Behind the Mask

I was too late to submit this to a writing competiton, so let's see what ya'll think!

Hey Everyone!!!

I know I know, it's been MONTHS since I last posted. See, a lot of things changed since my last note at the library. New job, school applications, etc. etc.

I never forgot abotu writing, I just forgot to post.

Anywho, here's a short story I wrote for a writing contest, albeit as you guessed from the description, I finished it too late. The theme of the contest was to write what a hero could be behind their good guy image. It's called Behind the Mask. PLS let me know what you think!

Here's my (would-be) entry:



(struggling, tied up in chair)



“Could you stop struggling please?”

“Could you stop killing people please?”


“(applies lipstick, holds up her phone as a mirror), You know the answer.”

“So do you.”


(still struggling, leaning back and forth)


“Stop squeaking.”

“Stop collecting news clippings of your victims and arranging them by date of death.”


“Those two terms aren’t remotely similar.”

“Oh well.”


…


(stops struggling)

“Can you keep a secret?”

“(leans in, billowing scents of jasmine and something metallic), Depends, why would you trust me with this secret?”


“You’re the only one I know will relate.”

“(hmph), go ahead. My lips are sealed.”


“I’m not real.”

“…What?”


“(sits up in chair, rope burns visible on arms), I’m not real.”

“You are sitting here tied up before me, bleeding all over my new carpet.”


“Is that supposed to be a bragging right? (strains harder, rocking chair)”

“Stop that!” (slams hand on table) “I don’t understand.

How are you not real?”


“Do you think I care?”

“What do you mean?”


“About my work. (narrows eyes) Do you really think I care about my work?”


“I assume you do, being you break down my doors, knock out my henchmen and destroy my gadgets, (throws hands up) which cost thousands by the way.”


“Shoot me.”

“Wait, what?”


“Shoot me. Kill me. I don’t—I don’t care anymore.”

“Something’s wrong with you, but if you insist (hesitates, slowly reaches for gun)”



“Hold on. Is this a trap? (narrows eyes, lowers weapon slightly)”

“What?”


“Is this a trap? Is your sidekick waiting to swoop in?”

“No”


“How about your girlfriend?”

“No (looks away)”


“Your mentor?”

“You were my mentor! (voice cracking)”


“Oh yeah, I forgot that” (sudden interest in the carpet) “Well, I’m certainly not coming to save you”

“And neither are they.”


“Then who is?”

“No one.”

(returns unsettling gaze)


…


“What is wrong with you!?! (voice rising)”

“What’s wrong with you? (voice rising)”


“I want to take over this world” (starts pacing, click of heels growing faster) Take on the men stupid enough to stand in my way, and watch them fall.”

“So do I.”


“…what? (stops mid-step)”

“Stop saying ‘what’”


“Why? You’re messing me up, and you know it!”

“I’m not messing you up. You’re taking too long to kill me. (eyes locked, unblinking)”


“Why do you want to die!? (the gun is out now, wavering)”

“Why do you want me to live!? (voice fully rises)”


“Because I’m lonel—I-I mean, this is how it works!”


…


“Your hands are shaking.”

“It’s cold in here!”


“You’re lonely. (small smile)”

“No I’m not!”


“You almost admitted it.”

“Slip of the tongue! (sweat beads on her head)”


“You need me.”

“I don’t need you. You don’t need you, (deafening crack)”


…



“I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean too I…I forgot to take the safety off! (trembles)”

(suddenly she’s 17. Suddenly, she’s before the man who hit her, tried to hit her again. The weapons falls from her sweaty palms.)

“Of course…you did, you hate me. (struggles to stand)”

“No no no…I…I (kneels, tries to fix it)”

“I hope you sit here and watch me die, and I hope you die the same way”

“No no no no no”



“Hey.”

(Stares. Can’t stop staring. So much blood)


“I…told you. You…you’re lonely. (barely breathing) How….how could…you regret…this?”

“(races to untie him) While you still breathe, tell me what’s going on.”


“(grunt), you…are so….pathetic (blood corners, seeps through his lips)

“…lonely….regretful”


“(Her finger resists the urge to shoot the mouth)”

“I…can’t believe, (eyes flutter).…….took you this long….”


“never again….”


(immediately, everything starts becoming clear)


“Not….while you……are still staring…..”

“(Unties rope, catches his body to lay on floor)”


“mmm….I envy you…so so much (whispers against her neck, breath fading)…..I want to be you….so so bad…”

“I don’t understand.”


“Y….you will…(lips curl)…when my…..sidekick comes…..to save me…..”


(The door splinters behind them)



“You.”


(her face freezes, barely time to look up)


“I will make this place the last place you stand.”