Masked Murder
Part Two: Viewer Discretion Advised
Mason, and his trusted few colleagues, sat before the television, watching with curiosity as the tape began to play. It began with a warning, letting the viewers know that this may be something they do not want to watch, it simply read: Viewer Discretion Advised. It faded and then revealed a totally white room with a round table covered in a black cloth. The detective scanned over it for a time as nothing else as revealed, puzzled by this setup, trying to calculate what would happen and what this was about. For a brief moment, Mason thought he saw the cloth move but he could not be sure if it was some outside force of air or if there was something moving the cloth.
His attention shifted as soon as black robed figures entered the room, each wearing a peculiar mask, each of a different height. Mason began to jot down notes in his pad of paper, size difference, mask styles, material types, the room, anything that was remotely important. He decided to focus on the masks. “Pause,” He said, moving closer to the television, scrutinizing the details. Each one was different yet each gave something about its wearer, assuming they were the sociopathic type.
“What can you tell me about the masks?” He asked the few in the room, feeling out there responses. Miles spoke first. “The short one,” He said, singling out the most obvious choice in the group. “It’s a child’s doll…” Mason nodded in agreement however this was obvious so he moved onto the next person. “Audra?” He prompted the stern, young woman, her arms crossed, her eyes burning a hole in the screen. Without breaking her stare, she replied. “The one wearing the flammable sign,” She pointed out the one towards the middle of the table, eye holes cut into a metal sign that was fused with a leather cowl donned over the head of the figure, hiding any usable features for identification. “My buddy in Arson has mentioned that mask in a few cases but with no leads or real information to call viable.” Detective Dark nodded his head again, this time pleased with what he heard. “That one is yours then, keep a watch on them and make it your priority to identify and gather intel.” He looked over at the only one left in the room beside himself, his partner Axel Williams, Mason motioning with his head to take a crack at another mask. “The snake mask…” Axel began, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes. “That can be a confusing symbol to guess. It could mean they are enticing, deadly, cold however it could also mean they are traitorous, toxic, and a loner. Won’t know until we let it play more.” Mason nodded at his partners words, ceasing the game of theories and asking for the tape to resume.
As the tape resumed, two more figures entered around the table. “Son of a bitch…” Miles said, shaking his head at the new arrivals after the discussion of the ones already presented. “Let it keep playing,” Mason said, trying to focus on the newcomers as well as the existing players. “Look at that, Mason,” Axel pointed at the left side of the screen. “No mask?” Audra spoke, curious as to this sight. “He is a handsome fellow though.” Mason grimaced at this development, unsure now of the purpose of the masks if there was one among them who did not conceal their face, whereas the other arrival wore that of the sun and moon upon their face, masquerade style, all elaborate and ornate, colorful and detailed. They decided to continue watching instead of commenting, watching this strange gathering unfold before them. And, as they quieted, those on the screen began to speak.
“Welcome again, my friends,” The handsome, well spoken man said, gesturing with his arms open to the group and to the camera. “We gather once more to discuss of recent events and to come together to help our lost sisters and brothers. Who shall speak first?” The eloquent man gave away the focus to any who would choose, Mason and the others glued to the screen as the waited for who would answer. “I believe it is Brother Yoruba’s turn,” A young girls voice echoed from beneath the mask of the doll faced figure, sending chills through the room. “Is that really a little girl?” Miles asked, looking around at the others, everyone glancing at one another then back to the screen, puzzled by the mask and voice. Mason quickly jotted down the name she referenced before it passed by, placing a question mark next to the word he did not know. “Ah yes, Brother Yoruba,” The cheerful, radiant man with no mask said, gesturing to the figure with the sun/moon mask. “What have you for us this time?”
“I thought it would be nice to share with you all this week,” The deeply voice figure said, motioning with one hand across the span of people, including them in his words. “I have a gift, a taste of what my work focuses on.” Grabbing the black cloth upon the table, he pulled it away, revealing an alcove within the surface of the table. Within it lay a woman, naked, bound, wide eyed and trembling. “Pause,” Mason commanded, the video halting at this confusing scene, the four detectives in the room staring at the screen, each one's mind filled with scenarios, none of which bode well for woman in the center. “Now is the time to leave if you can’t handle where this may go,” Mason said aloud, refilling his coffee cup and drinking deep, taking deep breaths to prepare him for what may lay ahead. “We’re good, Mason,” Audra said, looking around at the others in agreement, each steeling themselves for what was to unfurl next. “Continue,” Mason gestured, the tape resuming where it has stopped.
