“Oi, bruv, you sure this is the place?”
Tom squinted out the steamed-up window of the old Vauxhall Astra, its speakers still thumping some bassy jungle track low in the background. The headlights cut through a creeping mist that curled around a long gravel drive. At the end of it, looming like something off the telly, stood a massive old stone castle, lit just faintly by lanterns on either side of its heavy oak doors.
Matty leaned forward from the passenger seat, his black shiny puffer jacket rustling loudly with the movement. “Bro, this is what it said on the flyer, innit? ‘Castle Grove, midnight, no questions asked.’” He pulled the now-crumpled invite out of his Adidas crossbody. “Postcode brought us here. Satnav ain’t wrong.”
Tom parked the car and stared out. “This ain’t no rave, fam. Where’s the lasers? Where’s the queue of mandem off their nut already? This looks like a Scooby-Doo episode.”
Matty chuckled, zipping his puffer up to the chin. “Yeah but think about it... maybe it’s one of them proper secret raves, like old school warehouse vibes, but posh. Exclusive. VIP only. Look at us, bruv, of course they invited us.”
They both stepped out of the car, breath misting in the cold night air. Their puffers gleamed under the car’s headlights, matching black with that plasticky shine that made them look like walking bin bags, but in a good way, they’d argue.
Tom fastening his coat. “Still feels sus, man. You sure it ain’t some posh prank, get the roadmen out in the middle of nowhere for a laugh?”
“Fam,” Matty said, already walking ahead, “I ain’t come out here in my best creps for nothing.”
Tom followed, kicking at the gravel with each step. The castle grew larger as they approached, its windows dark, its stone weathered with age. It had the kind of silence that made your ears ring.
“Oi,” Tom muttered, “it’s dead quiet. Not even birds or nothing.”
Matty stopped in front of the massive wooden doors and turned back to grin. “Maybe the rave’s inside, innit. Like some Eyes Wide Shut type ting.”
“Don’t say that, bruv,” Tom said quickly. “You know I ain’t seen that film, but I know it’s creepy.”
Matty snorted and raised a fist to the door.
Three slow, echoing thuds.
No one came to open the door and after another knock, the door opened slightly on its own, leading Matty to just wander inside to see if it was the right place.
Tom saw this from the front drive and ran up to catch up with Matty but he couldn't, the door wouldn't open, it's like it didn't want him to come in yet...
Matty wandered the halls of the castle until someone spoke to him from behind, "You came... right on time." Matty turned around to see a man, wearing a perfectly tailored suit.
"You may call me Robert... or Sir, whichever one you think is best."
"Oi bruv, where am I? Where's the rave mate?" Matty asked hesitantly.
"There is no rave... but you are now where you belong... with me... forever." Rodger said as he slowly walked towards Matty.
Matty couldn't move, he tried to run, but he couldn't. Something about Rodger was making him not able to turn away.
Rodger walked past Matty, beckoning him to follow, "Follow me boy." As Matty followed he instinctively responded, "Yes Si--- Oi.... wuts happenin to me?"
"You are changing, you will be like my other boys. They were once like you, but now they belong to me, they serve me, they are my good little butlers."
As Matty followed Rodger into a dark room, he felt himself get pushed down into a chair, a vr headset strapped onto his head which started displaying photos and words that flashed so quickly.
These messages and photos kept going for what felt like hours, but in reality it had only been 5 minutes.
"He is almost fully mine now, boys, take him to get changed and make sure he looks the part."
A small group of butlers came to take Matty away, they took him into the adjoining room and a couple minutes later, Matty emerged, but he looked different. He looked like the other boys now.
"Are you ready to serve me boy?" Rodger asked.
"Yes Sir, I serve you, forever..."
"Good boy, now, Matthew, go and answer the door, we have another guest who needs converting." Rodger said with a grin on his face.
"Greetings, we have been expecting you"
"Oi bruv, what are u sayin, why do u look like that?" Tom spat out, slipping over his words in disbelief.
"Come inside" Matthew politely said, while grabbing Tom's arm and taking him to the conversion chamber.
"That's enough, now Matthew, take our new friend to get changed, do anything you have to to make finish his transformation"
Thomas emerges from the adjoining room, "How may I service you Sir?"
Both Thomas and Matthew stand in front of Rodger, awaiting their orders, dressed in their new uniform, their new skin. They will know nothing else now other than serving their Master.
"Put on a show for me boys." Rodger softly said, but Thomas and Matthew knew exactly what he wanted to see.
They would oblige, in fact, they were raving at the thought of being able to put on a show for their Master, and they knew just how to begin...
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