# chapters

path: 11123121121211112121
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Double the fun.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Cassie directs you to a mall entrance where just Lisa is waiting. Geoff is nowhere in sight which instead of joy makes you depressed. Your truck cab only holds three, so you were counting on Geoff riding in the pickup's bed while you took everyone home.<br/>
<br/>
"He's waiting for a service truck," Lisa explains as she climbs in and Cassie scoots over against you more than necessary. "Someone let the air out of his tires. It will be an hour, and I don't want to wait in his car."<br/>
<br/>
You can tell Lisa is not happy, but this actually cheers you as it means Geoff upset her, not the flats. This is confirmed when Cassie giggles about being with a cute guy in a car in a dark parking lot, and Lisa gives a disgusted "Humpft."<br/>
<br/>
"Wouldn't he take you home in a cab?" Cassie asks to which Lisa glares and ignores the question leaning forward to see you.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks, Will. I doubly owe you now," she apologizes.<br/>
<br/>
"No problem," you happily return and smile as you start driving away. "If this keeps up, maybe we should start each evening together as well." After a pause you see she's just staring at the dash. It hurts some that she didn't laugh like she use to at your witty remark, but you feel better when she continues to talk and not just sulk, or worse, let Cassie talk.<br/>
<br/>
"So what's this project you and Cassie were doing this evening?"<br/>
<br/>
You heart skips a beat in excitement thinking you have the perfect opportunity to impress Lisa and maybe win her back. Geoff's made himself a jerk (you hope), so it's your chance to be mature, and you consider how best to lead into it, but Cassie jumps in first excitedly.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, it is sooooo cool! They have this hideaway that's, well, actually sort of grungy, but like a mad scientist's or superhero's lair, dim and spooky with all sorts of stuff piled around. Then they have these neat-oh, shiny mask thingies they've made with a special secret formula from an old book of Latin, and you put them on, and ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie!" you interrupt agitated, but she had stopped blushing and embarrassed, probably remembering kissing before the mask and the need to be secret. She smiles coyly then gulps seeing how upset you seem.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, yeah," she says zipping her lips.<br/>
<br/>
"Tell me more," Lisa prods.<br/>
<br/>
Your resolve melts because it's Lisa, but you're saved by your cell, answering as you drive with one hand.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah."<br/>
<br/>
"Will, you shouldn't drive and talk," Cassie chastises taking the phone before you hear who it is, setting it to speaker so all hear.<br/>
<br/>
"... the next page, and this spell looks easy, but I can't make out some of this fucking Latin. Can you bring Cassie back, or ... Wait. I can just put on ..."<br/>
<br/>
You grab the phone and end the call before Caleb reveals wearing Cassie's mask (the sealed one) to use her mind to decipher the new spell.<br/>
<br/>
"Oops. Sorry," you say repocketing the phone.<br/>
<br/>
"What's that all about?" Lisa asks immediately followed by Cassie's excited begging to go back.<br/>
<br/>
You're saved again by the cell but keep it in your left hand so it isn't taken away.<br/>
<br/>
"Yo, Caleb," you just start talking not letting him say a word. "You were on speaker. Don't do anything until I get there. I've got Lisa and Cassie, so have to drop them off before I can get ..."<br/>
<br/>
"No," Lisa breaks in. "I'd like to see this, too. We can all go over."<br/>
<br/>
Cassie is almost bouncing for joy. Her chipper smile and "Yeah. This will be fun. Goodie," has you in a tight spot trying to figure how to dissuade them especially since you really want to show Lisa. You've already done one stupid thing bringing Cassie over, and that came very close to ending very badly. You don't want another repeat.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll call you back. Don't - do - anything."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
When you get back to the clubhouse, Caleb is sitting in a chair polishing away, fortunately, on another mask he must have made to kill time. He gets up as you walk in and places it beside the others, the book, and the containers for the materials for making masks and strips.<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you'd clean this up," you shoot at him still perturbed.<br/>
<br/>
He turns back and smiles saying, "I thought you might like show and tell."<br/>
<br/>
You just glower as Cassie and Lisa follow you in. Cassie immediately sees the <i>Libra</i> and goes to it.<br/>
<br/>
"This is this book with the weird Latin," she tells Lisa who slowly follows her over taking in the dim environment.<br/>
<br/>
"It does have that rather unkempt air of a kids playhouse," she observes before joining Cassie at the <i>Libra</i>.<br/>
<br/>
You get that sinking feeling that you've again failed to show maturity, but this is just an abandoned school basement. What can she expect? They both scrutinize the open page for a while until Lisa squints in disbelief and shakes her head. Then she starts on the various other items.<br/>
<br/>
"So, what are all these? Looks like you've got a fancy art class not history or science project. Nice name bracelet, Will," she adds holding up the mind band with her name.<br/>
<br/>
You turn to Caleb angrily hissing quietly, "Why'd you put that out?" he just shrugs. Turning back, you let out a deep breath and give a simplified explanation of the book's recipes for making and polishing a mask. Then it can be used to copy someone or merge multiple forms into it. The strip copies memories. When combined, they make up a whole person.<br/>
<br/>
Cassie is ignoring you taking some paper and pencil to start writing something down, probably working the translation. Caleb is now just sitting back watching and waiting.<br/>
<br/>
"Copies memories?" Lisa gives you a very disbelieving look holding her mind band. "How?"<br/>
<br/>
You blurt unthinking, "Placed against a forehead."<br/>
<br/>
She does and goes into a blank-faced trance. You freeze with panic, and Caleb bolts upright in the chair.<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds like it means "coating" and "slave." Maybe used on slaves in the past. Huh?" Cassie speaks to no one in particular not looking up to know what's happening.<br/>
