The Mask

Boy: “Miji get away from there!”

A boy came up behind her and grabbed her arm.

Miji didn’t look at him. Her gaze was fixed on the opening in front of her.

The boy behind her bit his lip. He couldn’t have been older than thirteen years old.

His black hair contrasted his blue eyes.

Boy: “Miji, mom told us not to go near the opening.”

Miji finally turned back to him.

Her hair was cut short. It was black just like her brother’s.

Miji: “I know.”

Rowan pulled her away from the opening in the wall. The stone spread from the wall and covered even the floor and ceiling.

The underground was safe. It was a bit cramped. But it was home.

Although…

Rowan looked back at the opening.

Rowan: “Only the divers can go out the opening.”

Miji frowned.

Rowan’s expression hardened.

Rowan: “One day, I’m going to be one of them. Actually, not just one of them. I’m going to be the Mask.”

Miji blinked.

She looked back at the opening.

Rowan released her arms.

Rowan: “Let’s go back. Mom’s probably wondering where we went.”

Rowan started to drag Miji away.

She stared at the opening as he pulled her. Then she finally relented and hurried to catch up to her brother.

—

The two made their way through the city. It wasn’t very large, but there were still numerous people making their way around.

A baker stepped out into an alley to dump his old bread. A butcher cut some kind of meat through a shop window. A tailor helped a customer pick out clothes.

Miji looked up. Large lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating the city streets.

One of the street vendors called to the two as they passed.

Vendor: “Ay, Rowan. Your dad need any more clothes?”
Rowan waved his hands in front of him.

Rowan: “Sorry, but I think he’s good for now.”

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow.

Vendor: “Are you sure? Last I checked, he’s grown two sizes since last week!”

The man let out a loud laugh.

Rowan forced a grin onto his face.

Miji looked between the two.

Miji: “What does that mean?”

The shopkeeper glanced at her. His smile faded.

Vendor: “Don’t worry about it, little lady.”

Rowan waved to the man.

Rowan: “Nice to see you.”

The man waved back.

Rowan pulled on Miji’s arm. She lurched forward.

Rowan: “Come on, Miji. I told you not to talk unless someone talks to you first.”

Miji looked at him.

Miji: “But he was talking to us.”

Rowan: “ME. He was talking to me. Not us.”
Miji swallowed.

Rowan tightened his grip on her hand.

Miji looked down at the stone floor beneath her feet. She tripped then caught herself.

She looked back in the direction of the opening.

She sighed.

—

Rowan: “We’re home, Mom.”
Rowan took off his shoes.

Miji stepped in beside him.

A woman stepped over from around the corner.

Woman: “Did you buy the meat from the man I told you to?”

Rowan held out a bit of meat in his hands.

Rowan: “Yes, mom.”

Mother: “Good.”

The two’s mother looked over at Miji.

She frowned.

Mother: “Miji, how many times do I have to tell you to take off your shoes when you enter my house?”

Miji looked down at her feet.

Miji: “Sorry.”

She hastily removed the shoes.

Her mother sighed.

Miji’s shoulders sagged.

Rowan glanced at her.

Mother: “Dinner will be ready in an hour.”

Their mother grabbed the meat from Rowan and walked into the kitchen.

Rowan walked off without another word.

Miji stood at the door for a beat. She swallowed.

Then she started off for her room.

—

Rowan: “Come quick!”

Miji sat up in her bed.

She looked at the door.

The sound came again.

Rowan: “Mom, Miji, you’re going to miss it!”
Miji scrambled out of bed. The covers were thrown onto the ground.

She turned the handle to her door and made her way out.

Rowan was already putting on his shoes when she saw him.

Rowan: “Miji, put your shoes on! We’re gonna miss it!’
Rowan finished putting on his shoe and threw open the door to the house.

Miji rushed to put on her shoes. They were taking a moment.

She ran her hand through her hair. She looked at the open door in front of her.

Miji: “Ugh!”

She jumped out the door.

Her shoes stayed in the house.

