Masquerade

by Cambria Hebert

  With that she practically climbed up the wall and disappeared out the tiny open window.

  I stood there in shock, my mouth hanging open. Then I started to shake.

  Sam ran over to me, his eyes sweeping my entire body. “What did she do to you? Are you hurt?”

  “She didn’t hurt me.” I said, a strange feeling settling over me. I looked into his eyes, so guarded and wary.

  She might not have hurt me, but he was about to.

  I felt it down in my bones.

  Kimber picked this moment to rush back in the bathroom. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  I straightened and turned. I prayed the smile I plastered on my face looked real. “Sorry about that. She was just getting a little too pushy. I think she might have been drunk.”

  “Some people have no class.” Kimber said, buying my story. “And who told her that outfit looked good? And where the heck did she go?”

  “I have no idea.” I said, fear pumping through me. “But thanks for that.”

  “Anytime.” Kimber smiled. “Cole and I are leaving.”

  “Sam and I are too,” I said, trying to sound normal.

  “You okay?” Kimber asked, turning to look at me. “You look pale.”

  “I’m fine, just tired.”

  She nodded. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” I said brightly.

  She went out the door, leaving me alone with Sam. I dropped my act and looked at him, about to ask what was going on. “We have to go.” He said, grabbing my arm and rushing from the room. We got a few stares when people saw him coming out of the girl’s bathroom, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “Sam?” I began.

  He was busy towing me toward our table to get our stuff. His eyes traveled the room and never stopped. I planted my feet on the floor, and he swung around to face me.

  “That woman said you had secrets. She said that you lie. Do you know what this is about?” I asked a tremor in my voice. I was half afraid of the answer.

  He aged about ten years right before my eyes. He nodded miserably. “Yeah.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “My time has run out.”

  Sam

  Heven was in her element. It was something to see. I had a feeling that the way she was acting tonight was a glimpse at the way she was before I came into her life. So vibrant and real. She had this sort of charm, this way of making people feel good about themselves, and people wanted to be around her.

  In a way it made me sad. Not sad that she was coming back into herself, but sad that I had been involved in taking that away from her to begin with. My thoughts drifted to the body in the bottom of the lake: Andi. Tonight should have been her prom night as well. Instead, she was alone in a watery grave, and there were people out there mourning over her status as missing. The police had been searching to no avail. I had heard some talk that they were going to list her as a runaway.

  Music flowed out of the ballroom, it was something upbeat and loud. I heard Heven laugh at something her friends were saying, and I thought how odd it was that I was standing in this place thinking about a dead body.

  I pushed the dark thoughts aside as the evening went on, determined to have a good time. All the masks made it hard to relax. Every time someone drew near I would have to decide if they were friendly or not, if we knew them or not. Word of Heven’s mood, and I suspect the way she glowed, drew people to us like a magnet. I hadn’t realized how popular she had been Before. It was almost intimidating. How could I compete with all of these people? How long until she figures out that she can do better?

  I squelched those thoughts as well, telling myself that Heven’s feelings for me weren’t the issue right now, keeping her alive was. Hopefully, someday when I removed the threat to her life she would be able to tell me that she loved me. Words I hadn’t heard in so long. My eyes scanned the crowd once more, searching for anyone suspicious. Damn these masks and formal attire. Thankfully, I had a profound sense of smell, and I didn’t catch any familiar scents from my roommates so, for now, we were safe.

  Turns out Heven isn’t much of a dancer, which comes as a bit of a relief to me. I didn’t dance. It made me feel like an idiot out there trying to move to some impossible beat. But I did like the slow dancing…I smiled at the thought of allowing my hands to roam just a little bit lower on her back as we moved.

  The slow dances were much less common than the fast dances so when the upbeat music was playing we mingled in the crowd (by Heven’s request) and made a stop at the giant punch fountain. It seemed like a silly thing to me. If I wanted a drink why not just pour it out of a pitcher into a glass? Instead we stood in a long line (who knew a punch fountain could be such a draw?) and waited with clear plastic cups in hand. When it was your turn you were supposed to let the punch flow down into your cup until it was full. The liquid splashed and splattered, and I thought it was annoying, but then Heven laughed at the silly thing, clearly pleased.

  Maybe punch fountains weren’t that annoying after all.

  The food was good. I was always hungry, and there was a lot to eat. Heven seemed amazed at the amount of food I could put down and watched as I shoveled in a couple of plates of mini sandwiches, cookies and fruit. She sampled a few things off my plate, but otherwise sipped her punch while socializing with the crowd that surrounded us.

  When a slow song came on I pulled her out onto the darkened dance floor and slid my arms around her.

  “Are you having a good time?” I whispered in her ear.

  “The best.”

  “I want this night to be perfect.”

  “It is.” She said, gazing at me like she wanted to say something more. My stomach dipped a little with what I hoped it might be. She rose up on tip toe…

  The sound of a muffled bang caught my attention, and I stiffened, looking around for the source of the noise.

  A large, swinging door opened to the room the caterers were using and I saw a whole box of trays had fallen to the ground.

