Tom and Leo's first steps into the basement echoed throughout the rocky structure. The air within the dark cavernous basement was thick and repulsive to their noses, but they had grown somewhat accustomed to the basement's stench in their previous visit. What the pair didn't expect was an unnerving feeling that gripped their hearts. It was as if something was watching them from just beyond the reach of their torches light.
Leo's hair stood as the feeling set in and looked to his left towards Tom. The old man nodded his head to alert Leo that he was feeling the exact same presence that was emanating from deep within the basement's bowels. Tom motioned for Leo to turn off his torch and turned off his torch a moment later. Leo followed suit and the pair were left in the darkness.
They were going to try to navigate as best they could in the dark and use their torches sparingly to avoid alerting anything that had made the basement its home.
Even though both of them had turned off their torches, the sense of being watched persisted, leaving both of the men on edge. Either whatever was here had no need of light, which wasn't out of the realm of possibilities due to the environment, or its very presence made anyone nearby fear its gaze. Or rather, maybe the mask it wore did.
Leo's mind immediately came to the conclusion that another streetwalker had taken up residence. After his harrowing encounter with the streetwalker he had killed, Leo's suspicion that the puritans were involved with the streetwalkers was all but confirmed in his mind. The strange black mask it wore reminded him of the pure masks, and it seemed to have similar properties.
That said, while it gave the creature great strength, judging by how the blood he controlled destroyed the black mask almost effortlessly, it was clearly weaker than the pure mask Leo wore. Leo couldn't quite remember if the first streetwalker he had encountered wore a black mask, but thinking back to the incident he was almost certain it had.
Not that Leo had exactly a good look at the thing, his dad shielded him from most of the sight as they ducked into an empty building before it noticed them. All he could remember was its extremely pale skin and the sickening aura it exerted.
"Let's make this quick, I don't want to find out what is hiding in this place. It gives me the creeps." The old man whispered in a sour tone.
Leo began to nod his head in agreement before catching himself, in the dark Tom was clearly unable to see him.
"Something was probably drawn here by the pure mask." Leo whispered his response. From the first time he wore the pure mask, Leo got the feeling that the object was almost alive in a sense. It made plans and influence the world in strange ways to achieve its goals.
Keeping this in mind, Leo almost wondered if this was all part of its plan. What he didn't understand yet was why draw something here? Leo was already planning on returning, in fact he didn't return sooner because the masks sickening presence, and the darkness of the basement was enough to dissuade any would be explorers that would happen upon it.
The two men began to walk through the basement, slowly trying to remember the layout. After bumping into a few pieces of garbage and making moderate amount of noise, Tom stopped Leo.
"This isn't working. One moment, I got an old miner trick I think might be useful."
Suddenly there was a dim light illuminating their way. Barely enough to make out the path, but that was all they needed. Leo was confused for a moment until he saw that the old man had simply hidden the torch under his clothing and turned it on. Following suit, he soon had his own dim light.
The position was a little awkward, but a little bit of discomfort paled in comparison to the ability to see. As the pair continued deeper into the basement, the eerie feeling continued to intensify, slowing their walk to a crawl.
At first, they hadn't noticed, but a few minutes later their bodies had begun to revolt. The creature hiding in the darkness exuded a disturbing authority over this place and practically shook them to their very bones. Their own bodies were beginning to reject their commands, as each step they took was taxing, every movement a struggle, every breath a battle. Leo could feel sweat forming underneath his clothing.
Something primal in their bodies was trying to run away even if their minds didn't register what was happening. Once Leo realized just how tired he was and how taxing this simple walk was, he wasn't sure if it was worth continuing any further and risk their deaths.
Tom stumbled as his legs began to seize, and his torch burst from his clothing and light flooded the area. Thinking quickly, Tom practically jumped to the floor and covered the torch with his body. Both of them ceased breathing, fearing that even the tiniest noise would alert the whatever monster was in the basement with them.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds before Tom began to stand back up, his torch situated under his clothing once more. Nothing had stirred for the next minute as the pair stood and waited, until finally they were satisfied and continued to walk.
Soon they encountered the clearing that the streetwalker had made its home. Leo motioned for Tom to wait here and began to walk ahead to scout. After using the dim light that the torch provided to illuminate the clearing, Leo could not find any signs of life. The bedding that the streetwalker made was left undisturbed, the bones and rotten meat left untouched aside from a few rats scurrying around.
Satisfied with his brief inspection of the clearing Leo turned to face Tom.
"Tom, all clear." he whispered to the old man, but the old man just stood there.
