Part Five

The moment Sarah started screaming, I started to jiggle the locked door even harder than before. Much to my chagrin, it never budged, no matter how hard I tried. I heard her shout out 'That's it', which sounded like a very, very bad sign, and then I could take it no more. I hoped and prayed that this would somehow make the door open and I shoved my hands forward onto the door, which caused a burst of purple energy to come forth from my hands and break the door down. Who needs cops and their silly door-opening-devices when you have me?

I kicked the door to the side and watched as it struggled on its last remaining hinge before walking inside. Oh God, Sarah has no shirt on.

"Who the hell are you?" Trey asked. How polite. NOT.

"Who. Who is merely the function following what, and what I am is a young woman in a mask," I explained.

"Obviously," Trey replied. "I knew that."

"You probably did. I'm just remarking on how ironic it is that you're asking someone in a mask who they are." I shrugged beneath my cape. "But since you asked me who I am, I'll go ahead and tell you, just to be polite." I stood up straight. "Voila! Here she is, the magnificent, mysterious, marvelous, modern, mellifluous, majestic, monumental, master—or, mistress—clad within the depths of quite a lovely mask…" I paused to let those words sink in. "Young woman who fights against young men that deserve it, you may call me M."

"All right, M," Trey said tauntingly. "Now that you've introduced yourself, get out of here."

"I'm afraid I cannot because you will do terrible, unspeakable things to that innocent young woman if I do. Trey, Trey, Trey. You're quite a shame. Do you know what happens to bad boys?" I asked.

"Um…"

"They get punished." I dashed up to him as Sarah walked towards the door, held my hand back, and triple-slapped him, making him cry out in pain. I did the same for his left side before backing up so I could charge up my bigger attack. He balled his bony hands into fists, thinking he could punch me back, but right as he came towards me, I held my breath and imagined Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture playing in my head. I smiled, though he couldn't see it, and braced myself for my attack. Here it comes, like the train down the tunnel…

I shoved my hands forward and a humongous blast of purple energy, as tall as I am, shot forth and knocked Trey down. The air in his lungs escaped him as he collapsed, now rendered unconscious by my blast.

"Is he dead?" Sarah asked weakly.

"No, but he'll wish he were," I replied. "Are you hurt?"

"No, but I'm half-naked," Sarah observed.

"This is true," I replied suavely.

"Who are you, anyway?" Sarah asked.

"I told you, I'm the magnificent, mask-clad M."

"No, I mean under that mask." Sarah pointed to the mask.

"You don't want to know. It's grotesque and horrible."

"I've seen my share of grotesque and horrible things," Sarah replied, pointing to Trey. This made me laugh and I figured I'd tell her, but only because I could trust her with my life. I untied my cape and took it off, followed by my mask. "Marie?" she asked breathlessly. "Marie, what is that costume for?"

"Sarah, I have magical powers," I explained honestly. "My mom did, too, and she passed them down to me. I discovered them when I was 14 and used them only once when I had to get my stuff back from Joshua." I paused. "Well, and right now." Sarah looked at me with big eyes, waiting for proof, so I shot a smaller burst of energy at Trey.

"Holy crap," Sarah said in obvious awe. "Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack." I pressed my button and was covered in purple ribbons again for a moment before my normal clothes returned.

"That is so cool! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid you'd laugh at me, but now you've seen what I can do." I smiled.

"That is so very cool, Marie. I have one question, though."

"Sure."

"Can I borrow your cape?"

"Of course." I handed it to her and she tied it on, covering her half-nudity.

"Let's go home," she suggested. "Actually, I want to go to your place for a while."

"Why so?" I asked as I left the mobile home.

"I kind of want to watch V for Vendetta again. I had trouble understanding it when I saw it in the theaters. Plus, now I've seen you basically dress up like him and talk like him. I remember that monologue with all the V words pretty well."

"Yeah, that took a lot more talent than I have to produce. I was kind of ad-libbing my monologue."

"I can tell." I led Sarah back to my car. "Hey, Marie?"

"Yes?" I stopped and turned around to look at her right as I unlocked her door.

"Thank you for rescuing me."

"I'd do anything for you. You're my best friend." I patted her shoulder affectionately before she sat down, straightening my cape out as she buckled up. I got in the driver's seat, turned the key in the ignition, and switched back to the CD, flashing forward to a track that I added because it wasn't in the original. As I pulled out of the parking lot and away from the Masquerade, "Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones began to play.

The End