The Mask Shatters
Chapter 1
"The game has already begun… Why don't we add another variable?"
Author's Note
Note Posted 05/07/2021 at 9:28 PM US Central.
Heya all! Just a heads up, we have begun an audio reading on Soundcloud of this story! Complete with an original soundtrack and a diverse range of VAs!
Check it out by looking up The Mask Shatters Audio Reading on Soundcloud!
It was a dreary day.
Rain pelted the ground around him.
The thin grass swayed in the wind and the mud, not dirt, squished beneath his shoes with each step. It was an audible wetness, and one that didn't mask the sound of his own thoughts.
He kept his eyes to the dirt as he walked up the yard, heading for the house that stood in its middle. Surrounded by trees, a tire swing on one, a hammock on another. Behind him a dirt road with a couple other students rushing to get to their respective homes.
Sure, it was a trailer. But to him, it was home.
But would he really want to be here?
The bus had dropped him off. Without a word he departed and had walked away from the few other students who got off. He knew what awaited him at home. His happiness to be away from it all drained with each step forward.
To add injury to the whole situation, he was soaked. He didn't bring an umbrella either. His thin framed glasses were wet with dribblets of water as it obscured his vision to a good degree. He could've wiped it off but what would be the point at the moment?
As long as he could still see the house, he could make progress in the pouring rain.
The few friends at his school didn't show up today, playing hooky and avoiding their education like real delinquents. He stopped himself with that word dangling in his mind and took it back, knowing he had no right to call his friends such.
He knew as good as anyone that a nice day off was something everyone needed.
A day off was something he needed.
But not from school.
Instead from his day to day life.
He continued onwards, stepping up a small set of stairs onto a scratched deck, coats of old paint still clinging to the wood and rotting chairs sitting off to the side. They haven't been used in years.
He could see them inside. Fighting. Again.
Yelling.
Arguing.
The man was screaming how he works all day to support a failing family full of slackers.
The woman screams they wouldn't be in this mess if he hadn't gotten her pregnant
She blamed him for the death of their daughter.
He blamed her for the instability.
The thin walls of the trailer did little to stop any words from seeping into the rainy world outside.
But the kid just sullenly sighed and cast his eyes to the wooden deck he stood upon.
He sighed, and dared himself to enter.
He was soaked, and no doubt the papers in his backpack were ruined.
But that had to have been a better outcome than interrupting their fight.
The last time he did, his mother would drag him into it with insults and tears.
His father would condemn him for being late, and accuse him of hanging around bad people.
Would drowning in the falling water be a better fate than what awaited him inside?
He closed his eyes, knowing he couldn't just wait outside.
He had to brave what awaited him.
He put his hand on the knob and turned it ever so slightly at first. Then, with a sudden frown, he swung it open.
Just in time to witness his mother screaming and threatening, and his father holding something above his head with both hands.
"I'm gonna call the cops, ya bastard!"
His father fired back almost immediately "Go ahead, ya rotten bitch!"
His eyes widened as he watched his father slam the object over his mother's head, and she collapsed to the floor with a sudden, ear piercing shriek.
He gasped as his eyes shot open. He leaned forward and looked around, his breathing heavy and daunted. The man next to him jumped at the sudden movement and looked at him, but the teenager barely noticed.
The teenager looked around, and slowly a wave of calm fell on him. He quickly remembered that he wasn't at home anymore. It was nothing more than a dream, and just as quickly as he shot up in his seat he leaned back in it, sighing a breath of relief as sweat fell across his forehead.
"Kid, you alright?" The man next to him asked. "You were thrashing about there… Looked very worrying." The man next to him asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
The teenager just looked at him, and replied with a half-truth.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said, etching a false smile on his lips. "Just a bad dream."
The man accepted this answer and returned to his magazine.
The teenager himself lingered his gaze on him a moment longer before turning it towards the window he sat by. He was fortunate to grab a window seat, and the man next to him was kind enough to allow him to have it. No discussion required, the man happily gave it over.
