Oh, the horror!

at Universal Studios

By Kelly Dizon

Crap! This cant be happening! This cant be happening! This cannot be happening!

Towering over me was a tall, one-story structure of a dilapidated double door. Comprised of

colorless and ashey features, it was a chilling reminder to guests who came one by one to the

park about a certain apocalypse.

Vandalized in black spray paint, read the warning, DONT OPEN! DEAD INSIDE!

There was a slight crack between the two doors, revealing the bodies of the living dead that

awaits you on the other side.

What did I ever do to be punished? I gasped in dismay as the events of last Saturday

struck me, replaying the whole scene in front of my eyes.

It all started last Saturday at my friends house. Julie asked me if I wanted to go to

Universal Studios next Sunday, and I, of course immediately said yes. I mean who would turn

down Universal Studios on any given chance? Its a theme park!

As our excitement for Universal carried on in the following week, what hadnt occurred

to me was that Universals annual Horror Nights was taking place, including that very Sunday

when we would be going. Now isnt that great. Just great.

Arent you excited? Julie glanced at me from her angle. Unlike my cold, stormy eyes,

her chestnut-colored eyes were lit up, thrilled for what lies ahead of us.

Sure, I said, faking a smile so that she wouldnt suspect my disappointment.

She bought it. Julie grinned at me, nodding her head as she turned to look back at the

entrance. Her face was still astonished in utter amazement.

 As she turned, I shuddered. Nice going Kiley! You just set yourself up for your own

funeral. I sighed under my breath as I shook my head.

So you want to go in? A voice startled me.

I quickly jumped back as Julie turned to face me.

Why not? I replied, as we walked toward the ticket person to show our tickets.

Farewell, world! I thought miserably in my head as the worker sent us into the park

like little critters waiting for their impending doom.

***

Within seconds of taking our first steps into Horror Nights, the sounds of multiple

chainsaws filled the air, followed by screams of fright from all ages and sizes. The aroma of

smoke filled in our lungs, making us hack up like elderly men.

Well, isnt that lovely, I finally uttered out after coughing for two minutes long.

Rolling her eyes at me, Julie dismissed my sarcasm and proceeded on with,

We should probably list down all the things that we want to do today.

Yeah, I was thinking that while were here, we should get funnel I looked over my

shoulder. Right behind us were two men dressed from the Purge movie. Yes, I knew that they

were simply actors. Did that calm me? No. Both were tall and lean. On their faces, they wore the

iconic sinister mask that bears an unsettling smile. One of the men was armed with a bat, while

the other was equipped with a slender blade in hand. They were clearly not here for some

friendly chitchat. CAKE! I shrieked, finishing my sentence as I broke away from an

awe-struck Julie and ran for my life.

 I headed down the Universal Plaza quarter. Worst mistake I could have possibly made. It

was the Purge Zone. The two men that had ambushed Julie and I were only a minuscule of what

seemed like hundreds. This was it. Mobs of masked individuals jumped at me from each angle,

pointing their weapons of all sort. All I could do was scream. AHHH!!! My adrenaline was

high and my heart was racing. I am never going back there, I vowed. I kept running and

running for some time until I finally came to a stop to check where I had been going. I was in

Springfield from The Simpsons, standing right next to the Lard Lad Donuts. I was breathing quite

heavily and my stomach growled in hunger. Before long, the mouth-watering smell of fresh

newly baked donuts filled the air around me. Fluffy, doughy bread covered with sweet, creamy

frosting. Yeah, it couldnt hurt.

I dashed to the Lard Lad Donuts line to order their signature donut, The Big Pink,

along with bottled water. Within a few minutes, I had picked up my order at the window.

Holding the donut box in my right hand and the bottled water in my left hand, I found a seat at a

nearby park bench.

Paint streaks that have been used to cover up suspicious marks and vandalism were

already chipping off on its sides. Who cares though, when you have food!

Ah, junk food, I thought as I opened the donut box. There it was - a magnificent sized

donut, fresh and warm. Coated in rich strawberry, pink frosting and on top of that, sprinkles.

Perfection. I could no longer wait.

As I was about to dive right into the sugary goodness, a familiar voice interrupted my

plans.

