The Book of Masks (Vol. 2)

Why You Should Never Dig Up Your Mistakes

Previously: "Some Romantic Backstory" 

You twist and writhe on your bed as you try to figure out what to do. You weren't even that excited about going on this "double date," not with Lisa and Geoff as the other couple, and you felt more or less ambushed into it. Lisa's text, telling you that you'd be going with Laura rather than Elle, seems like a good excuse to back out of the whole thing.

At the same time, it doesn't feel like a good excuse at all. You've nothing against Laura—you like her at least as much as Elle—and it would be a shit thing to tell Lisa that you'll go out with one girl but not the other when that's not even the reason.

So when you text Lisa back, you make up an excuse: Was gon to txt u to cancel anywy caleb neds me for thing tmorw. Lisa is quick to convey her regrets, and you leave it there.

But you send Laura a text as well: Hey, going to hve to cancel on soccer meet thing tmorw my frend caleb needs me for a thing. And: Mayb hang out aftr schol nxt wk?. You can't tell from the tone of Laura's reply (Sure sorry to miss u, talk soon) if she's upset or completely fine with you backing out this way. You tell yourself that you will make a point of hanging out with her next week.

Then you text Caleb to find out what he's doing tomorrow at two o'clock, and to tell him that, whatever it is, he will need your assistance.

* * * * *

"God, I can't thank you enough for helping me out this way," you tell Caleb the next night. "I'm so pathetically grateful that I just have to suck your cock."

"What are you going on about?" Caleb peevishly asks as he hurls another shovelful of dirt over his shoulder.

"That's what you should be saying to me, asshole," you retort as you also scoop out a shovelful of dirt. "For fuck's sake, don't go home, Will," you say in a mewling lisp, " without letting me suck you off."

"You only got yourself to blame, dickface," Caleb retorts. "If you'd helped me out the other day after school like I asked you to—"

Yes, this is about that dumb thumb drive. You and Caleb are digging up the time capsule so he can take it out and replace it with a different one. It's like your fantasy of tearing up the school grounds has come to life, only with a shovel instead of a bulldozer. And it's a lot less fun

Caleb had no plans when you called him earlier, but he sure as hell seized on your offer to "do something" with him. Only he twisted it into a plan to help him with this impromptu archaeological dig at ten o'clock at night. You decided to go along with it because maybe it would get him to finally forgive you for not helping him earlier.

"What if we accidentally dig up the wrong capsule, one from last year or ten years ago?" you ask as you continue to scoop out rock and dirt. "There's gotta be, like, dozens or even hundreds of them here by now."

"Mr. Walberg is not hundreds of years old," Caleb retorts as he chops at the earth with the blade of his shovel. "He only acts like it."

"But other teachers—"

"And we're digging right were the thing was buried yesterday morning. See? The dirt's all loose and there isn't any grass. Jesus, Will, there are times when I think you really are dumber than Tilley."

"Hey, do you wanna finish digging this hole all by yourself?"

"And third, there aren't any other time capsules here. Just ours."

"Bullshit! I know for a fact they buried one last year—"

"They dig them up again after a few days, put 'em in a storeroom somewhere."

"What? Who told you that?"

"Ioeger did, when I told him I wanted to dig the thing up. He told me I better hurry before the groundskeepers dug it up first."

"How does he know that's what they do?"

"Because Ioeger and Lamont know more about what goes on at this school than anyone else. They got friends on staff or something."

You stop digging. "I still think he's bullshitting you. Him and his boyfriend maybe know a lot about what goes on, but I bet he was just winding you up."

"How come?"

"Don't you think he'd laugh his ass off at the thought of you digging the capsule up because you're afraid the school's gonna dig it up first?" You glance around. "Him and Lamont are probably out there watching us with a pair of night-vision glasses, el-oh-elling and high-fiving each other and recording us on their smart phones. We'll be lucky if they don't post the footage on-line."