"How long have I been asleep?" The teenager asked himself, watching the ocean below as it passed by. It looked almost surreal, the blueness of the water. The beautiful sunlight glistening off of the surface like a beacon in the night. From high above, he spotted a big sea turtle. Just coasting along the surface like it was no one's business. Like it didn't have a care in the world.
Arthur couldn't help but feel some envy.
He had seen the ocean before, sure. But only in the Atlantic. Never before the Pacific. It was so much more blue and clear than the former. It awed him to no end.
This teenager, despite his fake smile before, managed a small real one here. If only for one reason in particular.
This teenager's name was Arthur. Arthur Frederick Williams.
And he was on a plane.
A plane bound for Tokyo, Japan.
He wiped the sweat off his brow, and closed his eyes once more for a brief moment. He was trying to forget the sudden wave of fright that had fallen on him only a moment prior. It was just a dream, and therefore should've held no merit.
But how frequent these dreams have become…
He sighed and opened his eyes. The economy class of the plane was there to greet him, and the stewardess walked by, eyeing the teen up and down as she had earlier noticed his discomfort.
"Is he alright?" She asked the man next to Arthur, and the man looked from his magazine to her, then to Arthur, then back to her.
"Uh yeah, yeah… He said it was a bad dream." He answered, and she frowned mildly.
"Poor baby…" She mumbled as she walked off, causing Arthur to frown. His problems should not concern anyone else, and he would rather keep it that way.
"Attention passengers and crew: This is your captain speaking." The plane's intercom buzzed from the silence of the cabin. "We are now approaching Japanese airspace, we should arrive on mainland Japan in about twenty minutes and will be landing at Haneda Airport, Ōta City, Tokyo…."
Arthur tuned the rest out, the only thing he cared about was that they were close to Japan, and thus close for him to have a fresh start…
"If only for a year…" He thought.
He sighed and closed his eyes once more, slowly drifting between a dreamworld, and the reality he lived in.
All he could do was put one foot in front of the other.
His suitcase dragged behind him, and a bag hoisted over his shoulder containing his laptop. His clothes were plain; a pink collared polo and blue jeans. In that regard, he looked no different than the others around him. A young man making his way through the airport gates.
But everyone else had black hair, his was a bright brown.
Not to mention his own features made him stand out among everyone else.
The natives of this island nation.
He walked alone, didn't say a word to anyone. Not even the staff. The Americans on the flight had quickly dispersed and soon he was alone in a strange land. He would look around, yet see no one he knew - which was a strange feeling to bear.
It was odd as well, hearing a different dialect being spoken aloud all around. It was alien, but at the very least Arthur knew it. He was not an expert by any means but his long hours of study and practice throughout his years had availed him in the land of bilingualism. But the different accents being spoken sometimes made it hard for him to understand what was being said.
Not that he needed to know, he was quite content to keep to himself and let no one's business become his.
He eventually came to a stop, between the entrance to the airport and the ticket desks. People were walking by him at a swift rate. Too many to count, too many to recognize. He frowned and glanced around his surroundings trying to find someone in particular, but the only person of note nearby was an American in plain clothes and sunglasses speaking with some officials who looked to be security. Whether he was in trouble or not was not Arthur's business, but it was the only thing that looked out of place.
He huffed, dissatisfied with being alone and shook his head.
"He was supposed to be here…" Arthur mumbled, lowering his gaze. "Is he late? He never texted me…"
He stopped and set the suitcase he was dragging upright next to him and pulled out his phone. Just a black screen greeted him, but in a flash it shot to life. The wolf pack wallpaper behind a small password screen took over, and he quickly scanned the notifications for any new texts.
Alas, there were none.
An ounce of frustration sprouted in his mind and, without further thought, he placed the phone back in his pocket, grabbed the handle on his suitcase, and continued on his way.
"He's definitely late…" He mumbled once more, coming upon the crowded exit doors of the airport. Crowded was more of an understatement though. There were multiple lines to each door coming from the sides and shooting straight out. Arthur sighed and got into one, shuffling almost mindlessly for a good while before eventually arriving in the sunlight of Tokyo.
