Masquerade - The Complete First Novel

- 6 -

(Dakota)

What? No? She's a split image of the woman in the photo shoots, in the diary. I know it's her. I know her. What is she hiding? "What are you hiding, Jessi Foster?" I let my voice rumble as the fear was still there. Her cruel eyes fell on me, smashing another semi-truck of fear right through me.

"I'm not hiding anything. That's not my kid, now goodnight," Something in me switched as she started to close her door, not letting the action continue as my foot was in the way. "What are you doing!" I pull the door open, walking inside. I could feel the presence of Ana behind me as Mrs. Foster was pushed to the side. "You can't just barge into my house, and-!"

"Shut up. You're in no position to talk." Ana's harsh voice rang throughout the house as the light thumping of Mr. Foster's feet approached us.

"What the hell?!" My voice stopped his this time, sentencing the coward of a man to silence. I turned on the lights. It was truly a beautiful house, the furniture looked rustic and the couch had some sort of black hide resting on top. I felt it, automatically knowing it was real. Nothing fake would feel as soft as this was.

"What animal did you kill to make this blanket?" Adam's voice seemed to have a small rumble to it. Signaling that he felt threatened. Let's keep it that way.

"I didn't-"

"I was talking to the Mrs." I looked back at Jessi. Her arms were crossed and her mask seemed to grow looser by the second. Adam answered for her, while her mouth was sewn shut.

"It's fake, Jessi couldn't ever do that. Hunting is against my beliefs," Jessi scuffed at the mention of his religion. He looked at her, fear flushing his face. I walked closer to Jessi, my hand still trembling as the fur was in it.

"Let go of the mask, this isn't a masquerade. I know you killed it, It's fur is too soft to be fake." She let go.

"Yeah, I killed it, so what?" The expression on Adam's face was riddled with emotion, mostly with shock and remorse. But still not sticking up for himself. The confidence has drained when he married this woman. I can tell.

"And Clementine Foster, a twelve-year-old girl that went missing three months ago? Isn't she your daughter?" She quickly hid behind her mask, as her husband has yet to get his. His expressions shifts, curiosity covering his face.

"Clem-"

"Adam!" Her harsh eyes landed on him, cocking her head to the side. "We don't have a daughter, remember?" I looked at Adam. The boy that never turned into a man. The boy that was always afraid. The boy that let his own daughter slip through the cracks.

"Yes, dear." I smiled. Knowing all I need to know. I let the blanket fall from my fingers, walking to the door.

"Adam, don't let your wife yell at you. You're not her puppet, and she definitely isn't anyone's puppeteer." I close the door behind me. Still shaking from the experience. Ana grabbed my trembling arm, stopping me.

"What was that burst of confidence? Are you sure that was Dakota in there?" The confidence I once had was gone now, shrinking back to my normal size, letting myself look down and shrug my shoulder.

"I don't know, maybe." She smirked, walking down the long steps.

"Wait!" I look back to see Adam running down the stairs and up to me. I felt another spark of confidence, but it died quickly. His dark eyes were still visible in the small light around us. "How do you know our names? And how do you know Clementine? She's still not my daughter, I'm just curious." Sure you are.

"I have my ways." I turn on my heels climbing into the passenger seat. I smiled. Knowing that my confidence was still with me. We start to drive as Ana's voice filled the car.

"I have an idea," I cock an eyebrow, looking at her edgy features. "Let's break-in around five am, we can search her house. Maybe find something useful?" I shrug, but still following her plans. I should take my own advice.

We wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. The only sound you could hear was the tapping of Ana's nail on the hard wheel. Tap. Tap. Tap. When the time turns five, she starts the car, circling back to the side of Foster's house. The light blue of the morning sun illuminated more of the house. I could see the huge window that showed the dining room and the small light that has now been turned off. Did Jessi or Adam turn it off? Or maybe it was automatic. The woods that guarded the sides of the house were in full view now. The trees were thick and so was the forest, barely seeing through the tightly planted trees. I could now see how many stairs led to the front door. I would guess around twelve, but I didn't want to waste time by counting. Even though the sun peeked over the horizon, I still couldn't see the details of the wood.

Instead of climbing up the steps, Ana and I walked to the side of the house. A window lets the breeze enter the house, with it fully open. Unfortunately, a screen covered our entry. I know that this is a crazy idea. A large stump lays under it as Ana orders me to stand on it most notably because I was the tallest. I lift my fingers up, not able to reach the sides. I looked back at Ana who has been wearing an emotion. One that she uses when thinking. "Hop down," I do as she asks as she crouches to the floor. "Remember when you got on my shoulders in cheer? How fast you were?" I smile, remembering when I dragged her to try-outs with me. I nod. "Do it," Without a word, I trust her. Leaping on to her shoulders as she extends her spine. My vision switches as I could see the car and woods more clearly. I don't get the time to look, as Ana almost jumps onto the stump. "Here," I look down, Ana holding out a silver object. "You'll need this," I press my nail on the small latch from inside. The blade swings into existence, almost knocking us both off and cutting my finger in the process.

"What do I do with it?" Ana sighs in annoyance.

"Cut the screen," I do nothing for a while, wondering the consequences for my actions. With a shaky hand, I stuck in the pointed metal, forcing a small tear. "Bigger," I cut more, now upward. "Bigger," I do it again, to both sides. "Goddammit, bigger!" At the moment, I rip a huge hole down the middle. Ana applauding me with her words. I climb through the whole, falling on a desk. I turn around on my knees, sticking out an arm. Ana grins, jumping so she grabs hold of my forearm. I whence from the pain as she crawls up my now lifeless arm.

I move out of the way for her to walk in, as she jumps off of the desk. I slide off as we start to search the office we start in. I don't dare go upstairs, "I'm gonna go check upstairs," but Ana does. Quietly, the wood under her boots creaks as she makes her way to where they rest their lying heads. I search, not seeing anything, only small notes. Nothing useful. I wonder if this even is a good idea. I already know it isn't.

I almost tune out the sound of an alarm going off, and Ana sliding down the rail. She still keeps quiet, thrashing her finger against the window we crawled in. "Go, go!" She whispers as she jumps out the window, barrel roll on the floor beneath her. She looks up at me, jumping on the stump and holds her hands up. I shake as I lower my feet onto her shoulders. I then sit on them as she lowers herself and I jump off. We both run back to the car, Ana leading the way. Once the doors were locked, Ana speeds out of the field, not daring to look back. My heart still beats quickly and I could still feel it bumping against my skin, almost threatening to pop out in fear. I let my worries consume me, as I started to tremble even more in my leather seat. Ana's harsh voice scared me so much that I stopped. Silencing me.

"Will you stop! It was an alarm clock! Chill out! Are you stupid?" I let my head hang low as she spoke those words I hated so much, but I could never stand up to her. I know she would stop if I tell her, but something in me always stops me from doing so. I know she didn't mean it. She never does, but I can't shake the feeling. I am stupid.