Category | Arts & Living

Twice the terror: surviving 13 stories

Published on October 28, 2008 by The Sentinel

   Upon arriving at 13 Stories, a haunted house located next to Town
Center Mall in Kennesaw, my heart began pounding at what seemed like
the speed of light, and sweat began dripping down my forehead.

     I sat for a few minutes in the parking lot wondering what I had gotten myself into. After all, one of the frequently asked questions on the 13 Stories Web site is, “Are there live rats, snakes, cockroaches, clowns, or chainsaws?” The answer? “Maybe.” And everyone who enters must sign a waiver first. 

    For the past five years, 13 Stories has been a unique and fun Halloween attraction. People always told me that I should go to 13 Stories, but I insisted that I would not dare enter a haunted house.

    This year, I decided to try something new and take a chance (senioritis could have been the motivating factor). Fortunately, I didn’t have to take the journey into the unknown all by myself; accompanying me through 13 Stories’ two parts, Bunker 13 and the haunted house itself, were my fellow thrill-seekers Steven Welch and Alicia Reid.

    We began at Bunker 13, which had a militaristic theme. The intimidating Sergeant put us in our place and laid down the rules of the game. As the door opened up to the main attraction, I was scared beyond belief. In certain places throughout the bunker, you have to pass through curtains that keep you guessing about what lies ahead. Also, characters come out of thin air to greet you (and by that I mean frighten you silly) as you venture through the bunker.      

    As we exited the bunker, we felt a certain relief, and I had to catch my breath. Then, I realized that there was still another part to venture through: the notorious haunted house. Adrenaline pumped through my body; I felt a mixture of fear and excitement as I tried to prepare for the worst. After giving myself something of a pep talk, we entered the building, at which point we had to select a door to go through. Preceding the doors, the gory scenes included a circus, hospital and warehouse.

    Throughout the house, I screamed, “Please, get me out of here!” Instead of turning back, however, we pressed on despite the monsters reaching out to grab us. The special effects and lighting were eerie; a bloody girl crept up behind us. Towards the end we headed for a warehouse where the sound of chainsaws could be heard. A woman cackled that we were about to be cut in half!   
    Overall, 13 Stories is very scary and extremely creative in terrorizing its visitors. As Reid put it, “The goal was to scare, and with 13 Stories, it was mission accomplished. I never knew what awaited me around the next corner and I hung on to my friends for dear life. I enjoyed the experience, fear and all.”

    If you’re looking for a fright this Halloween season, then I highly recommend 13 Stories. The price of admission to the haunted house alone is $16; you can upgrade to a combo admission, which gives you access to both the haunted house and Bunker 13, for $20. Join KAB at 13 Stories on Wed., Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. The first 50 students to arrive get in free.