Behind The Mask : A V For Vendetta Tale : 2
"This is my home." V told you. "I call it the Shadow Gallery."
"It's just as my mother described it." You said softly.
"She told you of this place?" He asked quietly, walking slowly around the room.
"Yes, many times when I was young." You answered, running your fingers down a painting of a young woman. This was the place of your dreams. You had always wanted to be here, ever since your mother told you about it.
As you walked around the Shadow Gallery, V went into the kitchen. Slowly you followed and saw that he was cooking. You began to laugh when you saw he was wearing an apron. He looked up and you restrained your laughter.
"Are you hungry?" V asked, laughing a bit.
"Starving, thanks." You answered sitting down at the table. You looked around and saw that V was quite settled in. As V cooked you saw that he had removed his gloves. His hands were badly scarred, it looked painful.
Mother never told me about this.
You were so lost in thought you didn't realize that V had noticed your curiosity.
"There was a fire." He told you, placing a plate of eggs and toast in front of you.
"Oh, I'm sorry." you answered picking up a fork and knife. "I didn't mean to stare."
"It's quite alright." He answered sitting across from you. Suddenly a vision popped into your mind.
Fire swept over the place; people ran screaming. Many dead bodies covered the floor, as the fire demolished them. Then, someone emerged from the flames. It was a man, burnt all over, screaming at the moon.
It must be V.
"Is something wrong?" V asked. You smiled and shook your head, replaying the vision inside your mind. That must be why he wears the mask.
"So, what is happening to our government?" You asked him, trying to get the horrible vision out of your head. You heard a faint sigh as V answered.
"I'm not quite sure, I have been looking into it, but only the Fingermen have returned."
"Do you think that someone like Sutler will rule?" You asked, biting into the piece of toast.
"I pray not." He answered solemnly. "How is it?"
"Wonderful, thank you." You said, as you nodded his head. "V, do have to stay here, like my mother did?"
"If those Fingermen are after you, I suggest you stay here." V said. "But it is all up to you."
You smiled. "Thank you." You wondered what you should do. Finally you decided a plan.
V lead you out of the Shadow Gallery and into a dark abbey. You had no clue where you were. V showed you out of the abbey and into the streets of London, you now knew where you were.
"Follow me." You told him, as you walked along the streets to your apartment. When you arrived, you quietly unlocked the door to make sure no one would be woken. You clicked on the lights and saw that chaos had swept through your apartment. Books scattered across the floor, plates were shattered everywhere, and pictures of your mother were smashed into pieces. Slowly walking through your ruined apartment anger built up inside you. V followed behind but stopped at a smashed picture of Evey.
"I'm sorry this happened." V said, still looking at the picture.
"So am I." You answered coldly as you began to pack up your things. V placed the picture down on a table and walked into your room. As you jammed your things into your bag, V stood at the doorway watching. When you were finished, you went over to a painting still hanging on the wall. Throwing it off, you revealed a safe behind it. Unlocking it with a combination, you opened it to find that your weapons were still there. A large pistol, bullets, and 3 throwing knives similar to V's. You took everything out, and threw them into your bags.
"Why do you have these?" V asked walking up to you.
"Why do you think?" You said. When he didn't answer you replied, "It was mother's idea."
V nodded his head and walked out of the room. Shortly after you came out, and followed V back to the Shadow Gallery.
"Thank you V." You said as he lead you through the streets of London. He stopped, and turned around to face you.
"I am glad to be here for you, and I hope you can trust me." He said. You smiled and hooked your arm with his.
"I have a good feeling I will." You told him as the two of you walked back to your new home. Even though you had known this mysterious man for about a day, you couldn't care less. He was a good man, and you knew you would love him as your mother did.
That night you sat up an watched "The Count Of Monte Cristo" with V. He said some of the lines along with the movie which made you laugh inside, and when the movie was over you went to bed. But you couldn't sleep. Thoughts of V and the man on fire kept playing in your mind. You finally decided to read one of the many books in the room. After looking around for about an hour you found a very interesting book, "Utopia". You read yourself to sleep with the wonderful book, dreaming of some what pleasant things.
When you woke the next morning, there was a loud crash coming from outside your room. Running out in just a sweatshirt and really short shorts. The tin knight's arms fell to the ground. He was fighting a tin man. Wow.
"Wow V," You said. "You've scared the man stiff!"
V stopped and looked at you fro a moment, seeing how barely dressed you were and laughed. "Yes, I have."
"Do have another one of those?" You asked, pointing to the sword in his hand.
