HOME | DD

Behind The Mask — Description

Seeing or not seeing something does not make it any more or less real.

Image - i.pinimg.com/originals/2f/62/b…

Words Below:

Edgar was a young man who got involved with the wrong crowd. Although neither he nor they had done anything illegal, at least as far as he knew, he was certain they were up to no good. He did not dare confront them so he thought the best thing to do was just leave. They were unlikely to just let him leave their group so he had to find a way to hide.

Edgar heard rumors about shapeshifters and objects that gave ordinary people the same ability. It seemed absurd but he was willing to try the absurd if it would give him even a chance to get away from them. One thing led to another and he ended up at a shop on the other side of town that sold strange artifacts that were supposed to be magical.

When the woman at the shop heard his story she presented him with a mask of a woman about 18 years old. She explained the mask would conceal his identity but warned him there would be consequences for it. Edgar only half listened. He said he was willing to accept the consequences if it would keep him hidden.

Edgar purchased the mask. He tried on the mask while still in the store to make sure it worked. As soon as he did, he dropped to the ground wincing in pain. The woman warned him that was only the first of many consequences he would have to face. This time Edgar wanted to listen but he was in too much pain to listen very well.

After about 30 seconds, the pain stopped and Edgar got back up again. The woman led him, or her, to a full length mirror. Edgar could see her face had become just like the face on the mask with a body to match. The mask itself was no longer visible.

She renamed herself Esmeralda. Her clothes did not change so she had to purchase a new outfit but she was going to do that anyway. Esmeralda tried not to do the same things she had done before to avoid meeting anyone she knew. Even some of her friends might innocently give her away. She did not want that.

For the first few months, Esmeralda kept a low profile. Knowing she would not be able to do that forever she gradually interacted with others more and more. She formed a small group of close friends, both men and women, who were able to help her restart her life. She was very grateful for their help.

Esmeralda felt the time had come for her to trust them with her secret. She brought them all together and told them she wanted to tell them a secret. Before she did, she removed the mask. The mask she had been wearing for so long.

When she removed it, no change occurred. Her face was still identical to the face on the mask. Then the mask itself started to change, becoming white, dull, and flat. Her friends looked at her wondering what she was going to say. Esmeralda was stunned speechless.