House of Horrors

By Snowlock

 

Capeside High School Lunch, October 31

Andie, Jack, Pacey and Joey are sitting around the lunch table, making plans for Halloween while eating their lunches.

"A wax museum?" Joey asked doubtfully. "I'm not sure..."

"Yeah, Andie," Pacey said, nodding. "I mean, a bunch of wax people? No offense, but how scary could that possibly be?"

"Come on!" Andie begged. "I swear, it'll be more fun than it sounds. We went to one a couple of years ago when we were still living in Rhode Island. It was scary, right Jack?"

"Andie, we were ten years old. Of course it was scary." Andie glared at him and Jack sighed, relenting. "All right, this idea does have potential. I mean it's not going to be, you know, a high school party kind of fun, but," he shrugged. "It closes at nine. We can always do something later too."

"Thank you Jack," Andie said. "So?" Joey and Pacey looked at each other. It was so nice to have Andie talking to both of them again, they weren't about to jeopardize it over a wax museum, no matter how boring it might turn out to be.

"Sure," Joey said with a shrug and a smile.

"Yeah," Pacey said, throwing his arm around Joey's shoulders. "Even if it's dead, I'm sure that we can liven it up a bit."

"Liven what up?" Jen asked, putting her tray on the table and sitting down.

"Lindley!" Pacey exclaimed. "Just the person we need to make this little endeavor an adventure. What are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing," Jen said with a shrug. "I'm not really a big fan of Halloween."

"How can you not like Halloween?" Andie asked.

"Yeah, free candy," Jack said with a grin.

"And you can be anyone you want to for a night," Andie added.

Jen just shrugged and Pacey shook his head at her. "Personally it's my favorite holiday," he said.

"That's because you're an eternal child Pacey," Jen said. "Eternal children always love Halloween."

"Why Lindley, I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted," Pacey said.

"It's a compliment Pacey, I promise," Jen said, opening her juice.

"So what does that make you, Jen? An old soul?" Joey asked.

"No, just your basic chicken. One too many scary movies. I don't like the idea of being stalked by some psycho killer, or dolls that come to life, or any number of other horrendous things that are supposed to happen on Halloween."

Pacey laughed. "Then you really have to come with us! You might actually get freaked out by the place."

Jen laughed. "Where are you going?"

"The Wax Museum," Joey said.

"Capeside has a wax museum?" Jen asked, surprised.

"Not that I ever heard of, but according to our good friend Andie here it does," Pacey said. "And we have all agreed to go. So? How about it?"

"Sure, why not?" Jen said. She looked around the group slowly and decided to address the question that they all seemed to be avoiding. "What about Dawson?" She asked quietly.

Pacey froze and then looked away, trying to hide the hurt look that immediately crossed his face at the mention of Dawson's name. Joey slipped her hand into Pacey's and leaned against him comfortingly. "Tell him what we're doing. If he wants to come, good. If not..." Joey shrugged. "If not, that's his choice."

*~*LATER*~*

"That's it? It's my choice?"

Jen sighed. "What did you expect her to say, Dawson? Every time you're near Pacey you go out of your way to give him a hard time. You're pretty much making it your life's ambition to make his life miserable. He's in pain and she's in pain because he's in pain. That's how it works Dawson. Maybe next time you attack Pacey you should remember that you're attacking Joey at the same time."

"They're not one person Jen. They're not even symbiotic..."

"They love each other, Dawson. What hurts him, hurts her and vice versa. You hurt him, you hurt her. You hurt him, you make her angry at you for hurting him. You're not helping your situation any, Dawson. Trust me on that."

Dawson sighed. "It's just so hard."

"I know it is, Dawson, but you have to make more of an effort here. Pacey...Pacey's doing everything that he can to make this situation work. So is Joey. So is Andie. You're the one who's holding everyone back. So come all right? Just promise to treat Pacey with the kind of respect that he's shown you."

Dawson scoffed. "What respect?"

"Dawson, there have been literally a hundred times during the past few weeks when I wouldn't have blamed Pacey for decking you. He didn't. That says a lot."

"Why do I suddenly get the feeling that you're not on my side in this?" Dawson asked wryly.

Jen sighed. "I'm not taking sides. Actually, I take that back. I'm on everybody's side. I want us all to win Dawson."

"That's impossible," Dawson said darkly.

