Chapter #12The Probation of Gordon Black by: Seuzz   "How long will it take to make a mask?" Jeremy asks.
"Awhile, I think," you say. "I've never made one, I've just used the ones that Professor Blackwell had. From what I remember, though, I think it takes a couple of days." Jeremy gives you a puzzled look. "I've been inside the professor's mask," you explain, "but I don't remember much of what he knows."
"We're going to leave Gordon locked up for a couple of days?" Jeremy asks, looking and sounding aghast.
You see his point, and grimace. You pull at your nose, thinking. Then a loud popping sound reminds you of where you are. "I better get back inside Gordon," you say, scrambling over to where the mask is. "If someone catches us up here, with me like this ..."
* * * * *
It turns out it's just a noise, but you do feel safer dressed out as Gordon again. Jeremy keeps shooting you sidelong glances, though, especially when you suggest going down into the gym and tossing a basketball around. You take turns doing free throws--it helps Gordon clear his mind, which helps you clear your mind--and you find it very odd to be giving Jeremy advice and pointers on his form and technique. He probably finds it weird too, because the guy who looks like Gordon is being quiet and encouraging instead of screaming and insulting.
Eventually an idea forms--a tricky idea, a dangerous idea. Jeremy rears back and argues when you explain it, but accedes when you point out there isn't really an alternative. But he's grim and thoughtful as you drive out to Blackwell's villa--after first making a stop at Gordon's house--with him and Will Prescott.
"Keep it behind your back until I've got him," you tell Jeremy a short time later as you hand the Prescott mask to him. "Even with two of us, and me dressed up like this, we're gonna have to take him by surprise." You drop your old clothes next to the transformed Blackwell, who is laying next to the mausoleum, and then you and Jeremy walk around to the front. You position yourself by the door and nod at him.
He bangs on the door. "Hey, Gordon, you in there?" he calls. Silence. "Gordon?" he calls again. Muffled noises come from within, and an inarticulate voice sounds. "Hang on, I've got the key," Jeremy says. He twists it in the lock, and steps back.
You press back against the wall as the door opens. "Richards?" Gordon says in a dumb voice as he steps out--totally naked, of course. Then he catches sight of you. Luckily, he's too surprised to react, and you quickly grab and wrap your arms around him. There's a brief struggle, and you holler at Richards for help, and he smacks the side of your face as he pushes the mask onto Gordon. Your prisoner is suddenly very liquid and slips from your grasp. But it's Will Prescott who hits the ground.
Jeremy trots around the corner to retrieve your old clothes, then helps you carefully scoop the new Prescott up and hurry him into the house. He's not heavy--certainly not too heavy for guys like Gordon Black and Jeremy Richards to handle--but you take him into the library instead of upstairs. You loathe that ugly room--the twisted décor and the infernal ticking of the grandfather clocks--but it will probably help the new Will get oriented to his situation.
He's stirring even as you set him down in a chair, and you and Jeremy sit on the opposite side of the table from him. He clutches his head, and groans. His expression, when he raises his face, mixes alarm and confusion. You say nothing as his eyes settle on you; his eyes widen in surprise, and then they narrow in puzzlement. He glances over at Jeremy, then looks around the room. His lips press together. Then he slouches and glares balefully at you.
You lean forward, resting your elbows on the table. "I bet it's all kind of fucked up in there," you say, pointing at his face. "You've got two brains, and one of them's been doing some pretty crazy things." He says nothing. "But I can help you get it sorted. Lemme tell you a story."
You start by telling Gordon about the last few days of his real life: How Lisa Vredenburg called him out to a spooky old house, and how he got trapped in a dark and dirty place for a couple of days before being rescued and finding himself in this library. "Now, let me tell you another story." You tell him the public adventures of Will Prescott, who found a weird book and paid a visit to this weird house, and how he went home and then came back and got in a panic when he found a secret room empty; how he ran off and started making some masks; how he had those masks stolen by some bullying basketball players and then got lured out to the high school, where he was tackled again by those same bullies--one of whom, Gordon Black, turned out not to be who he appeared to be.
