Masquerade

~In pursuit~

“You’re lost.”

The little red rabbit insisted to join me on this journey. His quips and constant nagging in my ear has certainly put me in an irritable mood. Skinning a rabbit is child’s play for me, but I wouldn’t save the time and energy on my new blade. The Yoshihiro Mizuyaki Honyaki Mount Fuji knife is a special blade I savor for the most important of people. An obvious blade for the most prestigious chefs that desire perfection and accuracy to cut through raw fish like no other. My intentions, although, are somewhat different. The human face is surprisingly delicate for what it is. Any stroke from a blade must be precise and careful so the characteristics of the original person can remain pure and intact. How blades are used on animals however, is a different story.

            “I never asked for you to come.” I retorted.  
            “It’s been boring lately and I need a bit of entertainment.”  He looks around slowly. “If I’m not mistaken, we’ve passed these trees about three times now.”

            “Haven’t you traveled to his cabin more than once? It would be nice to have a bit of help on how to properly get there.”

            The rabbit chuckles to itself. My irritation only rises with each breathe it lets out. “I came to his cabin decades ago; I’m not too sure how to get there anymore. This fog he manifests doesn’t help either. But…may I ask you a question?”

            “You may.” Any question he ask me, I can’t see myself to fully focus on. The determination I possess to meet this man named Donovan completely engulfs my mind. I didn't even realize the huge shadowy figure looming just ahead of us. Its peering yellow eyes glowed in the darkness as I look up to it. Even the potential threat became inconsequential to me.

            “Why are you so hell-bent on finding this one man? Don’t you possess enough faces already? One more doesn’t seem to add anything new.”

            “Each face I possess holds a significant value. All of them are lived unique and privileged lives of grandiose. Although…none of them seemed to understand their full potential. I despise that. Of all of the well off and beautiful beings in their world, they continue to live in some self-made despair. They will even look into the eyes of the less fortunate with the same attitude, presenting an even more false sense of humbleness, knowing they are destined for greatness.”

            “You think this new guy is one of them?”

            “I’m not certain for sure, but…Something draws me to him.”

            “Hmm, I can’t wait for this romantic story to take off.”

            “I wish you were more useful than just idle talk.”

            “Oh please, you love having me around. Plus what if something happens at-”

            I subconsciously blocked him out. The further I traverse in this murky forest, the more I began to believe to be genuinely lost. I don’t want to subject myself to ask the crimson rabbit for help, as he will hold it over me  longer than necessary. Then, the creature appeared before us. I didn’t realize how close we've come towards it. Even the rabbit hadn't noticed until moments later. It stood stall and scaly with piercing eyes and jagged arms that stretched well beyond its knees. I wasn’t sure how to go about reacting with this unknown creature. My hands instinctively motioned for my blade resting in my side pocket, but then it raised its arm, pointing in a direction without as much as breaking its leering eyesight from me. I looked to where it was directing us, while simultaneously keeping it within my peripheral. The cabin stood slightly obscured in the distance by the fog. I began to walk towards it in a certain awkward angle to keep the creature within eyesight. I could feel its vision stabbing me behind my neck. This unnerving feeling is pure bloodlust. A feeling I am all too familiar with.

            “You’re shaking,” Said the rabbit.

            “You think of me frighten?”

            “I think you’re cold.” Perceptive the little animal was if I do say so myself. I rarely wore any kind of upper layer of clothing. At times, my craft would become too messy, and would ruin the majority of my wardrobe. I opted to only wear black slacks without any kinds of shoes to compliment. I think my simplicity to remain minimalistic has backfired now. I became so use to the warm comforting feeling of blood, that any speckled form of the cold immediately hurts at the slightest touch of my skin and ego. “It’s okay, I’ll gift you something. I wouldn’t want you to catch a sickness before walking into that cabin. Although…I guess with your current state of mind, it’s too late.”

            The crimson rabbit hops slightly in the air off my right shoulder it all was too comfortably sitting on, and a deep black blazer, complimenting the same shade as the slacks I wore, manifest over my upper body. It fitted well and kept me relatively warm…relatively.

            “No undershirt? Seems counter intuitive if I may say” I said.

            “Are you begging now? You know it’s not polite to be choosey. Oh, there’s the cabin.”

            My attention locks ahead of me. The deceptively small and worn-out mess of a shed still eludes me as to why he chooses an unattractive looking place of business, although, it isn’t my place to dwell on such trivial thoughts. I approach the front door with precise caution. There isn’t anything more unwelcomed than surprises in this line of work, with these kinds of powerhouses. I knock, only to be welcomed by a flurry of swears and questions. I forgot about the damn gnome.

            “I’m surprised to see your non-existent-face lookin’ ass around here. Whad’ya want?”

            I look down and noticed a slight crack going down its left eye. I’ll ask why later when I’m more curious, my main goal still possesses me. “Is he in?” I responded.

            “Yeah, but he’s got company. Ya gonna have to wait.”

            “Might I interject?” The rabbit throws itself in the conversation. I only just now thought about it doing that when I speak with Mr. Plague. I might kill it here while I have a chance to avoid any future annoyance. “It’s quite cold outside, and this is an urgent matter.”

            “Holy shit, I haven’t seen your sadistic ass in a long time too bunny. What’s with all this sudden pop up of old friends?” Friends…are a loose term.

            “Please, it’s urgent.”

            The gnome pauses and blinks very slowly at us. I’ve never actually seen it put that much thought towards a response, since it seems to have a quick tongue to any kind of question or demand it’s presented. “…okay.” That was its only response until the door creaks open. I glanced at the opening with warm light spilling out and back at the gnome. It looked back with contempt as I proceeded in.

            A shiver runs through my spine as two ocular circles pierce my very being. I’ve seen him so many times, but could never quite get use to his stare. He sat cross-legged in his overly exquisite chair while resting his hands upon his knee. His presence commanded attention, and it acquired with no problem. But my attention slowly gravitated towards his supposed earlier guest sitting just a few feet in front. I was hoping it to be Donovan himself, but disappointment rears its ugly head again. What sat before him was a being on par, if not more powerful than Mr. plague himself. Their stature was taller and lanky, only hidden by an over-sized light blue robe that covered every inch of the body except its deep black hands. The hood that covered its face only obscured a black square-like mask with a smaller white lined rectangular design to give some semblance of a face to look into. Nightmare was his name. There is no worse position that anyone could be in, than the presence of these two powerful beings. Their motives and morals escape everyone with a slight spec of understanding, and they hold each other in high regards.           

            “Aaaahhh…one of your previous works interrupted our conversation.” Nightmare slowly shakes his head “Such bad manners this one.”

            “Oh yes, this peculiar specimen always gave me much trouble. Masquerade, please allow us to finish our conversation.”

            I haven’t heard my name said aloud in so long. My since of identity is slipping day by day it seems. Before I could utter a response, Nightmare extends his lengthy arms towards me to cover my face with his deep black hands. I instinctively reached for my blade but my body became paralyzed, my vision succumbs to darkness, and my mind begins to fall between reality and dream…no, a nightmare. I remember why he holds that name so well. I descend into the deepest layers of my subconscious. I remember one of the worst possible realizations for anyone is to be presented their own insanity. To be presented their own mind, only then to realize just how broken it really is. I succumb to the darkness, and fall forever.