Ahem
 I stopped in my tracks. Fear crept over me. I had a feeling that it was that very special

person who must be dying to see me, and I was not going to live to hear the rest of it. I slowed

raised my head toward the direction of the voice. I was correct. It was Julie. There she was

standing right in front of me, with her hands on her hips, giving me the most mind boggling

death stare I have ever seen in my life. This staring contest lasted for a whole minute until I had

lost it,

Can you cut it out with all the staring? Geez I looked off to the side.

Oh, sorry about that she giggled as she took her eyes off of me and looked down to the

floor.

Where were you? I asked irritably.

Oh you know, I was stuck back there at the Purge Zone because someone left me her

eyes meeting mine.

I turned my head down, immediately regretting everything I had just said.

Yeah, I thought so Julie said looking smug with herself. At least we know between

the two of us who can survive if theres a real purge.

Me! we asserted at the same time.

Wait, what? What do you mean by you? we both disgustingly said in unison.

Well I said, Since I ran from our attempted ambush, sadly leaving you behind to go

fend for yourself, I was able to survive through the Purge and find nourishment for the benefits

of my health I smirked, showing her my donut box.

But thats a donut, Julie replied.

 Still food to keep me alive in an actual Purge, I answered simply, as she nodded her

head affirmatively. I stopped for a moment before carrying on again. You, on the other hand,

just stood there unaware of the two armed Purge men that were behind you. Once you had finally

seen them, you probably did not run away screaming to save yourself, as any regular person

would do. After knowing you all these years, I bet you took a picture with them and posted it on

Facebook.

No, thats incorrect, Julie said dismissing me.

Then it was Instagram, I said assertively.

Her face reddened as she changed our conversation. Knew it.

Anyways... Julie continued on, It was perfect that you came to this area of the theme

park because the were going to the Terror Tram! she announced proudly.

Whats that? I immediately asked, choking back my anxiety.

Oh, I dont know, but doesnt it sound fun? Julie said cheerfully.

You bet, I quietly uttered back to her as she beamed in excitement.

Okay, now Im officially going to die.

***

Waiting in line for the Terror Tram took over an hour and thirty minutes, but I didnt

mind. Every second that was added to the waiting period was another second away from going

on the Terror Tram, and if we were delayed too long, then there would be no Terror Tram.

Knowing this piece of information, along with demolishing my donut with Julie, detracted me

from all my anxiety.

 Once all the passengers were seated on the tram, the screens turned on, emitting light in

the total darkness, as they recapped the story of Harold Kappowitz aka Koodles the Clown.

The whole documentary took about fifteen minutes long:

Kappowitz entertained guests of all ages as his alter ego, Koodles the Clown at the

Universal Studios Lot. However, as years went by, the media turned negatively,

perceiving clowns as scary monsters, no longer as the happy and friendly beings they

were. Due to this, Kappowitz lost his career at Universal, driving him into insanity as his

alter ego, Koodles the Clown ceased to exist. From his downfall, came a new alter ego,

Hollywood Harry in the summer of 2016. Spotted on the Universal property, several

times by guests, and being linked to multiple kidnappings of workers, he is not one to be

messed with. Welcome to this years Terror Tram!

The passengers on the entire tram roared in excitement, as they would finally experience

what they have been waiting for their whole day at Universal for. I, on the other hand, said my

prayers under my breath, and continued on by listening to Gloria Gaynors I Will Survive on

my iPhone. I guess I had been blasting my music too loudly when a voice beside me asked,

Is that I Will Survive?

I looked up from my phone, fearing that it would be a stranger that had been listening to me this

whole time. Thankfully, it was Julie. She was grinning at me, with a perplexed look on her face,

waiting for my response.

Umm no, I quickly stuffed my IPhone, along with my earbuds into my cross-body

bag.
 Julie just shook her head as she turned to look out of the tram for the rest of the ride, but

it wasnt too long until she nudged my arm to notify me that would be stopping.

We were heading towards the Bates Motel backlot used to film one of Universals most

iconic horror films, Psycho. Isnt that delightful? Dropping us off in at a murder spot in the

pitch-black night. Lovely.

However, as we neared closer, there was something weird about it. Carnival music was

playing in the air, filling the atmosphere with laughter and utter amusement, instead of the usual

panic. Baffled, I squinted closely at the lot. There he was, standing front and center, waiting for

our arrival was Hollywood Harry. A devious smile was plastered on his face, as carried his

signature black balloons in one hand and carried a bloody knife in the other. Now Harry, theres

a reason why everyones afraid of clowns.