<br/>
This distracts you from Lisa until you hear something fall and rattle onto the table.<br/>
<br/>
"Doesn't seem to do anything but fall off," Lisa tells you with a further look of disbelief.<br/>
<br/>
"Yep. But together this may mean "slave mask" or "mask for slave." Also, "master's coating" could be translated here. Doesn't seem to make much sense," Cassie ponders out loud.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, this one has your name," Lisa calls to her.<br/>
<br/>
Cassie looks up indifferent and tells Lisa, "Must be one Will made of me after I put it on." She just goes right back to the book's text.<br/>
<br/>
"What's it suppose to do?" Lisa asks inspecting it closely, watching the shimmer of Cassie's face and name float on the shiny inside.<br/>
<br/>
"It'll turn you into Cassie," Caleb calls causing you to spin on him with shock.<br/>
<br/>
He smiles at you as you hear the thud of a collapsing body.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa, are you OK?" you ask helping her to her feet.<br/>
<br/>
"Will, please. Get her off your mind. Look at me. I'm not her, but I would be for y...," Lisa turned into Cassie starts but is interrupted.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my god! Lisa?" Cassie asks looking up shocked.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't call me that! I'm not her," Lisa spits rapidly then glares at Cassie. "Who are you, and why are you imitating me? Where'd you get those clothes. Why am I dressed in these. They're like ... like ... Lisa's. Did you guys ...?" she ends shocked and angry.<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa, get a grip," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Will. Will, please stop that. She broke your heart for no good reason. Don't pretend I'm her. Let her go. I'm not gonna treat you like that," Lisa pleads almost in tears.<br/>
<br/>
"Stop it, Lisa! You're not me! Stop telling him that stuff!" Cassie furiously shouts standing and blushing from the words as much as anger.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't - call - me - Lisa, you impostor!"<br/>
<br/>
You grab Lisa's shoulders, looking her in the eye. You talk soft but firm.<br/>
<br/>
"Think. Think about Blue Moon. Concentrate. You can do it."<br/>
<br/>
"Blue Moon, Will? What Blue Moon? Will and Blue ..."<br/>
<br/>
There's finally silence as her eyes look off in deep introspection. In about ten seconds, she focuses back on you.<br/>
<br/>
"Will. This is weird. It's like I have Cassie here in my head," she says calmly tapping her forehead then shuffling her clothes. "Everything feels funny like my clothes don't fit right. Too tight here, to loose there." Suddenly she stops then gasps holding her throat, "My voice!"<br/>
<br/>
You turn her around and push her over to the mirror. She pantomimes a few things to prove it's really her, then she gets a frightened look grabbing her head as she swings around to stare at Cassie for a while slowly lowering her arms. Her countenance becomes more concerned and thoughtful as she turns to you, then looks at Cassie, then the mirror, then focuses on you with a strange expression of wonder foreign to either her or Cassie.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231211212111121212
author_id: wordsmitty
title: A fair exchange of minds.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I've never thought of you like this," Lisa murmurs.<br/>
<br/>
You puzzle at her statement, but are immediately confronted by Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
"Will, what happened? How did she become me?" Cassie has run up and grabbed you so you face her now. She's in a panic, almost hysterical. "How much ...?"<br/>
<br/>
"Everything," Lisa tells her touching her shoulder. Cassie jerks away like she's terrified of Lisa. "It's OK, Cassie."<br/>
<br/>
"NO, it's NOT!" Cassie cries as tears form. "I don't want you knowing what I think about, ... what I know. It's personal."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," you say to both feeling so guilty that your stomach is rolling and your throat feels tight. "I can explain, but we need to calm down." You reach for Cassie, but she backs away further.<br/>
<br/>
"Is this what you did earlier? Is this how you get your kicks? Did one of you play me and do things? I trusted you, Will, and this is how ..."<br/>
<br/>
"No. We never ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, don't blame Will," Lisa softly and calmly tells her. She continues in a soothing voice, "We both trust him so much that we know he would <i>never</i> do anything like that nor let anyone else try." She glances over at Caleb who swallows hard, nods and looks at his feet.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie. Lisa. I ..."<br/>
<br/>
"It's OK, Will," Cassie states apologizing. "It just really scares me when she said everything exactly like I ... about ... you and her." She looks back at Lisa on the end. "I didn't mean ... I just like ..."<br/>
<br/>
"I know, Cassie, and actually I want to thank you. This ... you have given me something I need to really think a lot about." She turns to you. "Points I should consider. But how do we get this off?"<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"So that's what you did to me?" Cassie asks as you wait for Lisa, now in a chair, to regain consciousness after removing the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"That mask was blank when we gave it to you. It captured your image and thoughts, and did knock you out, though."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, so if I put it on now?" she asks while inspecting it.<br/>
<br/>
"You're already you, so probably nothing."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa comes around and jerks up like from a bad dream.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry Lisa. Are you OK?" you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
After a pause and looking at Cassie and back, then down at herself as well as running her hands over her body, she says, "Yeah. I remember being Cassie and hearing her thoughts, but I don't remember them now."<br/>
<br/>
"We think it's because they're in the mind strip, not really your head," Caleb explains. "The name or image tells who the mask or strip contains."<br/>
<br/>
"So is the thing with my name mean it has my memories?" she asks concerned.<br/>
<br/>
You swallow, but Caleb continues like the true unbiased scientist, "Yes."<br/>
<br/>
"Can it be used without a mask? It just fell off me earlier."<br/>
<br/>
