A slaughterhouse on the outskirts of L.A. California.
Since it's closing it's been used as the site for a hit game show called, 'Hellevator' hosted by horror's favorite twins Jen and Sylvia Soska. Unfortunately, in the later months of 2016 this thrilling, come on down type television show was cancelled. So were the Soska sisters. Rumors have it that it's because of their awful behavior online, how crude and evil they were, but it's actually much deeper than that... much darker.
Here it is, October of 2023, and there's hope of a revival. It's raining, as it always is in cliche horror tropes and four new contestants arrive on the lot running to get out of the cold, wet parking lot and into that all too familiar lobby where past contestants walked in, played their games, and for the most part walked back out.
On the right is a receptionist desk. Screens on, facing the troops who'd come to face their worst nightmares, showing pictures (obtained without permission) of the four of them. Only in these photos their eyes are gauged out with knives, ugly faces had been edited in, and rips and tears are placed in the most tense and eerie of places as if the Soska sisters already knew their drama. They did but that's never been a part of the show before.
In it's two seasons of air time Hellevator contestants told producers their fears and the reasons they're gunning for so much cash. Cute little stories of needing the money for nationals in cheer competitions or giving their daughters the lives they never had. This year it's different.
This year our 'team' is full of problems. They have their own personal reasons for competing and secrets they've kept for the sake of peace but the Soska sisters don't do peace. They put their victims under pressure.
Previous footage detailing each contestants intro is played for an unseen audience but kept from our contestants just in case it gives the rest of them an unfair advantage.
Up first on the glitching screen we have a young man in a pink button up with a burgundy sweatervest, torn skinny jeans, and fluffy sandy blonde hair. He's only got a half smile. Pain swims in his eyes and he tries his best to cover up the nervous ticks for the camera.
"My name is Kendall Knight. I'm twenty three years old and I'm a published author. I'm doing this for my writing career. You've got to have money to make money." He says with a forced laugh, "My biggest fears are run down homes, needle junkies, and snakes. I don't do well with the idea of living a half life."
An amulet hangs from his neck made of abaloni shell. He's got a tattoo of the moon on his neck and there's a single star diamond earring in his right ear. He's a spiritualist. Reads the stars, loves adventure, and full of ambition. Ambition and a past he's trying to shed like old skin.
Second on the list is a quirky young girl with frizzy black hair, crazy eyes, and a pale blue one piece dress with black leggings. She's full of pep and cheer. Two things the Soska Sisters hate.
"I am Camille Roberts and I'm doing this for my team! I'm twenty two, I'm an aspiring actress, and I love all things insane. I'll do anything for the role. Method acting is my life. I'd say I'm afraid of rejection but being told no has never stopped me from trying again. I guess you could say I'm fearless."
Her nails are chipping their paint. Evidence of a nervous tick, she chews her nails. She's been in a couple of movies as an extra and that Delta Phi wrist bracelet won't protect her in here.
Our third champion is a walking God among men. Fluffy brown hair that falls like the old-school Beiber helmet, a strong jawline, ocean eyes, and a yellow v-neck over that tan skin with black jeans that hold tightly to his figure.
"Hello, I'm James Diamond and I'm here to prove myself. A lot of the tabloids, and my exes, say that I can't handle stress and pressure. I want to prove them wrong. This money could help me start my own clothing line, or anything that wouldn't keep me in my mother's shadow. Everyone knows Miss Diamond and her minions- oh could we edit that out? I don't want her to think I hate her-" It seems James' biggest fear is being seen as a show pony or a failure.
Finally on our list is a sweet little innocent Latino boy dressed in a purple turtle neck and some corduroys. He's got big puppy eyes blown up behind a pair of spectacles and a kind smile.
"Hi. I'm Carlos Garcia. I'm a dancer and I'm twenty two years old. Doing these games means showing to my teammates that I'm more than just agile and smart. I'm also brave and capable. With the money I might could open up my own dance studio. I think kindness and communication is far more helpful than whatever Abby Lee does. My biggest fear is seeing the people I love get hurt and not being able to do anything about it. Especially Kendall..." He pushes up his glasses and his cheeks blush really red from embarrassment.
In a control room somewhere in the slaughterhouse sits two red headed girls that look a lot alike. They're dripping with red lip stick, mascara, and black clothing. Their skins are pale as the sky during overcast. Evil surrounds them like a dust cloud. They crack jokes about how good it feels to be back, how awful it is that people can be so nice, and how excited they are to torture their next round of victims. Then they watch the intros.
Sylvia picks up her goblet and takes a sip of delicious red wine when it's over and says, "A stiff, a psychopath, an arrogant frat-boy, and a hopeless romantic. This should be thrilling."
Jen shrugs, "I don't know. That Kendall, fellow seems like more than just a stiff. We can't determine everything from a few intros. We have to see how they react to being scared." and she places the hairy tarantula she's been holding back into it's glass home on the desk of their control panel.
"Are you ready to put on a show?" Asks Sylvia.
Jen laughs, "Let's break some legs."
A series of images flashing on a screen include rats crawling around inside cabinets, contraptions for midevil torture, and doll faces hanging from walls. There's a loud scream coming from somewhere in the building and the lights go out in the lobby. Our four, rain soaked, champions gasp and stiffen as they get closer together. A monitor on the wall comes alive and the Soska Sisters are there on the screen ready to scare the hell out of them.
