my god!” Mary-Ann hugged Jason. “I am so happy you are okay.” 

“What happened?” Jason asked. With a puzzled look on his face, he looked around him and saw the dark club. 

“Did I go inside there?” 

“No. Well, you were about to, but I called out your name, and whatever had a hold on you let go. You were knocked to the ground and were out for a while.” 

Jason's face grew pale. He started to breathe heavily, and his eyes darted back to the doors of the club. 

“What’s wrong, Jason?”

Jason tries to stand on his feet, but his breathing is out of control, making it hard for him to get his footing. 

“What’s the matter?” Mary-Ann asked again. 

Jason grabbed Mary-Ann by her shoulders and said, “We have to go now!” 

Jason's pupils dialed back. It expands to the point where his pupils turn into black holes. 

“Oh-Oh okay… Let's go.” Mary-Ann stuttered. 

Mary-Ann helped Jason to his feet and made a run for the car that was still running.

They buckled up and drove away from the club. Jason is still shaking, trying to focus on the road, but Mary-Ann can see Jason is not fit to be driving right now. Mary-Ann couldn’t drive but did her best to ease Jason’s fear. Mary-Ann placed her hand on Jason’s shoulder and gently rubbed it. Jason's teased shoulders began to ease, and knowing Mary-Ann is there with him, he is safe with her. Jason let out a deep sigh of relief. Jason took Mary-Ann’s hand off his shoulder and held it tight. Mary-Ann smiled.

“Are you okay?” Mary-Ann asked. 

“I am now,” Jason replied. 

Mary-Ann sat up in her seat and stared into Jason’s eyes. Even though it was dark at night, Mary-Ann got a glimpse of his eyes, and they were bloodshot red. Frightened, Mary-Ann turned away, turning her head towards the window. She slowly shifted her head back to Jason, and his eyes were getting redder.

“What happened when you saw the lights?” 

Jason was silent before answering. “I don’t remember.” 

“When we saw the club,” Mary-Ann explains, “The lights were flashing; I didn’t even hear you get out of the car. You were walking to the club like it was calling out your name.” 

Jason stares heavily into the night. Staring out into nothingness. Mary-Ann wanted to keep him talking, but with a death stare on his face, she was too afraid to ask anything else.

“I felt frozen-” Jason begins. “The lights and the music were hypnotizing. And when the doors opened, I saw people in there,” 

“People?” 

“Yes, people. There was dancing, having fun, drinking, and smoking. Girls. Beautiful girls are telling me to come inside. I was drawn to it, and then everything went black.” 

“That’s when I called out your name.” Mary-Ann confirmed. Sitting back in her seat. 

The car ride back home felt like hours due to it being so quiet and the vibe of Jason being off. Mary-Ann felt like she was sitting next to the love of her life, but a doppelganger of him. 

Jason pulls up to Mary-Ann's house. He gets out of the car to open her side door. Mary-Ann grabbed hold of Jason’s hand as he guided her out of the car. She stands in front of him, closes her eyes, and leans in to kiss Jason. The kiss feels strange, and it confirms her suspension, something is wrong with Jason. His lips felt cold. I wasn’t warm like it was before. She opens her eyes, and before making eye contact with him, Jason turns away. 

Goodnight, Mary-Ann,” Jason said. Coldly, he walked around the car to the driver’s side. Mary-Ann watches Jason get in the car and drive off into the night. 

After a long night, Mary-Ann crashed into her bed and went to sleep. 

The next morning was like no other. The air was thick but there was no smog; the sky was cloudy but there was no rain. Something is hovering over the town of Ravenwood, but no one knows what. Mary-Ann woke up feeling concerned about Jason. The image of his red and black eyes flashes in her mind. “Oh, I hope he is okay,” Mary-Ann said to herself. She gets herself ready for school, checking the window every few minutes, expecting that Jason will show up. Once she was fully dressed, Mary-Ann checked the window once more, but there was still no Jason. Sighing with irritation, Mary-Ann accepted that she would be walking to school today. Mary-Ann runs downstairs, but before leaving, she rushes to the kitchen to grab whatever was easy to eat on the way to school. When Mary-Ann enters the kitchen, she sees her mother and father both at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and eating eggs, grits, and toast. 

“Good morning, pumpkin!” Mary-Ann’s father said. with glee. 

“Is Jason outside? Let him know there is enough breakfast to go around.” Mary-Ann’s mother said. 

“No, Jason must’ve overslept.” Mary-Ann replied. Reaching for a paper plate to pile on some food to take to go. 

“That’s unlike Jason.” Mary-Ann’s mother frowned. 

“Well, Lucy, they did have a long drive last night.” 

“That’s true.” Lucy turns to Mary-Ann “Well, dear, do you need a ride to school? I don’t mind taking you.” She asked. 

“Oh no, ma, I am fine.” Replied Mary-Ann. Once she filled her plate with food, she rushed out the door. 

The whole day went by, and there was still no sign of Jason. He wasn’t in the first or fourth period. Mary-Ann couldn’t find him during lunch. Mary-Ann grew worried. She went around and asked all his friends, but they hadn’t seen Jason either, not since yesterday. 

While talking to his friends, a cop car pulls up on the worried teens. 

Two officers appeared out of the cruiser and asked;

“Are you Mary-Ann Jefferson?” 

“Yes, that is me.” Mary-Ann replied. 

“We need you to come down to the station with us.” One of the said. Reaching out to Mary-Ann. 

Ruluant, Mary-Ann pulled back and asked; 

“What for?” 

“It’s about Jason. He didn’t come home last night.”