Months Before The Guests Arrived

Pacing around the basement of his home, a man dressed in a lab coat and goggles replaces wires inside a large piece of machinery, as electricity crackles around it. In front of this ungodly machine lies a large container filled with chained skeletal remains. Across the room, two poor college students are chained to the wall, struggling against the confinements. 

"Please don't do this! We didn't do anything!" they plead with the man, crying out in fear. Rubbing his temples in pain, the scientist lets out a frustrated growl.

"Shut up!" he grits out, glancing down at a set of blueprints. "I need to...I need to think."

While he is analyzing the charts, an unknown figure emerges from the shadows, stepping right behind the man.

"It's time." it mutters, causing the scientist to nod in recognition. 

Grabbing a set of keys and two syringes from a nearby table, he stalks over to the college students. As the two cry out in protest, the man sedates them, before unlocking their restraints. Pulling their bodies toward the machine, he locks each into a glass tube on opposite sides.

Stepping back to the control panel, the scientist glances back at the unknown figure. With a nod of encouragement from the person, he flips a lever, starting the device. Electricity instantly sparks from the device, as black smoke fills the glass tubes. Weakly banging on the doors, the college students are overtaken by the fumes.

A tube attached to the machine releases a black liquid, which begins pouring into the large container. Once the remains are completely submerged in the fluid, a creature emerges from the tank, letting out a shrieking wail. 

"We'll need more." the unknown figure whispers, looking on in approval. 

"The machine needs to be recharged." the scientist explains, as the creature stands up in the container. "It requires more electricity than a small city."

"Try using this." the unknown figure suggests, placing a pyramid-shaped artifact onto a nearby table. As it settles, a bright red light begins emitting from its sides. 

"Once I place the object in the machine, it may be impossible to retrieve." the man warns, hesitant about the plan. As the device sparks in the background, the creature begins struggling against its restraints. 

"It's better that way." the figure breathes out, before sliding back into the shadows.