He shielded his eyes as he exited, looking up to the sky as if he were in an entirely different world. He smiled behind his open hand, waiting a moment to allow his vision to adjust before taking his suitcase back into his grasp and continuing forward.
The road was right there. He stood before it, gazing around for anyone who looked familiar. But it was the same thing wherever he turned. Tourists and unfamiliar natives. A couple security guards too. It was surprising. Life looked almost the same norm here as it did back in the home country.
"Guess life is normal no matter where you go…"
"Hey, Arthur! Over here!" He heard amidst the unfamiliar voices and the vehicle horns.
Arthur shot his gaze forward, trying to locate the sudden call to his name. He could see no one at first, but then it called out again.
"Over here, look to your right!"
He did just that, and to his surprise he spotted a man in a black t-shirt and brown shorts waving him over, calling his name and smiling as bright as the sun. So bright that if his teeth were any whiter, they'd look like he had bleached them daily.
Arthur smiled, instantly recognizing the man as a close family friend and the man who was supposed to be inside the airport waiting for him. Why was he outside instead? He shook his head and approached him, keeping the smile broad on his face.
"Arthur! How's it going, kid?" He asked, reaching out to shake his hand. He suddenly paused, looked between Arthur's hands, and sheepishly grinned as he realized the kid's hands were full.
He retracted his hand, and Arthur replied earnestly.
"Well, the flight could've been better. But so far no complaints." Arthur nodded. "So far…"
The man chuckled, and he said "Well, you're here now. Come on, let's get going. Pretty soon the tourists are gonna be all over the area and you don't wanna be here when that happens." He motioned to the white car he stood by, and opened the door to the driver's seat. "Mind the road, Arthur."
This man, this family friend and trustworthy confidant of Arthur, was named Himura. Himura Arinori.
Arthur joined him in the car, and when the doors shut, Himura started the engine, and soon the two were on their way.
Traffic in Tokyo was always a joke back in the home country. Just like the population, it was rumored to be immense and jammed. Arthur's friends joked with him that he'd spend ninety percent of his time here in traffic. All good fun, but Arthur quickly found that those rumors and jokes no longer held credence in his mind. Traffic was present, but it moved along at a nice pace.
For a while Himura and Arthur chatted. For a time it was about the flight and how beautiful the waters surrounding Japan were compared to the United States. Later on it shifted to how Himura's been getting on since he returned to Japan early last year, when his tenure in a corporation in Washington state ended and his family began recalling him. They talked about the latest events going on around the world, and the recent events plaguing America.
But eventually, they quieted down. Not out of awkwardness, but out of the fact a radio host was speaking on the radio. One that Himura rather enjoyed listening to.
As Himura drove on, passing police, pedestrians, traffic, and various streets in their slow drive through the city, the radio host talked about the recent events that have hit Tokyo and its people.
Things such as events known as mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdown incidents. Arthur's brow rose at the subject, and while he often didn't pay any attention to the news - mostly because of the propaganda it spouted back in the home country - the fact he hadn't heard of any of this before his arrival coupled with the fact he technically had no choice but to listen.
It was intriguing to a young man such as himself. Very much so.
The radio mentioned an academy, and that a teacher there who had turned himself in to authorities after receiving, what the radio host called, a "change of heart".
"...and no word on whether or not these Phantom Thieves are truly in connection with Kamoshida's sudden change of heart. If they are, police are still stumped with how they managed to go about it."
"Pfft, Phantom Thieves… What a complete joke. People can't change on a whim…" Himura huffed, turning a corner onto another road. It seemed as if they were entering a district called Shibuya. "We're just not hardwired that way…"
Arthur looked at him, tapping a finger at the luggage in his lap as he listened to the story and Himura's disbelief on the subject.
"I bet someone just threatened him, probably with his life. Scumbag sounded like he deserved it either way…"
"What's this about?" Arthur asked, looking over to his guardian and friend. Himura's eyes opened wide, surprised Arthur didn't know anything of the subject, despite the fact it's been on the news well over a month now.
