I should start off by saying that before Saturday, I had never stepped foot inside a haunted house. It appeared as though none of my friends ever wanted to deal with me screaming my head off.

That being said, I got in line for the Amenti Haunted House at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., in somewhat of an incredulous mood. I had no idea what to expect.

Although there is an incredibly long line most nights, the staff makes sure you’re not bored. Beware of the chainsaw-wielding maniac-if you provoke him or show fear, he is likely to hold the obnoxiously loud (fake) chainsaw right up to your face. Be on the lookout for people he chases after. I bore witness to him chasing a young girl from the line all the way to Lincoln Highway. He appears to not be shy about running after people in the parking lot or even those who attempt to hide in their cars.

It’s hard to say exactly how long I stood in line, but the fact of the matter is that it was worth it. Instead of upgrading to a V.I.P. ticket in order to avoid waiting, I settled with the $10 ticket. My group was limited to four people and, once hearing the rules from a talking skeleton, I immediately grabbed onto my friend’s sweatshirt and did not let go the entire way.

By the first encounter with a haunted creature (shortly after the entrance), I was sitting on the stairs screaming loud enough to wake the dead. The workers have no qualms about following you around, but for the skittish out there, it is worth noting that they are not allowed to touch you. In my case, however, that didn’t matter-the fact that they sneak up behind you is more than enough to scare me.

It takes a while to get through the haunted house itself, so with that mindset, you certainly get your money’s worth. Mazes make up a large part of the adventure, but they are harder to navigate then you could possibly imagine. Tight turns, narrow walking space and no lighting whatsoever increase your chances of smacking into a wall tenfold. The journey appears to take you all over the theatre, but it is hard to keep track of your location-one part even takes travelers outside.

The thrills come continuously throughout what the haunted house’s Web site declares “over 20 different scenes on 6 different levels.” Just when you think the scary parts are all over, you end up screaming at the top of your lungs (or maybe that’s just me). The masks and scenes get creepier and creepier-some are borderline disturbing. If any worker overhears your name, they will make sure to call you out personally-as if you weren’t scared enough already by them chasing you or popping out of nowhere.

If for some reason you are under the impression that DeKalb does not offer its share of haunted attractions, stop by the Amenti Haunted House to be proven wrong. The entire excursion does not disappoint by any means, and it will likely be the best $10 you’ve spent in a while. If you’re like me and are frightened of your own shadow, I still highly recommend going. Even though you are likely to be scared out of your mind and hoarse the next day from screaming, the thrill of it is well worth anything you have to endure (long lines included).