by M. A. Torres
“Good idea, let’s all get to the play, we’re going to be late,” agreed Kevin.
Jimmy turned to Kevin, feigning surprise. “Wait, now you’re telling me what to do? You of all people? The four-eyed, king of the pathetic, nerd-faced dorks?”
Kevin frowned. “What’s your problem, man? What did we ever do to you?”
“Nothing, but if you guys think you’re cool because Olivia talks to you, you’re just plain stupid!”
“Is that what this is about?” asked Kevin.
“No, she’s cool cuz she talks to us!” added Robbie.
“Yeah!” the boys all agreed.
Jimmy glared at Robbie. “Hey, no one’s talking to you, you red-headed skinny freak!”
“Hey, I can bulk up if I want to. Too bad there’s nothing you can do about your stupid, ugly face!”
“My face isn’t ugly! You wish you...”
“It looks like a pig’s sunburned butt!” he interrupted.
‘HAHAHAHA! ’
Robbie’s friends laughed with exaggerated gestures.
“Well, you look like a stick of my grandma’s shriveled red lipstick!” returned Jimmy. “With her mustache hairs still stuck all over it!”
“Your grandma has a mustache?” asked Robbie, an enormous smile on his face.
More laughter ensued.
“Shut up freckle face!” returned Jimmy.
Robbie was holding his stomach, laughing hard and out of breath. He recouped some composure. “Your face looks like a loogie my dog coughed out of his butt!”
“What?!”
“SHUT UP!”
It was an usher. He was tall, thick, and scowling—probably a linebacker on the football team. “Knock it off, or I’m kicking all of you out.”
The insult battle ended there, but both groups continued their glaring match.
“WALK!” ordered the usher.
He escorted them to the auditorium staying between them as a buffer.
“Good one, Robbie. But I’m sure you have no dog,” whispered Matthew as they walked.
“I don’t.”
Inside the auditorium, the usher sent Kevin’s crew down the left aisle and Jimmy’s pack down the right. It was half-full, but the flow of people was steady behind them. They spied Jenny by the stage, helping usher people to their seats. The friends approached the tenth row and made their way into their seats. Kevin placed his bag underneath his, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, attempting to relax the tension Jimmy had triggered in him moments before.
He opened them, looked around, and saw Alexa Donnelly enter the theater with another, older girl. She was taller than Alexa, but shared many of her facial features. The pair stood quietly by the entrance, scanning the crowd.
Kevin was stunned at Alexa’s appearance—she wore a silky, black dress and her long brown hair was loose and flowed down in slight curls. Her peach skin and light brown eyes glowed before the backdrop of her dark dress. She looked prettier than ever—or maybe it was her outfit. Alexa was an athletic girl whose normal attire consisted of her cheerleading outfit or jeans and t-shirts. Most often, she wore her hair pulled in a ponytail, so seeing her now, all dressed up, was a stunning surprise.
The older girl smiled and waved, then the two strolled down the right aisle and took their seats next to some high school kids.
“Was that Alexa?” asked Matthew.
“I think so,” said Kevin.
“Wow. Almost didn’t recognize her.”
“Me either. She looks nice,” admitted Kevin. “Was that her sister? They look like twins.”
“I’m sure. Her sister’s famous, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her name is Megan Donnelly, the most popular girl at Wakefield High School. David used to talk about her before he and Jenny got together.”
“He liked her?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. He used to say every guy at school liked her too.”
Just then, the stage lights dimmed to a faint red glow, while the ushers shushed the crowd.
Eighth-grader Mike Farlow walked to center stage, marked by a spotlight. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Wakefield Middle School’s first-ever theater production!” he announced.
The audience applauded.
“Tonight, we present you A Masquerade, an original work, but a sequel to a previous classic. Which classic do you ask? Well, that’s for you to discuss after the show!”
The audience nodded and ooooo’d with curiosity.
“Without further ado, let’s begin the show!” Mike bowed to some applause and exited left.