"Then I want all of us to come out of this alive," Jen said. "And I want you to spend Halloween in the presence of the two people with whom you've spent every Halloween since you were born...without killing anyone."

Dawson sighed and then nodded. "Where should I meet you?"

"The restaurant, 7:00."

Dawson nodded again. "I'll be there."

*~*WAX MUSEUM*~*

The group entered the museum quietly, the tension between them too intense for them to make small talk.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Dawson whispered softly to Jen. "I feel like I'm ruining the good time."

"You are," Jen muttered back.

"What?" Dawson asked.

"I said respect, Dawson. If that's what you were doing, the first words out of your mouth would not have been, "So Pacey, ruined anyone's life today?" I hate to say this Dawson, but you're really staring to piss me off."

Dawson's face fell and he sighed softly. "Sorry Jen," he said softly.

"Come in. Come in," a little old man said, ushering them in through the door. "I'm Mr. Moritz, the curator. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Please be careful around the statues. They're very delicate. I beg you, look, but don't touch."

Pacey exchanged a look with Joey and they both fought to hold back their laughter. "He's perfect for this place, wouldn't you say?" Joey whispered.

"Fits right in," Pacey whispered back. They walked into the first room and looked around them. "Okay, this is a little..."

"Freaky?" Jen asked seriously, coming to a stop in front of the first statue. "I mean, look at this. It looks so real and look at his expression." Jen shuddered. "I don't even want to think about what could make someone look like that."

Pacey did a quick survey of the first room. "Let's move on to the ones that are in groups, you know, like scenes from history or something. These single ones give me the willies." Everyone nodded in agreement and followed Pacey into the next room, each trying to shake the feeling that someone was watching them.

 

LATER…

"So, what's your verdict," Pacey whispered to Joey. "Boring, or mind-numbingly dull?"

"Ummm, mind-numbingly dull," Joey said. "Can we leave yet?"

Pacey looked around. "Damn!" He muttered softly.

"What?" Jack asked, turning to look at him.

"Uh, Guys?" Pacey said. Everyone turned to look at him. "I don't know how to break it to you, but it's a little dead in here."

"It's a wax museum Pace," Andie said with a grin. "They're supposed to be dead."

"Yeah, well there are also supposed to be people here besides us poor schmucks who let you talk us into this incredibly boring activity." Andie glared at him, but he ignored her, continuing to speak. "And if you'd look around, you'd notice that we're the only ones here."

"What!?" Andie exclaimed, looking around her.

"Right," Pacey said. "McPhee, Potter, McPhee, Lindley, Leery and moi," he said, pointing to each person in turn. "No little kiddies hiding behind their mother's skirts. No little old Mr. Moritz begging us not to touch the delicate wax sculptures. We are 100% alone."

"They wouldn't just go off and leave a group of people in a museum, Pacey," Joey said. "I mean, it's not like you can miss six people walking around in a group."

"Okay, I'll buy that one," Pacey said nodding. "But just so I feel a little better, can we blow this joint, please?"

"Sure," Andie said with a grin. "Lead on, fearless leader."

"Smart aleck," Pacey said with a grin, but he did take the lead, pulling Joey along with him. They became more and more nervous as each room they came to felt even more empty than the last. When they finally reached the front door they all breathed a sigh of relief. That is, until Pacey reached out and tried the handle. He threw his head back and groaned. "No, this is not happening!"

"What?" Joey asked, reaching out and jiggling the knob experimentally. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"No key, no way to unlock it without the key," Pacey said.

"No," Jen groaned. "Please tell me you're kidding, Pacey! Please?"

"Sorry, Lindley," Pacey said, wryly. "No can do. It looks like we're stuck. Furthermore, I'd just like to say that it is my firm belief that from now on we should not let Andie pick our mode of entertainment."

"It's not my fault!" Andie exclaimed.

Pacey sighed. "Agreed, but that doesn't change the fact that of all the places I'd want to be stuck in all night, a museum full of wax statues is at the bottom of the list."

"All night!?" Andie exclaimed desperately.

"Look around you, McPhee. Do you see another way out?"

"There has to be," Dawson said, finally jumping into the conversation. "We'll just split into groups..."

"Nu uh," Jen said. "Bad idea Dawson. No splitting into groups. When you have the advantage of numbers, you stick together. Only bad things can come from splitting into smaller groups."

"Jen, this isn't a horror movie," Dawson said patronizingly.

