Masqurade Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Caged

Darkness. She was floating. Her mind was moving slow. Where am I? Where's the ground? Why can't I feel my body? She began to search for her body and feeling came back to her fingers. The numb sensation soon spread throughout her body. She opened her eyes. More darkness.

All of the blackness was starting to trouble her. I wonder if something is going to happen. But just as soon as the thought crossed her mind, the blackness seemed to clear. The ground seemed to come up underneath her as gravity took hold over her again. Furniture materialized all around her; a couch, a recliner, and a side table beside the couch. Sitting on the couch were four people she thought she'd never see again.

Am I dead? I must be. Her parents and siblings sat on the couch. Smiling serenely and talking amongst them selves. Tara took a step forward. She couldn't believe it. They were acting as if nothing had ever happened. They turned their heads in her direction as she slowly made her way to where they sat.

She stopped at least a yard away, much the way Persona had with her. She was still weary to get near her family again. There faces still held the same placid expressions. She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped before she could even form the words. Her older sister had caught fire.

All of their expressions turned to horror as one after another they burst into flames. Then the screaming began. Among the screams of pain and agony she heard a scream of fear. Oh. I'm screaming too.

"Tara! Why?! Why do you cause us so much pain?!" her mother screamed as she fell to the floor rolling, trying to put out the flames. "I'm sorry! So sorry! I didn't mean to!" She tried to run to her mother but her fathers flaming body blocked her path. It was already too late for him. "Didn't mean to?! What does it matter if you meant it or not?! It's all your fault!" her brother screamed. "Yes, it's your fault Tara! You killed us! Just go away! Nobody wants you!" added her sister. And with that both of their bodies fell to the floor motionless.

Tara could not respond. Did somebody hate her so much that she would have to watch her family's death not once, but twice? Did somebody hate her so much to take away yet another family from her? Do I deserve this? Of course I do, because it's all my fault. It's my fault. Because of me they're all dead, if they never took me in, if I was never born, if I had never lived… "It's all my fault" she whispered. "It's all my fault. It's all my fault! IT'S ALL MY FAULT!!"

Tara sat up suddenly and gasped. All the blood rushed from her head and turned everything black. She leaned back down as she clutched her head, and found that she had been lying on a couch. She closed her eyes before she could really focus on her surroundings. It was just a dream. Just a dream, but even so, it's still all my fault.


Persona watched as the girl shot up, grabbed her head and leaned back down. Humor was evident in the eyes hidden behind the mask. The girl's antics were, dare he even think, humorous. He rarely met people who defied him, with the exception of his favorite student, of course.

Persona stood beside what looked like a boy. However, he was anything but a boy. His appearance was just the product of an unfortunate event. He was in fact the very person that keeps Persona chained to the school. A very slack way to describe his connection to Persona would be, his Boss.

He was known at the school to be the Elementary Branch Principle. He was in charge -obviously- of the Elementary Branch and all of its students and teachers. Not only that but he was the main overseer of the dangerous abilities class.

Persona had already informed him of the girl's destructive abilities. The boy Principal seemed to be greatly interested in the girl. That's not very surprising. Our prize student is nearing the end of his rope anyway. It was only a matter of time before he got replaced. And look at our luck! We stumble upon something even better! What with her Alice and natural fighting and surviving abilities she's already a genius, but with the very nature of her Alice. Actually…

Persona was shaken from his musings when the boy beside him greeted the newly awaken girl. "Good evening Miss. Tara or I should say good morning, and welcome to Alice Academy." He said to the girl in a falsely sweet voice smiling widely as he did so. Persona tilted his head to the side as if the give the boy a look of disbelief for the triteness of his greeting, but of course the other two would never know due to his expression being covered by the simple white mask that adorned his face.


Fake. That smile is so fake. These were the first genius thoughts that came to Tara, closely followed by these. Good morning? Yeah, waking up in a foreign place with a blinding headache, real nice. Real original too. Note the sarcasm!

"Good morning? No one's ever said that to me before." Tara said obviously in a bad mood, but who could really blame her. A corner of the Persona guy's mouth twitched. Hmm. He was probably thinking the same thing. Good morning? Pfft.

