No Way Out

Shanice Swint Halloween night... You and your best friends, Samantha and Kyle, have ridden all the rides at Funhouse Amusement Park... twice. You're ready to get a bite to eat and then play a few park games until Kyle says, "The haunted houses!" He points straight ahead at three expansive buildings that are side by side. "let's try those out." You look around and notice only a few people going into the haunted houses. All other patrons are surrounding the rides, games and eating areas. While peering out at the haunted houses through low lids, you stare skeptically at them until you see a group of friends exit one of the buildings holding hands. They rush out of the middle building screaming at the top of their lungs and run toward the amusement park's exit gates. Above each expansive building, there is one bright, red flickering floodlight. Suddenly, while surveying the building, a wave of chills washes over you, causing you to shake your head vigorously and wrap your arms around yourself. Your chills amid Portland's brazing winds are a lot to take on. "Eh, I don't know, Kyle," you say. "They already say Portland is one of the top ten haunted cities in the world." "It's Halloween, after all," Kyle bypasses your comment and reminds you. "So, what do you say?" [["Hell no. Haunted house and I don't get along."]] [["Let's do it!"]]

"Aw, come on," Samantha says and playfully rolls her eyes. "Don't be a whimp all your life." "We'll even hold your hand," Kyle quips, then extends his hand for yours. Samatha follows suit and extends her hand, too. [["Fine. Let's do this!"]] [["I'm not doing it!]]

"Yes!" Kyle cheers. "Which one should we try first?" [[Face the Paranormal Clowns]] [[Face the Headless Ghosts]] [[Face the Cannibal Hunters]]

After taking only a few steps into the building, Clowns jump out at you laughing and dancing. As you and Samantha scream from being caught off guard, Kyle laughs and shoo them away. They disappear into the darkness while their loud, evil laughter echos from afar. As you catch your breath and air a sigh of relief, you squeeze Samamtha and Kyle's hand in yours. "It's going to be a long night if that's all it takes to scare you two," Kyle says. "Oh shut up and just lead the way since you're so brave," Samantha whispers harshly. "Right this way." Kyle releases their hands and runs ahead of them. He chuckles as they shriek from fear. [["No way! I hate clowns. Let's turn back and try another one."]] [["Let's hurry up and get this over with."]]

Projections of ghosts swarm you and your friends. Neon lights glimmer in the building like its a dance hall party. A Lo-Fi Hip Hop beat plays in the background amid soft, spooky ghost sounds that mimic whistles and 'hou's.' "Whoever came up with this concept dropped the ball." Kyle scoffs. "I think it's pretty cool," Samantha says, bobbing her head to the music. [["What a joke. Let's try another one."]] [["This is going to be fun. Let's check out all the rooms in this one."]]

Tall, stocky men with swinging hatches are standing down a long hallway, waiting on you and your friends to approach them. They have on ripped, blood-stained white T-shirts, jeans and boots. The closer you get, the louder their growls and roaring stomaches become. [[I don't think we should..."]] [["Are they supposed to scare us? What a joke!"]]

"Which one should we try next?" Samantha asks [[Face the Headless Ghosts]] [[Face the Cannibal Hunters]]

More clowns rush out and circle around them as they inch forward. They slither thier tongues around their mouths and laugh close by your and Samantha's ears. Samantha loops her arm in yours and runs straight for the exit. Just as you make it to the door, your hair gets caught on to something on the wall in a dark corner. You scream as you feel a panting breath on the back of your neck. Working hard to escape the trap you're in, you jerk your head forward and run out of the haunted house with a headache. "What the hell was that?" Samantha holds on to her knees while trying to catch her breath. "I don't know." You rub the back of your head, hoping you don't have a bald spot. "But I'm not up for going through another haunted house. Screw that!" "Are you serious? You guys made that scarier than it actually was by being dramatic. Come on. We have two left; we can't stop now. Which one do you want to try next?" Kyle questions excitedly. [[Face the Headless Ghosts]] [[Face the Cannibal Hunters]]

Kyle chuckles. "Which one should we try next, wimp?" [[Face the Paranormal Clowns]] [[Face the Cannibal Hunters]]

In the first room you and your friends enter, you scrunch your face up at the vile smell that greets you. "Gross! What is that?" Kyle covers his nose with the back of his hand. "Smells like there's a dead dog in here or something." As you trail deeper into the side room, Samantha abruptly stops walking, causing you to bump into her. Samantha gasps and stutters while trying to get her words out. Like she's been posessed, she points across the room to a bald, pale man in a blood-stained, white T-shirt. The man rips at the flesh of a long arm. A dead, naked body in parts is in the corner beside him. Kyle gags, then jerks back and throws up on the carpet in front of him. He startles the flesh eating man who stands up immediately and growls at them. "Come on, Kyle! Now!" Samantha shouts. Grabbing your hand, Samantha whisks you out of the entrance of the headless ghosts' haunted house. Kyle runs out behind you laughing. He wipes his mouth with the end of his shirt. "Oh my God! That looked so real," he says. "Are you out of your mind?" Samantha screams. "That was real. We have to tell someone!" "Tell someone about special bloody and gruescome effects in a haunted house? God! You're more of a wimp than I thought. This is ridicuolous. Don't tell me you agree with her." Kyle looks at you for answers. [[Agree with Samantha]] [[Agree with Kyle]]

You try to change your mind and turn back, but there's no way out. Everything goes dark and the doors behind you lock. The sound of the locks echo throughout the building. Samantha is yanked out of your hold and dragged away quickly. She cries and screams for help as you and Kyle run down a long hallway that seems endless. Suddenly, Samantha's screams stop, and you and Kyle don't know which direction to go to find her. [[Search for Samantha]] [[Try to find a way out for help]]

Already fed up and over the experiences of the haunted houses, you throw your hands in the air and let them fall defeatedly. "I'm over this. Let's get back to the rides or play a few park games," you suggest, looking back and forth from Kyle and Samantha. "We have to finish what we've started," Kyle says. "Don't you want to know how it ends?" You hold your head proudly in the air and shake your head. [["Nope.]] You exhale deeply before giving in. "Okay fine, whatever." [[Face the Cannibal Hunters]]

The path is not yet complete.

This path is not yet complete.

You've decided to be a whimp all your life. Congratulations. [[No Way Out]]

This path is not yet completed.

You and Samantha walk ahead of Kyle back toward the park rides and games. Kyle follows behind you while grumbling and airing his disappointment. You look over your shoulder at him, then notice a man in a bloody, white T-shirt standing outside of a haunted house, smirking connvingly. Chills overwhelm your body as you pick up and the pace and pull Samantha along. "God! Sometimes I hate Halloween," you mumble under your breath.