"Hello victims." Says Jen.
And Sylvia adds, "Welcome to Hellevator."
"The four of you have been involved in Hollywood's messy antics since you were children. You're lives are glass houses and today we will be checking under beds..."
"Inside the closets..."
"And even the trash for the monsters you're hiding."
Sylvia continues, "Usually we tell the stories of other people, famous killers and monumental atrocities the world is already familiar with."
"We've decided..." Says Jen, "That since we've already done that we would take the time to dig a little deeper."
The screen flashes and the lights go out again. There's loud noises coming from somewhere inside the lobby and when the lights come back on there's heavy chains draping over the entry way door and a man standing there dressed like he's homeless and covered in someone else's fake blood. A young woman comes running out from an unseen place screaming and he catches her.
The four of our contestants watch as the man slices open her throat and her blood sprays the door way. They all, except Kendall, let out a gut wrenching wail of terror and the lights go out again. When they come back on the man is gone but the woman's body lies curled up on the floor facing the door.
"Was that real?" Asks Camille.
James tightens and untightens his fists over and over pacing in a small circle while Carlos stares at the mess on the floor.
Kendall sighs, "It's Hollywood guys, even we aren't real."
There's a ding at the elevator behind the receptionist and they all turn to look. The doors slide open and there in the light of the elevator stand the Soska sisters with a couple of their henchmen.
Jen says to the four of them standing there in the darkness of the lobby, "We've got a surprise for you."
"What's a performance without a little motivation?" Adds Sylvia, "James. You'll be coming with us."
He steps back with wide eyes, "Excuse me?"
"It's a method." Says Camille.
The three of them do nothing as James is taken by two strong security guards who throw a bag over his head and take him into the elevator with them. The doors close and the lights come back on. There's a lull.
"Are we in this?" Asks Carlos.
Kendall looks at him with a sympathetic expression, "No going back now."
Th elevator dings again and opens to reveal it's empty chamber. The three of them stand there, petrified, staring at it. There's an eerie quietness that befalls the room and then the sister's voices come through speakers placed in random places to make it feel like they're everywhere, "GET IN THE HELLEVATOR!"
They do as they're told. Once inside the doors close. Another monitor is hung up on the wall in here but besides that, the cage behind the elevator doors, and the button panel they have no control over there's not much else in here. They turn to the screen and wait.
It flickers and comes on with an array of images showing celebrities throughout the ages dressed in crazy costumes attending the met gala, the demonic symbolism they use in music videos, and a terrifying version of mickey mouse covered in someone's guts with big black eyes. Then the footage is live and zooming in on James somewhere in the slaughterhouse.
Jen: "James is hanging out in our freezer, where he will be until the time comes for you to run the gauntlet and release him. Until then we have other plans for you."
He's shirtless and chained to the ceiling. Drooping there like a cow on a meat hook, his skin is blue, and he's screaming for help. This isn't normal. Is it all for show? Is James acting?
"Is that even legal?" Asks Camille.
The twins laugh through the loud speakers.
Sylvia: "Hollywood is full of tricks and if you want your treats you have to play the part. Each floor you will find a challenge that increases in difficulty and also value. Complete the challenge and make it back to the Hellevator before time runs out and you will earn cash for your team and a spot in the gauntlet where you can earn up to 40,000 extra dollars and find the key that sets James free. Fail and you'll be another one hit wonder gone missing."
The elevator starts to rise and some footage begins to roll out on the screen. A famous popstar takes to the screen, in the footage she's young and in her prime. The school girl, the flight attendant, the snake holder. Now adays she's seen twirling in the videos she posts on instagram where she looks deranged and mad. Pictures of her dad and her sister with devil horns and edited flames behind them appear.
Jen: "Britney Spears. Hollywood just can't seem to leave her alone. She's an Icon. Or she was until she went crazy."
Sylvia: "Before Hollywood there was Salem and dancing was punishable by death because it was seen as a form of witchcraft. Who doesn't feel magical when they're dancing. Fans today speculate that Britney no longer exists and all these images are just a clone keeping the illusion of her alive. We never really know what's happening behind the scenes, do we?"
Jen: "For Five Thousand dollars we call this one 'Dance, Dance, Revelation.' So... who's up first."
The elevator stops and the three of them turn to look at each other. It's almost too obvious.
Carlos spins to face the doors and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Kendall steps up beside him and holds out his hand. There's a look of confusion over Carlos' face as he tries to register what's happening.
"You never wear your glasses when you're dancing. I don't want you to break them." He says kindly.
Carlos shakes his head, "I'll be fine. For all we know 'dance' could just be methodical. It might be an intellectual challenge."
Kendall nodes and steps back. There's a loud sound and they all jump as a little drawer opens in the elevator. They look inside to find three radios.
"Take the walkie talkies" Says Jen through the loud speaker.
Sylvia adds, "And make sure they work."
The elevator doors open and they help Carlos push the gate apart. There's a single spotlight in the darkness of whatever's on this floor. They test the devices they've been given and discover that they do in fact work.
"Carlos. Step out of the Hellevator!" The twins tell him.
And so he does.
"We're right here." Kendall's voice comes through the radio and then he and Camille shut the elevator gate and the doors slide shut leaving Carlos alone in the light.