Why is that little boy talking to me anyway? It's almost as if he's in charge of that Persona guy. But that's weird, why would an adult man follow a child? Maybe it's just his Alice?

Tara studied the boys face as anger and annoyance flashed across it, nearly unnoticeable but Tara caught the look and decided it probably wouldn't be a good idea to make him too angry. I have a weird feeling about this guy.

"Miss. Tara you seem to be the forward type. Therefore I will not beat around the bush. You are now a student of Alice academy. You are not allowed to leave the grounds. Any attempts of escaping will be futile, and will be punished…severely. All of your food, clothing, and housing will be provided.

"This school has its own monetary system. Instead of yen, we use Rabbits. The number of rabbits you get will correspond with your star-ranking. Star-ranking is the evaluation system that the Academy uses to judge a student's schoolwork, Alice level and attitude. There are five rankings, which are indicated by the number of gold stars on a student's collar. You will be a Special star, so you will receive 300 rabbits each month.

"Your Alice, being more powerful and dangerous than the norm, will make you a Dangerous Abilities Type. Every Alice is categorized as one of four shapes, which specify how much of it can be used and how often. You don't seem any worse for wear, and what you did was quite powerful so you may be Intermittent. This means that your Alice can only be used for a short period at any time, but at a relatively high power level. Or you could be like Persona here, who has a Fifth shape that is so uncommon it's not even a category, but that will remain to be seen.

"You are powerful. We can't have you becoming a threat to the school so; we will put a couple of limiting devices on you. Just so you don't loose control again. They are worn as accessories and will dampen the strength of your Alice. Some are also used as a form of punishment. Any wrongdoing or disobedience and an electric shock will be sent through your body. I hear it's quite painful, I wouldn't advise it." He finished casually.

This guy, this entire school, is messed up.

Tara's face showed none of the discomfort or incredulity she was feeling inside. It was as blank as Persona's mask. That mask, that's probably one of those limiters. That would also explain all of the jewelry. Hm. Special star? That is probably not a good thing. I really don't like being at the top of anything, I'd rather just lay low and be left alone. Yes, alone is better. Can't hurt anybody if your alone, can you?

This is frustrating! I feel like I'm missing information! He looked so smug when he said I was a Dangerous Ability type. Why? I don't like to be ignorant and uninformed! Damn! I won't have any freewill here, especially with those limiter things. It's not like I have much of a choice though. I can't just say, "Nope, I don't want the limiters. I don't feel like being caged in by you people, so you can just shove it where the Sun don't shine." That probably wouldn't work.

I'll find a way to get out. Even if it kills me.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" she said in a very calm and cool voice. Betraying none of her thoughts or the silent vow she had just made. The boy smirked and replied bluntly in a matter-of-fact tone,"No, none. Persona? Will you please escort Miss. Tara to get her limiters? Oh! And have her registered too. Put her in Elementary Class B, I think that would be interesting to see."

Persona gave a short nod to the principal and gestured for Tara to follow as he turned and exited the room through big wooden double doors. She follows still covered from head to toe in soot. If anybody looked her in the face, her vividly orange eyes would stand out against the black soot that covered her. They were her most stunning feature. The pupil was not black, but a dark orange that could be mistaken for red. Then the irises were a bright orange and almost yellow at the edges. It looked like a sunset, and like the fire that she controls.

The shape of her eyes was not the normal big and round of a ten year old girl they were half lidded As if she were just about to fall asleep. And yet they were sharp at the same time, with a promise of intelligence hidden in their depths. She had a petite nose and pouty pink lips, and all of these features were carefully arranged on a heart shaped face. She was quite a beautiful child. Even if, at the moment, her expression was completely blank and she was dirty with soot as she followed the tall black clad man down numerous hallways only to stop in front of magnificently carved mahogany wood door.

He opened to door and gestured for her to enter. She did so. Behind the door was an assortment of accessories ranging from hats, masks, and gloves, all the way to earrings and necklaces. All were situated neatly on shelves and tables all around the room.