The curtains rose a second later, revealing a forest with black trees, black grass, and black flowers. The sky glowed grey and overcast above them. Lance Jackson was lying on the floor, dressed in a doublet of red and white stripes. His trousers were baggy and extended down to his calf. He wore white stockings and plain brown leather shoes.
Lance raised his head, placed a hand upon his forehead, and looked around, dazed, and confused. “I’m lost and lone. This place, whose home—despair?”
He held his throat and grimaced in pain. “My throat, the burn. My life, the turn. The void!”
He stood and looked around, his head spinning left then right with excitement.
“She’s here! O’ heart, no fear! My Jules, I feel!”
He ran to the right side of the stage, but another blocked his path. The newcomer wore a purple satin shirt and dark baggy breeches. He backed him up with the point of his sword, which he held out towards his throat.
“What haste you make! But thou too late! You will not pass! I will avenge!”
Lance stepped back, away from the blade.
“Oh, Tyb! Be gone to hell, thou not play nice! I slew thou once; I can thee twice!
White smoke clouded the stage like morning fog. No doubt, it was part of the production, but Kevin was concerned by the sudden obstruction.
Robbie noticed his restlessness. “You all right?”
“I can’t see a thing,” he whispered.
“I’m sure they’re changing the stage props,” he whispered back.
The smoke cleared and the stage décor had changed. The backdrop now included blackened arched windows, black columns, and vases of black flowers. The last of the smoke faded, revealing a girl lying on the floor. She raised her head slowly—it was Olivia. She wore a white dress with sleeves of patterned lace. Her hair was parted in the middle and flowed down and straight on both sides of her head. She looked more beautiful than ever, seizing Kevin’s gaze.
She placed a hand upon her chest and slowly stood. “I’m lost and lone. This place? Who’s home?” Her eyes widened, “My heart, the burn. My love, I mourn!”
She stumbled across the stage, eyeing her surroundings, her hand still firmly on her chest. “Rommie! Where art thou Rommie! My heart—the ache. Lost love, the hate!”
Kevin studied those seated before him, trying to spy anything suspicious. He scanned for things that had proved dangerous before—like mirrors or footage of foliage within peoples’ screens, but nothing seemed amiss.
A tuxedoed boy approached Olivia from opposite stage. His hair was slicked back, his hands were gloved in white and his shoes were black and shiny. His face was unfamiliar and powdered red. Kevin assumed him to be some random theater kid from school.
“The one you yearn. His fate, I’ve learned! My hand, do take. We will make haste!”
Olivia stepped back, reluctant to take his hand. “Who art thou, sir? I don’t know thee. Forgive, monsieur, don’t trust your lead.”
“Jules! My Jules!” called a voice from offstage.
Olivia placed her right hand by her ear. “That voice, I hear! My heart, is near!”
She started towards stage right, but the tuxedoed boy impeded her path, a deviant smile across his face. “The truth I speak, you now must seek. Take my hand, your love, we’ll land!”
He held out his hand. Olivia approached him tentatively and finally placed her hand in hi
s. They both ran offstage, and the curtains fell.
Clap, clap, clap, clap...
A harped melody filled the air, and a minute later, the curtains rose to the interior of a grand hall. White Corinthian pillars rose on both ends of the stage, and an elaborate glass chandelier hung from above. Tall, arched windows spanned the backdrop, lit with an eerie red glow from the supposed outside. Finely dressed masked couples were hand in hand, dancing at mid-stage. The masks ranged from silly to creepy and depicted several expressions—from scowls to mischievous smiles, and everything in between. Other masked couples stood around the dance floor, watching the others twirl and sway to the harp’s melody.
Kevin continued to eye the crowd before him when he noticed it—a man sitting near the front row, holding a dark rectangular object from its handle.
Kevin nudged Matthew. “Do you see that man near the front? What’s he holding?” he whispered.
Matthew leaned forward to get a better look. “Yeah, I see him. I can’t tell.”
“It looks square; he’s holding it from a handle—could be a mirror!”