"Actually, it didn't <i>just</i> fall. You stood in a trance for about a minute before it dropped off. And yes, it should be able to be used, but, ah, ... we haven't. Will didn't even know I got it originally."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa seems about to ask a lot of details like where and how, but she gets up and picks up the strip turning it over and over then surprises you with what she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, I want you to use my mind strip."<br/>
<br/>
"What?" Cassie exclaims. "Why would I want ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Although I don't remember your thoughts, I do feel I've gained a new perspective, and I think it's only fair that you also get a chance to see mine."<br/>
<br/>
They aren't looking at you, and you can't see their faces, but something inside you feels like you're in the spotlight of this conversation. Cassie nods as Lisa walks over holding up the strip.<br/>
<br/>
"PLEASE, sit down first. It should knock you out like the mask," you instruct. "You'll also be overwhelmed with new thoughts at first, so brace yourself to fight for control like you would in a dream. Otherwise, ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Otherwise, you'll probably really believe that you're me," Lisa finishes for you smiling right at you. She puts the strip on Cassie as she sits.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"So what else have you done?" Lisa asks while Cassie stares back and forth repeatedly between you and Lisa once she recovers and gains control.<br/>
<br/>
"They set me on fire, right?" Cassie asks more accusingly than you've ever heard her. It's more like Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
"Um, yeah," you mumble sheepishly.<br/>
<br/>
"And what did that do?" they both said simultaneously making you freak a bit.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb clears his throat and everyone turns around to watch him pull a blanket off the golem you made.<br/>
<br/>
"You turned her into stone?" came that duet again.<br/>
<br/>
"A golem," Caleb answered.<br/>
<br/>
"But we changed her back," you quickly add smiling like you meant to, hiding it was an accident.<br/>
<br/>
"What all does this book do?"<br/>
<br/>
The twin voices are starting to be scary.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
After they've read the book and all its spells that you have done so far and you confess the details done with Cassie (fortunately, they don't press about Jeremy or the Lisa mind strip incidents), Cassie  suddenly tells Lisa, "I see what you mean." Again your gut wrenches as if being talked about.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa and Cassie smile at each other before Cassie asks how to get Lisa out of her head. You try the mask phrase since you really have no idea (the book doesn't say specifically, but you don't tell them that), and it works.<br/>
<br/>
"So what are your plans for this power, Mr. Prescott?" Lisa throws at you.<br/>
<br/>
Realizing that your only plan has been to get Geoff to win Lisa back or Caleb's to get the Garner sisters for fun and frolic - neither of which you want to admit, you remain silent, but Caleb pipes up saving you and making you look good as well.<br/>
<br/>
"We've been discussing that, but Will didn't want to go off with anything until we understood the spells. That's why he wouldn't use your mind strip." (looking at Lisa) "He also knows that we need help with the translations, but only brought Cassie out to be in that spell after she pleaded to help."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa looks over at Cassie, and she reluctantly nods.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa next looks right at you asking, "OK, so what are your plans now?"<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312112121111212121
author_id: wordsmitty
title: A painful admission.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're excited at having Lisa and Cassie involved, but exhausted from the days events. Caleb eagerly is setting out ingredients to try the next spell. Cassie translated enough to show it's just another mix to coat a mask. However, through the adrenalin rush, you sense racing on is not a good idea. Looking at Lisa you don't hesitate to answer.<br/>
<br/>
"It's late. We should be rested with clear heads first. I think we've done enough. Let's all sleep on it then discuss possibilities, ... reasonable possibilities," you end with a side glance at Caleb. "We also must keep this to ourselves." You indicate to Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
As if you spouted music, Lisa's face lit up nodding. Later when you drop her off, she applauds your assertive leadership to make everyone think things through and admits this is the third thing that she now owes to you. A surprise quick kiss hits you before the door closes.<br/>
<br/>
You drift into your truck, and it floats home just under the midnight curfew your dad has for you. He isn't up, but there's a list with chores on your door. You don't care being glad three times over. Not just that Lisa owes you thrice, but because you did the right thing, Lisa hopefully is reconsidering you as boyfriend, and you didn't listen to Cassie jabber since Caleb took her home.<br/>
<br/>
Falling onto your bed, you consider various options for masks and golem. Sure, it would great to build an army to march in and ... do something. But this isn't a video game where a few golems can take over a world. Maybe focus on school. Turn the bullies into golems so they serve you. That would be cool! But what about next year after you graduate? You can't take them along. There's always Caleb's idea of the Garner sisters, but obviously not with Lisa and Cassie now included. At least you can forget masking Geoff.<br/>
<br/>
When you fall asleep, you worry yourself half the night and have nightmares the rest about anything and everything that might happen. The worst is when you dream someone removes masks from Cassie and Lisa turning them into stone golems. The figure turns to face you: it's Mansfield smirking.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"WILL !  Get your lazy ass out of bed and get going on those chores. You've put them off long enough. You aren't to go or do anything until at least the lawn and garage are done."<br/>
<br/>
Your dad leaves your bedroom door open and goes down the hall. You try to focus on the red glow from atop your nightstand which should be your clock. Shortly, the numbers materialize: 11:33.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Shit! It's almost noon, and it'll take me several hours to mow, sweep, clean windows, sort, bag trash....</i>" you think from the list while scrambling for a quick shower.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
