The Book of Masks (Vol. 1)

Hurly-Burly

Previously: "Work and Play" 

by Masktrix

You’re still brooding over what to do with the mask when lunchtime rolls around, and you try and think about who you’d want to make a mask from. Strangely, the two people Caleb mentioned – Jenny and Yumi – are both present, and you can’t help but try and check them out a little as you finish your morsel of food. They’re both pretty enough in their own way, and Yumi’s a cheerleader after all, but do you really want to start with your friends? There’s so many better people you could be! Chelsea Cooper immediately jumps to mind, the short, blonde power trip of a cheerleader feared by anyone with half a brain. Or, speaking of brains, wouldn’t it be fun to get into the pants – literally – of Kelsey Blankenship? Or Kim Walsh! Or, thinking of the diminutive Alex Day, maybe another firecracker short-round, like Mia DeWitt, a girl who you’ll see this afternoon and…

Someone waves their hand in front of your face. “Earth to Will. Come in, Will.” Keith smirks. You blink, and look around. Everyone’s staring at you.

“Space out there, buddy?” Caleb says, knowing damn well what you’re probably thinking about.

“Yeah, sorry,” you say, refocusing. “What we talking about?”

“Cravenmoor,” Keith says. “It’s opening this Friday. I’m up for going, but Caleb’s pussying out. You interested? It’s a horror flick, and ‘tis the spooky season.”

“It’s literally October first,” Jenny sighs. “You can’t get spooky until at least the week before Halloween.”

“Says you!” Keith retorts. “I’m already selling pumpkin-spiced latte and donuts with ghosts and ghoulies. C’mon, Will, buddy. What do you say?”

You think for a moment. Caleb’s rejection is because he’s going to the Warehouse. But what if you went to the Warehouse too, incognito? Wouldn’t it be fun to fuck with your friend, get close to him under a mask without him even realizing it? The thought almost brings a smile to your lips, but you manage to play it cool. “Yeah, sure,” you say, nodding indifferently. “Cravenmoor sounds kinda fun.” You kick your leg at Caleb. “C’mon, man. Don’t be lame.”

“I have plans,” Caleb replies, giving you a knowing look. That’s Caleb’s problem – sometimes he’s so smart, he assumes you’re as dumb as Keith. “But you two have fun, huh?”

***

“You used the mask yet?” Caleb says, meeting up with you late after his shift at Salopek. “Created your Franken-Jenny, or Franken-Yumi, or Jemmi… no, that sounds dumb. Yummy? Ha! Not much better.”

“No,” you say, standing over the clod of Earth, checking the book again. “I don’t want to waste it. I was thinking maybe we use it after we find out what this spell does?”

“Well, we’ve got our big pile of graveyard dirt doused in fuel,” Caleb says. “Now, according to the book, we just… light this sucker.”

“And burn down the entire theater,” you say, unsure. “What if we can’t control it?”

“Then I guess ‘theater burns down in magic fire’ is going to make the Gazette,” Caleb shrugs. “You’re forgetting, Will, we’re dealing with magic here. You really think a magician would create something dangerous? The worst we’ve had so far is a bad stink.”

“OK, man,” you say with a shrug, touching the flame to the pyre. It goes up almost immediately, a strange flame of brilliant purple dancing across the dirt. You both look at each other, watching the mystical process at work.

Caleb lets out a low whistle. “Well, it hasn’t set anything else on fire.” He leans in, and furrows his brow. “Dude! Stick your hand here!”

You step forward, and follow his instructions, preparing to recoil from the heat… only there isn’t any! It’s completely cold! “What the shit,” you mutter. “That’s cool.”

“Not just cool, it’s cold. Although not endothermic,” Caleb says, talking scientifically for no real reason other than to show off. “Well, according to the book, we keep lighting this sucker every time it goes out. Guess your new job after school is stopping by the theater.”

“What about your job?” you retort. Caleb rolls his eyes.

“Salopek, remember? Then I really need to do some homework, so that rules out Thursday. And then I get to play Lizzie on Friday, so I guess this purple-ass bonfire’s yours. You can swing back here after you see Wes Craven’s Maw or whatever Keith was talking about.”

