Behind The Mask

Chapter VII: Meet The Team

     Like an animal seeing new prey, the teens and little girl stood still as they looked at me. I tried to turn and look away when I heard his voice say, "This is Danny, the new recruit I told you about." Then the one with the yellowish jacket sat down the girl and walked over. He stepped in front of me and looked up at the tall unfaced figure.

"You didn't tell us that he was one of them!"

"I know but we can help him."

"With what, killing us?" He screamed.

You know I won't let that happen." He said with a soothing voice.

"We know Mr. S., and we will do our part welcoming him." the hooded one said.

"Fine! Nice to meet you, you can call me 'The Masked Fiend' or 'Fiend' for short."

"Yep, and you can call me 'The Hooded Haunter.' Pleasure to meet you."

"And I'm Sally, but you can call me Sal!" The little girl said excitedly.

"Wait! Masked Fiend? That's weird because they call me 'The Masked Maniac." I said, confused.

"I told you we have been watching you and that you were important." Haunter said.

"Follow me and I will show you to your new room Dan!" Sal said enthusiastically.

     As we walked up the stairs I noticed something. The halls were a bit small. That's when she opened the door showing me something I couldn't believe. When she opened the door I saw the inside of my house. I could see the hard wooden frame of the bed and the soft mattress, and I saw my small living room with its furry couch.

     I walked in and everything felt so real. Everything was the same as the way I left it.

"Is this your home?" She asked.

"Yep! Has been for the past few years, Sal."

"Well, goodnight." She said as she walked out the magical door.

I fell asleep with the best sleep of my life, and when I woke up I noticed something else. Outside of my windows was the same forest I always stared at. I looked at the front door and opened it. The door didn't lead to the same hallway as last night, but instead opened up to a dining room with Fiend, Haunter, Sal and Mr. S. all eating eggs and bacon. Fiend and Haunter sat there with their masks on, but just enough to where you still couldn't see their faces. I mean come on just show me what's behind the mask, am I right? Sal on the other hand, sat there eating her breakfast like a normal little girl. The weirdest part was Mr. S. and the way he was eating. He had an unsettling open mouth with an unnaturally long tongue. Now I know what you're thinking, "I thought you said he didn't have a face," and that's exactly how I felt about it too. I mean how can he do it, right? You can't just grow a face, can you? You would be right about that though, but you got to listen more if you want to find out why. Now let's get back to the story.

The table was set for five, but the table had six seats. I sat down and began to eat my breakfast as well. The food was nice and hot.

"Did you enjoy the room, Danny?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, because your training begins after breakfast."

"How about breakfast, Dan? I made it myself." Fiend said.

"It's Delicious!" I mumbled with a mouth full of food.

"I suppose we must teach you some manners as well."

"Oh, sorry! I'm just not used to eating with others."

     After breakfast we all got up and stepped outside. Mr. S. told us to stand in a line so he could go over all of us and fully introduce everyone.

"Danny, you've already met Fiend and Haunter due to your recruitment. Fiend is a master with any blade and hunts his prey with perfect silence along with his teammate Haunter. Haunter is a master with hand guns. No matter how difficult the shot may seem, Haunter hits his target. That's another thing that made me interested in you . You are the first person to dodge Haunter's bullets. Finally, Little Sally here was the very first one to stay with me and join me on my journey. She may not look like it but her heart isn't beating. She has been dead for many years. She is a ghost who never got the chance to play with anyone, so she haunted her old house looking for someone to play with. That's when I came along and saved her. This is your new team and just like the papers, you will only be known as 'The Masked Maniac' from now on."

Then with the ending of those words my training had begun.