"That's what you think," a voice whispered from behind him.

Dawson, spun around. "Wha...!?" He muttered. There was no one there.

"You okay Dawson?" Jack asked, looking at him puzzled.

"Did you hear that?"

"What? That this isn't a horror movie?"

"No..." Dawson paused and Jack looked at him questioningly. "Never mind," Dawson said, shaking his head. He turned to Jen. "What do you suggest?"

"I say that we all look for another door together."

"And the winner is...Lindley," Pacey said, pointing at her. "Let's go."

"Who made you boss," Dawson muttered.

"No one," Pacey said, glaring at Dawson. "But it just so happens that I want to get the hell out of here. As for you, you're welcome to stay right here, if that's what you want." Pacey started towards the back of the museum and the rest of the group followed him. Dawson looked after them for a second before sighing and following them.

From somewhere in the darkness someone laughed. "You can run, but you can't hide," the voice whispered softly. Dawson felt a chill go up his spine as the words reached him. He looked over his shoulder and then hurried to catch up with his friends, deciding that for the first time in a long time he agreed with Pacey. He wanted to get the hell out of here too.

 

The group hurried through the rooms in a desperate search for another way out. They became more and more discouraged as they passed through each room. "Not even a fire exit," Pacey muttered to himself as they entered the last room. "This place is a lawsuit waiting to happen."

"What do you suggest now oh fearless leader?" Dawson asked sarcastically.

"I suggest that you shut up, considering the fact that we're in a small enclosed space and I really don't want to go to prison for the rest of my life for killing you," Pacey muttered under his breath.

"Okay," Joey said softly, looking from one boy to the other before slipping her hand into Pacey's and pulling him out of the room. She glared over her shoulder at Dawson as they left. Dawson sighed as he watched them go.

"Careful Dawson," Jen said softly. "Pacey's been putting up with your crap for a long time, but I think he's finally hit his saturation level."

"Whatever, Jen," Dawson muttered.

Jen sighed, and rolled her eyes before turning her back on Dawson and starting to talk to Andie and Jack in a soft whisper.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," the voice whispered tauntingly in his ear. "Is that any way to treat a friend?" Dawson started. "He's always been there for you. Even when you accused him of cheating and didn't believe his truthful words, he forgave you. Now all you want to do is hurt him. Why is that Dawson? Is it just the fact that he's with Joey? Or is it the fact that he makes her SO much happier than you ever could?"

"Shut up!" Dawson muttered angrily under his breath.

"What was that?" Jen asked, turning to Dawson, a puzzled look on her face.

"Nothing," Dawson said softly as soft laughter rang in his ears. He closed his eyes desperately trying to quiet the voice in his head. What was happening to him?

*~*ANOTHER ROOM*~*

"I'm sorry, Jo," Pacey said, as soon as they came to a stop in the next room. "It's just..."

"Shh," Joey said, winding her arms around his waist and holding him tight. Pacey sighed, the tension leaving his body as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "He was baiting you Pacey. I understand."

"I just wish..." Pacey stopped, sighing again.

"I know," Joey said, leaning her head against his chest. "I wish that he would find some way to work through this too, but we have to face the fact that he may never manage to do that. And that won't be our fault. It'll be his."

Pacey sighed again and buried his face in her hair. "I just love you so much, Jo," he whispered softly. "And I'm so tired of him trying to make this out to be something that it's not."

"I love you too, Pace," Joey whispered back. "And nothing that Dawson says can change that, okay?"

Pacey nodded slightly. "I have to tell you though, Jo. The moment that we get out of this place if the moment that I began making it my life's ambition to avoid Dawson Leery."

Joey sighed. "I cant say I blame you Pace, I just..."

"I know," Pacey said. "So do I."

They stood there for a few minutes just holding each other before Pacey finally sighed and stepped back. "I guess we should get back to the others," he said reluctantly.

Joey sighed. "I guess so." She looked around them. "Geez, I can really pick a room huh," she said with a laugh.

Pacey followed her gaze and laughed himself. "Yeah, so romantic Jo. Famous American Killers. Ted Bundy, The Son of Sam, Jeffrey Dahmer..." Pacey stopped short.

"What?" Joey asked, looking up at him. Her eyes grew wide at the apprehensive look on his face. "Pace?"

Pacey licked his lips and then swallowed painfully. "I'd...I'd just really like to know where Lizzie Borden and her big ol' ax went."

