Navy Pier: The Fear

It was a cold Sunday night. 

Once well lit and buzzing with little children, Navy Pier was stripped of its innocence as the time approached six: out came the hallow-eyed zombies and mutated clowns.  On opposite ends of the entrance, one hung from a lamppost and the other lurked back and forth, both luring in their next victims into Chicago’s haunted house: The Fear.

“You know you want to see what’s inside…” 

The shrill laughter that followed sent chills and then the sudden,

“Stand in a single file line and don’t look or talk to each other.  Face the rail!”

They shouted loudly, stomping their feet and standing unbelievably close that the warmth of their breath caused condensation.  The door swung open and the victims didn’t know what The Fear had in store for them next.

Inside was yet another line with more yelling, but this time chilling screams projected through the intercom to enhance the fear stirring up inside everyone’s stomach.  One by one, each group disappeared inside.  With pitch darkness ahead and a bloody lab technician urging hysterically behind, it was a catch-22: stay and endure the horror or escape wasting money.

Without another chance to think, the next group was swallowed into the darkness. 

Maneuvering through the black hole was difficult enough, and then came the constant stream of questions- what’s behind that, is it moving?  After overcoming several similar scare tactics, when does it end?  It didn’t.

There were severed arms, mutated legs, and a whirlwind of more gore at every corner.   The occasional piercing scream of the deranged characters was the cherry topping of it all. 

Ahead, the group approached a patch of light, real light and not the red glow from the “Exit” signs.  Heart rates began to stabilize.

Further ahead, the entrance of the monster’s mouth signaled that there was more to come.  Returning back into the dark, zombies crept and jumped out from every angle and at every turn as if it were the grand finale of all terror.

A sore throat and many new wrinkles later, it was the end. 

Pale-faced, but smiling 45-year-old Donna Koval exited through the back end of the monster as she laughed nervously, eyes wide.  Her wrist shaking, she said,

“Feel my pulse, then you’ll know.”

The anxiety still lingered behind Donna’s voice, even after it was over and her shoulders curled into her small stature. 

“They did an excellent job… The entire thing was scary,” Donna added.

The success of The Fear rose above and beyond several expectations as the “most feared creatures” came to life.  From beginning to end, The Fear crept up even at the most expected times and continuously left the crowd trembling in sheer horror.