Page 91 of Drop His Mask

“Good morning, my lovelies! And welcome to your newest round! I’ve missed you, my beautiful and wonderful birdies.” The singing echoed around my subconscious.

Familiar and distorted. Close but far away.

“It is time for all of you lovely contestants to wake up! We don’t have much more time until the games begin!”

My eyes flashed open, and for a few seconds, everything was a blur before slowlyshifting into focus.

Sitting on a cold metal chair, my wrists and ankles were handcuffed down and I couldn’t move. But I could see. The Host’s face filled the entire wall five feet in front of me.

He’s back.

I did not want to think about why the thought was soothing. Why I washappyto see him again.

The piercings that had adorned his face in all the games prior were now noticeably missing, the part of his face not covered by the mask was gaunt and ghostly. His typically styled hair was pushed back by a greasy slick.

He curled his lips, baring his teeth. “You know what they say. All good things must come to an end. But worry not, my beautiful contestants, as I am here to guide you to your victory,” he sang, but his tone was harsh, biting.

Tearing my attention from The Host’s face, I examined where I woke up this time.

It was someplace entirely new…again. A wall five feet in front of me where The Host’s face was projected. A track that seemed to disappear beneath the wall.

A race course?

Even with the realization I was once more in another game, my heart felt lighter, the hours I had spent crying the night before had served to soothe parts of my soul. I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t enjoying being separated from my men, but I was going to get through these trials and be reunited with them.

At least that’s what I would keep telling myself.

Groaning drew my attention from next to me, and turning my head side to side, I was able to confirm that there were just four of us in this concrete room. Griffin, Oleks, 194, and me. Just our team.

Where is everyone else?

The four of us were secured to metal chairs placed five feet apart. I was on one end and was grateful to see 194 the furthest from me on the other side.

The Host cocked his head. “Yes, we are nearing the end, aren’t we? Five teams and seventeen players have made it to this round. Over a month we have spent together. Over a month you have spent with your team. Fostering friendships, forgiveness…love. Let us see what happens when it is put to the test.”

My eyes found Griffin’s, and he lifted his head offering a smug smile.

“The rules on this are to the point. You are no longer connected as a team. If one of you dies, the others will survive. Consider this a lawless game with one goal in mind: to reach the finish line. The last one to do so will perish. It is time to cull the weakest link.”

A race?

Maybe if my body was healed, and I didn’t have a literal hole in my side. But how could I hope to beat the other men? Even if they promised me protection, surely they wouldn’t lose a race on my behalf.

“And as in life, some of you may be given an advantage.” The Host’s dark pupils bled into his irises, appearing nearly monster-like. “My sweet lovelies, my birdies, my swift little bunny. The time isnow.” Where he had sung the rest of the words, “now” was urgent, loud,painful. He barked it. His dark eyes staring pointedly ahead.

Swift little…bunny?

Too many coincidences is not a coincidence.

“Julie?” I whispered nearly inaudibly.

The Host froze, his eyes widening, his mouth opening to speak, and then the screen went blank. The wall, where The Host’s face had been, lowered into the ground. His lyrical voice no longer echoing around us.

It’s him. It’s Julian.

Now that the thought had manifested, it had nowhere to go except to dig its way into my gut. A moment of clarity, a realization so heavy I could never hope to work through it.

Julian. My best friend growing up.

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