Chapter Twenty Eight

||KIT||

The door opened and I was staring up at a literal photocopy of Mason, just with kinder eyes and graying hair.

"H-hi," I stuttered.

"Can I help you?"

I opened my mouth but no sound came out. Luckily Amy was there to save the day.

"Hi, we're Mason's friends from school. We just wanted to check on him and see how he's doing," she gave a smile that looked so genuine that Mason's dad smiled back as well, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh, hello girls, that's very kind of you," he paused for a moment and looked across the street, seeing the cop car was still parked there. That seemed to put him at ease and he opened the door wider to let us in, "come on in and make yourselves comfortable. I'll go get him."

We stepped into the foyer and closed the door behind us as he went up the stairs to get Mason.

My eyes immediately turned in the direction of the living room when I heard a heavy thump like something falling.

That must be the boys.

Masky had said there was a window they could use to get in.

My palms were sweating and I rubbed them on the back of my shorts, my head turning when I heard footsteps approaching from upstairs.

Mason's dad broke the corner, walking down the stairs with a tired expression on his face. When he was finally before us he let out a sigh, "I'm sorry girls, he said he doesn't want to see anyone right now."

"Well, I'm sure he'd want to talk to us if he knew who we were. We could just go up and see him real quick if-"

"I'm sorry but I think it's best to respect his wishes," he cut Amy off mid-sentence.

"Please we just need to make sure he's doing okay," Amy was stalling and I watched with a heavy heart as Hoodie made his way toward Mason's dad from behind.

"Maybe some other ti-" the middle-aged man's words stopped short and he stood rooted to the spot for a moment before he looked down at the machete that was now poking out of his chest cavity, crimson staining his shirt and then running down the corner of his lips as he sputtered and dropped to his knees, fingers gently brushing the steel blade before he fell forward, dead.

Wordlessly I watched Hoodie grab the machete, stepping on the man's back and using it to pin him there so he could pull the weapon free as blood seeped into the carpet.

The blood dripping from the weapon made my stomach churn.

"Your turn," Amy spoke, pressing her lips together in a mock smile as she pushed me towards the stairs.

I stumbled a bit before regaining my balance and turned to flash her a look.

I knew she was right though. I had to complete my part of the deal. I fumbled with the knife I'd been carrying under my shirt and was about to start going up the stairs when someone grabbed my hand.

I turned again to see Masky standing there, holding my mask.

"This'll help some."

I allowed him to put it on me and as I looked at him through the dark eyeholes my anxiety seemed to fade away. I couldn't feel my hands shaking anymore and my heart was beating steadily in my chest.

I turned, heading up the staircase.

Going down the hallway I opened the doors on each side as I went along.

The third door I came to I could tell was Mason's from the 'go away' sign that was hung over the door handle.

I turned the knob gently, pushing it open, and was greeted by darkness.

There was a pungent smell in the air, like dirty socks and boy funk and as my eyes adjusted to the dark I caught Mason's husky frame in the corner, knees pulled up to his chest as he rocked back and forth.

"I said not to come in, Dad," he grumbled, not bothering to check who it was.

"That's not very nice," I smirked under the mask, watching him jump at the sound of my voice.

He spun around getting to his feet as he peered at me from accross the room, eyebrows knitted.

"That you, Blair?"

"In the flesh," I toyed with the knife grasped behind my back, gently brushing my thumb over the blade. It was given to me by Toby, and it was sharp enough to cut bone like it was a stick of warm butter.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Like your Dad said we just came to check on you," I spoke, watching him slowly make his way across the wall, his hands behind him trying to feel for something to defend himself with.

I took a step forward, "heard you haven't been doing so well."

"Oh yeah? Why are you wearing a fucking mask then?"

I took another step forward, my arms open on either side of me, knife tight in my grasp, "that's not important."

"Are you-- are you really working with them now?" His voice cracked and his hand closed around a vase.

Before I could answer he was already chucking the vase at my head and as I dodged to evade it he took the chance to run at me, shoving me out of his way and running out the door.

The broken vase with its already wilted flowers and dirty water littered the ground and I turned to the door, smirking when I saw Mason enter once more, but he wasn't alone.

Masky was holding him from behind, his muscular forearm around Mason's neck, whose face was red, veins popping out like he was about to explode any time soon.

His eyes widened when he saw me start to approach, choking and gasping as he squirmed in Masky's strong grip.

"Do it, Baby."

My stomach fluttered at Masky's words, the way his voice seemed to dig deep into my core. He knew what he was doing, didn't he? Calling me Baby at a time like this. He wanted to watch me do it. Did this get him off too?

I was starting to get hot from the thought and I dragged the knife from Mason's belly button up to his chest, stopping just over his heart as I looked into his pleading eyes. He couldn't speak but I knew if he could he'd be begging.

I leaned in a bit until I was close enough for Mason to hear me whisper, "I'm taking my life back."

With that, I plunged the blade into him, hearing him let out a garbled scream that could have only come from someone like him.

Pathetic.

I pulled the blade out before stabbing him again

and again

and again

My hands were red now. The knife was covered in blood and so were my clothes, my face-- but I kept going.

I'm getting my life back even if it means taking yours in the process!