Matthew’s eyes widened with concern. He glanced at Kevin with fear in his eyes.
Just then, the music softened, and the dancers froze. A red-haired girl walked on stage, dressed in a puffy, black gown. She held a lace mask in her hand, walked to center stage, and spoke.
“Rommie, my Rommie! Where art thou, Rommie? I heard you speak, your voice I seek! For love is true, for us it’s due. You’re here, by chance. Ourselves we’ll find, upon first glance!”
It was Olivia! She was wearing a red ‘auburn’ wig. She placed the mask over her face. The harp melody intensified, and the couples resumed their dance.
“Auburn hair!” Kevin pulled the bag from underneath his chair. “Matthew, you and Jake take the mirror from that man!”
“Okay,” agreed Matthew. “Where are you going?”
“SSSSHHHHHH,” the people sitting behind them objected.
Kevin lowered his voice, but the desperation remained. “I’m going backstage! I need to be near her, just in case!” Kevin stood, bag in hand, and began to sidestep out of the row. As he did, he tripped over someone’s foot.
“Sorry.”
Then he stepped on a woman’s foot.
“Ouch!” she cried.
“So sorry,” he whispered.
Kevin exited his row and hurried down to the left side of the stage, where Jenny stood as an usher.
“Jenny! I need to get back there! Olivia’s in danger!”
“What do you mean?”
“The prophecy... beautiful girl... auburn hair... turn to a twisted form...” Kevin’s panic muffled his words. Jenny felt his desperation and took him backstage.
“Kevin, what are you talking about?” she whispered sternly.
The stagehands nearby looked on, confused.
“Jenny, something’s about to happen! Olivia’s in danger!”
“What’s going to happen? What do you want me to do?”
“Let me see what’s going on onstage. I need to be ready to respond!”
“Okay! I’m trusting you, though! Don’t go out there unless you have to!”
Jenny was about to lead him to the side stage when a stagehand rushed up.
“Jenny, there’s someone under the stage... in the trap room!” The boy’s eyes were wide, and he trembled, clearly shaken.
Jenny frowned. “What did you see, Rick?”
“A dark figure! Definitely not one of us! I saw it rise from the floor!”
“Take me there,” Kevin told him.
Rick gave Jenny a frightened look.
“Don’t worry Rick, I’ll take him myself,” she said.
JAKE EXITED THE ROW to the right while Matthew went left. They approached the stage, their eyes fixated on the man in the front. The object he held resembled a square hand mirror, complete with handle jutting from the bottom frame. Matthew rounded the front row corner as Jake picked up pace.
Backstage, Kevin and Jenny stood at the foot of a descending stairway. She flicked on the light switch and began a slow descent with Kevin close behind. They reached the trap room a second later. It spanned the area of the stage above, with multiple support beams running vertically within. Boxes of props, racks of costumes, and other items lay randomly within, giving the room a maze-like feel. The light from the stairway flowed into the immediate room, but the far end remained enveloped in shadows.
Jenny and Kevin entered slowly and alertly. The footsteps on stage echoed like a tap dance show within the room.
“Anyone down here?” Jenny called as she rounded a stack of boxes. Kevin walked behind her, his right hand inside the duffle bag, and on the hilt of Flameclaw. They zig-zagged around a support beam and past a pile of life-sized dummies. The flow of light lessened as they progressed, and shadows rose to become their only companions. Jenny pulled out her phone and lit the way with its flashlight, shining it right, then left across the deep interior. They saw nothing but boxes and props, but they continued, nonetheless.
Suddenly, the light behind them went off, shrouding them in darkness, except for the beam from Jenny’s phone.
“Hey! Turn the light on; there are people down here!” she hollered.
They awaited a response, but none came.
Then they heard a whisper...
“I found you.”
The voice was old and scratchy. It seemed to come from all around them.
Jenny jerked her phone side to side. “Who’s there?!”
Kevin pulled out Flameclaw, and it burst into flames, lighting the room in a soft orange glow. They stood back to back, each one eyeing the area before them.