"Do you wish to fight me Anna?" V asked in a cocky tone.
"Why of course!" You answered in a sarcastic tone. He laughed slightly and walked over to another tin knight and yanked out the sword, and threw it to you.
The two of you clashed swords for what seemed hours. He sent you jumping over the couch, you had him falling on his ass. Finally, as the sun went down outside and the people went to sleep, a winner was declared. V gracefully slashed at you, making you fall down into a split on the floor. Swinging your leg around, you sent him toppling to the floor. Before he could react, you were on top of him, sword pointed to his neck.
"I win!" You said, happy it was over. Sweat was dripping from your face, you stood and held a hand out to V.
"Very fine job Anna." V told you. "Your mother would be proud."
You smiled and thought of your mother as you went to your room and changed into some jeans and a blouse. It had been a year since you had seen her, let alone speak with her. You wanted to see her again. Badly. You wanted to tell her about the past few days. But with Fingermen out looking for you, it was impossible.
Suddenly music began to play. It was mother's favorite song, "Cry Me A River". You walked up to V and looked at the jukebox.
Nice taste in music
"Would you like to dance?" V asked. You smiled and nodded your head. He took you hand and placed his other on your back. It was wonderful, peaceful, and beautiful. He was very graceful.
"Have you ever danced with a dancer before." You asked softly.
"Not until tonight." He answered. " Have you ever danced with a madman?"
"Plenty of times." You said sarcastically, just as the song ended. Suddenly you heard you cell phone ring.
Shit, I forgot I had that with me.
Running to your room, you searched through your bag. When you found it, you saw that it was your friend Marcus.
"Anna where the hell are you?" Marcus yelled through the phone. You sighed as you stepped out of your room.
"Safe." You answered.
"That's not good enough Anna, we have a serious problem here."
"I know about the black bags Marcus, but is everyone okay?" You asked.
"I don't know, when I came back from Paris, everyone was tied up and had black bags over their heads." He told you. "Once I got them all untied, they were too scared to talk."
"Oh lord." You said to yourself.
"Once I got Carol untied, she said that you were missing, so we went looking for you." He said. "And when I couldn't find you, I called."
"Oh, I see." You said. "So what's going to happen now?"
"Well, Carol says as soon as we find you, practice will start up again."
"How typical." You said laughing.
"And, she said if we find you," He said. "She will host a Masquerade in your honor."
You screamed in delight, nearly scaring V. "A Masquerade in my honor!!!" You jumped and laughed and sang all around the room. Carol knew how much you loved classical Venice Masquerades. You couldn't wait to find a gown, and a mask, and...
What about the Fingermen? The thought hit you like a ton of bricks. You wanted this Masquerade so badly, but what if those men came back? You would have to figure something out.
"Anna?" Marcus said through the phone. "Are you coming back?"
"Yea, I'll be back soon." You said hanging up the phone. You were silent, until V woke you from your thoughts.
"What are you going to do?" V asked, walking up to you.
"What should I do?" You asked. "I mean, I can't have these Fingermen controlling my life."
"Yes, but you need to stay safe." V told you.
"Well, I doubt the Fingermen will come for me during the day." you said. "Maybe I should go to school and dance during the day, and then come here at night."
"That is a good idea, but what about this Masquerade?" V asked.
"I don't know, it's at night, oh god what am I going to do?" You asked yourself as you sat down on the couch. V sat down beside you and sighed.
"If you want to go to this Masquerade, then you should go." V told you. "I shall make sure no Fingermen ever reaches the building."
"But, how?" You asked.
"I will hunt them down." V said, in a tune that almost frightened you.
"Then let me help you." You said, trying to be as bold as you could.
V shook his head. "You could get hurt."
"Oh come now, your starting to sound like my mother." You said.
"It's in her best intentions." V told you standing up. He began to walk away but you stopped him.
"Where are you going?" You asked. "Not to get those Fingermen now are you?"
"That's exactly what I'm doing." V answered, going into his makeup room.
"Not without me." You said. " I would feel horrible if you went out there alone."
V stopped. You must have hit a nerve.
"An besides, there could be dozens of those men out there." You told him. "I don't want you killed."
"If it is what you wish Anna." V said, his gaze to the ground.
"Thank you V." You said, running to your room to get your things. You were happy V let you come, you wanted to help him, to make him happy. You knew how lonely he was, but you also knew how violent he could get. You had to keep an eye on him, in case he tried to kill someone innocent. As V thought he was protecting you, you knew you were protecting him.