The Girl In The Silver Mask

The Ball

He was chasing her, and she was laughing. He caught up and tackled her to the ground with the carelessness only a hyperactive 7 year old could have and started tickling her. She squealed and tickled him back, but in the end she went into a giggling fit and rolled away with grass-stains all over her cream dress.

“Ok, ok, you win!” She gasped, out of breath. The young boy laughed,

“You’ll never beat me Tash!” He exclaimed. He sounded cocky and free, nothing to worry this little version of Dan apart from defeating his best friend in a tickle war on the summer grass.

          An innocent version of Tasha stood up and ran up only to cuddle little Dan.

“Love you, dan.” She said with her eyes closed. In his memories, he knew that that glimmer of hope that shone in the 7 year old boy’s eyes as he said he loved her too was the beginning of the end.

          Reality drifted back, but the pain of it made Dan push into deeper, darker memories just to get away. Immediately afterwards, he decided that had probably been a bad idea. This memory had been shoved into a cobwebby corner of his mind and locked away for too long, so that when he finally let himself remember, it was as clear and terrible as the day it had happened.

          They sat in the carridge as it swayed rhythmicly along the stones on the path. Dan and his dad were both in suits, while his mother was in a beautiful old-fashioned maroon courset dress, with a matching mask. They were, of course, going to another one of the masqurade balls she loved so much.

“You look so smart in a suit, dear.” She smiled gently at me, shuffling on the seat and rearranging her dress. His dad gave him a sideways look and smirked. They both only went to these for her, and spent the time standing awkwardly at the side while she danced to the piano and undoubtedly became the centre of attention.

          Dan jolted as a wheel went over a pothole then skidded to a stop outside a big house with delicate, expensive lights framing the entrance. His mum clapped her hands joyously.

“Oooo, look boys, we’re here!” She squealed, climbing out and grabbing her little bag. She stood up and beckoned them out “Come on!”

           His dad, scrambled out and held out his hand to Dan, helping him with the big step down.

“Really, Kelly, I don’t see why you get so excited. We’ve been to a million and one before and they’re all exactly like this!” He said it teasingly, nudging Dan’s mum in the arm.

“You know I love attention, Ron. I get a chance to show off here, noone else appriciates dances that are centuries old.” She said happily, then held out her hand to Dan. He took it and she started dragging him up the long stone driveway to the door, which looked miles away.

“What do you think, Dan? Do you like going to these balls?” His dad asked, ruffling his hair and jogging to keep up.

“Well,” Dan’s mum replied for him, “I’m sure he enjoyed the last one, Tash came and they had a dance together. Isn’t that right, Dan?”

          Dan stopped mid-stride, blushed a deep red colour and looked at the floor,

“Guys, I told you. Me and Tash aren’t friends anymore. She’s with someone else now, anyway.” He explained, while they looked at him sympathetically and he became fixated on his shoes.

“Oh honey,” His mum consoled, “Don’t worry, I hear the Brigstocks are coming tonight, and they have twins about your age. Then there’s Greg’s pretty little niece coming with him. I’m sure you’ll have company tonight.” She pulled lightly on his hand and they started crunching across the stones again, while his dad put his hand on Dan’s back and patted it comfortingly.