“Why, you shouldn’t have!” The feminine voice echoed from behind the snake mask with elation, clapping their hands together in excitement, withdrawing a syringe. The one wearing the Flammable mask said nothing but bent down and picked up a blow torch, igniting it, staring at it intently. The Doll masked girl hopped atop the table, crouching over the struggling, exposed woman, poking her on the nose with one finger and giggling sadistically. “By all means, take your time,” The evening and dawn faced man said, opening a binder and readying a pen. “I must take notes to see if her twin will feel the same agony she does.” The man without a mask shed his robe, his naked, muscular yet lean physique lay bare for all to see, reaching under the table next and pulling out a black blade. Each of the masked figures shed their robes, handing them to the sun/moon masked man who carried their effects off screen, returning a short time later with a chair, sitting back, watching the others. Mason and the others looked on, looking over the bodies, trying to find any tattoos or marks that would help them identify these people. The worst of all though was the young girl who wore the doll mask, which was ironically worn since she was practically a doll. They could tell she was barely in her teens, if at all, meaning she was a minor, a child, surrounded by what seemed to be adults, all now naked, all brandishing some item of harm to use upon the tied up lady in the center of the table. No mask, flammable, and sun/moon were, for certain, males. Where as the doll and the snake were females, the viper was well endowed and had a firm body that only a woman in her youth could possess, naturally that is.
Their physiques were important yet this was no longer the focus, now it was about the poor soul laying helpless in the middle of the table, tears rolling down her face as the ropes shred her skin and face while she struggled. “Who will be first?” The dual masked man prompted, his head leaning back in the chair, tapping the pen against his bare chest, waiting for his note taking to begin. No words again, just movement from the flame wielder, slowly extending and lowering the blow torch, the woman's skin and the blue flame hissing at one another as they clashed, the soles of her feet blackening, bubbling as they burned. She tried to scream and thrash but the only real reaction she could muster was vomiting, choking herself as she did so, the rope halting the bile, burning her throat. The doll pulled the rope away so that the woman could breath, while the flames were withdrawn from her skin, allowing her a brief respite. “There, there,” The child said, patting the ladies face, trying to comfort her. “We have a nurse who can make you all better!” The girl laughed as the snake masked woman leaned over the bound female, injecting into her arm an unknown substance. “That should make you forget all about the pain in your feet,” She spoke sweetly beneath the serpent’s mask, nudging the tortured ladies face with it. “But now your arms going to hurt worse.” As she spoke those words, the woman on the table screamed in agony, her right arm showing discoloration, thrashing in response to the immense pain. The doll laughed and skipped around the top of the table, taunting the woman, singing nonsense over her misery.
“What is this lunacy?” Axel asked, shaking his head at the video, his face distraught at the sight before him. Audra and Miles were struggling even more but they said nothing, barely able to keep their composure. Mason watched on, unflinching, numb to the actions, his gaze on the details, the quirks, anything that may help him avenge this suffering soul within the grasp of maniacs. “My turn!” The doll sang, captivating both groups as she pranced about. “Bring me my scepter!” She commanded, striking a pose of that of a queen, basking in the attention. Flammable reached down under the table and withdrew a colorful scepter, it looked like a toy in all aspects. It was only when she grabbed it did the detectives know it was something more, something worse. The weight of it dragged her down, dragging it behind her as she strutted around the table, playing “Duck, Duck, Goose” with the victims body parts. “GOOSE!” She yelled, heaving the weighted scepter like medieval mace, slamming it down on the victims stomach, the noise making all cringe, all watching as the woman gasped and groaned at the blow, blood spattering from her mouth upon the naked childs body. “YAY!” The doll faced girl shouted, rubbing the blood across her body. “I drew first blood!” The others around her applauded and she bowed as if she was an actress on stage, thanking her viewers.
