Last Friday night, this piece of “blood”-soaked “meat” (which is, I think, actually some kind of dyed latex product) was smeared roundly about my face and neck by a large man, who may or may not be named “Thor,” dressed as a butcher, at the 2009 annual Scare for a Cure haunted house, held each this year at the palatial Austin estate of video-game entrepreneur Richard Garriott, aka Lord British. I paid a couple of extra bucks for the special glowing red chemiluminescent necklace that identified me as amenable to the “extreme,” full-contact version of the experience, and I’m so glad that I did.
My friend, Christie, got about a bucket of “blood” “vomited” onto her head by a ceiling-mounted ghoul, and came out looking like Carrie on prom night. I saw it happen, and the moment is frozen for me like a scene from a Dario Argento movie: Christie’s blond locks, suffused by a pale, flickering, blue-green backlight, her mouth slightly open as she looks up, laughing, into the torrent of black, sticky ichor that tumbles, in exaggerated slow motion, onto her face. In my mind’s eye, I can still see my own gaping mouth reflected in a small, spherical droplet of that blood as it spatters across space and time. I think that droplet will be falling, in my memory, for many years to come.
Thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make this such an incredible event. If you missed it this year, go mark your calendars now.
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12 thoughts on “A Halloween souvenir”
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Sniff it, does it smell like fishing lure? It’s probably squish — hot-pour PVC.
Nasty stuff, but nice too.
Edwin!
Have they already made plans to hold it there next year? Last year was at a location over near Zilker, and Garriott hasn’t offered his home to haunted houses since ’95 or ’94? It’d be great if they can hold it there again, we went on Saturday night and had an absolute blast!
Nothing has been officially announced, but don’t be surprised if you find us there again in 2010…
I worked the kitchen several nights, but you are correct, it was Thor on Friday. I don’t know what he called it, but when I was the chef, that stuff was placenta. Eww.
Glad you enjoyed the haunt, and don’t forget–making the haunt happen is even more fun than being a guest!
Is that a lock pick in her hands? if so… why??
I was the key-bearer too, and was also soaked in the vomit-blood.
Totally did not see _that_ coming.
I have been going since the brittania manor days, and I enjoy it every year. If I did not have so much work I would love to volunteer.