The Book of Masks (Vol. 3)

Caleb's Adventures as Keith

Previously: "Playing Dress Up" 

You've had your cell phone turned off all this time, but once you're back in your truck you check it. There's a text from Caleb, urgently summoning you to the clubhouse.

But it's Keith you find inside, laying on the work table, limbs splayed in every direction. "Why don't I just make you a copy of the key?" you irritably say. "It'll save you the trouble of picking the lock."

He raises his head. "Dude, it's me." He snaps his fingers. "What's the password? Oh yeah, apple core."

"Baltimore. Why the fuck are you wearing that mask?"

"Because the memory isn't as strong when I'm out of it," he says, and sighs rhapsodically. "It's kind of gross being in here and thinking who I did it as, but the point is that I did it." He sighs again, and a stupid smile enwreathes his face.

"Did what? Not the Keith thing for Patterson!" Your eyes widen. "And you're happy about it?"

"Damn right! Shocked as fuck, too, and that's how come I'm so happy." He raises his head again and grins like a lunatic. "We did it." You blink. "Me and Kendra Saunders did it. I fucked Kendra Saunders! And it was awesome."

"You're telling me-- You're fucking delusional."

"Swear to God! You wanna put the mask on yourself? I'll share the memory. It was fucking sweet."

You jab a finger at him. "In the first place, you're high if you think I'm gonna believe you."

"God's own truth, man. Take the mask."

"And second, even if it happened, it was Tilley she did it with, not you."

"Don't be a pedantic asshole. That's what I'm taking classes from Walberg for. All I know is--"

"Why the fuck would Kendra Saunders get it on with Keith Tilly?"

He shrugs. "I found her in the orchestra room after class. That's where Patterson said she'd be." Your eyes narrow. "So I saunter up to her, tell her she's lookin' fine. I mean, I figure that'll be enough to get me--Tilley--in trouble. But she just smiles and says 'Yeah?' So I go all in, tell her she's a chocolate sundae and I wanna lick her all over and suck on her cherry. And she keeps smiling and puts her arm on me and says 'Give me a taste.' And I kind of freak out, figuring she's gonna knee me in the groin, but I'd--Tilley--would deserve it so I lean in for a kiss, and she starts sucking on me hard. We start grabbing each other, and she pulls me into the back, where no one can see. And she pulls off most of her clothes, and I start to take off my mine because, okay, I'm not thinking real clearly. But she just pulls me back, and--" Words clearly fail him. He grabs at his face. "Come on, you have to see for yourself!"

"No way," you exclaim. "Look, it wasn't the real Kendra, it was a fake. Kendra Saunders would not do it with Tilley."

"Then who--?"

Then he springs upright, his eyes staring with horror. "Oh, God! Not Patterson! Faugh!"

You bark a short laugh. "That would be awesome, but I bet it was just a golem. I'd bet every dollar I'll ever make in my lifetime that he got a mask of her and put it on that golem he stole from us."

"Why would he do that?" Caleb asks. "I mean, if he wanted to get Keith in trouble--"

"I dunno. All I'm saying is, it wasn't Kendra."

"Well it was awesome anyway." He lays back down. "Totally cool of Patterson if that's what he did for me."

"Hmm." Maybe that's why he did it--to win points with your friend, and you say so.

"You think?" Caleb's expression turns thoughtful. "I wonder what he's got planned for you."

That's an interesting question, so you let Caleb call up Patterson to tell him he made the pass at Kendra. It's a real short conversation, though, and he hangs up with a frown. "What did he say?" you ask.

"Just 'Good job.' Also, to tell you get your ass in gear and finish your job."

You sigh. "Do we tell Keith what happened?"

Caleb grins. "Nah. Let's see if Kendra follows up with him."

* * * * *

If Kendra pursues Keith, the latter gives no sign of it. As it's Wednesday, you doubt Lisa and Geoff will be getting together, but late in the school day you seek her out, just to be sure. "You doing anything tonight?"

"Probably not," she says coolly. "Staying in with family, I suppose."

"Well, as long as you're not seeing Geoff."

She seems to expect a follow-up, and when you just shrug she purses her lips. "Jealousy is really unattractive," she says. More words follow, until in a sharper tone she says, "Are you even listening to me?"

"Huh? Sorry, yeah, don't be an asshole. I know."

"I said, I know you think he's an asshole, but you might be nice to him for my sake. I stick up for you with him."

"Okay, I'll be nicer to him. Starting tonight."

You leave her narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

* * * * *

You'd not been paying attention to her words, for her presence had brought back vividly your time in the department store--the feel of her skin and limbs, the scent that clung to her hair and body. You'd had to lower your backpack to hide your burgeoning erection.

You'd half-expected (half-hoped) that Patterson would corner you with orders on how to proceed, but it appears you're being left on your own. So, late in the afternoon you put into effect the plan you'd been concocting. Up in your bedroom, you take out the clothes you'd bought and unpack your backpack to stow the disguise. As you do so, a mask tumbles out onto the bed.

You pick it up with a frown. Where did it come from? You turn it over and find a Post-It note stuck to the inner surface: "Get a copy of Mansfield after you're done with him."

You blink. Patterson must have gotten into your locker and left it there. But how? Then, with a start, you realize the note is written in your own handwriting. The blood rises in your face. He must have used the mask of you to get your locker combination, and written the note while he was wearing it. Somehow, it feels even more like an invasion of privacy than anything else he's done.

You sit on the edge of the bed, your head aching. Why does he want a copy of Mansfield? To confirm that you went through with the job? If he wanted confirmation he could just put on the Lisa mask. Of course, he probably wouldn't want to experience the memory of having Mansfield's horrible cock-thing thrusting-- You shudder; you'll have to experience it directly. Yes, that must be why he wants a copy of Geoff, so he check it out from the other side--

So he can check out what it's like having Lisa--

To check out what it's like having you, disguised as Lisa, pretending to be turned on while--

You softly pad into the bathroom, where you kneel next to the toilet.

It all makes sense now. Caleb was so eager to share his experience with Kendra; with Tilley's mask, Patterson can experience it too, which is certainly why he arranged a golem to impersonate her. Now he wants a mask of Mansfield so he can have the same thing with Lisa.

Ten to one these are the kinds of jobs he'll have you and Caleb pulling. And the golems-- With the masks of Kendra and Lisa, and a golem, he can have them as sex toys up in his fuck room whenever he wants. Your stomach quivers at the thought of Patterson and a fake Lisa, naked, rolling around on those filthy gym mats.

Of course, you wince to reflect that you and Caleb came real close to doing the same thing with fake Eva. And you were going to use Patterson's image, the way he's having you get others'.

Is it hypocritical to think this is different, because it's Patterson and not you and Caleb pulling the strings? And would it be different if Patterson gave you and Caleb access to the masks and golems? If he let you get it on with fake-Eva and fake-Kendra and ... fake-Lisa?

What would he do if you just refused to finish your initiation?

Next: "A Date with Destiny" 

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"Table of Contents (Vol. 3)" 
"The Book of Masks (Vol. 3)"