Whatanight
Andrew Hubbard
It was the end of the week and school was out. Three clever teenage boys walked out the front doors of the school with a plan, determined to explore the neighboring Whataburger on the outskirts of town. James, beings the older one of the group, and the one who came up with the idea; Kyle, being the brains of the group had developed an intrigue plan to brake onto the restaurant and be back home on time; Chad, the youngest but also the most skilled and known for breaking into buildings around town. The boys met up at Kyle’s house to pack supplies for the night long trip. All three packed a bag full of Scooby Snacks, flashlights, and Kyle’s cigars; Cigars that he has been hiding under his bed for weeks in preparation of this trip.
They cruised off on two bikes. James riding his bike while Kyle and Bryan sharing Kyle’s little sister’s bike. About twenty minutes later they all arrived on time to the abandoned Whataburger. The windows were boarded, the doors were locked, and the outside of the building looked as if it had been in a nuclear blast. To get in the boy went around to the back of the restaurant and climb the ladder to the roof. All three climbed the ladder easily. Meanwhile, Kyle was bragging about his lock picking skills, “You guys don’t get it, this is going to be a piece of cake.” The hatch to inside the building was an old metal hatch with a large lock attached to a heavy handle. Kyle displayed his skills and began to beat the lock with a hammer. After around ten minutes of aggressive lock picking, the lock broke off. The hatch swung open with a loud creek and the boys realized a light was on in the kitchen. They all looked at each other with regret then proceeded to climb down. Chad had the idea of tying a rope to the hatch to keep it open, so he was last to climb down. “Don’t worry boys, this thing won’t close even if hurricane Katrina tried herself.” said Chad.
They were in. The light in the kitchen gave off a slight view of the open room with chairs and tables thrown everywhere. Instinctively, James went straight to the cash registrar to check for any lost cash. . . only finding three pennies. Kyle stuck with James and wasn’t saying much while Chad went to check out the light that was on. Suddenly a loud bang startled the boys. The hatch to the roof slammed shut and made it much harder to see. James shouted “Chad, what the hell! Did you close that?” Chad came running up with his flashlight on. “No! I wasn’t even around it and there is no way that rope came loose by itself.” The boys stood still listening to the silence. Kyle suggested to leave, and the boys agreed. They went door to door trying to unlock at least one to walk out. Unfortunately, they were all locked and would not budge.
“Let’s split up and try to find a way out like now” said Kyle. Without hesitation Chad went straight to the back of the restaurant trying different doors. A large metal door opened, and Chad yelled, “Guys, I think I found the way out.” Chad ran into the dark room dropping his flashlight out of excitement. James and Kyle ran over to the large metal door and realized it was closed. The door must have closed behind Chad. Faintly the boys could hear Chad yelling for help. The boys realized he locked himself in the freezer; they panicked and started to do everything they could to open the door, but nothing seemed to work. Chad’s yelling came to a halt. Chad felt chills though his body, and a faint grunt from the back of the room. Realizing the freezer was on, Chad didn’t make and sound and concentrated on his breathing. He felt the presences of others around him as he felt the wall for a light switch. Chad felt cold meat against his skin.
Finally, Kyle breaks the lock to the door with his hammer. When the door opened Chad’s, pale body fell though the doorway nearly passed out due to the cold temperatures. They sit Chad down and pop a faggie in his mouth to keep him warm. After a few minuets Chad takes the faggs out of his mouth and says to Kyle and James, “I think there is something in there.” The boys glanced at the dark cooler door and James suggested to go check it out. A few minuets passed the boys gained the courage to go check out the freezer. James leading, Kyle and Chad behind with flashlights. They walked in slowly and pointed their lights around the room. The lights reviled unimaginable.
Dead corpses hanging from the ceiling. The heads were decapitated and replaced with fresh hamburgers; and the fingers were replaced with French fries. Blood splattered over the Whataburger logo in the back on the room. In horror, the boys dropped the flashlights and ran out of the room. The light from the full moon gave the boys enough sight of the main dinning room. They huddled in fear and began to cry. Suddenly they saw a man walking outside of the building towards the front door. The man just stood behind the glass door for several minutes, glaring at the boys. They boys stopped yelling for help and the room was silent. The man, who only appeared as a black figure began to unlock the front door with keys, aggressively rattling the lock. For the fear of their lives, the boys split up and hid in the restaurant. Kyle slid under a table in the dining room; James ran into the janitor’s closet; and Chad crouched down and closed and cabinet door on himself under a sink. Silence fills the room. Suddenly, the loud bells open the front door.
The lights come on. The boys hear footsteps peruse thought the restaurant. The freezer door opens, and the footsteps continue. Chad heard the man pick up their flashlights in the freezer. For minuets straight the building was silent. The footsteps walked outside again only for a moment. Naturally, the boys think of running out when the man goes back to the freezer. The man’s footsteps continued back to the freezer but this time he was holding a large bag. The bag seemed to be making a noticeable noise. The man made it to the freezer and the boys all jumped out at the same time and ran for the door. They ran outside shouting for help. The three boys ran past a truck in the parking lot which was turned on. James stops running. Chad yells out to James “Lets go James! What are you doing?” James replied softly, “That’s my dad’s truck.” A trail of blood let from the truck to the Whataburger. James then notices all the bikes are the back of the truck. James takes off. The boys run down the street and though a neighborhood only a couple blocks away.