  “Sam?”

  I swept my eyes around the ballroom one last time, making certain I didn’t sense any threat before I looked down. “Sorry, I thought I heard something.”

  She frowned, and I thought she might ask what was wrong so I spoke before she could.

  “Did you want to say something?”

  “Never mind.”

  “You sure?” I was an idiot. I ruined the moment for nothing, and now it was gone.

  “Later, okay?” she asked, her blue eyes wanting understanding.

  I pulled her close and let the moment go. Hopefully, I would get another chance to hear the words that I thought she might be ready to say. I thought of the keycard in my pocket and wondered if I took the chance of getting her alone that maybe she would say them. Then everything would be different. If I knew she loved me, maybe I could tell her the truth, maybe she would be able to look past what I am.

  The rest of the night passed in a blur. I couldn’t quite relax after that ridiculous scare I had earlier. I found it hard to believe that the monster would leave us alone for one night. Maybe there was another lead on what we had been looking for. Maybe it would keep Heven safe for one more night.

  An hour before her curfew, we were sitting at our table feeding each other cake. I decided to take the chance and show her the keycard to the room I got. At worst she would rebuff my attempt to be alone, but at least I would have somewhere to shower without wondering who would come home and if there would be a fight. I pretty much had been living out of my truck for months. I despised the people I lived with but felt locked in to my life. How could I leave the only people who knew what it was like to be a freak? Until I had found them I lived alone – I hadn’t been frightened of myself, but I was scared that no one would ever accept me. My own parents wouldn’t accept me. Isn’t it better to be accepted by someone than no one at all?

  But it had become harder and harder to stay with people who had no thought to the people they hurt.
I was grateful that they had taught me the things I needed to know about myself, but I was a little older now. I was stronger. I had my own path that I wanted to follow, a path that was leading me away from them.

  “Heven?” I asked – her response to the keycard hadn’t been as positive as I would have liked.

  She shook her head, a fine blush spreading over her cheeks.

  I realized then that she thought I was asking her for something she wasn’t prepared to give.

  Sex.

  I grasped her hand. “I didn’t get it for that.”

  If she threw herself at me right now, I definitely wouldn’t turn her down. I wanted to laugh but didn’t think that it would be appropriate. I looked into her blue eyes and realized she didn’t believe me. Crap, what girl would?

  “I promise. I know you aren’t ready.” I cleared my throat, not really knowing what to say. “Neither am I.” Just because I wanted to do it didn’t mean we should do it.

  My words seemed to have the opposite affect than what I was hoping. I thought she would be relieved to know that I didn’t plan on pressuring her for sex. Instead she seemed disappointed. Could she possibly think I wouldn’t want her? Man, girls were tough to figure out sometimes. “It isn’t what you think. I love you, and of course I want you.”

  “Then, why?” she whispered.

  “I just want you to get to know me a little better. I want you to be ready.” I want her to know all of me, which is exactly why I got this room.

  “So will you come with me? To talk? I promise I won’t pressure you.” I tried to keep the hope and nerves out of my eyes while I waited for her answer.

  Her soft acceptance sent joy through me, and I smiled.

  I insisted on escorting her to the ladies room, still uneasy and not wanting to let her out of my sight for long. I thought she might protest, and she did, so I ended up next to the bathroom pretending to socialize.

  I really wanted to be right next to her – for her to stay in sight. There was something inside me, telling me something wasn’t right. But I had no choice, so I stood as close to the ladies’ room as I could, waiting for her to come out. A couple guys that I knew, mainly due to my relationship with Heven, called out to me, and I hesitated to walk over and say ‘Hi’. It was only a few steps, but I wasn’t sure I should even go that far. Then Kimber walked by smiling and went into the bathroom. I figured that at least Heven wouldn’t be alone so I went to see what the guys were laughing about.

  Seconds later Kimber came out of the bathroom with a worried look in her face. The door was just closing behind her, and I caught a glimpse of black. She began to motion to me, but I was already moving, bursting into the ladies room.

  She was there. How had I missed her? I looked up and saw the open window and realized that she must have been hiding in here all night. I didn’t smell her because the heavy door blocked her scent, and we hadn’t been over here at all except for now.

  Damn, I was stupid. And I may have just cost Heven her life.

  Heven was frightened, her eyes were wide with fear and her skin had gone white. I lunged at the pair, snatching Heven away and putting myself in between her and this bitch. I was beyond angry. Angry at myself for missing her hiding in here and angry at her for being such a devious creature.

  “When I tell you to – run!” I yelled at Heven, unsure how ugly things were about to get. I didn’t want her in here; I didn’t want her to see what I was capable of.

  I couldn’t hold in my anger, though, and I threw out my fist punching the bitch right in the face. I didn’t care that she was a womanI’d kill her right then if I could.

  She fell backwards but caught herself against the wall and stood. “Ask him about his secrets!” She yelled to Heven. I caught the evil glint in her eyes “Make him tell you what he really is!”

