Faces and masks: City of Fear

Chapter 2

"Sally, don't you think there's something strange going on in town?" Emily asked cautiously as they left the building. The boy shook his head.

— The only person I think is weird right now is you." Fisher frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, his expression showing that he would not let her go easily.

But then, out of nowhere, a strange man approached them. Shoulder-length white hair and red eyes, wearing a black suit. He looked at them with a friendly smile that neither of the two teenagers trusted, and they looked at each other in surprise.

They both knew they looked unusual enough. One, although he is a guy, wears ponytails like a girl, and a mask on his face. Emily didn't stand out as much. All the same unusual hair color not only had she, but that did not mean that the girl is quite inconspicuous.

— Who is this man?" He feels... familiar... is he a magician too? Emily asked, sensing his aura.

"Good afternoon, children." Looks like you're new here. I've never seen you before. Welcome to contact us. Everyone here calls me Bludy, but you can call me Dee, — and before they could say a word, he went on. — Nevertheless, be on your guard in this city, especially in the house, or madness will devour your souls." I'll see you later, Sally Fisher and Emily Manson, — with these words he went away.

— How does he know our name?"! — chorus asked the guy and the girl exchanged glances.

"That's what I was talking about," Emily whispered, pointing after him. — I'm sure he's a magician, like me, or a half-breed." Ordinary people at this age should not be gray.

"Or maybe he's just an albino," Sally said with a shrug that sent her reeling.

— Your world is too complicated, " she muttered, running her fingers through her bangs. — That's probably why no one's surprised to see us or Larry."

"What's he got to do with it?" Fisher raised his eyebrows.

— He guy, but, as and you, wears long hair, - girl told all of this quietly and naturally, and modicum Sally perfectly knew, that she "not from this world" in literal sense this words, would still its attitude and glance on surrounding things, seem many utterly normal, sometimes strongly surprised. But it made her special and sweet in his eyes.

"Oh, okay, I get you, come on," he sighed, taking her hand and squeezing it tightly. "We'll be on our guard." Still, if you believe horror movies, behind the masks of ordinary people often hide monsters.

"Am I a monster?" Emily asked softly, pausing. A breeze lifted the crimson strands that framed her face, contrasting strongly with her pale skin.

"No! — abruptly turned to her boyfriend, grabbing his shoulders and gently shaking. Her wide gray eyes, like a cloud, looked straight into his. And not simply watched, tried to understand and find truth. He could almost feel her aura enveloping him, searching for all the information she needed.

Yes, Emily was not an ordinary person, she had the powers that in their world were called magic, she knew almost nothing about people, she was afraid of them in her heart, but at the same time she wanted to trust and love. I wanted to live a human life. Even if it is not so simple, it is nevertheless not a monster.

"You're not a monster. You're a man of unusual abilities — " he said more calmly, letting go of her narrow shoulders and taking her hand again.

"If anyone's a monster here, it'll be... me."

***

"There you are! Man, what took you guys so long? I already listened to my entire playlist while I was waiting for you! Don't tell me you're messing with some otherworldly shit again! Larry grumbled, waving his hand and coming toward them.