The boys run into Chads Grandmas garage only one block down the neighborhood. The boys catch their breath and before saying anything, all three smoke a huge faggie in relief. James speaks, “Boys, I can’t go home” Chad says, “You can stay with me tonight, but we should seriously call the cops.” James then says, “It all makes sense now. My dad was fired from what he called the best job ever about five years ago.” The boys sat in silence, as the moon light up the night sky. Everything felt helpless and bitter. The boys didn’t know what to do.
They cruised off on two bikes. James riding his bike while Kyle and Bryan sharing Kyle’s little sister’s bike. About twenty minutes later they all arrived on time to the abandoned Whataburger. The windows were boarded, the doors were locked, and the outside of the building looked as if it had been in a nuclear blast. To get in the boy went around to the back of the restaurant and climb the ladder to the roof. All three climbed the ladder easily. Meanwhile, Kyle was bragging about his lock picking skills, “You guys don’t get it, this is going to be a piece of cake.” The hatch to inside the building was an old metal hatch with a large lock attached to a heavy handle. Kyle displayed his skills and began to beat the lock with a hammer. After around ten minutes of aggressive lock picking, the lock broke off. The hatch swung open with a loud creek and the boys realized a light was on in the kitchen. They all looked at each other with regret then proceeded to climb down. Chad had the idea of tying a rope to the hatch to keep it open, so he was last to climb down. “Don’t worry boys, this thing won’t close even if hurricane Katrina tried herself.” said Chad.
They were in. The light in the kitchen gave off a slight view of the open room with chairs and tables thrown everywhere. Instinctively, James went straight to the cash registrar to check for any lost cash. . . only finding three pennies. Kyle stuck with James and wasn’t saying much while Chad went to check out the light that was on. Suddenly a loud bang startled the boys. The hatch to the roof slammed shut and made it much harder to see. James shouted “Chad, what the hell! Did you close that?” Chad came running up with his flashlight on. “No! I wasn’t even around it and there is no way that rope came loose by itself.” The boys stood still listening to the silence. Kyle suggested to leave, and the boys agreed. They went door to door trying to unlock at least one to walk out. Unfortunately, they were all locked and would not budge.
“Let’s split up and try to find a way out like now” said Kyle. Without hesitation Chad went straight to the back of the restaurant trying different doors. A large metal door opened, and Chad yelled, “Guys, I think I found the way out.” Chad ran into the dark room dropping his flashlight out of excitement. James and Kyle ran over to the large metal door and realized it was closed. The door must have closed behind Chad. Faintly the boys could hear Chad yelling for help. The boys realized he locked himself in the freezer; they panicked and started to do everything they could to open the door, but nothing seemed to work. Chad’s yelling came to a halt. Chad felt chills though his body, and a faint grunt from the back of the room. Realizing the freezer was on, Chad didn’t make and sound and concentrated on his breathing. He felt the presences of others around him as he felt the wall for a light switch. Chad felt cold meat against his skin.
Finally, Kyle breaks the lock to the door with his hammer. When the door opened Chad’s, pale body fell though the doorway nearly passed out due to the cold temperatures. They sit Chad down and pop a faggie in his mouth to keep him warm. After a few minuets Chad takes the faggs out of his mouth and says to Kyle and James, “I think there is something in there.” The boys glanced at the dark cooler door and James suggested to go check it out. A few minuets passed the boys gained the courage to go check out the freezer. James leading, Kyle and Chad behind with flashlights. They walked in slowly and pointed their lights around the room. The lights reviled unimaginable.
Dead corpses hanging from the ceiling. The heads were decapitated and replaced with fresh hamburgers; and the fingers were replaced with French fries. Blood splattered over the Whataburger logo in the back on the room. In horror, the boys dropped the flashlights and ran out of the room. The light from the full moon gave the boys enough sight of the main dinning room. They huddled in fear and began to cry. Suddenly they saw a man walking outside of the building towards the front door. The man just stood behind the glass door for several minutes, glaring at the boys. They boys stopped yelling for help and the room was silent. The man, who only appeared as a black figure began to unlock the front door with keys, aggressively rattling the lock. For the fear of their lives, the boys split up and hid in the restaurant. Kyle slid under a table in the dining room; James ran into the janitor’s closet; and Chad crouched down and closed and cabinet door on himself under a sink. Silence fills the room. Suddenly, the loud bells open the front door.
The lights come on. The boys hear footsteps peruse thought the restaurant. The freezer door opens, and the footsteps continue. Chad heard the man pick up their flashlights in the freezer. For minuets straight the building was silent. The footsteps walked outside again only for a moment. Naturally, the boys think of running out when the man goes back to the freezer. The man’s footsteps continued back to the freezer but this time he was holding a large bag. The bag seemed to be making a noticeable noise. The man made it to the freezer and the boys all jumped out at the same time and ran for the door. They ran outside shouting for help. The three boys ran past a truck in the parking lot which was turned on. James stops running. Chad yells out to James “Lets go James! What are you doing?” James replied softly, “That’s my dad’s truck.” A trail of blood let from the truck to the Whataburger. James then notices all the bikes are the back of the truck. James takes off. The boys run down the street and though a neighborhood only a couple blocks away.
The boys run into Chads Grandmas garage only one block down the neighborhood. The boys catch their breath and before saying anything, all three smoke a huge faggie in relief. James speaks, “Boys, I can’t go home” Chad says, “You can stay with me tonight, but we should seriously call the cops.” James then says, “It all makes sense now. My dad was fired from what he called the best job ever about five years ago.” The boys sat in silence, as the moon light up the night sky. Everything felt helpless and bitter. The boys didn’t know what to do.
Andrew Hubbard is a STEM major in mechanical engineering and will pursue a degree from New Mexico Tech after graduating from NMMI.