Will You Be My Maestro?

Chapter 2: Game Time

     I could hear the kids quietly cheer in excitement.

     "The first person who gets scared, has to leave," the Maestro explained, motioning to the door behind us, "How about that?" But my father was too stubborn.

     "I don't play games with freaks," he spat.

     "There's no need to be rude,” the Maestro said stiffly, pursing his lips.

     "Yes, I agree; there is no need to be rude. You have a very lovely home, but I'm afraid we've overstayed our welcome," Ms. Warbler said. She was afraid alright, just not in the way that she meant; she was shaking and fiddling with the hem of her shirt nervously. "So we're gonna go, okay? Can we go?-" she went silent when the Maestro snapped his fingers, pointing to the ground, as if he were telling a dog to stay put.

     "Are you gonna leave? Or am I gonna have to hurt you?" Dad asked, glaring at the man who stood in front of him.

     Everyone, including me, started whispering amongst each other; none of us wanted to hurt him. Most of them only said it out of fear, but I meant it. I had taken the kids up to the mansion almost every other day for a little over a week and I had grown to care for him. He had no connection with anything or anyone outside of this house, except for us.

     The Maestro laughed slightly, "You are trying to scare me," he concluded, "I guess I have no choice; I guess I'll have to scare you. Watch this." He turned around and faced us again, letting out a breath, as if he were nervous. But I could see through his act. "Tell me, do you think this is scary?"

     He crossed his eyes and formed his lips into an odd position, making the kids laugh. I just chuckled, waiting for my father's reaction.

     "That's ridiculous," he stated, and though the kids were still giggling, he went on, "That's not funny."

     "Okay, fine. What about his one?" He turned his face away for a second, clearing his throat. When he faced us again, he made the same face, holding his arms in an Egyptian dancing pose.

     Once again the kids and I laughed, but the townspeople seemed to be getting impatient.

     "Is that it?" Luke and Andrew's mother asked, rolling her eyes.

     "Did that scare you?" the Maestro questioned, staring at Dad.

     "Did you hear what I said, freaky-boy?" His response seemed to anger the Maestro. "It's time for you to go."

     "Is this scary?" the Maestro stuck his fingers into his mouth, grabbing onto his cheeks and the skin around his eyes. He pulled outward, sticking out his tongue. The skin stretched, revealing the muscles and blood vessels under his skin.

     Everyone behind me screamed, while my mouth dropped open in both surprise and astonishment. Even Dad stepped back, startled.

     The Maestro released the skin, making it snap back into place, like it was made of rubber. He fastened his hands onto his bottom jaw and yanked it down, farther and farther. Everyone was terrified, even I felt the fear grow in the pit of my stomached. But I didn't let it show on my face. My mouth was still gaping, but I closed it and clenched my jaw, still looking at the sight before me.

     He placed his fingers under his chin and tugged on the skin, completely removing it and everything else, leaving only his bare skull. He then held out his face for us to see, laughing wickedly.

     Another round of screams erupted from the crowd, before they ran to the door, even my father ran as if his life depended on it. But I stood still, my feet glued to the ground in shock. Dad didn't even try to pull me along with him; he would have left me there just so he could escape. I knew my eyes were close to the size of saucers, but my gaze was unwavering as I stared at the Maestro.