Throwing on your clothes, you check your cell. Four messages:<br/>
<br/>
"Let's get started now!" from Caleb very early this morning.<br/>
<br/>
"When should I meet you?" Cassie about nine.<br/>
<br/>
"Call me." Lisa a half hour ago.<br/>
<br/>
"Where the #$%^*@ are you? " Caleb during your shower.<br/>
<br/>
You do quick replies as you head down and grab a roll on your way outside.<br/>
<br/>
"Chores, talk mid afternoon." to Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
"Stuck with chores for awhile." to Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
"F#%&amp;@ chores. Wait!" to Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
By the time you've satisfied your dad, it's after four. You call Lisa to propose meeting for dinner so the book and materials don't distract. She immediately agrees suggesting Panera about 5:30. Next you text Cassie and Caleb, then do another shower. Afterward you see they agreed but need Caleb to pick up Cassie so you don't.<br/>
<br/>
There's a half hour to kill, so you sit against the headboard thinking. You've got masks, golems and the <i>Libras</i>. It's no longer simple now that there's four knowing of these items. Although you're all friends, you're not sure how far you should trust everyone. Hell, you have no idea how far they trust you, except perhaps Lisa. Maybe more than planning use is coming to agreement on who gets what and how. Do you pass out keys or will that stop anyone anyway?<br/>
<br/>
You ponder all this for a while with no specific resolution, then get up to find the only clean shirt is a good polo. Actually, two week's laundry is in a corner since you've never taken it to the washer. You curse, but pull on some nice slacks that match the polo and trot downstairs.<br/>
<br/>
"Mom, I'm going out and won't need dinner," you call as you head for the door only to be intercepted by your dad.<br/>
<br/>
"Where do you think you're going?"<br/>
<br/>
You try not to cringe but know you are. "I'm meeting some friends for dinner and the evening."<br/>
<br/>
"Who?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, Caleb."<br/>
<br/>
He glowers.<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa."<br/>
<br/>
His face relaxes. "That explains the good clothes then. No getting into a club, though, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, dad. We're actually going to talk about a project we're working together."<br/>
<br/>
"Is that the one you stunk up the house for Caleb?"<br/>
<br/>
Timidly you confess, "It's part."<br/>
<br/>
"Hmpft."<br/>
<br/>
He wanders away, and you consider yourself lucky to make a quick escape. You know work has been extra stressful for him lately, but can't he ever give you a break?<br/>
<br/>
Just before you get in your truck, Aunt Mary and cousin Umeko drive up.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa, Will. Did you dress up just for me?" Umeko teases.<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, not just," you lie but wish you aren't. "Meeting some friends."<br/>
<br/>
"Must be special ones," she coos as she looks you up and down with a whistle then winks. "Will you be back early?"<br/>
<br/>
"Probably not."<br/>
<br/>
"Too bad. Have fun," she calls sashaying into the house obviously for your benefit.<br/>
<br/>
For a moment, you think about inviting her along, but this isn't a normal evening. Besides Lisa will be there, and Umeko's a college sophomore not high school. As you watch her form sway into the house, you shake your head from wrongful thoughts and get back on topic of using magical masks to take over other people.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
It's actually a relaxing meal with everyone in a booth talking about school, gossip and entertainment without mentioning masks. Cassie manages to sit beside you so it looks like she's your date even though Lisa was first to arrive. Unfortunately, you were the last. However, what's best is that Mansfield works here (a bus boy!) and sees all of you together. That's probably why Lisa suggested this, and you're sure he keeps glancing over looking very upset which makes you happy. <br/>
<br/>
Eventually, the subject comes up, and Caleb leads the charge. <br/>
<br/>
"So why can't we just start collecting people in masks and maybe swap with them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Who, why, and work," you refute. "It takes time and money to make this stuff, and there needs to be a reason to grab someone - besides personal desires. And how do we get the original out of the way?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think it would be fun to have a clone I could boss around to do things for me," Cassie suggests. "It'd free me to spend more time together," she smiles at you then catches herself. "Er, like ah, working translations and making things. Fun stuff. Like a team or super heroes or ... maybe we should come up with a group name, secret handshakes and ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, we need to get to the basics first," you jump in to slow her rambling ideas. "Do all of us get access to everything and make whatever whenever and should we? And how do we know if someone does something on their own?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want my mask used by anyone and have them know stuff about me," Cassie insists.<br/>
<br/>
"I trust Will," Lisa speaks for the first time. "You can use my mind strip to prove it."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks, Lisa. I trust you as well but am not going there. Never wanted it" you shoot the last at Caleb. You're actually still scared to know her thoughts and more so of her knowing yours.<br/>
<br/>
"If you didn't want it, why make it?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"He didn't. I did," Caleb admits. "As Jeremy at the movie. I thought it would help Will."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa just stares at him then you with an implied "Why?" look. <br/>
<br/>
You drop your eyes clasping your hands together on the table feeling stupid and scared of the truth. Caleb nudges you with his foot, and you start to sweat squeezing your hands so they turn pale. Geoff walks by carrying dirty dishes. Once he's gone, you look up at Lisa and spew out words so rapidly and softly that you hope no one hears.<br/>
<br/>
"IwantedtocopyGeofftomakehimbreakwithyoubecauseitreallyhurtwhenwebrokeup ."<br/>
<br/>