Persona led her to one of the tables with earrings. "Pick one; and we'll see how many you'll need. You may have to get more than one." She gave no impression that she heard the cold voice other than picking out a pair of small silver hoop earrings with a tiny bright orange stone on each of the hoops. It was small enough that she was sure it wouldn't get caught on anything were she to do any physical exercises.

He put them into the piercing gun and held it up to her ear. She felt the sting when it went through her lobe, but it didn't really hurt. He continued on to the other side. After both ears were pierced he held a strange looking device up to her. It looked like a remote to an RC car, but instead of an antenna it had two prongs sticking out of the top and a screen.

Persona explained what the device was without any prodding on her part. "This measures the potency of an Alice. I'll just put on limiters until your power level is at most forty percent. Two earrings are normally enough for even the worst case student, but they seem to have little to no effect on you. Come here, these are more powerful."

Persona led her to a shelf with mostly rings and some more earrings. "These are what the middle school students wear." She picked out three rings with very thin bands. They were silver and had what looked like Greek or Roman patterns engraved on them. He put all three on her right ring finger. Person held up the measuring thing again. "Hm. Only ninety five percent. That many would have knocked out any other elementary student and most middle school students. Pick out another pair of earrings and two more rings and well see what happens."

She picked two rings with very wide bands with engravings that looked similar to her other ones and he put one on her left pointer and middle finger. She then picked out two silver stud earrings, and told Persona to put them both on the left side. "You're still only at ninety percent. Well have to get some even stronger." He led her to yet another table.

It was near the back and on it were necklaces and bracelets. There were less rings and earrings then at the other tables. She had noticed that they were only looking at one side of the room. On the other side of the room were an assortment of masks and Tara thought she could see a tattoo needle set. Must be the limiters that punish people.

She picked out four plain silver bangles and had Persona put them on her right wrist. She then picked out another silver bracelet that had a red stone in the middle and added it to the bangles on her right. She was about to have Persona measure her until she spotted a cool looking dragon bracelet on the other side of the table. She quickly put it on her left hand. It was a full length dragon that went all the way around her wrist and bit onto the circle clasp to keep itself on.

"Six high school level bracelets, five middle school level rings, along with two earrings, and two more elementary level earrings; yet you are still only down about forty percent. Come here." He led her to the back of the room. "These are reserved for the teachers. No student has ever had to use one." He stopped at a very small shelf. There were a few bracelets and a couple necklaces. Tara picked the only silver necklace they had. It was a simple chocker with a tear drop right in the middle, but where there would have been a stone there were only a couple of little prongs. As if it was missing a stone. Tara looked at it quizzically. "You put an Alice stone there. You can make your Alice into a stone and put it there."

Alice stone? A stone made of Alice. I wonder… "Can that thing," she points towards the Alice measurer in Persona's hand, "can it tell if a stone is and Alice stone or not?" Persona's mouth frown's at this. He answers her still frowning. She could just imagine his eyebrows pulled together underneath the mask. "I'm quite sure it can. Why do you ask, pet?"

Normally Tara wouldn't ignore the "pet" comment, but this time she did just that. She had something more important on her mind. She reached into her ruined shirt and pulled out a long silver necklace with a large stone hanging off it. The stone looked black but if you held it up to the sun you would find that it was really a very dark red, almost purple. Like a dark plum color, but with a bit more red. "This was my mother's. I just want to know." Persona glanced at the necklace. "I've seen your file. Fuki Hato, your mother, was not an Alice."

Tara's face splits into a bitter smile. Is this the best they could do? It's no wonder they never found me. There are a bunch of fools. "Your files need some work." Persona was now at full attention. After all, how could a school with as much resources as they had, be wrong as she was insinuating. Though persona did know there was very little in her file, the little that was there had to be accurate.

"While it's true, Fuki Hato was not an Alice, I was asking about my mother wasn't I?" The smile slid off her face to be replaced by the emotionless mask once again, the mask that hid her pain and endless sadness. "I was adopted by the Fuki's. I'm surprised you didn't know that. What with having "read my files" and all." She finished in a condescending way. "I'll be more precise. I'm asking about my birth mother."


This girl is way to smart for her own good. Not that I care much for her wellbeing, but she is quite interesting. I don't enjoy being shown up by brats though.

