Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-26996853-20151018122544

(This story was formally known as 'Mr Manson' but I decided to change the name as well as some things in it. I have fixed my grammar and spelling.)

My first magic show, and my last. Most people when older would just leave the memory at the back of their minds, but this one, this one I would never forget.

It was my 8th birthday, and my parents had decided to take me and my older sister to a magic act. It wasn't much, as it was taking place at a youth club we had gone to a few times before. My sister, being a hormonal teen was reluctant to go, but my parents threatened to ban her from all electronics if she didn't come.

So our parents drove us there, and we arrived within minutes.

Once we got out, we were greeted by signs and and lights around the doorway, and a small stretch of red carpet going inside. We all walked in, and took seats at the front. There were quite a few people there, some young; some old.

There were red curtains hiding one corner of the room, where I was sure the magician would appear from.

I shifted in my seat, excited to see what tricks this person would do, my sister looked at me and rolled her eyes.

"How can you be so excited? Magic isn't even r-"

"Laura." My mother quickly cut her off with a stern look towards her. Laura rolled her eyes again. We then fell silent when the lights dimmed. A voice seeping out of the speakers in the corners of the room. My excitement grew more.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome... Mr Manson!"

As that was announced, a spotlight that was set up slowly moved towards the curtains which made everyone look towards them.Until a cloud of smoke appeared in the middle of the set up stage. I heard gasps, and once the smoke cleared I joined the people. He was standing there.

His volumized onyx hair fell down to his shoulders; his possible full fringe clipped back. Along his rectangle shaped jaw was a slight stubble, but also had a small soul patch on his chin.

His sunk in cheeks had a Pale pink colour in them, and when smiling, a few dimples appeared by the corners of his mouth. His thin lips tilted upwards, relaxing his rather bushy brows.

He straightened his red tie under his black vest as well as the collar on his white shirt. Rolling up his sleeves to the piece of clothing up to his elbows. He made sure his white leather gloves were tight on his hands before he was finally ready.

"I am Mr Manson, welcome to my magic show!" He said in a joyous manner, giving everyone a white toothy grin. "Now... let's get this show started!" He exclaimed as he put his two index fingers together. As he separated them, a wand appeared between his gloved fingers.

I remember catching my mother looking towards Laura. She merely rolled her eyes again and we continued watching.

The man did several tricks, such as the usual card trick done by magicians I used to watch on television. He had to use a volunteer for that one. I didn't want to do that one. He even removed his hat and pulled out a white rabbit!

The more tricks he did, the more fascinated I became. It had seemed like the show had gone on for hours, until someone rolled out a large box.

"Alright... for this, I need another volunteer. Who'd like to go?" He asked, looking around the crowd. As a few people raised their hands, including myself, he tapped his chin with a thoughtful look. His eyes then landed on Laura.

"Ah! You young lady!" He said. I frowned, a little disappointed I wasn't picked, but smiled at Laura. She sighed and slowly got up. Mr Manson grinned at her when she reached him.

"What is your name?" He asked her.

"Laura." "Well, Laura, it is nice to meet you. Now what I need you to do is go into that box for me please." Manson said, pointing to the said object with his thumb. Laura rolled her eyes and walked past him.

"This is lame." I saw her mutter and for a brief second I swear I saw the man frown. Had he heard her? Mr Manson followed her, and she stepped into the box. Mr Manson shut the door and locked it.

"Now Laura is in the box, I will now let you witness as I make her disappear!" He exclaimed. He waved the wand in his other hand and tapped the box.

"Alakazam!" He said. He unlocked the door and opened it. I couldn't believe it! She was gone!! A few gasps were heard from the audience. Manson bowed a little. "Oh, but there's a problem! We need her back! I need you to say the magic word with me! We have to say it loudly or Laura won't come back!" He told us closing and locking the door again.

He counted down, and when reaching one, we screamed "Alakazam!"

"Louder!" He encouraged.

"Alakazam!!"

As he tapped the box and unlocked it, the door flew open to reveal Laura standing there. She almost looked as if she hadn't moved! How he had managed to do it still bothered me to this day. What had he done?

The audience quickly began applauding, and Manson bowed. He thanked Laura as she returned to her seat.

"Well, now, unfortunately I have nothing left to show you..." He said with a sad frown. A few awww's came from the kids there, including myself. "But never forget... magic is real." He said, his eyes landing on me once again as he said that. I smiled widely at him.

The room was slowly emptying, and me and my family were getting ready to leave. I turned to Mr Manson. He was sitting on the small stage and he looked rather... sad. Whilst my mother and father conversed with Laura, I slowly approached him. He looked up at me and quickly smiled.

"Well hello there little boy." He said gaily as he quickly stood.

"Hello... I really liked your magic show, sir." I said, smiling equally as widely as he was to me. For a brief moment I noticed his eyes lit up, but something else lingered in them that I couldn't quite put my finger on back then.

"Oh, that's very nice of you. I'm glad you liked it." He said happily. It was then he spotted the birthday badge I wore. "Oh! You're the birthday boy, Jack?" He asked. I nodded. He grinned wider and crouched down to my level.

"Well... since it's your birthday, how about I give you your own private performance?" He asked. My eyes lit up.

"Really!?" I asked. He nodded with a smile. However, I looked back towards the curtains. "Actually, I don't know. I think I have to go home." I said as I began walking back out. That was until I felt the man's gloved hand grab mine.