"What!?" Joey exclaimed, spinning around to follow his gaze. Sure enough the sculpture was gone. "Wha..?"

"She was here when we came through before," Pacey said softly. "I remember that quite well, but as you can see..." He pointed to the display where the Wax sculpture of Lizzie Borden was supposed to be standing. "Gone."

"Pacey, are you...?"

"Completely and utterly freaked out?" Joey nodded. "I’d say yes." Pacey began backing out of the room, pulling Joey with him. She looked towards him, their eyes meeting in terror. As one, they turned their backs on the room and raced back to the room where they had left their friends.

*~*OTHER ROOM*~*

Jen, Jack, Andie and Dawson looked up as Pacey and Joey raced into their midst. "What is it?" Jen asked frantically.

"Oh, nothing much," Joey said, glancing behind her, almost convinced that the ax wielding statue was at her heels. "It just seems that one of the sculptures has decided to take a little walk."

"What!?" Jack exclaimed in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me! That's impossible."

"We kid you not, my good friend," Pacey said. "You remember seeing Lizzie Borden in the Famous American Killers room?" Jack nodded. "She's not there anymore."

"What!?" Jen exclaimed, terrified. "Oh, this place just keeps getting better and better!"

"There has to be a reasonable explanation," Dawson said. "Are you sure...?"

"Look, the card in front of the display said, 'Lizzie Borden' and she was there not twenty minutes ago when we checked the room for a damn door. I'm not saying that she got up and moved herself, but really, is the alternative all that much more appealing?"

"What do you mean?" Andie asked, her voice worried.

"Well, if it didn't move itself, then someone moved it. And if someone moved it, you have to wonder just what they're planning to do with us," Pacey said logically. "The long and short of it folks is that we're either trapped in a building with wax dummy's that like to move, or with a psycho who likes to move wax dummy's. What's your preference?"

"It doesn't matter who or what you think is doing it," the voice whispered in Dawson's ear. "It doesn't matter what you try to do, what you say or where you go. The fact remains, some of those who entered here will go...but some will never leave...And we get to choose who."

Dawson shook his head, trying desperately to get rid of the voice. The laugh sounded again. That horrible, knowing laugh. "Just leave me alone," Dawson hollered silently to the voice. "Please just leave me alone!"

The laugh just grew louder, echoing through his head. "You think you're scared now? Just wait," The voice said demonically. "Just you wait."

 

"So what do we do now?" Andie asked. "I mean it was bad enough that we're going to be trapped in here all night, but add to that some kind of maniac and..." She stopped, not really sure where she was going with that.

"There has to be a phone around here somewhere," Joey said. "Mr. Moritz, he must have an office."

"Maybe he's even in it," Andie said, her face brightening. "Maybe he moved the statue. I mean, he's the curator, right? He'd have a reason to do that."

"God, I hope you're right," Jen said, her voice desperate.

"So, let's go look for an office," Jack said. "It..." He stopped as music suddenly began to echo through the building.

Mirrors on the ceiling
Pink champagne on ice
We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast

"I can't say I'm liking this music selection too much," Jen said over the music.

"Come on, Jen!" Pacey said. "It's the Eagles. They're cool."

Jen glared at him. "Listen to the lyrics Pace."

Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
Relax said the nightman
We are programed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave

"Okay, anyone else getting chills?" Pacey asked.

They all went silent as the sound of static replaced the music for a moment and then another song began to play.

You're all dead.
You're all dead,
You've been wasted.
You're all dead.
You're all dead, Wasted.

"Okay, I definitely just got chills," Joey said as static filled the room again. She stepped towards Pacey and he put his arms around her comfortingly. "Think someone's trying to tell us something?"

Take this forever,
Whisper to a scream

"Okay, this is seriously creepy," Jack said, his voice a whisper.

"Still think it's old Mr. Moritz?" Jen questioned.

"I think that we need to find that phone ASAP," Andie said softly. "Before I die of fright."

"Come on guys," Pacey said, trying to keep everyone from freaking out. "It's just music. We can't let whoever this is freak us out. We have to stay calm. It's probably just a practical joke. It's not like they're actually going to kill us or anything."

"How can we be sure?" Jen asked. "Listen, I'm fine with freaking out and having it turn out to be a joke. I'd rather expect the worse, rather than take this in stride and then have it get me killed." There was static again and the music changed.

