Hero-Like

The Masked Stranger

Slowly my eyes adjusted to the light revealing more of the menacing masked figure that had crashed our kidnapping. The man, and the figure was definitely man shaped, was at least a foot taller than me and twice as wide. His imposing stature was made even more threatening by the military-like uniform he was wearing. Black and grey to match the mask that covered three quarters of his face. Leaving only a strong jawline visible.

It might be an indication of how my senses had been dulled by the evenings events, or maybe I was still high from the laughing fit, but I did not automatically view our masked visitor as a threat. The smile stayed on my face. Carly had a decidedly different reaction. In an instant she had pulled an arrow from her belt and pointed her bow, stepping between me and the masked man.

"Get behind me," said Carly suddenly serious. It was her tone that knocked the amusement right out me, because Carly never took anything seriously. Throughout this evening she had remained her casual calm self. This man was unexpected, and Carly was genuinely scared. That was enough to put me in my place and sew my mouth shut. For a while at least.

"Relax sweetheart," said the stranger. "There's no need to resort to violence. Why don't we all lower our weapons and have a chat like decent folks."

"How about no?" replied Carly. "As far as I see, I'm the only one with a weapon, which means I'm the one that gets to make the rules. The weapon stays where it is, and so do you."

"Aw come on, we're all friends here aren't we little red," said the stranger sending his words in my direction, which was a mistake because it resulted in Carly tightening her bow and moving it so that it was aimed directly at his face rather than his torso.

"I'd hate to make a mess of that mask," said Carly. "But if you so much as look in her direction again I will give you a new face hole."

"Woah," said the stranger raising his hands in an act of surrender, although he still appeared amused rather than scared. "I'm not looking at anyone. Promise."

"What are you doing here?" said Carly not taking her eyes off her target.

"The same thing you are I assume," said the stranger as though his appearance should have been expected. "At least I hope so, you are here to make that loser pay for being such a bad human, right? Because if this is some kind of weird sex thing then we might have gotten our wires crossed, no judgment though. I'm always open to new ideas."

"Oh god just shoot him," I said before I could stop myself. As much as I was trying to take the threat seriously there was only so much I could take.

"Hey there murder girl let's just chill for a minute," said the stranger.

"I don't know," said Carly her casual calm demeanor slowly returning. "She might be onto something. Do you have a point with all this bullshit?"

"Sorry I'm not really sure what the etiquette is when someone double books a kidnapping," said the stranger. "Obviously I'm disappointed that you beat me to it, I mean that's weeks of planning wasted. Not to mention the costume. This baby took time. But I guess it's validating that I'm not the only one who thinks that dick needed a good beating."

"Wait," I said. "You're expecting me to believe that this is a coincidence, that you both just randomly decided to don a mask and beat up a businessman on the same night."

"Awkward," said the stranger.

"That's total crap," I said. Believing that this was a random coincidence was akin to believing in the Tooth Fairy and not being completely terrified that a creature sneaks into your house while you sleep and steals your bones.