He held the Alice measurer up to the stone. The reading surprised him. A flashing fifteen percent appeared on the screen. "It appears your mother was an Alice." Persona said rather nonchalantly for just being criticized by a pint sized ten year old girl. Tara nodded and slipped the stone back under her shirt. She handed the necklace she had chosen to Persona so he could put it on her. He measured her again and wasn't that surprised that it only went down by another ten percent. So she was at an even 50/50 right now. The only thing I can think of that would be powerful enough for her would be that mask. She must have the fifth shape like me then. I'll be sure to tell the principal later.

Persona walked over to the only cabinet in the room, Tara followed close behind. He opened it to reveal two white jewelry mannequin heads, one empty and the other held an onyx black mask that was the exact opposite of Persona's own. "These masks, that one and the one I'm wearing, are the strongest limiters we have. They're a pair and are so powerful the maker could only make two."

Persona lifted it off its resting place and handed it to her. "You put that on yourself. Wear it at all times, unless told otherwise. You may take it of while sleeping and bathing." He watches as she puts it on then he measures her again. "Perfect." He announced as a solid thirty-eight flashes across the screen. "Follow me." He exited the room, holding the door open for her. He lead her down more halls and out through another door until they're outside.

Tara looked around wondering where all the people were. This was supposed to be a school right? Persona noticed her wandering gaze. "All of the students are still in class. You will be introduced to your class after you clean yourself and get dressed. So you should meet them before lunch. You will most likely be assigned a partner to show you around the grounds. You'll soon come understand the true nature of this school and its inhabitants, and there's no way out."

Tara glanced at Persona warily, though he probably didn't catch it since her face was now just as covered as his own. She wasn't going to forget the awfulness of the school any time soon. Especially with all the junk she had to wear now. She was also quite sure that they were only getting started.

They walked to a four story building. Above the door was a sign that said Elementary Division Residence. They entered and proceeded up the stairs. Persona led her all the way to the top floor into a hallway that had two doors, one on each side. The door to the right had a plaque on it that had in elegant script the name Hyuuga Natsume. With the words Special Star right under it.

Persona ignored this door and stood in front of the opposing one. He put his hand into the long black coat he was wearing and pulled out two things: a key and a plaque that had the same elegant script as the one behind them. The words Fuki Tara Special Star were inscribed on it. He placed it on the door then stuck the key in and opened it. He stepped to the side to let Tara in. "Ill be back in twenty minutes to bring you to your class. Be ready." Then he left, dropping the key into her hand as he passed.

She watched as he walked down the hall and disappeared down the stairs. Tara turned and entered her new room.

Apparently Special Star means five stars. This room is HUGE!!! Tara looked around the room in awe for a couple of seconds before she snapped out of it and looked around for a closet.

There were four doors. The one she just came through, and to the left a pair of glass French doors leading to what she could see was a balcony. And two others that she figured were the bathroom and closet. She went to the closest one to her, which was on her right, and opened it to find a closet with two uniforms. A boy's elementary uniform, and a girls. Tara decided on the boy's, took it out, and proceeded to the bathroom to hop in the shower.

Ten minutes later she was clean, in her uniform, and drying her hair with a convenient little hair dryer that was mounted on the wall. Once she was done she figured she would look around. Exiting the bathroom while putting on her mask, Tara walked to the bedside tables and opened the drawers. Empty. She looked through the dressers and bookshelves, and they were empty as well.

She sat on the huge bed and waited for persona. She didn't have to wait long, because not two minutes later a knock came at the door. Tara slipped the key into her pocket ant stepped out the door. Persona turned silently and lead the way out of to building, towards another building that had a sign similar to the last one only this one only said Elementary Division and into said building. They walked pass many classrooms until he stopped next to a pair of double doors above which said:

Class B.


OK!! I finally finished the second chapter! I'm so happy! And Thx to my two reviewers. I appriciate cha. :p One thing, Fuki means freedom, liberty, and independence. Buuuut... it can also mean returning no more, death, or rising no more. This will come into play next chapter... I think. Anyway, please review. Really. I NEED them. They're like those cookies from last chapter. Addicting I tell you.