At the end your eyes drop again only to see two hands reach out and touch your arm as if synchronized, then Lisa and Cassie also speak simultaneously.<br/>
<br/>
"We never broke up, Will, because I thought we were just friends," Lisa confesses.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry, Will. I wanted us to be good friends," Cassie includes with her.<br/>
<br/>
After a long, uncomfortable pause, Caleb inserts, "OK. That's enough of confession time. Bless you, children. Do six spells, and all with be forgiven."<br/>
<br/>
You glare at him and pull your hands back as Lisa and Cassie retract theirs.<br/>
<br/>
"Let's all do the next spell together and stop. We can see what we have and decide if these things can be used," you direct with a sudden feeling of authority - and relief.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123121121211112121212
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Trying out the sixth spell.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>After using the restroom, you're outside and glance back through the window to see her talking to Mansfield <i>and</i> holding both his hands. Your heart and mind sink then feel crushed as she stands on tiptoes to give him a peck on the lips. You jerk your head as if you didn't see pretending to be texting on your cell, but you wonder if maybe Caleb is right and she's playing you.<br/>
<br/>
You drive to the clubhouse in silence very unlike before. You are friends - good friends. Not the type of friends you want to be - girlfriend/boyfriend - but you always managed to talk about something. It's just that you feel betrayed, angry, depressed, embarrassed, stupid. What can you say?<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa, I ..."<br/>
"Will, I ..."<br/>
You both start together after five minutes.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa giggles, but you remain confused and decide to just wait for her. It's almost another minute before she speaks.<br/>
<br/>
"Will, thank you."<br/>
<br/>
You pause even more confused by her statement then answer with, "Huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you for being honest."<br/>
<br/>
That was it. You thought she would explain, but she just continued to watch the road ahead when you glance over at a stop sign. The street light on her face reflects no expression. As you pull ahead you admit, "I don't understand."<br/>
<br/>
"Trust me, Will," she says putting a hand on your arm. "You do."<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, ... sure."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
When you get to the clubhouse, Caleb and Cassie are waiting with almost everything set out to start.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb asks as soon as you're in the door, "What mask should we use? It says to use on an already sealed mask to make it a golem." He holds up the Jeremy and Cassie masks.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want someone knowing my memories," Cassie snips and takes her mask.<br/>
<br/>
"If it really makes the one who wears it a golem, they may not be conscious under the mask to know anything," you suggest.<br/>
<br/>
"Still, I don't want my mind used, in case."<br/>
<br/>
"This could give you that duplicate you want to do things for you."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe later - if this works."<br/>
<br/>
"So Jeremy it is," Caleb announces. "We still need some hair from the master. Who's it to be?"<br/>
<br/>
Everyone is staring at you, and you're not sure if that means use your hair or decide on who would be master for this mask. Quickly you analyze everything - both facts: you are already master of the golem; and if you don't share, it will look bad. "<i>That was easy,</i>" you think. "<i>But who should it be?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's your best friend and has been working with you already, so he would be a logical choice. You want to impress Lisa, and giving her the power may help. Cassie has been taken advantage of by making a mask of her then it used in front of her.<br/>
<br/>
"Well," you glance at each ending on Cassie with your last thought who is clutching her own mask still. "Cassie."<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
"Me?"<br/>
"Good choice, Will."<br/>
<br/>
They each speak at the same time.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb gives you an annoyed look, but hands the scissors to Cassie. Placing her mask on the table, she pulls a lock of her hair and cuts handing it to you. Then she bursts into giggles moving her gaze from you to Lisa then to the floor taking a couple deep breaths to stop. You just stare confused.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry."<br/>
<br/>
As you turn to Caleb, you see Lisa hiding a smile with her hand and wonder, "<i>What is so funny about a girl giving a guy a lock of her hair?</i>" Then it hits you, and you blush.<br/>
<br/>
"OK," Caleb says grabbing the hair. "Time to make magic."<br/>
<br/>
With that, he pours the ingredients into a bowl. As he adds the hair, the smell is atrocious, so you open the door. Cassie and Lisa take this as an invitation to wait outside while you go back to Caleb. He tries to mix them but nothing happens, and he starts to look sick finally dashing for the door. As he leaves, the odor seems to follow him.<br/>
<br/>
You check the bowl yourself and see that the ingredients remain separated. As you hear him heaving outside, you stir and watch it form a slurry that glistens in the light with dark letters spinning with a distorted image. When you stop, you think you can make out "CASSIE HARPER" and her face.<br/>
<br/>
"Will, are you OK?" you hear Lisa call bringing your thoughts back to the three outside.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. It's fine now. How's Caleb?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dude, how did you survive that?" he asks staggering in looking peaked.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't know. It didn't bother me, and it mixed together fine."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe it's because your connection to the book," Cassie offers. "This thing may prevent others from using it after you decipher or explain so they can't take your power."<br/>
<br/>
"So, think it'll work with your hair, then?" Lisa questions.<br/>
<br/>
"Only one way to find out," you reply and take the old paintbrush and apply some across the mask. Then you toss a lit match onto it and watch the flash followed by the standard blue flames for about thirty seconds. When done, the mask now has a grayish film instead of the deep crystal blue sheen. Caleb takes a cloth and rubs, but it stays gray.<br/>