“Gee, thanks,” you say. “Speaking of… seeing as how I’m doing all the hard work, you think you can loan me twenty bucks?”

Caleb rolls his eyes and relents. You smile, unwilling to reveal the full extent of your plan for Friday.

***

It’s late when you split up, but that’s perfect for your plan. Driving up to Monte Viso’s, the goofy golf-o-rama is empty, with just the bored light of the attendant’s booth shining. You walk up, and give a friendly wave to Roxanne. Wednesdays are apparently one of her usual shifts, and she gives a half-smile of recognition when you stride up.

“Hey, got the next batch?” you ask. She sets her kindle down, and gives you a slow, raised eyebrow in return.

“What ‘next batch’?” she sighs. “Alex didn’t say anything about any more of her crap coming here. Look, I’ve got better things to do than act as her private post office. Already got school, plus the delights of this part-time train wreck.”

“Huh,” you say, nodding. “That’s weird, I could have sworn she said…”

“Look,” Roxanne says, smiling. “What Alex says, and what actually happens, are two entirely different things. Shit, you know how she is, with her ‘Guru’ crap. It’s all smoke and mirrors with her. Chances are, if she’s sent you here she’s tagging the shit out of your house right now. Or, more likely, she’s tapped up another one of her friends for a dead drop and sent you to the wrong one. Bet that girl has spraycans in a half dozen places around town.”

You smile, and give a shared laugh of recognition. Having occupied Alex’s mind, Roxanne’s not far off. You look at the girl in the booth: stupid uniform, but her hipster cred shines through, with a short-cut dirty blonde mop of hair over a face that oozes cool. She’s not a stand-out beauty, although her puckered lips and warm cheeks help, but instead has a compelling, androgynous aura about her. “Yeah,” you say. “She probably just got it mixed up. I’ll see her at the Warehouse on Friday.”

“Lucky you,” Roxanne says. “Unfortunately, for me Friday night is a school night. She stands up from the booth, checking her watch, then flicks a switch inside, turning the lights on the minigolf off. “Speaking of which, we are… closed.” She flips the sign on the counter. “Look, I got to count up and lock up. Tell Alex to get her stupid dead drops straight, right?”

You nod, and give a wave as she pulls down the blind to the booth. Then, taking a deep breath, you skulk around to the side door. You feel like you’re robbing the place, although as long as the count is correct – and you trust it will be – there’s going to be no reason for anyone to review the security tapes. Instead, your nerves are because you’re robbing something else. It’s a good 15 minutes before the door opens, and a tired, bored Roxanne begins to step out. You don’t even hesitate. In a second, you slam the mask on her face, then catch her as she slumps, lowering her slowly into the booth. Then, with a sharp, nervy breath, you close the door and wait for the mask to reappear. As expected, the mask reappears soon after. You prop Roxanne up, as if she just slipped, and grab the mask and mind band from her face, heading into the night. The perfect identity heist.

The name floats inside the mask. ROXANNE HURLEY. Huh, no middle name. You bite your lip, wondering how you’ll feel to be this attractive but, more importantly, this cool. From Alex’s memories, you vaguely remembered that the Mutants at her school have classes on a Saturday. So, while the real Roxanne is tucked away in bed, you can use her identity to go partying at the Warehouse. As Roxanne, you’ll have a free pass straight into Alex’s inner circle – and a chance to mess around with ‘Lizzie’ and show Caleb you know how to have a good time, too. On Friday, you’ll bail on Keith for Cravenmoor, then turn up at the Warehouse in the body of the ultimate hipster chick. It’s going to be epic.

But who says you have to wait? Caleb’s busy tomorrow, and seems to expect you to kick around the old theater like some dogsbody, guarding your flaming pile of grave dirt and deciphering the book. Now you’ve got your first real, complete disguise: a face and a mind to go with it. Who says you can’t have a little fun? Hell, you could even forget Caleb altogether. Catherine Muskov is holding a party on Friday night – and with a face like Roxanne Hurley’s, you’re sure you can get in.

That's all for now.

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"Table of Contents (Vol. 1)" 
"The Book of Masks (Vol. 1)"