I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

"You know what, Lindley?" Pacey said thoughtfully. "You make a hell of a lot more sense than I do. Let's find that phone."

"Glad you agree with me, Pace," Jen said. They started for the door as a group, then Jen noticed that Dawson was still off in the corner. It suddenly occurred to her that he hadn't said a word throughout their entire conversation. "You coming, Dawson?" Jen asked, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Huh?" Dawson said, looking up from the floor. "Oh, yeah," he said, joining them at the door. "Sorry about that."

"You okay Dawson?" Jack asked.

Dawson nodded. "Yeah, let's just get out of here."

"Sounds good," Pacey said.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

They stepped into the hall and begin searching for doors that they either hadn't seen or hadn't tried to open earlier. Andie, who had somehow ended up in the lead, turned a corner and came to a dead stop. "Wha...!?" Jen exclaimed as she ran into Andie's back.

"Lizzie Borden," Andie whispered.

"What?"

"Lizzie Borden," Andie said, pointing down the hall.

Jen looked in the direction that Andie was pointing and gasped. "B...But, she's moving!!"

"I know," Andie said, nodding her head slowly up and down.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

"What's going on?" Jack asked. He peered over Jen's shoulder and swore softly under his breath.

"Wha...!?" Joey said, looking as well. "Oh."

Jack looked to the side and saw a door that he hadn't noticed. He didn't know why, but he felt the need to go in there. "Here guys," he said, pulling Andie and Jen towards the door, the rest of the group on his heels. As soon as they were all in the room they slammed it shut behind them. Dawson reached out and flipped on the light, and Andie came face to face with a monster mask.

"Ahhhhhh!" Andie screamed.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.
All right!

"Relax Andie," Jen said, taking the mask down and turning it over in her hands. "It's just a mask!"

"I knew that. I did," Andie said. "It just...It just startled me is all."

"Hey, good choice, Jack," Pacey said, ignoring the girls. "This has to be Mr. Moritz's office."

"And here is the phone," Joey said, holding up the receiver.

"Good, dial 911," Pacey said, his voice full of relief. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'd give almost anything to hear my dad's voice."

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we're in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

Joey held the receiver up to her ear. Her eyes grew wide and she hit the button a number of times then looked up and sighed. "How do I say this?" She asked softly.

"What?" Jen said, a resigned look coming to her face. "That the phone is dead? It was bound to happen." She glared around the room. "And I wish whoever was playing that goddamned music would knock it the hell off!!"

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

"So what do we do now?" Joey asked.

"Stay here," Jack said. "At least we're safe for the moment."

"Safe!?" Andie scoffed. "There's a wax dummy walking around outside this door. How is that safe?"

"There's a door between us and her," Jack said.

"Yeah, but she has an ax, now doesn't she?" Jen said.

"Um, guys," Joey said softly from her position in front of the filing cabinet which she had opened and was now looking through. "I hate to interrupt the argument, but you should really take a look at this."

"What?" Jen asked, as all of them moved to Joey's side. She looked at the old newspaper clipping Joey was holding in her hand. There was a picture of a young man next to the story. '17 year old David Simms reported missing Nov. 1st, 1975.' "Twenty-five years ago tomorrow," Jen whispered.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

"Yeah, but don't you recognize the face?"

Jen looked at the picture again and her eyes grew wide. "The statue from the front room!"

"And this," Joey said, pulling out another clipping. "This is Lizzie Borden."

"What does he do?" Jen asked. "Make the statues in the image of people who disappear mysteriously? That’s kinda..."

"Sick? Disturbing? Downright freaky?" Joey offered.

Jen nodded. "That about..." She stopped as the music ended and a haunting laugh echoed through the building. The six friends looked at each other in terror.

"You know what?" Pacey said as the laugh continued to vibrate in their ears. "I kinda miss the music."

"Me too," Jen said.

They all jumped in fright at the first blow of the ax to the door. "Oh, great!" Jen exclaimed. "If we get out of this alive, remind me not to mock you ever again," she said to Jack.

"No problem," Jack said.

"What do we do now," Joey said, looking frantically around the room.

"D, behind you," Pacey said, catching sight of something behind his friend. "Move that curtain..." Dawson reached out and pulled back the curtain, revealing a door. He tried the knob and all of them breathed a sigh of relief as it opened easily.

"But where does it lead?" Andie asked.

"Can it really be any worse than an ax wielding wax statue?" Joey asked.

