Chapter 7: The Cracked Mask

The next morning Monster looked at himself in the mirror. "Dammit, Cary. I get why dying it was a good choice, but did you really need to cut it as well!?" Cary was lounging in the living room of their shared apartment, playing video games with a disinterested look on his face, "Well, I've always thought that you would look better without all that long hair hiding your face," Cary then had a small smile, "and it looks like I was correct." By now Monster was behind him, and he smacked him across the head, "Dumbass! Not only did the long hair look better, now enemies can identify me way easier!" "Hmm, you've got a point their." Cary paused his game and started to think, "Hey! I have an idea! Let's spend today buying not only a mask, but a whole new outfit for the Berserker!" Monster looked at him with confusion, "I get the mask idea, but why a new outfit?" "For the sake of style, of course!" Cary said excitedly. Monster face-palmed, "Well, I never win in an argument with you," Monster walked to the bathroom, "let me put on my blue contacts first."

They came to a clothes shop. "Is this really okay?" Monster asked, "There's going to be a link between us and the Berserker if we assemble the new clothes in public." "It'll be fine," Cary said, "besides, it's not like anyone is going to be able to see you again and live." They then walked into the store, choosing a different style that consisted of a black long coat with a popped collar, black fingerless gloves, a turtleneck shirt, white dress pants, and white loafers. "Well, that just about makes up most of the new outfit, but what about the mask?" Monster asked. "Don't worry, I know the perfect place." Cary then led Monster to another store that sold art supplies. "Um, Cary," Monster asked, "why did you lead me here?" "Well," Cary twirled around, "I figured that the mask should be a custom job, so we're getting paint and a simple white porcelain mask." This made sense since Monster, despite his relatively violent personality, was a very good graphic artist. They then bought the art supplies and headed home. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure dressed in white watched from afar, unnoticed by the two.

As soon as they got home, Monster set up at the table. He took out the mask and black, white, and orange paint. He then carefully thought about what the design should look like. He decided that the design should reflect his line of work. The graphic design came to him, and he started painting. He decided to use the orange paint to make a cracking pattern along the right side. He then painted the spaces between the cracks white and black consecutively, leaving the rest of the mask white. The whole idea was for this mask to represent the destruction that he would bring to his enemies, showing that he would make them crack and shatter, he called it the "Cracked Mask". Cary looked over the new design, "Wow, I knew you would make an awesome looking mask!" Cary then hugged him, "I'm so proud of you little bro!" "Get off me." Monster said, being both annoyed and embarrassed.

The figure watched from the roof of the building next to them, "He sure has changed in the past week, hasn't he, my love?" He looked down at his pocket watch, a sad smile on his face.