  Then she escaped out the tiny open window. I realized then that she hadn’t come here to kill Heven. She had come here to tell her my secrets to drive a wedge between Heven and her protector. Now I was going to have to tell her. I couldn’t lie anymore. I wondered if this would be my last memory of actually being with Heven.

  I rushed to her side, worried that she might be hurt. “What did she do to you? Are you hurt?”

  “She didn’t hurt me.” A wary look crossed her eyes, and she looked at me like I was a stranger.

  You know me. Deep down, you know who I really am. Please accept me, don’t push me away.

  Kimber picked this moment to rush back in the bathroom. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  To my surprise Heven pulled it together. She knew that there was something going on here, she knew that I had been lying. Yet, she lied for me. Maybe there was hope after all.

  “Sorry about that. She was just getting a little too pushy. I think she might have been drunk.”

  “Some people have no class.” Kimber said, oblivious to the undercurrents circling the room. “And who told her that outfit looked good?”

  I tuned out the rest of their conversation; my head was spinning. What was I going to say? How much would I tell her? What would her reaction be to who I really was? I’ve never once told anyone what I am – I’ve never had to. I was alone until I met the others. I didn’t have to tell them anything, because they already knew. How did you tell someone that you were a monster? That you weighed bodies down in the lake and had roommates who hid severed body parts out of the prying eyes of normal people? How did you tell someone that you’ve been stalking them, that you lurk in the shadows, and that if it wasn’t for you, their face would be whole, and no one would be trying to kill you?

  My chest felt tight because I couldn’t do it…but I had to. I was going to mess this up, and she was going to hate me.

  I looked up just as Kimber was leaving the bathroom; Heven and I were left alone. “We have to go.” I told her, grabbing her arm and leading her from the bathroom. I was almost positive that she wouldn’t be coming back tonight. She got what she came for. She blew my whole world apart, and now I had to pick up the pieces. But still, I wasn’t about to hang around and be caught by surprise again. We got a few stares when people saw us coming out of the girl’s bathroom, but I didn’t care. These people were the least of my worries.

  “Sam?” Heven’s voice was quiet and laced with uncertainty and fear. She was already pulling away.

  I turned away, not wanting to see the look in her eyes, to see what it would like when she turned me away.

  “That woman said you had secrets. She said that you lie. Do you know what this is about?”

  I thought about making something up, to spin an elaborate tale. But I was exhausted, I was tired of lying, of wearing a mask. I decided then that even though I had no clue how to say it, the truth was going to come out tonight. Maybe she would give me a chance to explain. Unfortunately, I didn’t think that she would be proclaiming her love for me tonight. The loss of that potential moment cut me like a sword.

  With a heavy heart I answered her question. “Yeah.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “My time has run out.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Heven

  “You’re scaring me,” I said for the twentieth time.

  “I’m sorry,” he answered for the twentieth time.

  The elevator dinged open, and I moved to step out, but he caught me and pushed himself out into the hall ahead of me. Did he think that woman was going to come back and find us? A violent shudder ran up my back at the thought. She was scary. There had been something in her eyes that wasn’t right – unbalanced.

  Sam towed me along beside him, stopping a few feet down the hall and swiping his key, all the while keeping his attention on our surroundings. The door buzzed, and he shoved me into the room, snapping the locks behind us.

  Unease began churning in my belly, and I felt panic rising up in my chest. I fought it back –going over by the window, hoping the view outside would calm me. It didn’t. I was going to have a panic attack if I couldn’t get s
ome air…

  Sam’s strong arms circled me from behind and he pulled me into his chest. “Easy,” he murmured, stroking my hair. “You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  I trembled in his arms and fought for control. He kept murmuring, gently rocking me back and forth. To my relief I began to calm. I could think again.

  What was going on? Who was that woman, and how did Sam know her? All the previous warnings that I sometimes felt with Sam came back to me, and I felt foolish for ignoring them. I stiffened in his embrace, and with a sigh, he let me go. I turned to face him. I took a moment to study him, to memorize the angles and plains of his face, to remember the way his shaggy blond hair fell over his ears and the exact color of his eyes. I needed to remember these things. Because something deep down told me that I might never see him again.

  Pain. I thought I understood pain when I was in the hospital after the attack. I thought I knew it the first time I went out in public wearing my scar. While those things hurt, this was a far deeper kind of pain. If I lost him, I know I would never forget, never escape this pain. Compared to the scars on my face the ones this pain would leave inside would be, by far, more horrifying and more traumatizing.

  “Sam?”

  “It’s pretty bad.”

  “What is?”

  “I had hoped…”

  “Hoped?”

  Despair showed in his eyes. “That if you loved me it might make a difference.”

  I do love you! I wanted to shout, but I couldn’t. Something had changed.

  “What I’m going to tell you is unbelievable.”

  I swallowed.

  “Will you give me the chance to explain it all to you?”

  I nodded.

  “Promise me, Heven.”

  “I promise.”

  He shot forward and seized me up and before I could protest his lips were on mine, and I was instantly reminded of all the things I loved about him, of the safety and security I felt when he was near. But there was also something about this kiss that was different – it was desperate and a little sad.