“Fascinating,” The deeply voiced enigma stated, jotting down the happenings, watching on in with glee, the sun portion of the mask glittering from the lights above. “You’re all...sick…” The victim managed to say through staggered breaths and bloodied coughs, gritting her red teeth angrily at the sinister child. Each of the adults backed away, watching as the doll faced girl quivered at the words. “WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!?” She screamed, her fury channeling into the scepter, swinging it fanatically down upon the woman, shattering her teeth, crushing her ribs, breaking her toes, assaulting her body without refrain. Finally, the man with no mask moved forward and calmed her, pulled her blood soaked body against his and kissed her on the forehead of her mask. “Disappointing,” The sun and moon masked man bellowed, closing his notebook and shaking his head. “Mr. Nice Guy?” He said, the man with no mask reacting to the title, setting the girl down, and moving closer to the dual symboled mask. “Would you please end her suffering? I know you have the most surgical skills of us all.” The man with no mask nodded, patting the masked man on the shoulder. “Of course, my friend,” Taking up his black blade, the man with no mask moved over to the battered and burned woman, gently stroking her face, his face calm and almost warm. “Hush now, child,” He said, turning her on her side and placing the knife point at the back of her skull and neck, his muscles firm and steady. “Let me take your pain away.” With a thrust, he plunged the knife into her skull, instantly severing the nervous system, killing her with one motion. “BYE BYE!” The doll masked girl suddenly said in front of the camera, waving as the picture suddenly cut out.
The four detectives sat for a few moments in silence, each absorbing the monstrous act they had just witnessed, each one seeking any meaning or clues within the whole ordeal. Mason moved forward and pressed the REWIND button, the tape whirring as it moved back to the beginning. He brewed a fresh pot of coffee as well, the only noises being that of the coffee pot and the VHS player. When both had yielded the desired purposes, Mason took a deep gulp and pressed PLAY. They watched this video ten times more after the initial viewing, each taking notes, each view more scrutinized, and with each view it only grew more disturbing. And then, before they could collaborate on their findings, another tape arrived.
Part Two: Viewer Discretion Advised
Mason, and his trusted few colleagues, sat before the television, watching with curiosity as the tape began to play. It began with a warning, letting the viewers know that this may be something they do not want to watch, it simply read: Viewer Discretion Advised. It faded and then revealed a totally white room with a round table covered in a black cloth. The detective scanned over it for a time as nothing else as revealed, puzzled by this setup, trying to calculate what would happen and what this was about. For a brief moment, Mason thought he saw the cloth move but he could not be sure if it was some outside force of air or if there was something moving the cloth.
His attention shifted as soon as black robed figures entered the room, each wearing a peculiar mask, each of a different height. Mason began to jot down notes in his pad of paper, size difference, mask styles, material types, the room, anything that was remotely important. He decided to focus on the masks. “Pause,” He said, moving closer to the television, scrutinizing the details. Each one was different yet each gave something about its wearer, assuming they were the sociopathic type.
“What can you tell me about the masks?” He asked the few in the room, feeling out there responses. Miles spoke first. “The short one,” He said, singling out the most obvious choice in the group. “It’s a child’s doll…” Mason nodded in agreement however this was obvious so he moved onto the next person. “Audra?” He prompted the stern, young woman, her arms crossed, her eyes burning a hole in the screen. Without breaking her stare, she replied. “The one wearing the flammable sign,” She pointed out the one towards the middle of the table, eye holes cut into a metal sign that was fused with a leather cowl donned over the head of the figure, hiding any usable features for identification. “My buddy in Arson has mentioned that mask in a few cases but with no leads or real information to call viable.” Detective Dark nodded his head again, this time pleased with what he heard. “That one is yours then, keep a watch on them and make it your priority to identify and gather intel.” He looked over at the only one left in the room beside himself, his partner Axel Williams, Mason motioning with his head to take a crack at another mask. “The snake mask…” Axel began, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes. “That can be a confusing symbol to guess. It could mean they are enticing, deadly, cold however it could also mean they are traitorous, toxic, and a loner. Won’t know until we let it play more.” Mason nodded at his partners words, ceasing the game of theories and asking for the tape to resume.