My arms were getting tired but I didn't stop, each stab had me grunting in frustration, wanting to dig deeper, to see his insides spill out.

Masky loosened his grip and as Mason's lax body fell to the ground I went with it, continuing the assault on his already dead body as blood pooled under him.

I want more-

Each time the blade dug deep I felt my freedom.

I raised my hands again after plunging the knife deep but they were caught in a strong grasp and I looked up to see Masky peering down at me.

He pulled me to my feet roughly, the knife clattering to the ground and then his free hand was lifting my mask.

Removing the mask was like breaking a spell. The veil it had cast over my eyes was gone and I was left to face the crime I'd just committed.

A single tear rolled down my cheek and my blood-stained hands shook from the aftermath of my deeds.

I couldn't speak because Masky had thrown his own mask up onto the top of his head and pulled my body close to his, dipping so he could press his lips to mine.

His fingers dug into my sides and he pressed my back against the nearest wall, his tongue delving into my mouth.

This is wrong.

This is so wrong but he felt so right. My own hands grasped at his shirt, desperate for the kiss.

I needed to feel something other than disgust for myself.

When his hand finally grasped my rear I shivered but not from his touch or cold, rather it was from the presence I felt behind me.

"Well done! I knew you had it in you~"

I separated myself from Masky and turned to see Zalgo standing there with a grin.

"You can relax now, leave the rest up to me~"

***

I never expected to see Sara or my foster siblings again and I never expected things to feel so natural either.

I'd entered my bedroom through my window and after showering I changed into a turtleneck sweater that hid the marks on my neck. It was a good thing the days were still cold now that it was nearing March so it wouldn't look too suspicious to be this covered up.

When Zalgo had said he would take care of everything I should've had more faith in him.

I crept down the stairs slowly, wondering what my family's reactions would be to see me return after disappearing for days but when I reached the landing Sara passed by me, her hair caught up in a messy ponytail and her apron lightly dusted with flour as she was bringing a plate full of churros to the kitchen table that was already set for dinner.

In the living room, I could hear cartoons playing while the twins squealed as they played. I didn't see nick anywhere which told me he was probably in his room still. Just then Sara stopped and turned to look at me from over her shoulder, "tell Nicky to come down it's almost time for dinner."

I nodded with a smile and turned, heading back up the stairs.

My heart that was thumping in my chest just moments ago was beginning to beat normally again. I could almost break out into song right now. My life wasn't in danger and I didn't have to worry about the police anymore. I could finish the remaining months I had left of school with no worries. I could go to my favorite froyo spot downtown. I could make it to prom. I could-

I froze before my door as I was going by and slowly turned my head to see a masked figure seated comfortably on my bed.

I entered and shut the door behind me as quickly as I could, whisper yelling in the direction of the crowbar-wielding serial killer sitting so comfortably on my duvet, "What the hell are you doing here?"

I was forced to take a step back when he hopped off the bed and started to advance towards me. Slowly he came closer, pointing his crowbar in my direction as I was looking into the dark eyeholes of his mask where I could see the hint of a glimmer in his eyes.

"You didn't think I'd just leave you alone did you?"

"A girl can dream," I mumbled under my breath, a gasp leaving my lips when my back hit the wall and the crowbar was pressed against my throat, the cold metal a warning.

"Y-you need to leave," I choked out, using a hand to push the crowbar away gingerly.

I heard him scoff, "I'd rather stay."

"Well I don't want you here," I gritted out between my teeth. I was finally back to normal with my family and I didn't need this psycho killer to ruin that for me again. We might have had sex (really incredible sex at that) but that didn't give him any right to enter my room without my permission.

Why couldn't he use the front door like a normal person?

He was still, too still.

I was about to speak again when a gloved hand was suddenly around my neck, restricting my breathing. Masky pulled me forward, his grip on my neck so tight my eyes bugged as I tried to pry his fingers from around my throat with my own. I could hear the way he was breathing heavily behind the mask and as he pressed his mask against my face I could see that his eyes were red behind the eyeholes, veins evidently bulging out of his scleras.

"You're quite mouthy for someone who was impaled on my cock just this morning."

I cursed the butterflies that danced in my belly. This man was choking me to the point of no return yet my body doesn't seem to care.

"Go eat," he rumbled after a few more seconds of me struggling, "I'll be here waiting."

With that he let me go and I sucked in a mouthful of air, coughing all the while.

"Mija?"

I jumped slightly hearing Sara outside my door but by the time I looked back at where Masky stood earlier he was gone and the door opened, a concerned Sara peeking in, "are you okay? You didn't get your brother."

Rubbing my aching neck a bit I cleared my throat with a small grimace, "s-sorry I-I didn't feel too well."

She entered the room fully and pressed the back of her hand against my forehead, "you are a bit warm. Want me to make you some tea?"

I nodded enthusiastically, "mhm."

"You want to lie down?" she asked, starting to usher me over to the bed.

"No!" I masked my sudden outburst with an awkward laugh, "I want to have dinner."

She raised an eyebrow quizzically but decided to let it go and I led her out the room, casting a last glance at the open window where the curtains were flowing softly in the night air.

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Okay, bye