Jen groaned. "Damnit, Joey, you never say things like that! You're going to get us all killed."

"Well, excuse me, Jen," Joey said, annoyed. "But it just so happens that I don't know the rules you're supposed to follow in order to successfully survive a horror movie, all right!?"

Jen sighed. "Sorry Jo." She held up her hand as Dawson opened his mouth to speak. "And I know this isn't a horror movie Dawson!" She hissed.

"Look," Pacey said, keeping an eye on the door which was quickly becoming kindling. "Right now, I don't care what's down there. I know that I don't want to deal with her. At least that way, we have a chance."

"But there are six of us and only one of her," Andie said desperately.

"Yeah, but unless you have a flame thrower, I don't think you'll have much luck getting rid of this particular menace," Jack said. "She's made of wax. How likely is it that anything we do will have any affect on her at all?"

"Okay," Andie said, nodding. "I'm sold. But you get to lead this time."

"Why not," Jack said, hurrying through the door. He flipped on the light and was presented with stairs leading downward. "Oh, the basement! Lovely!"

"Jack go!" Pacey hollered as the door burst open behind them. Jack hurried down the stairs and Dawson followed. Pacey hurried the girls through the door and barely managed to duck in time as the statue swung the ax at his head. "Sh!t!" He exclaimed. "Normally I wouldn't hit a woman," he muttered as he drew back his fist and gave her a strong punch to the jaw sending her tumbling. "But you kinda asked for it." He turned and raced after his friends. He slammed the door behind him just as Lizzie recovered and hurried towards the door. She took no time in starting in on it with the ax. Pacey hurried down the stairs and met his friends at the bottom. "So, anything helpful down here?" Pacey asked nonchalantly, pulling Joey into a hug as he tried to control his trembling.

"You okay?" Joey whispered in his ear, fear filling her at his shaking.

"Yeah," Pacey whispered back. "But I don't ever want to be that close to an ax wielding maniac again."

"Sounds like a plan," Joey said softly, holding him tight.

Pacey sighed, feeling himself calm in her arms. "Okay, so what's down here?"

"Looks like old exhibits," Jack said, starting to lead them through the basement. "There's a Wizard of OZ one...Why can't the cowardly lion come to life? I could handle him, no problem! Let's see, it looks like mainly movie stuff. Horror movie legends..." He stopped short and his voice became strained. "Complete with moving Michael Myers!"

"What!?" Jen asked, horrified. Of all the horror movies in the world, the Halloween ones had always scared her the most. She wasn't quite sure why....

"RUN!" Jack said, hurrying them in the other direction. He took the lead, racing among the exhibits. Pacey took the rear, keeping a close eye on the figure which was following quite closely behind them.

The basement was jam packed with stuff and they had a hard time maneuvering around it. At one point Andie tripped over a fallen wax dummy. "Get us out of here, Jack!" Pacey yelled as he helped Andie to her feet and hurried her forward.

"Working on it," Jack called back. "Here!" He said, hurrying up a different set of stairs. They raced to the top and ran out through the door, slamming it behind them.

"I'm getting really tired of this!" Jen exclaimed, leaning against the wall, trying to catch her breath.

"You aren't alone," Joey said, going to stand next to her.

"It's not over yet," the voice whispered in Dawson's ear. Dawson's head shot up.

"What?" Andie asked, seeing his sudden movement.

Dawson looked down the hall. "Sh!t!" He exclaimed. "Here she comes again!"

"What!" The rest of the group exclaimed, turning to follow Dawson's gaze.

"Oh, Christ!" Jen exclaimed, starting to back down the hall, away from the figure that was moving silently towards them.

"Oh sh!t!" Pacey said. "I think now would be a good time to..."

"RUN!" Joey cried. They turned and raced down the hall, only to find that their way was cut off by another walking statue.

"Dracula!?" Jack exclaimed in disbelief. They turned down another hall, but Dawson and Pacey were cut off from the rest of the group as Lizzie Borden reached them. The two of them ducked under Dracula's cape, and raced down the hall, followed closely by the vampire. They looked back and could tell that Lizzie Borden had gone off in pursuit of their friends.

"In here, D!" Pacey exclaimed, running into a room and slamming the door behind them. Dawson turned and leaned against the door as Pacey listened, trying to figure out if Dracula was still out there.

Dawson glanced around the room and suddenly his breath caught in his throat, "Uh, Pace?" He said softly.