As the tape resumed, two more figures entered around the table. “Son of a bitch…” Miles said, shaking his head at the new arrivals after the discussion of the ones already presented. “Let it keep playing,” Mason said, trying to focus on the newcomers as well as the existing players. “Look at that, Mason,” Axel pointed at the left side of the screen. “No mask?” Audra spoke, curious as to this sight. “He is a handsome fellow though.” Mason grimaced at this development, unsure now of the purpose of the masks if there was one among them who did not conceal their face, whereas the other arrival wore that of the sun and moon upon their face, masquerade style, all elaborate and ornate, colorful and detailed. They decided to continue watching instead of commenting, watching this strange gathering unfold before them. And, as they quieted, those on the screen began to speak.
“Welcome again, my friends,” The handsome, well spoken man said, gesturing with his arms open to the group and to the camera. “We gather once more to discuss of recent events and to come together to help our lost sisters and brothers. Who shall speak first?” The eloquent man gave away the focus to any who would choose, Mason and the others glued to the screen as the waited for who would answer. “I believe it is Brother Yoruba’s turn,” A young girls voice echoed from beneath the mask of the doll faced figure, sending chills through the room. “Is that really a little girl?” Miles asked, looking around at the others, everyone glancing at one another then back to the screen, puzzled by the mask and voice. Mason quickly jotted down the name she referenced before it passed by, placing a question mark next to the word he did not know. “Ah yes, Brother Yoruba,” The cheerful, radiant man with no mask said, gesturing to the figure with the sun/moon mask. “What have you for us this time?”
“I thought it would be nice to share with you all this week,” The deeply voice figure said, motioning with one hand across the span of people, including them in his words. “I have a gift, a taste of what my work focuses on.” Grabbing the black cloth upon the table, he pulled it away, revealing an alcove within the surface of the table. Within it lay a woman, naked, bound, wide eyed and trembling. “Pause,” Mason commanded, the video halting at this confusing scene, the four detectives in the room staring at the screen, each one's mind filled with scenarios, none of which bode well for woman in the center. “Now is the time to leave if you can’t handle where this may go,” Mason said aloud, refilling his coffee cup and drinking deep, taking deep breaths to prepare him for what may lay ahead. “We’re good, Mason,” Audra said, looking around at the others in agreement, each steeling themselves for what was to unfurl next. “Continue,” Mason gestured, the tape resuming where it has stopped.
“Why, you shouldn’t have!” The feminine voice echoed from behind the snake mask with elation, clapping their hands together in excitement, withdrawing a syringe. The one wearing the Flammable mask said nothing but bent down and picked up a blow torch, igniting it, staring at it intently. The Doll masked girl hopped atop the table, crouching over the struggling, exposed woman, poking her on the nose with one finger and giggling sadistically. “By all means, take your time,” The evening and dawn faced man said, opening a binder and readying a pen. “I must take notes to see if her twin will feel the same agony she does.” The man without a mask shed his robe, his naked, muscular yet lean physique lay bare for all to see, reaching under the table next and pulling out a black blade. Each of the masked figures shed their robes, handing them to the sun/moon masked man who carried their effects off screen, returning a short time later with a chair, sitting back, watching the others. Mason and the others looked on, looking over the bodies, trying to find any tattoos or marks that would help them identify these people. The worst of all though was the young girl who wore the doll mask, which was ironically worn since she was practically a doll. They could tell she was barely in her teens, if at all, meaning she was a minor, a child, surrounded by what seemed to be adults, all now naked, all brandishing some item of harm to use upon the tied up lady in the center of the table. No mask, flammable, and sun/moon were, for certain, males. Where as the doll and the snake were females, the viper was well endowed and had a firm body that only a woman in her youth could possess, naturally that is.