“Danger,” the voice whispered.
“It came from behind!” observed Kevin.
“It came from the left!” panted Jenny, her hand trembling.
They started back towards the stairway with slow, careful steps. As they passed a vertical support beam, Kevin noticed a black plastic poncho on the floor—it hadn’t been there moments before. He paused. Jenny noticed too and aimed her light towards it. Then that light dimmed.
“Oh no! My battery was full! What’s happening?”
The poncho rose before them like a blow-up decoration, slowly taking shape. Jenny hooked her arm around Kevin’s, who was facing the improbable sight.
“Let’s go, Kevin,” she urged him.
ABOVE THEM, JAKE AND Matthew reached the mysterious man. Matthew swiped the object from his hand.
“Hey!” the man objected.
Matthew inspected the article in his hand—it was no mirror, but a tablet holder the man was using it to record the play. He swiped it back.
“What’s your deal?” he shouted. Then two ushers walked up.
BELOW STAGE, JENNY was tugging on Kevin’s arm.
“Kevin, let’s go!”
“Hold on,” he said.
The poncho rose to the height of a man and its hood filled to form, but the darkness obscured the face within.
“Charlie?” Kevin called out.
The form raised its head until the face was visible in Flameclaw’s light—it was Charlie.
“Charlie?” he repeated.
“Kevin,” he said. “I have traveled here to bring you caution...”
“What do you mean?”
“Beware of the zealots with the pale face. They walk the streets of Wakefield Falls and wield the Blades of the Void. They are dangerous, and they are imminently close—unbeknownst to all.”
Kevin nodded, then Charlie continued. “They seek you out as we speak. They know the one who repelled Raven is young, and they know he is named Kevin.”
“Who are they? Give me names, Charlie,” urged Kevin. Charlie ignored him and focused his gaze on Jenny. “Jenny Monroe...”
Jenny gasped, and her eyes widened in shock.
“Your friend is doomed...”
“My friend? What friend? Who? WHO?!”
Suddenly, the poncho lost its form and
fell in wrinkles onto the floor.
“Wait, come back! Who?!” Jenny hollered.
The light from the stairway returned, and the tension in the air began to resolve.
Kevin lowered Flameclaw as the flames dissipated. He looked at Jenny, who had an empty stare on her face—a look he once expressed after meeting the Lady in the Rocks.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Jenny, we’ll figure it out.”
She looked at him with glossy eyes. “I have many friends, Kevin. Could he have meant David? Is David doomed?”
“I don’t know... I don’t know...”
Chapter Seven:
The Vincents
“He was using a funny tablet holder to record the play,” explained Jake as he unlocked his bike from the rack.
“Yeah, he was about to rage on us! A grown man!” added Matthew.
Kevin was scoping the crowd and seemed not to have heard. “They know my name,” he said.
“Who?” asked Jake.
“Raven’s allies—the ones here in Wakefield Falls.”
“How do you know?”
“A ghost told me.”
“A ghost?” asked a puzzled Jake.
Before Kevin could elaborate, Olivia walked up, her radiant dimpled smile wide on her face. Alexa Donnelly and Maria Harris were with her.
“Guys! So glad you came!”
‘Olivia!’ they all hollered.
“So, be honest... what did you think?”
“It was an awesome play, and you were great!” said Robbie excitedly.
“Yeah, you were! The entire cast was!” added Matthew.
Olivia glanced at Kevin.
“It was great,” he answered nonchalantly, his mind somewhere else.
Olivia noticed, and her smile died a bit. “Guys, you remember my friends Maria and Alexa?”
Robbie let out a shy smile, and Matthew waved hello.
“Hi, Maria. Hi Alexa,” Kevin said.
Jake wanted to do more than say hi. He approached Maria with an outstretched hand. Maria reached out hesitantly and shook it.
“Hi Maria, I thought you were super awesome up there!” Jake said.
“Thank you.”
Jake’s handshake lingered awkwardly, making her pull away a moment later.