"Yeah?" Pacey said.

"I don't think that this was the best idea."

"What!?" Pacey exclaimed, turning around. "Oh, sh!t!" He exclaimed as he saw what Dawson was looking at. They were in the American Legends room and the headless horseman didn't look particularly glad to see them. "I think you're right. I'd rather deal with the bat!" They turned again and attempted to open the door. Pacey rattled the door knob. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

"Not again!" Dawson exclaimed. "Aren't they getting tired of that particular trick yet?"

"Not while it's working," Pacey said. They both looked back at the statue and their eyes grew wide with fear. "Oh, damn!" Pacey said. They turned and began banging frantically on the door, throwing their weight against it in an attempt to get out. "Guys, can you hear me?" Pacey hollered. "Are you out there? If you can...open the door. We can't get out!" He looked over his shoulder and saw the form of the headless horseman moving towards them slowly with it's sword up raised. "Please be out there," he begged. "We're about to get shishkabobbed." There was no answer and Pacey groaned in disbelief. He turned to face the statue, hoping that he could figure out something to stop it. "How do you kill a wax dummy?" He muttered to himself.

"Now's your chance," the voice whispered ever so softly in Dawson's ear as Pacey turned to face the oncoming menace. "If you try it now, the door will open. You can go through, or Pacey can go through. The choice is yours."

Dawson tried the door again and was shocked to find that it opened easily. His mind raced. What should he...? "Pacey," he called, already starting through the door. "The door..."

Pacey turned and Dawson could see the relief cross his friend's face as he started to the door, and the horror that filled it as the door slammed shut behind Dawson of it's own volition. "Dawson!" Pacey called.

"Sorry Pace," Dawson whispered softly.

"Dawson!" Joey exclaimed, hurrying up behind her friend. "Where's Pacey!?"

Dawson turned and was faced with the terrified faces of his friends. "We were stuck. Headless horseman. Then the door opened. I got out, but it slammed shut behind me."

"But what about...?" Joey said. She ran to the door and attempted to open it, rattling the knob as she beat her fist against the wood. "Pacey!!" She cried. "Pacey talk to me!!"

"Jo!!" Pacey called back, banging on the door from the other side. "I can't get out...I can't..."

"Pacey!!"

"Jo! Joey!! Try...I can't...Help me, please!" Pacey begged. "Please."

"Pacey!" Joey said desperately, tears streaming down her face. "Jack!" She begged, turning to them. "Dawson! Please!"

"Joey!!" Pacey cried, his voice trailing off into a scream and then there was silence.

"Pacey! PACEY!!" Joey called banging on the door. There was no answer, only silence.

The five remaining on the outside of the door looked at each other in horror. "No!" Joey whispered, backing away from the door. "Oh no. No." Jen quickly moved to her side and put her arms around her. "No," Joey whispered again.

 

"What have I done?" Dawson's mind screamed. "What have I done!?"

The five of them just stood silently for a while, staring in disbelief at the door, then, all of a sudden, the door burst open and Pacey ran through, slamming it shut behind him with a sigh of relief.

"Pacey!" Joey exclaimed, breaking into sobs as she collapsed in his arms. "I thought..."

"Shh," Pacey said softly, holding her tightly to him and stroking her hair gently. "It takes a lot more than a wax dummy to finish me off." Pacey looked up, his eyes finding Dawson. "You okay, D?"

"Yeah man, you?" Dawson said. Guilt ran through his veins as cold as ice at the genuine concern on his friend's face. "When did I become this horrible person?" Dawson asked himself silently.

"I've been better," Pacey said. "But I'll be okay."

"Let's see if we can get the hell out of here yet," Jack said, leading the way towards the front door.

Dawson was the last to leave, and he stopped short as the voice talked to him once more. "They don't know that you left Pacey in that room to die, but I do."

"Who said that?" Dawson exclaimed, glancing around frantically.

"I know everything about you Dawson," the voice said, laughing softly. "Everything. And let me tell you, not all of it's pretty. It's buried deep in you, isn't it?"

"What?" Dawson asked. "What are you talking about?"

"The evil, Dawson. The evil within you. You hide it so well, but it's there. I can feel it. I can feel how much you hate that it's there, but don't you worry. I have just the thing to cure you of it. Just the thing."

"What are you talking about?" Dawson asked fearfully. "What are you going to do."

