The Red Moon Rave
A supernatural horror thriller set in an urban fantasy landscape (5 min read)
Max and Milo’s excitement about their new home in San Francisco’s SoMa district was palpable. The modern apartment complex, with its chic design and top-notch amenities, promised an upscale urban life, a fresh start for the adventurous couple. But their anticipation soon turned into apprehension as bizarre events unfolded just beyond the walls of their stylish abode.
From their very first night, the sounds of an aggressive and experimental musical genre known as screamo—a subgenre of emo known for its intense emotional expression and experimental dissonance—blended with the throbbing beats of dubstep, filled their apartment from 10 PM to the eerie hours before dawn. This unusual fusion, emanating from their neighbor, an amateur DJ, was not just loud but unnervingly invasive.
Intrigued and disturbed, Max and Milo began to investigate. They discovered that their building stood on a site with a dark past: an old cemetery that had been the resting place for hundreds, now disturbed by the ceaseless vibrations of the DJ’s music. The realization sent a chill down their spines, as they wondered about the restlessness of the souls beneath their feet.
The couple’s encounters with other residents only added to the building's eerie atmosphere. Mrs. Abernathy, an elderly woman with a perpetual frown, was often seen in the lobby, her fingers moving rapidly over her knitting needles as she muttered under her breath. What Max and Milo initially thought were simple knitting patterns turned out to be intricate symbols, ones that seemed to hum with an ancient power.
Mr. Huang lived alone with his three cats on the fifth floor. He would talk to anyone who listened about how his cats often stared at and hissed at empty corners, or how they followed invisible movements across the room. Then there were the twin sisters, Ana and Bella, aged six, who lived directly above Max and Milo. Their laughter often filled the hallway, but at times, it transformed into something else—whispers that seemed too mature, too knowing for their young age.
In response to the growing unrest, the building’s community gathered in the lobby. The residents, each affected in different ways by the nightly disturbances, shared their experiences. Mrs. Abernathy confessed that her knitting was indeed a form of protection spell, meant to shield her apartment from the spirits she felt were awakened by the music. Mr. Huang’s cats had become increasingly agitated, refusing to enter certain rooms. Ana and Bella’s mother, visibly shaken, told the group that her daughters had begun speaking to an "imaginary friend" they called "The Conductor," who instructed them in their eerie whispers.
Outside, the streets of SoMa echoed with the harsh realities of urban life. Homeless individuals camped across from the building often spoke of the “cursed beats,” and some even claimed to have seen shadows moving in sync with the DJ’s late-night sessions. The intersection of urban decay and supernatural occurrences made Max and Milo’s initial enthusiasm for city life wane.
Determined to restore some semblance of normalcy, Max and Milo approached the DJ about using headphones. The DJ, a lanky man with piercing eyes named Damien, smirked at their suggestion but accepted the headphones they eventually gifted him—a pair embedded with technology designed to disrupt the spiritual communications believed to be facilitated by his music.
For a brief period, the building seemed to settle into a quieter rhythm. The disturbances lessened, and the couple hoped they had found a solution. But the peace was temporary. On a night when a blood-red moon dominated the sky, a sudden electrical surge knocked out power to the entire block, including the DJ’s specially modified headphones.
Freed from their constraints, the spirits became more active than ever. Max and Milo watched in horror as the walls seemed to pulse with a life of their own, vibrating with the raw energy of the unchecked music. Spectral figures, more defined than ever, swarmed around Damien’s apartment, drawn to the cacophony of sound.
As the couple ventured into the hallway, intent on confronting Damien, they were met with the full force of the supernatural chaos. The air crackled with energy, the lights flickered wildly, and the screams of the disturbed spirits melded with the screamo-dubstep fusion to create a nightmarish symphony.
Reaching Damien’s door, they found it ajar. Inside, the DJ was in the throes of his music, completely oblivious to the pandemonium around him. As they stepped closer, the ground beneath them shook, and with each drop of the bass, the veil between worlds thinned. In a final, deafening crescendo, Damien looked up, his eyes reflecting a terrifying understanding of the forces he had unleashed.
Then, in a burst of spectral light and sound, Damien disappeared. The music stopped abruptly, leaving behind a silence that was almost suffocating. Max and Milo retreated to their apartment, the door closing behind them with a definitive thud.
The next morning, the building was eerily silent. The DJ’s apartment was empty, with nothing but a pair of charred headphones on the floor. No trace of Damien was ever found. Max and Milo remained in the building, their lives tinged with the knowledge of what lay beneath and what could be summoned by the power of music.
Sometimes, late at night, when the city quiets down and the wind carries just right, faint beats can be heard echoing through the streets of SoMa. They serve as a haunting reminder of the night when music bridged the gap between the living and the dead, and a warning of the power that still lurks beneath.
© Eric Montgomery, April 2024
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The Red Moon Rave" is a gripping supernatural horror thriller that unfolds in San Francisco's SoMa district. Max and Milo's excitement for their new home turns to fear as they uncover dark secrets lurking within their building. With spectral figures, eerie encounters, and a chilling crescendo, this tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.