Thankfully, Grandpa Max ended up all right. Two days in the hospital from a concussion and first-degree burns definitely hurt a man, but Max was built tough. He had been a high school wrestling champion in his much younger days, and even in his late 60s, he cut an imposing figure. It would take a little more than that to strike him down.
A few bandages and some medication later, the summer journey was back on its way. A "cooking accident" was the explanation given to the rest of the family, and they had accepted it. Not like there was much of a choice, telling about Ben's magical find wouldn't exactly meet with a positive reaction.
Speaking of the mask, Ben was struggling. He loved the power it gave him, the feeling of strength and confidence that surged within him whenever he put it on. He wasn't just Ben Tennyson, average kid - he was the Masked Avenger, hero to the world and friend to all living things.
But increasingly, the mask was proving to be dangerous. His confidence had turned to recklessness, his good-natured desires becoming inadvertent destruction. Ben doubted that there was any other user who could teach him how to harness this energy - but there had to be some way to use this power effectively.
Stopping somewhere in central Georgia, Ben decided to talk with Grandpa Max again.
"Are you feeling any better, Grandpa? I'm sorry about what happened." This was about the thousandth apology Ben had made, and yet it still didn't feel like enough.
"I'm getting there, kiddo. No need to apologize, I'm just happy we're all safe."
"OK. Uh, since you seem to know about this mask, is there any way I can control it? I want to do good, but somehow I can't get it under control."
Max smiled. "Ben, I can tell you want to do good. Legend says there have been a lot of evil acts committed with that mask, but you've shown a good heart."
He continued. "Without wearing it myself, I can only tell you that you need to be in charge. Great willpower is needed, you make the mask do what you want. Someday, you can become a great hero, I believe that. But it's that inner strength you need to be great."
"Thanks Grandpa. Someday I'll make you proud."
As they got out of the RV to explore a nature park, the Tennysons had no idea they were being followed.
In all her life, Rojo had never been humiliated like she was that day at the gas station. Arrested? Sure. Thrown in the slammer? Plenty of times. But humiliated? Never, not in a million years. She had never felt worse than getting beat up by that green-headed freak, and anger had consumed her every thought since that point. She suspected the old man and his two stupid kids had something to do with it, and she was determined to find out.
So, four days later, she and her crew had pulled into a nature park near Macon, Georgia for the sole purpose of hunting down a very familiar RV. As they pulled in, they looked around - the coast was clear, and no one was within eyesight. Three boots kicking the door at once, the girls wandered in, looking for some loot to take.
Unfortunately, their pickings were pretty slim - a bunch of clothes, kitchen supplies, and bedding materials. There were two iPads to take, but even the safe was empty. Had they really traveled all this way for nothing? She was already in a bad mood, and now Rojo was getting steamed - these jerks had tricked her!!!
"Boss, you might want to take a look at this." Looking at her crony's find, Rojo stared at a greenish-brown wooden mask, unremarkable in appearance. It was by far the most unique thing in this RV, so she tucked it in her bag. If anything, there was always a pawn shop to get some quick cash for this antique.
Cycles smoking as they left, the crew made their way to their rooms for the night, an old dumpy motel on the west side. About an hour later, the Tennysons returned back to the parking lot - and panic set in.
Gwen was the first to see it. "Grandpa, look!!!"
Max - and Ben - looked at a frightening sight, the RV's door hanging open in the breeze. The three sprinted over to the vehicle and jumped inside, hoping no valuables were gone forever.
They were rather relieved to find not much had been taken - losing two tablets and quite a few beer bottles wasn't good, but the thieves could have taken a lot more. Max was beginning to calm down, until Ben came out of his room with a horrifying announcement.
"Grandpa, I've searched my room - I can't find my mask! I think it's gone!!!"
No. It couldn't be. If that mask was back out in the world, it was only bad news. Assuming it wasn't a friendly park ranger who had searched the vehicle, the mask was now in bad hands - it had to be tracked down - and fast.
"Kids, buckle up. I have a lot of explaining to do, but we need to find that mask." Wheels squealing and engine screaming, they took off back onto the road, desperately hoping to find that needle in the haystack.
In a dimly-lit room, Rojo and her cronies sat around a table chugging bottles of Lone Star beer. Laying down her straight flush, she celebrated another poker win - next set of drinks were on her.
"I win again, bitches!"
Getting bored, she decided to look over the most unusual find of today - the old wooden mask. Of all the things to keep in that RV, what was the use of it being there? It was just a mask, after all.
She turned it over, staring at its smooth surface - and saw an unexpected sight. A bright green flash danced across it. Thinking it was a trick, she looked again, and saw it again.
Now it had Rojo's attention - she wasn't the smartest gal, but wood didn't glow like that. As her hands brought it closer to her face, the other two heard a low rumbling of thunder around them - but it didn't stop Rojo. She put the mask right on to her nose - and was suddenly pushed back, wood suddenly becoming alive and attaching to her skin, the living mask quickly engulfing its new wearer.
As the mask morphed around her head, intense energy flowed through Rojo, her deepest darkest desires being brought to the surface. Muscles growing and boobs expanding, she felt like a new being, as her crew gaped at booming thunderclouds that flashed lightning, loud booms shaking the room.
Thick black and red smoke began to erupt from the vents and out the doors of the motel room, a hell-like scene emerging in this one corner of the earth. When it finally cleared, the other two women looked in awe at the new figure, unsure whether to run or bow down.
"Boss…are you OK?"