Caleb pauses to stare at you. It's dark, but you can see the doubt on his face. Then he resumes digging.

"Yeah, well, even if it is bullshit, I got my own reasons for digging it up."

You resume digging too, on theory that the faster you get the thing dug up, the sooner the nightmare will be over. And yet, you seem to have spooked yourself with your own theory about Carson and James, for you get the feeling that you are being watched, and the night breeze seems to carry voices on it.

* * * * *

Sunday is a day of missed opportunities. Your cousin Umeko performs a recital at church, but you have to miss it when one of the church kids barfs all over your pants just before the service, and your dad gives you the keys to send you home to change. You barely have time to change into new pants and get back before church lets out. You don't mind missing church, but you do regret missing your adopted cousin's recital, because you have a small crush on her and would love the chance to compliment her on her flute playing.

Then, at lunch, you get a text from Jack Li, wondering if you're up for anything, and you're forced to decline because of family obligations. Then Keith and Caleb turn out to be busy with their own stuff, and you wind up wasting a perfectly decent Sunday afternoon upstairs in your room.

But the dull, unadventurous day turns baffling and a little scary when you get a text that evening from a number you don't recognize. I know what u did last night, it says.

You stare at the words, and feel all the blood leaving your fingers and hands. Wat did I do last nite? you reply. Who is this?

I'm the person who knows wat u did last night. But dont worry I wont tell. A winking emoji is attached.

Wat did I do last nite? you type in no little panic.

U know what u did. Who was in the cofin?

It takes you a moment to realize they're talking about the capsule you and Caleb did. You lick your lips.

I'm telling u bc I like u, the unknown person continues. Dont worry. Evryone tomrw will know what u did but tehy wont no it was u. Bc it wastn.

I dont know what ur talkng about.

Who was in the cofin?

I ddnt dig up a coffin!!!!!!!

lol

While you're still trying to figure out what there is to LOL over, a link to a video comes through. When you play it, you almost drop the phone. Though the picture is dark, you can make out two skinny figures digging in a field next to a wall. Their faces are impossible to make out, but one of them is wearing a sloppy ball cap like you favor, and is wearing the same cut of cargo shorts as you like to wear. From off screen you can hear low voices and laughter, and the guttural curses of teenage boys.

Glad u buried it again, your interlocutor texts while you're still watching the video. Wht did u take out?

Fury boils up inside you. Fuck u Carson fucku fuck u fuck u!!!!!

lol

That's the last you hear from whoever it is, even after you send a long screedy text filled with every profanity, obscenity, and combination thereof that you can think of.

Then, cold with fear, you text Caleb.

* * * * *

"It wasn't Ioeger and it wasn't Lamont," Caleb tells you the next morning when you meet him in the school parking lot.

"Why?" you demand. "Because they say it wasn't them?" You're still boiling with anger. Anger and fear.

"Well, they say it wasn't them, and they got an alibi. They were at a party with some guys, up near the university while we were out here."

"Pssh! Just friends covering for them."

"Maybe," Caleb sighs. "But you better hope it was them. Because they wouldn't get us in trouble with that video." He gives you a look.

Your heart sinks with cold realization of how much trouble you might be in. "Fuck."

"Exactly. Just keep your shit together, man."

You bridle. "Why me especially?"

"'Cos you're the one they contacted. They probably figure you're the weak link."

"Weak link for what?"

"For whatever they're up to."

"Yeah, well, maybe they texted me because they just recognized me and not you!"

"Maybe. I don't know why you want them to know who you are."

"I don't—! Jesus, man!" You give up on trying to argue with him.

Because he's right. It is creepy that they know who you are. You don't know who they are, though. You ran their number through the internet, and got back a name—Clover Mystery—that is obviously fake.

The worst part of the threat, though, is the promise that today "everyone" would know what you and Caleb did. What are they threatening to hold over you?

Next: "Time and Punishment" 

*
"Table of Contents (Vol. 2)" 
"The Book of Masks (Vol. 2)"