<br/>
"Who's gonna be Jeremy?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm gonna be Jeremy so he can't come after me again," Caleb tells you as he looks into the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Better go change to the other clothes so yours don't stretch too tight or rip."<br/>
<br/>
He hands you the mask and walks to the other side of the room while you hold out the mask for Lisa and Cassie to inspect. They each turn it over and shrug same as your feelings. Nothing much to see. It still has Jeremy's name and image with a ghostly image and Cassie's name that floats around and fades in and out.<br/>
<br/>
          <br/>
<br/>
"What happened? Where's Johansson?" Caleb asks now looking, sounding and acting identical to Jeremy Richards. He glances round the room. Suddenly seeing Cassie and Lisa to the side, he beams and turns on the Richards charm. "Well, hellooooo ladies. Glad you could join Will and I."<br/>
<br/>
Cassie ignores his comment and walks over to you. "Doesn't sound like Caleb's in there," she observes.<br/>
<br/>
The two of you begin discussing the spell and check the book and translation for what to do not paying much attention to the other two. The Jeremy version of Caleb takes this as a hint and proceeds to move in on Lisa. You hear their voices, but the exact words don't register. Eventually, Lisa's loud cry draws your glance.<br/>
<br/>
"Get off me you creep!"<br/>
<br/>
The figure of Jeremy is now towering over her and has her cornered. One arm is already on to her shoulder, but she is struggling to get him out of her face. He just smiles and continues his advances getting rather aggressive. <br/>
<br/>
"Hey, leave her alone" you shout.<br/>
<br/>
He just turns and growls back, "You can't have both, Will. You already chose, so this one is mine."<br/>
<br/>
Not use to him not behaving before when you used the mask on the golem, you start over angrily and put your hand on his shoulder to pull him back, but you can't move his big frame. Instead, he gives you a shove.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen, Prescott you had your chance and let her go. Mansfield ain't around, not that I couldn't whip that pussy, too, so this little honey is going to sweeten my candy tonight. Ain't that right, babe?"<br/>
<br/>
You stand stunned for a second then go at him when you see him start running his hand through her hair and she's unable to break away. Before you can reach him, you hear Cassie yell and watch Caleb double over and back away.<br/>
<br/>
"Get away from her!"<br/>
<br/>
"Ow," Caleb whines in a high voice and gasps in pain. "Why'd you do that?"<br/>
<br/>
Lisa sidesteps around him with a look of satisfaction as Cassie charges over and begins interrogating him. You are still stunned.<br/>
<br/>
"What do you think you were doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"When Will and Caleb first invited me over, they said this was going to be like the fuck room for them, and I thought ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck room?" Cassie and Lisa together say shocked, and Caleb as Jeremy answers.<br/>
<br/>
"You know. That room, ah, store room off the gym. The basketball A team uses it to take girls to to ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Enough!" Cassie shouts in disgust looking at you.<br/>
<br/>
You shiver with embarrassment as you scramble to explain, "It was how we tricked him so we could make a mask of him. We never meant it to ..."<br/>
<br/>
You're drowned out by Cassie laughing then Lisa joining. Caleb is now able to stand, and he looks at you with a serious expression.<br/>
<br/>
"Is this another joke on me, Prescott, or did Johansson set this all up?  I thought you were the nice guy and I like you," he starts getting angrier as he talks and walks towards you clenching his fists. "But if you're the one."<br/>
<br/>
You start backpedaling, but he catches you by the collar and raises you to your tip toes. Lost in self preservation, you plead innocence before remembering and wondering if Caleb is really doing this to get back at you when the Richards mask was used and scared him.<br/>
<br/>
"OK. Put him down," comes Cassie's voice, and he lets go. "Now apologize."<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, Will. I just thought you were ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Now give him a big hug."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb immediately complies with more gusto than needed, and you hope your ribs don't crack while you ask, "Is this really necessary?"<br/>
<br/>
"We need to test my control," she answers and winks. "How about a kiss, honey?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb puckers at you. You freak. Lisa Laughs. Cassie yells, "Not him."<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231211212111121212121
author_id: wordsmitty
title: A surprise present
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>After taking the mask off and grilling Caleb, you know that while in a golem mask, one doesn't remember anything. Then when you placed the mask to open the next page in the book, you find the page half torn away with weirdly shifting letters that fade in and out on the page below, impossible to read.<br/>
<br/>
Cassie looks up from the text you can read. "All it says is something about releasing the mind of me."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we're not going further any time soon," you observe then decide it's time to finish a plan. "We should look at what we can do with what we have."<br/>
<br/>
"We only have the two masks and a golem. How can we share those?" Caleb sighs.<br/>
<br/>
"More like <i>use</i> what we know," Cassie offers head down and thumbing back through the book.<br/>
<br/>
"Right. We have Jeremy, Cassie, ..."<br/>
<br/>
"That one's mine," Cassie demands picking up her mask.<br/>
<br/>
Then an idea hits you. "Caleb and I each made a mask to start. He used his on Jeremy. I have a blank, and we made another we shared. Yours, Cassie."<br/>
<br/>
"That's right. <i>We</i> made them. I also started that other, and I should keep it since Jeremy is really the test mask," insists Caleb. "We should all contribute," he adds looking at Lisa and Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
"OK. Cassie did the translation so that should count."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't mind making one," Lisa chimes in. "What do I do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Polish it," Caleb groans.<br/>