"Tom?" Leo said a little louder and began to walk back towards the entrance of the clearing.
Finally, he heard a response as he stepped closer to the pathway.
"Leo this place... we should leave now; the mask will be fine. I'm afraid we won't be able to return if we go any further."
"It'll be ok Tom; we are just checking on the mask and then leaving right away." Then taking a step backwards, Leo was shocked by the words that escaped his mouth. He had intended to agree with the old man's suggestion, but something inside his mind twisted his words.
"We should hurry up and check on the mask then." Tom replied, his voice giving away the terror that was consuming his mind. It seemed that whatever influence was clouding Leo's mind, had taken ahold of Tom as well.
Every fiber of Leo's body was screaming that they needed to leave, and a piece of his mind recognized the urgency; but he was unwilling, or rather unable. For a brief moment, Leo couldn't understand why he was unable to act upon this concern, but soon he understood.
As Tom approached Leo, he could have sworn he saw something reflected in Tom's eyes. It was Leo's reflection, wearing the pure mask.
***
The pair continued to walk through the darkness of the basement, and while the pressure only seemed to increase on Tom, at some point it had begun to lessen for Leo. At first Leo didn't realize the change, but the labored breaths that Tom was exhaling compared to the ease at which Leo was now walking alerted him to the differences.
This change came to a head when Tom's pace had all but stopped, the old man wheezing for air and his legs refusing to go any further. Leo stopped in place and turned towards the old man.
"Tom? What's wrong?" Leo whispered.
"Leo I can't go any further, my body refuses to move an inch." An eerie chill washed over Leo as Tom said those words.
Leo hadn't realized how badly Tom was suffering due to the strength that was welling within his chest. Meanwhile, the pressure had pushed Tom's body to the brink, and he was unable to resist it any longer.
Leo almost wondered if this was part of the mask's plan. Lure something here that would prevent ordinary slumfolk from approaching, while Leo would be unable to reach it with someone to help him resist its influence.
The more he thought about it, the more he was certain this was the pure masks doing and a moment of clarity pierced through the haze his mind was in. Now realizing the thoroughness of the mask's plans, he was certain that the vigor that flowed through his veins was the mask's doing.
The small piece of his mind that achieved this clarity was not strong enough to turn back, but it could at least use this moment to get Tom out.
Leo cursed in his mind at his recklessness, he should have prepared more, told more of his friends that he might not come back. But how could he have known? Tom's body was shivering in fear as Leo's torch illuminated his body, Tom was clearly terrified.
Taking off his mask with a sigh Leo spoke plainly, his mind clear for this one moment. "Tom, I'll go on ahead, the mask won't let me return. If I don't return, tell the meal girls to pass a message to a Haily, that I'm sorry and to give her this."
He placed the pale-yellow mask in Tom's hand and hugged the man before sending him back. Leo then turned around once more and began to make his way towards the mask. As he walked, he could feel the creature's presence pressing against him with a new sense of urgency.
As the mask's influence began to war with the creature, Leo could feel his head pounding. His mind began to warp under the strain, and in the dark, alone and with no help he began to see things. At first it was just a figure standing in the corner of his vision, just out of sight.
At first Leo was able to rationalize that there was nothing actually there; slowly though the figures became more numerous as Leo moved deeper into the basement. Then he saw the figure leaning against a pillar.
It was himself, wearing the pure mask. Darkness had no effect on the figment and appeared to be standing in broad daylight. Leo's pace began to increase, as if trying to run away from the figure. Soon Leo was running and then suddenly stopped. He had reached the room that housed the pure mask.
Leo tentatively took a step into the room. Leo couldn't see anything in the room and then suddenly a voice whispered to him. It was his own voice. The light in Leo's eyes danced like flame, and a madness had consumed his mind. Any rational thought he had was drowned in the pure desire to obtain the mask.
Another step, and then another. The torch dropped to the ground and rolled; the metallic object's fall echoed within the room. Leo paid it no mind and continued towards the corner that housed the mask.
A small sliver of Leo's mind was going mad in protest, alarm bells ringing and yet his body seemingly ignored any command that it gave. Leo finally reached the rubble that hid the pure mask and slowly began to clear it away. His hand touched the strange white material, and it almost glowed under the light of the torch.
As he lifted it from the ground Leo was overcome with desire. Flipping it around he placed the mask upon his face and pure bliss exploded throughout his body. The power, the strength and finally his mind cleared.
Then he heard the soft breathing of a streetwalker as it entered the room. Leo turned around just in time to see the diminutive creature, no taller than a child, wearing a black mask walk in. Then a horrific screech echoed throughout the basement.