But that surprise quickly faded with another realization. "Oh, I suppose they haven't really talked about this back over in the USA." He said, scoffing as he recalled what happened. "Man, I tell you. The things people do… To put it simply for now, a teacher at this academy called Shujin was beating his students, raping and harrassing the female students and such. It's disgusting."
Arthur shook his head, silently agreeing with the sentiment Himura was expressing.
"Apparently a group calling themselves the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts" caught wind of his actions and gave him a "change of heart". Even posted a number of calling card-esque postings around the school. A prank by someone who knew, obviously. But either way, it's good that fucker is behind bars now…" Himura explained. For a moment he went silent, and then his eyes widened. He added in sheepishly "Oh, maybe I should watch my language around you…"
"It-it's fine, Himura-san…" Arthur said, eliciting a chuckle from Himura. For a moment Arthur's mind lingered on what he could've said, and wondered why Himura found what he said amusing. Then, it dawned on him. "I….didn't use that right, did I?"
"No worries, Williams-san… You'll pick up the lingo quick, gonna have to if you don't wanna be seen as an idiot." Himura laughed. Arthur laughed with him, understanding well what Himura was saying. "By the way, you don't have to use honorifics with me. Just call me Himura, like I call you Arthur. But for future reference-"
"Call those I do not know by their last name and add an honorific. I got it, I got it." Arthur interrupted, smiling as he surprised Himura with his knowledge on the matter. "I did as much research as I could… I… May've forgotten some things though. I hope you can guide me when I need it." Arthur confided, getting a broad smile in return from Himura, who glanced at him briefly.
"No worries, Arthur. I'll help you adjust as much as you need." Himura responded, adding that "This is going to be a long year for you otherwise."
The radio continued buzzing with the latest news and Himura quieted Arthur down. Adding that "He loves this guy.". Arthur complied, opting to watch the city pass by them in nearly slow motion. He couldn't help but let his thoughts roam for a bit. Random topics abound just to keep his mind occupied, but they always returned to the occult subject from earlier.
"Mental shutdowns?"
"Psychotic breakdowns?"
He had not heard of these things, even in his research into the city of Tokyo. What were they, exactly? He wanted to ask, but he didn't wish to interrupt Himura's favorite radio host nor did he wish to annoy Himura. He, instead, opted to ask later when he had the time to discuss it. But he figured he wouldn't have a whole lot of time today or tomorrow, considering his schedule for the next few days…
Suddenly, he felt a small vibration on his thigh. It startled him for a second as his mind was lost in thought. He then blinked, and reached into his pocket to pull out his phone but nothing was there. Just the same lock screen as before.
"Could've sworn I felt a buzz…." Arthur mumbled, confused by the sudden interruption of thought. He lingered his gaze on it for a moment before setting it down and closing his eyes.
Then, just at the moment, it dawned on him that he didn't even know what school he'd be attending.
It was getting late when they pulled into the driveaway of the apartment complex.
The drive through Tokyo was longer than needed, Himura explained. He said that if it weren't for everyone getting off work, they would've been home ages ago.
Arthur couldn't complain. He didn't truly know how commutes in Tokyo could be. He had heard most people take the train, but he had no evidence.
When they got inside they chatted for a small moment, mostly Himura explaining that this would be his residence for the next year.
"We're in Shibuya, the train station is right down the street a few blocks. I'll show you around some other time. Take a look around the apartment if you want, familiarize yourself, and I'll show you to the guest bedroom."
Himura then flicked the lights on.
The apartment looked really decent. More so than what Arthur expected. The kitchen and the living room were in the same space, of course, but the tile floor side by side with the carpet marked clearly which domain ended where. A black, cushioned sofa sat along the wall with a big flatscreen directly opposite to it hanging on the wall. Pictures of Himura and his family and some paintings that looked as if they were bought from a second-hand shop lined the walls, and a small display shelf filled with curios of different designs and shapes sat in the corner. A gold and blue fabergé egg sat in the middle shelf, guarded by what looked like toy soldiers who formed playful little stockades around it.