<br/>
You explain the process as Caleb gets the the supplies to make a mask. Lisa walks around watching you and Caleb while Cassie continues with the book. Once the flame is out, you hand it to Lisa telling her to let you know when its shiny.<br/>
<br/>
"We can decide what each of us wants to do, <i>or not do</i>," you insert looking at Cassie, "with our masks as a start."<br/>
<br/>
"We'll need more masks or some way to get rid of anyone we copy," she advises.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's always a question, and the ingredients aren't cheap. Consider that and how much we each can contribute for the future," you tell them. You have enough for another mask, some strips, and a few batches of each sealer, but feel part of being in this should be sharing costs as well, especially since you and Caleb have depleted all your funds. "We can get together next weekend once the masks are polished, but we probably need to head home now since tomorrow is school."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
Caleb immediately bails on taking Cassie home, so you leave with the two girls after hiding everything and locking up.<br/>
<br/>
"Just drop me at Panera," Lisa tells you, and you again get that bad feeling about her. "I can get a ride home from there, and it's way out of the way to both of ours from here."<br/>
<br/>
You mumble, "OK," unhappy as you remember back to her kissing Mansfield before you went to the clubhouse.<br/>
<br/>
She can sense your agitation being close friends for a few years now and turns on your word.<br/>
<br/>
"I have something to take care of, Will. I'll explain sometime soon, 'K?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure." You fake a smile but keep your eyes on the road.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
As you and Cassie head to her place, her normal chatter seems subdued as she talks about things to do with the book's spells. You end up in an incisive discussion opening your eyes to future opportunities.<br/>
<br/>
"You know, we could replace people at school or make them our slaves so the school is a better place."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but the year's half over. Why not just steal someones life that's headed for success? That would last longer."<br/>
<br/>
"But do you want to live a lie for the rest of your life? Maybe control something that would make our lives easier."<br/>
<br/>
"Parents!" you both exclaim together after a minute of thought, then laugh.<br/>
<br/>
Once that settles and you reflect on it, you sigh, "I think I'd feel real guilty trapping them as slaves forever since they wouldn't remember anything once the mask is removed."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," she sighs as well. "Maybe our best bet is to try each others lives and hope that brings us closer."<br/>
<br/>
"That might be fun," you agree smiling but notice she's turned away and blushing.<br/>
<br/>
After everything that's happened and been revealed in the past two days, you start to reconsider your relationship to Cassie. She's not as pretty as Lisa, but she isn't unattractive. Hell, she is attractive, just not that perfect picture you've been trained to expect and want above all others. She's smart and sensible. Maybe you should give her a try especially since Lisa seems still stuck with Mansfield.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks for all your help and ideas Cassie. I'm glad that Lisa set me up, er... I mean that she was busy and you could help." This time you blush bright red as you walk her to her door. You're just glad that it's dark enough she can't see you change color.<br/>
<br/>
"Will, Lisa did ... ah, well, ... you ..." she tries to say something but gives up and shrugs. You can tell that she knows something, but is keeping it quiet. You wonder if it's because she got to see into Lisa's mind. "I'd like to see you without Lisa or the masks sometime. Dinner the other evening was really fun."<br/>
<br/>
"That'd be great."<br/>
<br/>
This time you lean in and kiss her. It lasts much longer than "goodnight," and you find yourself squeezing her almost hungrily which makes you finally break it. Her eyes though now sparkle, and she's blushing again.<br/>
<br/>
"Talk tomorrow. 'night."<br/>
<br/>
"Good night."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Will," Lisa greets you in the hall before fourth period and walks in with you. "Mine's all polished and ready for the mental thingy."<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? So soon? Impossible. It took us five days, a couple hours each."<br/>
<br/>
"Used my dad's car buffer. Done in a little over half an hour." <br/>
<br/>
She winks as she sits and puts her extra books under the desk. You're stunned and feel stupid. Here you and Caleb worked your arms sore on these things when all you needed was a little modern technology. You feel like a doofus for wasting so much time.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, OK. Want to go right after school?" You suggest from your desire to get her back and away from any distractions as soon as possible.<br/>
<br/>
She pauses holding the eraser end of a pencil against her lower lip. "I'll meet you there about a half hour after last period. I have to get something first." She turns with a slight smile, but her eyes seem to be still in thought. "We'll need the band and sealer you mentioned. That should give you time to have those ready, OK."<br/>
<br/>
Happy that she's so interested now, you don't process what she says but instantly respond, "Sure.  See ya then."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
It's about forty minutes past school's end, and you're nervously waiting. You now have two extra bands and enough sealer for several masks. While getting the ingredients, you noticed the blank mask missing but figured Caleb just stowed it somewhere else, so you didn't bother to look further. Since all that only took a few minutes, you made one more mask with the last of those materials to keep yourself from being nervous. You don't know why since you've always been comfortable meeting Lisa. Something inside, though, keeps telling you this is different. <br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Will. Sorry I'm a bit late. Here's the polished mask."<br/>
<br/>
"OK, then. Do you want your strip or ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, a new one, please. Use mine in the next."<br/>
<br/>