"You were blessed with a life that many would envy. You have a family that loves you and friends that would lay down their lives for you. You've taken advantage of that. Soon you will see how truly lucky you were. Thank you for giving us such a good opening."

"What do you mean?" Dawson questioned, his voice filled with terror.

"You left your best friend in a room to die instead of staying to help him. That gives us all the reason we need."

"What does that mean? What are you going to do?" Dawson heart beat painfully in his chest, fear racing through his veins. "What are you going to do?"

 

Your dream is over...or has it just begun?

Pacey looked down at his watch, 9:00. "Hey, folks, I think that it's just about time to get going." He looked around him. "Lindley, McPhee, McPhee, Potter...we're missing..." He looked around him and caught sight of his friend off to the side, looking at the statue of a young man. "Hey D!? You 'bout ready to go?"

The boy turned, revealing his face to be that of the boy in the old news article. "Yeah, Pace," David Simms said, smiling at his best friend. "Let's go."

"What were you looking at?" Joey asked, walking over to him. "Oh, geez!" She exclaimed.

"What?" Pacey said, joining her in front of the statue. "Oh," he said, understanding her exclamation as soon as he saw the statue. "A little too lifelike for my tastes," he said, swallowing hard.

"What would you have to do to somebody to make them look like that?" Joey asked, her eyes fixed on the terror ridden face of the statue.

"Potter, I really don't want to know," Pacey said, putting his arm around her. "Let's blow this joint. It's a little too creepy for my tastes."

Joey leaned into him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I'm with you. From now on, Andie doesn't get to choose our extracurricular activities."

"Hey, it was creepy, all right?" Andie said, defending her choice. "It's Halloween. It's supposed to be creepy."

"In that case, you did a wonderful job Andie," David said wryly, throwing his arm across her shoulders and smiling at her. "But I can tell you one thing, I'm never coming back here again."

"Here, here," Jack said, leading the way to the door.

"Seriously, guys, did you really hate it?" Andie asked, as David pushed her towards the door.

"Naw, Andie," Jen said. "Personally, I'm looking forward to the nightmares this place will undoubtably give me."

"Yeah, me too," Joey said. The group left together, talking and laughing.

None of them noticed that if you looked at the eyes of the waxen boy just right, they seemed to follow the group towards the door. His eyes appeared to be filled with fear and desperation, regardless of the fact that they were nothing more than glass. None of them noticed, except one.

David was the last of the group to exit the museum. As he reached the door, he looked over his shoulder and smiled knowingly at the statue. There was a touch of sympathy in his gaze, but for the most part it was unforgiving. He thought that the punishment was fitting...having undergone it himself. David turned and exited the museum without so much as another glance at the waxen statue that was once Dawson Leery.

"Joey!!" Dawson screamed, but no sound came from his throat. "Pacey!! Jen!! Andie!! Jack!! Anyone!! Don't leave me here! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!!!"

David laughed as he joined his friends in the parking lot. "What?" Andie asked, looking at him questioningly.

David shrugged. "I don't know. I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you guys. Thanks for being my friends."

"Whatever, D," Pacey said, rolling his eyes. "Have I ever told you that you think to much?"

"On occasion," David said with a grin. "What should we do about it?"

"That's the attitude I like to see Davey-boy!" Pacey said, clapping him on the shoulder. "And it just so happens that I have just the thing. Let's go."

David took one last look at the wax museum and then followed his friends to Pacey's car. It was good to finally be free of that place and there was nothing in the world that could ever make him go back. Nothing at all.

INSIDE…

Mr. Moritz closed the door and locked it as the last person left for the night. He walked slowly through the museum, studying the statues. There was a new one tonight, taking the place of the young man who had been in his collection for well over 25 years. Mr. Moritz sighed. He had just been getting used to that one too, but then, the statues always changed. He was the only one that noticed. The people who visited the museum never came back and even if they tried, there would be nothing left to come back to.

He wondered sometimes if they ever realized how much their lives had changed within the short period of time they had spent in his museum. Or if they just went on with their lives, never knowing that one of the people that they left with wasn't the same one that they had entered with.

"Poor bastard," he muttered softly to himself, looking at the new statue. "Good luck to ya. You're gonna to need it." He turned the lights out and left, knowing that tomorrow he'd awaken in some other town, some other time, and another life would change for the worse.

 

The End.

Email the author, Snowlock