"How cute."
As Arthur took everything in, Himura shut the door behind him and left for a room off to the side. That left Arthur alone in the living room as he continued to look over everything.
A large stereo sat under the TV but it looked largely unused, and a coffee table of Japanese design sat between the sofa and the TV. A few end tables, a lamp, and a bookshelf between the two doors - one of them being the bedroom for Himura.. An open door leading to the bathroom existed down a small hallway at the furthest end of the room, with a couple of sliding doors along the hallway walls concealing another part of the apartment. Arthur immediately went to investigate, and to a small surprise of his own, pulling the sliding doors back revealed a dryer and a washing machine.
"Laundry…. Huh…."
Arthur turned about, hearing soft footsteps approaching. It was Himura, although he had changed into more casual wear.
"Find everything you're looking for?" He asked smugly, crossing his arms and smiling while Arthur just looked at him.
"Well, you basically did tell me to nose around…" Arthur replied.
"I know, I know." Himura chuckled, waving it off like it was nothing. He motioned Arthur to follow him. "So how does the place look? Is it to your liking?" He asked.
Arthur, slowly following the man, smiled widely and told him exactly what he thought."Himura. This place… It looks amazing! Like, it looks like an actual house!"
"An actual house, it is not… Heh, but I'm glad you think that way."
"No, Himura… You know where I come from, you've seen it yourself. This place looks like a palace compared to my home!"
"Heheh, don't be comparing my home to royalty, kid." Himura chuckled, stopping at one of the doors Arthur had noted earlier. "But you flatter me. I try to keep it tidy… Anyways, here." He turned the knob and opened it, it was dark. Too dark to see, so Himura flipped the light switch and soon the dark was illuminated.
Arthur took it all in, and he couldn't help but grin.
A king sized bed, its sheets a royal blue patterned with diamonds and dark blue pillows, sat against the wall. A dresser, a TV stand that came with a decent sized TV, and a sliding door closet. That was really to the extent of the decor, no picture or painting sat on the walls and no chairs or benches existed in the room. There was a dark blue rug with a spade on it in the middle of the room.
Arthur's grin was wide, and Himura rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled, feeling a tad bit uneasy at leaving someone in a room so unfurnished.
"I don't keep it furnished well because of my lack of visitors, so it's on you to decorate as you please. Just run it by me before you do anything, alright?" Himura asked.
"This is…. Way better than I'm used to…. Himura, are you sure this is my room? I'll be fine sleeping on the couch…." Arthur, despite his grin, was in disbelief internally. He just could not believe he was being set up in such a fine location. Himura looked down at him and shook his head, finding his own disbelief in the fact Arthur was expecting to sleep on the sofa.
"What? I'm not putting you up and not giving you a room to stay in. You crazy?" Himura looked at him funny, and Arthur returned the gaze. "Besides, I owe your dad. It's the least I could do for his son."
Arthur then turned away at the mention of his father. The grin he had faltered, and he pretended instead to be admiring the room. But Himura noticed this, and slowly followed it up with a question he's been dying to ask.
"Uh…. How is home, by the way?" Himura asked. "Last I heard from your dad, it's been-"
"I'd… prefer not to talk about it right now Himura…" Arthur mumbled. Loud enough for Himura to hear, but low enough to set off enough vibes. Himura rubbed the back of his neck and cast his gaze downwards. He knew it wasn't his place to ask this, especially not now. But he did so anyways.
"Right… Sorry, kid."
Arthur stepped into the room, immediately setting the suitcase down by the door and his laptop case on the bed. Pressing down on the sheets, it felt soft. Like it was made of memory foam. He retracted the hand, and just as he thought, it was indeed made of the material. The smile returned, and Himura noticed. He chose not to say anything though.