Your twin continues to listen intently as you then tell him a third story--that of Professor Blackwell, who liked to duplicate and replace people--and of how it was Professor Blackwell, disguised as Will Prescott, who was making those masks. And then you tell him your own story, of escaping from the professor and imprisoning Gordon in order to battle the nefarious professor, who is now no longer a threat.
"You know all these things, and remember most of them," you finally conclude. "I haven't told you much you couldn't have figured out on your own. But now you've got it all in the right order, attached to the right people. You know who you are and you know who I am, and you know how we all got here."
"Yeah," he says dully. He's tense and moody, and looks at you and Jeremy with loathing. "So what are you going to do now? As if I couldn't guess. Cocksucker."
You slap the table hard with a big, strong hand. "I know the way you think, Black," you bark, and he flinches. "I know what you'd do to me and Jeremy if we let you out of that mask. You think I couldn't break you, me looking like this and you looking like that?" Fear comes into his face. "That's totally what you'd do to me, if you and me switched back." His face twists and his lip curls.
You hold his gaze, daunting him for a few moments, then relax. "Well, I am going to let you out. But I need to find a hiding place first. Someplace you won't find me." You glance at Jeremy. "Someplace for Richards, too. That'll take a week or so. But when we've got it set up, got us some new lives, we'll let you out. You can go back to being the asshole you really are."
His nostrils flare, and something like a smile comes into his eyes, but it's not a nice smile. So you drop the other half.
"Or maybe we won't let you out." That catches his attention. "You're going to be living my old life for a week or so, and you could really fuck it up if you wanted. If you do fuck it up, I'll leave you right where you are, and you'll have to live with the consequences." You give him a tight, meaningful grin. "So think of it like you're on probation. You play nice with your temporary life, and you get to have your old life back. If you don't, well, it'll suck to be you, and it'll be your own fault."
Now he looks a little more scared. He licks his lips and looks around. Something, perhaps, catches his attention, for with a jerk he looks over his shoulder. (To be fair, there are a lot of things in the library to make one jumpy.) Then, with obvious resignation, he jerks his shoulders in a shrug. "Whatever," he says. He glances darkly at Jeremy. "Anything else?"
"No. Here's your new shit." You hurl your old clothes--still torn from Blackwell's transformation--at him. "Me and Richards will wait for you by the door." He sneers over the t-shirt, but starts to put it on as you and Richards pass into the foyer.
"He's pissed," Jeremy says in a low voice as you loiter near the exit.
"Obviously. I'd be too. So would you."
"What do you think he'll do?"
"I dunno," you admit. "He can't get out of that mask on his own. His only hope is to do what we tell him. But he might be so pissed he'll do something stupid."
"So what do we do?"
"Make up those new masks."
He jerks in surprise. "I thought you said that was just going to be a bluff, that we weren't really going to ... you know, find new people. We were just going to be ourselves, but make him think we weren't."
"Yeah, and that's still the plan. But it's best to be prepared."
"What do we do about Seth?"
"I don't know," you confess. "He's a loose end." Words seem to catch in Jeremy's throat. You nudge him reassuringly. "We just need to keep him quiet, stop him from asking questions." You glance over your shoulder into the library. "If he gets to talking to the real Gordon in there ..."
"Maybe we could just tell him to stay away from ... Prescott."
"That's not the best idea, but it'll do. Okay, let's get out of here," you say more loudly, for a very sullen Will Prescott has appeared.
You retrieve a few more things from Jeremy's car--which you used to get out here--and then send him to drop off Will at his new home, asking him to come back and pick you up when he's done. Once they're gone, you're left regarding Blackwell's mask. Gordon might try something nasty, but who says you have to be at Westside to receive it?  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author