My anxiety lessened seeing that I would only be facing one clown. I was wrong, of

course. Again. As our tram finally made its stop at the Bates Motel back lot, a dozen other

clowns came into view. They were all on either side of Hollywood Harry, wearing his same

sinister smile. But instead of knives and balloons, they were armed with long bats and especially

chainsaws.

Please be the wrong area! Please be the wrong area! my head screamed in dismay,

hoping that the tram driver would take us somewhere else that was far less terrifying and would

not result in my future demise.

Instead the tour guide announced this on the speakers: This is where end our tour now.

Uh...good luck out there. My mouth fell open as the doors of the trams lifted up, forcing us out

of the trams and into the chaos.

 ***

The party started the moment we stepped onto the back lot. Triggering the menacing

clowns, as they started advancing towards us, thrusting their weapons in the air ready for the

nights festivities. We ran through the horde of clowns, hoping that individually, we would not

get singled out.

However, out of the hundreds of guests that came running through the Bates Motel

backlot. Hollywood Harry spotted me and began swiftly approaching in my direction. Just my

pure luck.

Terrified, I froze in place. I could not move a single limb. Nothing! I began shaking as

the delicate deer I was, begging Hollywood Harry to just pick another target. Nonetheless, he

continued walking, pushing past the screaming guests and his psychotic minion clowns to get to

me.

I closed my eyes. This is my death. Everything was starting to blur, until I heard the

sound of someone calling my name.

Kiley! Julie grabbed my hand and we began running through the path of the despicable

clowns, avoiding Hollywood Harrys reach.

Squeals of wicked laughter chimed in the air, as the clowns could see the terror on our

faces. Readying their arms in hand, they came close to us, almost jabbing us to bits.

AGGHH!!! I shrieked when a clown came about an inch close to my face.

The clown tried doing the same thing to Julie, yet she didnt flinch. Taking no notice of

his presence, she quickly led us out the herd of clowns and onto the guest trail, where we were
packed like sardines with our other fellow passengers. Seeing that these fleeting minutes would

be the only time of safety, I turned to my right to talk briefly with Julie.

How did you do that? I whispered silently to her.

Do what? Julie asked at loss of words.

You know what you did back there, I said imitating her as I shunned an imaginary

clown in the air.

Oh that looking pleased with herself, Julie responded, Theyre only actors, Kiley.

Paid to do their jobs of scaring people for the thrill of it. They cant leave a single mark on us at

all.

She made her last comment just as our few minutes of safety ended, taking us to various

scenes of utter dismay. Ranging from psychotic clowns torturing victims to even more psychotic

clowns torturing their victims. It was quite the sight to see. Nothing horrendous. Really?

However taking Julies advice, I had finally come to my senses. This is all acting.

Theyre just actors. Just actors

With Julie right by my side, we cheerfully walked up together to all the actors through

the mazes, bidding them each a good night, leaving them with dumbfounded expressions on their

faces. It was hilarious! There was even this one clown who just stood there jabbing his knife in

the air for a whole minute waiting to see if we would have a terrified reaction to it. When we

didnt, he just simply dismissed us to scare another victim just like his other fellow clowns.

Julie and I hoorayed in triumph, as we had finally took our last steps of the Terror Tram,

leaving it for good. My heart was still racing as I raised my hand toward my forehead to wipe the

cold sweat. Even so, every bit of it was just an amazing feeling! The thrill and pure excitement of
being able to step out of your comfort zone and conquer your fears. As Shia LaBeouf says, Just

Do it!

As Julie and I made our way to exit the park, a faint noise rang into my head. Clink. I

jolted up in a heartbeat, springing backwards and accidentally stepping onto Julies Nike shoes.

Are you okay? she gasped at me, taking no notice of her feet.

Yeah. Im fine I brushed my bangs out of my face, Sorry, thought I heard something,

Was it dum, dum, dum...the Purge? Julie asked in a dramatic tone.

Ha, ha, ha. Funny I said rolling my eyes at her, but seriously I swore I heard something.

It sounded like the start of an engine

Brum-brum-brum-brum-brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! A chainsaw sliced through the subtle

wind from behind, startling us as we ran for our dear lives.