"Just thought I'd let you know, kid… You'll be going to school immediately tomorrow. You should get some rest… I forgot the name of the place, so I'll have to make a phone call in the morning. I have the number…. Somewhere." Himura said, and then quickly added "I'll show you around this weekend. Tomorrow's Saturday eve anyways so, yeah. Hopefully the jetlag won't affect you all that much, but now there's no better excuse to fall asleep, heheheh….heh..." Himura tried to joke, but Arthur didn't reciprocate the laugh. It fell short, and Himura then just cleared his throat and went for the door… "I'll… leave you be. Night kid."
"Himura!" Arthur stopped him, and Himura paused to look at him. Arthur's smile grew back once again, and he said solemnly "Thank you."
Himura managed a smile after that awkward situation and nodded. Witnessing Arthur bow as he spoke. He shut the door behind him, and Arthur was left alone in the room.
But Arthur didn't waste any time. As soon as Himura left he began unpacking. He brought along a few articles of clothing, two pairs of shoes, a toothbrush and toothpaste and a couple other miscellaneous things plus his laptop.
Once everything was put away in the proper drawers of the only dresser in the room, he changed into something more casual and whiled away a few hours mindlessly playing on his phone.
His thoughts returned, at some point, to the random buzz he received earlier in the day. He scanned his texts and call log but nothing showed up. Only old information. He couldn't figure out, no matter how many times he looked at the log, how he received a buzz.
Eventually the jetlag fell upon him, and his eyelids grew heavy. He settled on the answer that his phone was old and needed to be replaced.
"I should've done that before I came here…" He mumbled.
Shutting the phone off, he got up to put it on his dresser before shutting the lights off and tucking himself under the covers of the grandiose looking bed. He still couldn't believe he got set up in a wonderful location, it just seemed near impossible in his mind.
A stark contrast to the norm he had become accustomed to.
But despite his thoughts on the matter, he couldn't fight the sandman's spell.
He soon closed his eyes.
And drifted off into a blissful, silent sleep.
No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't fall back asleep.
He kept his eyes slammed shut.
He wriggled and tossed on his bed, which now felt like a sudden slab of metal.
He slid onto his side, his back, his stomach. Every sleeping position he could think of, he couldn't make it work.
He doesn't know what caused him to wake.
He doesn't know why the bed was so uncomfortable.
But the air was so silent.
It was quiet. Peaceful. Only the sounds of his own breathing rang in his ears.
He grunted, and turned over to his back. Only the echoes of his grunting signaled to him that something was off.
He partially opened his eyes, and saw not darkness, but instead the sliver of a blue ceiling.
Then he opened his eyes fully, witnessing in its entirety the blue.
"What the…?" He gasped, shooting upwards on his bed. But he looked down, and it was no longer the blue sheeted bed with diamonds, but instead a table.
An autopsy table.
"Good god!" He shouted in English, jumping off the table with such dizzying speed. He nearly didn't land on his feet and stumbled as he tried to gain his footing with a pained grunt.
A small, unknown chuckle at his actions echoed, and Arthur quickly sprung right to face it. He saw nothing but identical blue tables, and blue metal walls with light blue metal beds that went into the wall. He looked left, to the far side of the room, and he gasped. He fell back on his heels, shouting in surprise to the presence of another.
For at the other end of the room, where a metal door and a still clock sat, was a man. A man with pointed ears, a sharp long nose, and bulging, unblinking, bloodshot eyes. A man with a black suit and white undershirt.
He sat there, watching Arthur with a sadistic looking smile. Situated on the desk was a quill, a stack of papers, a microphone, and a lamp, he watched Arthur closely for any further reaction. But all Arthur could do was stand there. Paralyzed with fear.
All Arthur could think was "What is going on?".
But as Arthur watched the unknown man, he suddenly lowered his head and extended a clenched hand outward towards Arthur.
He chuckled again, and then looked up at Arthur, he opened his hand and slowly panned it across the room with a simple greeting leaving his unclosing lips.
"Welcome, dear visitor, to my Velvet Room."
Post-Chapter Author's Note
Cover art made by a guy named EnteralTrooper on my Discord server.
Proof read and edited by a friend named Frozen Foe on my Discord server.