Concealed - The Masked Man

Chapter 1 - INSTANTANEOUSLY

          Another day of stressing as I struggle to make progress on my assignment. My frustration is growing, and I can't help but wonder if I'll ever finish. In an effort to relieve some of my vexation, I push my laptop aside and take a much-needed stretch. Just as I am about to lie back down, the bright light of my phone catches my eye. I instinctively reach for it and realize it is the alarm I set to keep from overworking. 

          I take a seat on my bed and look at my laptop, still covered in unfinished work. It was clear that I had a long road ahead of me, however, I decided that it was time to take a break. I opened a new tab and navigated towards Mysixer, a website where I could relax by watching cartoons. Settling in with my coziest pillow, I put on an episode of Bumball and allowed myself to unwind.

          A few minutes into the show, there is a pop-up ad. Normally, I just skip those, but this one in particular catches my eye. It is a shirtless man with a white mask, and he is resting his hand on his bulge over his shorts; the tip just peeking out from the top.

          Curiosity fills me and I read the bold lettering in blue: INSTANTANEOUSLY. I roll my eyes at those words and make my way to the x at the top of my screen. "How dirty," I say aloud. As soon as I try to close the page, it automatically transfers me to a new tab. The same ad is before me in a larger, fit of the screen point of view. I try again to exit out, but mistakenly tap the ad. All of a sudden, my laptop screen goes black. My eyes widen as I start clicking random buttons hoping to get it to turn back on. 

          "You called me."

          I jolt upright upon hearing the voice and frantically scramble to the other side of my bed, knocking over my laptop in the process. I hear a crack from the impact, and my heart sinks as I realize I just ruined my computer. I turn to face the intruder, and is met with a white mask, causing me to let out a blood-curdling scream. Before I can stop myself, tears begin to stream down my face, my body shaking uncontrollably with fear.

          The masked man remains motionless, and I freeze in place, unsure of how to react. Quickly assessing my situation, I carefully make my way towards the nearest exit, moving as quietly as possible. Just as I approach the window, the man suddenly turns his head to face me, and once again repeats the words "You called me."

          As I explore the window frantically, I realize it is locked, leaving me trapped in the room with the masked man directly in front of the door. In a desperate attempt to avoid any further confrontation, I attempt to maintain my composure despite the rapid palpitations of my heart.

          The masked man's eyes move between the laptop and me. I raise my eyebrows in confusion and he gestures towards my screen, seemingly trying to convey a message. Realizing that I am not getting anywhere with my attempts to communicate, I decide to follow his lead and look toward my laptop, hoping for some clarification of the situation. 

          Realization washes over me, leaving me staggered and in denial. With a shake of my head, I whisper, "This can't be real." The masked man continues to stare at me, his gaze fixed as if he's expecting something from me.

          "Okay, how do I send you back?" Unfazed by my increasingly desperate tone, the masked man remains mute, his eyes locking onto mine with an unrelenting intensity. Undeterred, I decide to gather my courage and take a tentative step towards him, attempting to push away the mounting anxiety that I can feel swelling within me. His gaze tracks my movement, not swaying once, as I approach him. With a shaky breath, I come to a halt right in front of him, the silence between us almost palpable.

          In an attempt to assert some semblance of control over the situation, I reach out and place my hand flat on his bare chest. The masked man tilts his head to the side at my touch, and I muster the courage to speak up, pleading with him to leave. "Please, while I am asking nicely, get out," I say, my voice trembling slightly.