He began leading me back in, and through another pair of curtains.

"It will be quick, your parents won't even notice you were gone." He said smiling down at me. Thinking back now, his smile... it was just... off. I just looked down and nodded without words.

He began leading me into some woodland area, before I tried stopping until he was almost dragging me.

"I can't... I need to go back to my mum and dad." I said quietly. He paused and slowly looked behind him at me. It was then I saw the malice in his deep blue eyes up close.

"You aren't going anywhere." He said, his voice suddenly more rough than before. Suddenly I felt a cloth over my nose and mouth, and within seconds, it all went dark.

I woke up when a strong light suddenly came on, I slowly open my eyes, but my vision was rather blurred. My eyes slowly adjusted before I froze.

This wasn't the youth club. This was a theatre. It was a large room with balcony seats behind me. I was sat in the front row of the comfy red chairs. I front of me was the stage which had large curtains that probably met in the middle. Two small staircases either side of the stage, and show lights all set up above them and pointing to the centre of the stage.

The place smelt rather musty...but I could smell something else. I looked at the stage upon hearing a dark chuckle.

There I saw Mr Manson with his grin.

"Ah, you're awake birthday boy. I made sure to have all of my equipment out for you!" He said smiling down at me. I looked behind him to see a large chest and the same box from the earlier magic show.

"W-Where am I?" I asked him, tears gathering in my eyes.

"You're in my theatre! After the people who owned it dumped it, I redid it!" He said. I went to get up, but I couldn't move my arms or legs. I looked at my limbs and gasped. Duct tape binding me to the chair I was sitting in.

Then I heard a moan, and looked around; letting out a scream.

There were other people taped to the seats, only...

A child a few seats away from me had bruises all over him, his eyes puffy and red from crying and clothes dirty. Then next to him was a man... with no eyes. The more I looked around, the more grotesque things I saw. The theatre was full of people either dead or dying. All taped to the chairs.

"These are the people that believe in magic. Unlike your sister." I heard Mr Manson. I looked up at him and began crying; trying to release myself from the tape. He jumped down from the stage. Slowly feigning a sad face. "What is wrong Jack?" He asked me.

"I-I W-Want to go h-home!" I sobbed. His sad expression soon faded, and a large smirk made it's way onto his lips.

"Oh, little Jack. I thought you wanted this. Now you have to stay. Or else you'll end up upsetting me greatly...Anyway! The show is about to begin!" He said jumping back up onto the stage. He looked back down at me.

"Don't worry Jack... this will be magical." He said. He began the same routine from earlier, talking to everyone as if they were all alive. Looking back now I wonder if he really thought all of them were alive.

"I want to go home!!" I yelled. Mr Manson fell silent and looked at me. Suddenly, he exploded in a fit of anger.

"No! You are not going home!! You will watch my performance and you will like it!!" He yelled, his voice echoing in the large room. "You were one of the people who really liked me, now you get to watch my performance for a lifetime!! You will pay attention to me!!" He said, giving a wide unhinged smile. He calmed down, and continued with his act.

"Now for this trick, I need a volunteer..." He said smirking and looked at a teenager who was amongst us. Fear quickly appeared in his eyes as Manson went to the chest and pulled out a sword. He walked over to the teen and began removing the duct tape.

When he had the chance, the teen punched Mr Manson in the nose. The teen began running, but when he went to open the door, his efforts were futile. Locked.

"You little...." I heard Manson growl. I looked back and saw him with a bloody nose, his eyes now full of malice. "You're ruining my show!!" He said, marching up to him.

As much as the teen tried fighting back, The older man was able to overpower him, dragging him by his hair to the stage. He pulled up a wooden chair and sat him down. He pulled his head back by his hair.

"Now, you will be the one to feel this." Slowly, he lowered the sword into the boy's mouth. He tried letting out a scream, but he was silenced as Mr Manson suddenly shoved the blade down his throat. I cringed and cried, watching the boy shake and his eyes widen in shock.

But he wouldn't stop, he kept shoving the sword down until only the hilt was visible. He soon removed the now blood covered sword and swung it, whipping some of the blood off of it. The boy's head hung down, blood seeping from his mouth.

"That's what you get for ruining MY show." Mr Manson snarled. He slowly took a deep breath and looked at me. His smile slowly returning. He left the boy there, and carried on with his show.

Then I heard a gun shot behind me, and looked at the back of the theatre. Police officers came in with guns at the ready and my parents and Laura behind them.

"Damn it!" I heard Manson snap. I looked back to see him run into the box; closing the door quickly.

"Jack!!" My mother screamed, my father and Laura almost vomiting from the decaying bodies around me.

"He's in the box! He's in the box!" I screamed with tears rolling down my cheeks." The officers went up onto the stage with their guns and opened the door quickly, which caused my eyes to widen.

He was gone.

The police searched the theatre; he was nowhere to be seen.

Mr Manson had ripped a bit of his glove as he had to pull me through some thorns, and the police dogs had tracked us down by his scent.

I was taken to hospital for a check up, before I went home. The people still alive in the theatre were probably taken to the hospital, then home like myself, depending on their condition. The dead bodies in the place were probably put in the morgue and had their relatives contacted.

Mr Manson was never found.

I guess magic really is real. 