TWENTY FIVE & SIX
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395 the ultra violet lights. The brief glimpse of movement along the walls was a distraction that kept the eyes moving side to side. The room was designed so patrons would believe something was about to jump out from the numerous shadowed alcoves in the canyon. The web looked like it was painted on the ceiling because everything above the ropes had been painted with a light absorbing flat black.
Training began the following week. Eddie had video of Brad and Rodney recreating their roles. Lee helped with the bad kitties. The spiders only had to figure out how to move around the huge web. Armando showed up to train the wrestlers who caught on quickly. Eddie observed and felt confident the spiders would stop laughing before opening day. They began to coach each other as to what movements looked real. They were agile young men and Armando was impressed by how alive his costumes performed. The day before the official opening, Eddie ran an evening dress rehearsal. All the employees of Melling and Associates were encouraged to attend and bring a few friends and family, who would not be traumatized by the intensity of the performance.
Tanya drove Eddie to the“ Fear Factory” after a pass through the local fast food joint. Eddie couldn’ t eat, he was too nervous and Tanya found herself nervous for Eddie. They arrived early so Sam could introduce her to all the actors. In the brightly lit make-up room they were not so frightening. Frankenstein was telling a joke to the Mummy as he helped apply the last of the shredded bandages. Justin and Ryan were vying for the attention of Frank’ s daughters, who came without dates. Eddie took Nicole aside.“ I don’ t want you to do this,” he said, tears started to form in his eyes.“ I expect to be scared. I’ ll be okay Daddy,” she said, kissing his cheek. She joined her new boyfriend, Matt along with Stephie and her date.
The lights dimmed announcing the actors were in place. Eddie asked for small groups to be ushered through so errs could be worked out of the system. Anyone wishing to go back through the“ Fear Factory” were encouraged to do so. Almost four hundred people showed for the preview. George brought a date.“ Glad you could make it,” Eddie said, shaking George’ s hand.“ Yeah, Lee begged me to come. She even set me up with a date. This is Lisa,” he said.“ How about if you two come with me, Tanya and Sam? The kids seem to have bailed on us,” Eddie asked. George nodded and his date seemed bored. The sound track began and the lights dimmed.“ The line starts here,” Rodney’ s voice boomed over the wind, distant howls and screams of the soundtrack. Stephie pulled her boyfriend to the spot Rodney indicated. Nicole and Matt were in tow. Two other couples about the same age joined them quickly. Eddie caught Matt’ s eye. Matt offered a gesture that said,“ I’ ve got this handled.” Eddie nodded his appreciation. A nervous energy seemed to fill the building as the usher escorted the first group inside. Eddie watched the tiny light turn green and the next group entered. Eddie ran to check on the security team. They were on top of their game watching the group’ s movements from cameras above. As Eddie joined the crowd, all wearing the black t-shirts he designed, the screams came from more than just the soundtrack. Lisa looked less bored and Eddie wondered what kind of favor she owed Lee.
Tanya took one of Eddie’ s arms. Sam took the other.“ Look at this guy. You would think he owns the joint. He gets two women?” George asked.“ He does,” Sam and Tanya said in unison and started to laugh. Eddie waited to be one of the last groups to enter his creation. George was impressed by how good the zoo exhibit looked with Lee and the Kim replacement moving about inside. He nodded