Their physiques were important yet this was no longer the focus, now it was about the poor soul laying helpless in the middle of the table, tears rolling down her face as the ropes shred her skin and face while she struggled. “Who will be first?” The dual masked man prompted, his head leaning back in the chair, tapping the pen against his bare chest, waiting for his note taking to begin. No words again, just movement from the flame wielder, slowly extending and lowering the blow torch, the woman's skin and the blue flame hissing at one another as they clashed, the soles of her feet blackening, bubbling as they burned. She tried to scream and thrash but the only real reaction she could muster was vomiting, choking herself as she did so, the rope halting the bile, burning her throat. The doll pulled the rope away so that the woman could breath, while the flames were withdrawn from her skin, allowing her a brief respite. “There, there,” The child said, patting the ladies face, trying to comfort her. “We have a nurse who can make you all better!” The girl laughed as the snake masked woman leaned over the bound female, injecting into her arm an unknown substance. “That should make you forget all about the pain in your feet,” She spoke sweetly beneath the serpent’s mask, nudging the tortured ladies face with it. “But now your arms going to hurt worse.” As she spoke those words, the woman on the table screamed in agony, her right arm showing discoloration, thrashing in response to the immense pain. The doll laughed and skipped around the top of the table, taunting the woman, singing nonsense over her misery.
“What is this lunacy?” Axel asked, shaking his head at the video, his face distraught at the sight before him. Audra and Miles were struggling even more but they said nothing, barely able to keep their composure. Mason watched on, unflinching, numb to the actions, his gaze on the details, the quirks, anything that may help him avenge this suffering soul within the grasp of maniacs. “My turn!” The doll sang, captivating both groups as she pranced about. “Bring me my scepter!” She commanded, striking a pose of that of a queen, basking in the attention. Flammable reached down under the table and withdrew a colorful scepter, it looked like a toy in all aspects. It was only when she grabbed it did the detectives know it was something more, something worse. The weight of it dragged her down, dragging it behind her as she strutted around the table, playing “Duck, Duck, Goose” with the victims body parts. “GOOSE!” She yelled, heaving the weighted scepter like medieval mace, slamming it down on the victims stomach, the noise making all cringe, all watching as the woman gasped and groaned at the blow, blood spattering from her mouth upon the naked childs body. “YAY!” The doll faced girl shouted, rubbing the blood across her body. “I drew first blood!” The others around her applauded and she bowed as if she was an actress on stage, thanking her viewers.
“Fascinating,” The deeply voiced enigma stated, jotting down the happenings, watching on in with glee, the sun portion of the mask glittering from the lights above. “You’re all...sick…” The victim managed to say through staggered breaths and bloodied coughs, gritting her red teeth angrily at the sinister child. Each of the adults backed away, watching as the doll faced girl quivered at the words. “WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!?” She screamed, her fury channeling into the scepter, swinging it fanatically down upon the woman, shattering her teeth, crushing her ribs, breaking her toes, assaulting her body without refrain. Finally, the man with no mask moved forward and calmed her, pulled her blood soaked body against his and kissed her on the forehead of her mask. “Disappointing,” The sun and moon masked man bellowed, closing his notebook and shaking his head. “Mr. Nice Guy?” He said, the man with no mask reacting to the title, setting the girl down, and moving closer to the dual symboled mask. “Would you please end her suffering? I know you have the most surgical skills of us all.” The man with no mask nodded, patting the masked man on the shoulder. “Of course, my friend,” Taking up his black blade, the man with no mask moved over to the battered and burned woman, gently stroking her face, his face calm and almost warm. “Hush now, child,” He said, turning her on her side and placing the knife point at the back of her skull and neck, his muscles firm and steady. “Let me take your pain away.” With a thrust, he plunged the knife into her skull, instantly severing the nervous system, killing her with one motion. “BYE BYE!” The doll masked girl suddenly said in front of the camera, waving as the picture suddenly cut out.
The four detectives sat for a few moments in silence, each absorbing the monstrous act they had just witnessed, each one seeking any meaning or clues within the whole ordeal. Mason moved forward and pressed the REWIND button, the tape whirring as it moved back to the beginning. He brewed a fresh pot of coffee as well, the only noises being that of the coffee pot and the VHS player. When both had yielded the desired purposes, Mason took a deep gulp and pressed PLAY. They watched this video ten times more after the initial viewing, each taking notes, each view more scrutinized, and with each view it only grew more disturbing. And then, before they could collaborate on their findings, another tape arrived.