—

Miji pushed through the crowd that had formed in the street.

Miji: “Rowan?”

She fell down onto the ground as someone pushed their way in front of her.

She pulled herself back up and kept scanning the crowd.

Miji: “Rowan, where are you?”

The crowd drowned out her voice.

She desperately jumped up and down, trying to catch a glimpse of him.

She stopped and took a step back.

She looked around. There was a house behind her. The roof was fairly low.

Miji took a few steps back. She took a breath. Then she jumped up.

She grabbed onto the windowsill and kicked her legs beneath her to stabilize herself.

She grimaced, using all of her strength to pull herself up. Once she got onto the windowsill, she looked up and jumped once more. She grabbed the siding of the roof.

It bent slightly as she grabbed it.

Miji gasped, but her grip held.

She pulled herself up.

She took a moment to catch her breath.

Then she sat down and pulled her legs into her chest.

She scanned the crowd for Rowan once again. No luck.

Someone shouted from the crowd.

“Here they come!”

The crowd started cheering louder.

Miji looked out at the opening.

It was the only way in or out of the city.

Coming out of it was a group of men dressed in all black. One of them waved as they wheeled in a large carriage behind them.

Miji’s eyes widened. She stared as they lugged in their haul.

Lizards, spiders, wolves, and many more monsters lay dead inside the giant carriages.

The crowd spoke beneath her.

“Looks like they got a spider this time.”

“I wonder what they had to go through to bring those back?”

“Look! He’s about to come out.”

The crowd seemed to hold its breath for a moment.

Miji leaned forward.

A man walked out last. He was also in all black, but he was taller than everyone else.

Covering his face was a mask. It had teeth that pointed outward and red beady eyes. Out of the nostrils, smoke seemed to rise from it.

A long black cloak covered the rest of his body. Only his feet were visible as he walked.

Miji swallowed.

Miji: “The mask.”

She mouthed it along to herself.

Then she froze. The Mask turned.

For a second, it seemed like he was looking at her…

She leaned a little farther forward to get a better look.

Suddenly she lost her center of balance on the roof.

She felt herself start to slide down.

She frantically grabbed back at the shingles behind her, but it was to no avail.

She tried to plant her feet, but her socks were too slippery.

She continued slipping down the roof.

She closed her eyes as she felt her body fall downwards.

“Oof!”

She landed on top of a group of guys and bounced off of them onto the ground.

“What the?”

The guys froze, rubbing the back of their necks.

They looked at the girl who had landed in front of them.

Then back at the roof.

One of the guys stepped forward.

Man: “Hey girl, what do you think you’re doi—”

He stopped talking as someone walked in front of him.

It was Rowan.

Rowan: “Hey, it’s okay. She didn’t mean anything bad by it. She’s just clumsy.”

Rowan turned around and glared at her.

Rowan: “Right, Miji?”

Miji looked away.

Rowan: “And she’s really sorry. Right, Miji?”

Miji bit her lip.

Miji: “Sorry.”

The guys looked between the two.

Man: “Whatever. Move out of the way now, I’m missing it.”

Rowan: “Of course. Thank you so much!”

Rowan grabbed Miji’s arm. Hard.

Miji: “Ow! Rowan!”

Rowan didn’t look at her.

Miji: “Rowan, we’re missing it!”

Rowan stopped. He turned to her.

Rowan: “Can you not mess things up just one time? I mean seriously. Climbing onto a roof? What were you even thinking?”

Miji swallowed. She turned back to the crowd.

Miji: “I just wanted to see the mask.”

Rowan glared at her.

Rowan: “Why would you want to see the mask? It’s not like you can ever be one of them. You’re a girl! And a klutz on top of that. You would never be chosen.”

Miji balled her fists. Tears welled in her eyes.

Rowan hesitated. He looked away.

Rowan: “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

Miji: “I hate you!”

Miji broke his grip.

She stormed away.

Rowan pursed his lips. He looked back at the crowd. Then he sighed and went after her.