Masked

Chapter 4

Sofia's birthday is tomorrow and I need to get everything ready. I went to the store to get all of the decorations, cake, ice cream, and modeling chocolate. I spent all day setting up the decorations just the way she likes it and making her her chocolate mansion. Helen called everyone and told them to come. She helped with the decorations and even made a piñata, no one will break it though. Sofia never broke open any of her piñatas so we just put the candy in a bowl and tell everyone it's piñata food and that the piñata said he would share it. I told Sofia about everything we did and how it will be the best birthday she's ever had. I told everyone is coming for her big day. I slept soundly for the first time in a month knowing that she would be so happy tomorrow.

The day of Sofia's party was full of mixed emotions. Helen's and my family came which I knew she would love since she adores her grandparents. Her cousins and some of her friends came also. We had party games set up and the little kids loved them. I watched them play them for a little while and wondered why Sofia couldn't be here playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey. When it was time to cut the cake everyone volunteered me to do it. I held the knife in my shaking hand and cut slowly. Time went in slow motion as I passed out pieces to everyone and then set aside the biggest piece for her. I couldn't take it. I dropped the knife to the floor and punched a hole in the wall. I said a quick apology, grabbed my keys and walked out the front door toward my car. I needed a drive. I drove to the beach since it was the quietest place I could think of. I can't do this anymore. I left the car and walked to the end of the beach, feeling the waves crash over my shins and soak my pants. I didn't care. Hot tears streamed down my face as I yelled into the dark ocean.

"ALL SHE WANTED WAS A CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!"

No answer.

"YOU HAD TO TAKE HER NOW!?!"

No answer.

"WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HER!?!"

No answer.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO HER!?!"

No answer.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO US!?!"

No answer.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME!?!"

Silence.

I realized something that night. I realized that I can't live without her anymore and that if I wanted her back, I'd have to do anything necessary. Including something against the law.

I didn't go home that night. I went walking around and checked the news on my phone. It turns out that a college was making a super suit, inspired by the real superhero. It was bulletproof, had claws on its arms and was able to make you jump hire, it was only a prototype and had never been tested. That was about to change.

A few hours later I found myself at the institute. It was after hours and so they of course had security guards set up. I went around to the side where it was dark and alone and used my phone to locate a window. I didn't want to break it because I knew the minute I did guards would immediately come swarming my position, but I had no choice. I broke the window with a rock and dashed inside. I didn't stop running until I found a bathroom and locked myself in. I waited a few minutes and was about to leave until I heard them walk past the door. I held my breath and stayed absolutely still. Luckily, none of them tried the lock. Once they past I unlocked the door and silently crept out of the bathroom. It was still dark but my eyes had adjusted some and didn't need my flashlight as often. I had no idea where the suit was so I had to do a lot of wandering around. After about an hour of searching and avoiding guards I found it. It was lying on a metal work table with wires protruding from its chest. It was a full body suit and covered the head completely. It had huge claws coming from its arms and wider than normal feet with hydraulics connecting the calf to the heels. It was unpainted and still had on a coat of primer giving it a very unfinished look. I didn't care what it looked like though. All I cared about was if this thing was going to get me my daughter back.

After wheeling the suit out of the room on a dolly and carefully pushing the thing out the window, I realized that I had nowhere to put it. I knew the police would no doubt be searching for it tomorrow when the suit is found missing and so I needed a place to hide it until I was ready. I wheeled it home into the backyard. It was one o'clock and I knew Helen would be worried sick, so I had to find a hiding spot and fast. I looked around my backyard and I saw the shed! Helen never goes in there and it had a lock on it. With the suit locked up I finally went up to bed, being careful not to wake Helen.

In the morning Helen wasn't gone when I woke up. Instead she woke me up with tears in her face and food in her hands. She explained that she had called me multiple times and that she thought I wouldn't come back. She hugged me for a long time and I apologized multiple times and told her what happened. For the first time in weeks we talked about Sofia together. We talked about how we felt and we told each other we would always be here to talk. Helen said she was going on a business and wouldn't be back for a couple of days. Which was perfect for what I had planned.

I was going to wait until dark to get the suit out so I wouldn't be seen. I spent my day going grocery shopping and checking the news for stories that my editor would want to see from me. Luckily, there wasn't. Once the sun went down, it was time.

I walked outside with the shed keys jingling in my hands. I opened the shed slowly, afraid that someone was watching me. I took the suit into the garage. I always park my car in the driveway and let Helen have the garage so with her gone I was able to have plenty of space. I laid the suit down on my work table and started inspecting it. It seemed complete minus the paint and they were probably charging at the university. I grabbed a couple of cans of black spray paint and got to work. I painted the entire thing jet black so as to not be seen. I didn't put any classic superhero designs or anything like that because it wasn't what I needed it for. All I needed was her. I knew I could get arrested for this but it was worth the risk. I'm not a villain for simply wanting my daughter back. I tried it on.