10. 14. 2002

You slowly approached the street address that your friend had told you. The house was shrouded by trees, and you could distantly hear music blaring from inside.

”Yep… This is certainly the place,” you thought to yourself absentmindedly as you pushed open the front gates, causing a loud, creaky noise to echo into the otherwise silent night. That thing could use some WD-40…

Jeez. Why do you even listen to your friends? Where the hell were you? - Oh. Your eyes fell on a sign on the porch.

ENTER THRU THE BACK - it read.

The back? Where could that be… You turned to look around, but were immediately greeted with a pair of beady hazel eyes.

You jumped back, shrieking. “What the hell?”

The stranger chuckled sadistically before grinning. “Oh, you’re so new. Sorry for the scare. Follow me,” he then began to walk around the house, not waiting for you to follow.

As you trailed behind him, you finally had an opportunity to get a real good look at him. He had ginger hair, in a sort of mohawk style. His ears were gauged and he had a lip ring. Sick.

“Soo,” he drawled as he approached the cellar door, pulling it open and looking over at you. “How’d you find out about tonight’s show?”

“My friends,” you choked out, “they’re, uh.. Really into this whole basement show scene. They told me to check one out, see how I like it.”

Your eyes drifted along the surrounding tree-line, before settling back onto him. “It’s cool. Hidden. Kinda like a speakeasy, y’know?”

That made him smirk. “You better hope you can find some ear plugs downstairs. It gets loud. I’d know, I’m in one of the bands,” he said, clearly trying to throw in a little self-promo as he leaned against the creaky, old, wooden door that should definitely not be leaned on.

“Oh? Which one?” You tilted your head.

“Pencey Prep. I’m the guitarist and lead vocalist. Now come on, new girl. It’s cold out here,” he swiftly re-opened the door and began heading down the cellar steps, leaving it ajar for you to follow.

You rushed over as he disappeared, “Wait- don’t leave me out here! What if a bear eats me-“ you squeaked as you quickly entered the cellar door, closing it behind you with a thud.