"Next one?" you ask turning away to pickup a mind strip and put it in.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. By the way, here's a present for you," she says pulling another mask out of her bag. "I borrowed your blank and got you someone. I can seal if you like."<br/>
<br/>
You finish the quick insertion of the mind strip before looking at the mask. The shiny name and image make you jerk back to stare at her in shock.<br/>
<br/>
"It's fresh. He's out in the car napping. Said he was tired and would rest while I stopped in the rec center on the other end. It just helped him go to sleep quicker," she giggles cutely with the end.<br/>
<br/>
"You ... you made a copy of Geoff? Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like I said: for you." She smiles the way that always disarms you, and she takes your arm leading you into a chair. "Now just use mine to copy yourself," she adds swapping Geoff's mask for her blank you just added the mind strip.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa, Lisa," you start but she leans in and kisses you quickly then rises and explains.<br/>
<br/>
"You wanted to be Geoff, so I'm giving you the chance to find out what he's like. Copy yourself and golemize it, and we'll put it on him. Then you can be Geoff for a while with this," and she holds up the "present."<br/>
<br/>
This is a little quick, and you hesitate looking back down at the blank mask you're holding. You wanted Lisa, but not exactly like this. Seeing you pondering rather than putting it on, she reaches down and puts her hand on yours.<br/>
<br/>
"You trust me, Will, right?"<br/>
<br/>
You look up to see her pretty face smiling kindly, and you nod then feel her gently lift your hand so the mask goes on your face.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312112121111212121211
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Become Geoff Mansfield
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You feel like you're floating as the mask hits you, then nothing until you hear Lisa's voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Wake up, Will. Time to fix the mask."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes slowly focus on Lisa's smiling face. Instantly you feel happy seeing her and clear your head with a blink and a shake. Taking your hand, she leads you up to the table before you remember what's going on. You're concerned but do trust her. It's one of the stronger emotions you have for her, but still you take a deep breath and look at her suspiciously for a moment before speaking.<br/>
<br/>
"OK, Lisa. I'll do it, but we should tell .."<br/>
<br/>
"No. This has to be our secret, at least until we all meet this weekend."<br/>
<br/>
Actually, she's right. It makes more sense to do this. Like a test it would give you some perspective about how using these will work so everyone can plan better.<br/>
<br/>
"But won't Geoff miss his memory when we turn him loose later? We can't just whack him in the head and say it must have caused a week's amnesia."<br/>
<br/>
"Why not. He's a jerk and pervert only after girl's panties."<br/>
<br/>
Those words ring in your head as exactly what you thought of him but didn't say last week when she asked. The look on your face must have shown as she smiled and giggled before continuing.<br/>
<br/>
"I know that's what you meant when you gave me your opinion at lunch. We're too good of friends, and I know you didn't want to hurt my feelings since I seemed happy. But believe me, you don't know how hard he's been trying to bed me." She looks away disgusted. "And how I've fought off his mauling. It'd serve him right."<br/>
<br/>
"Then why the hell were you with ..."<br/>
<br/>
"He is fun and has good contacts, Will," she sighs looking away probably imagining how good looking he is as well especially compared to your scrawny body. She then takes a deep breath and holds both your hands. "You're the nicest, kindest person I know. When I saw what the masks do, I just wanted to combine the good parts of the two and perhaps have the perfect gentleman for a while."<br/>
<br/>
Your heart just about explodes beating rapidly at this compliment from Lisa even if a bit screwy, and you feel warm all over, and speechless. So your natural humor takes over.<br/>
<br/>
"So then that means, ah," you smirk as you continue. "You and I would then ... what he wanted ... like ..."<br/>
<br/>
Her face goes angry, and yours goes to fear and embarrassment blushing and looking down like a bad puppy as she puts her hands on her hips and chastises you.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that all you <i>boys</i> ever think about." Then she giggles and tells you, "Will, your humor is still annoying but not as bad as Geoff's. I guess maybe it'll only be an <i>almost</i> perfect gentleman. And I mean <i>gentleman</i>."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
After sealing the masks and golemizing yours with your hair, Lisa says, "Now let's go collect <i>Will</i> and then get you changed."<br/>
<br/>
Since Geoff's heavier than you, you can't wear his mask until you change clothes or they'd rip or strangle your gut and chest. So you follow Lisa out to Geoff's car in the rec center parking lot way at the other end of the old school and find him truly asleep. With no one looking, you drop on the mask and wake yourself up.<br/>
<br/>
"Come on, Will. Don't say anything," you tell him. As he gets out and his pants start to slide, you add, "And hold your pants up."<br/>
<br/>
You've obviously never watched yourself before; and with the over-sized fashionable clothes and your slouching strides, it's comical. You can't help directing him to stand up straight even as you force yourself to better posture.<br/>
<br/>
"Do I really look and walk like that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sometimes, Will. Mostly when you're being bossed around or embarrassed. Although he's a much better dresser," she teases on the end.<br/>
<br/>
Once you're in the clubhouse, you swap clothes and give him orders making sure they're explicit and he acts properly especially that he tells no one of what you and Lisa have done or that she or Geoff were ever here. He looks rather submissive, so you add to act more confident and happy, but not too much. The last thing you want is to make your stand-in better than the original.<br/>
<br/>
Your first impression of Geoff after donning the mask is that he's a pantie seeking dickhead. His last thoughts and first that came to you are driving Lisa here and how he can use this to make her feel more guilty and put out for him. But as you looked back, you found he was already pursuing Molly Shaw that day at school since Lisa hadn't jumped into bed as quick as he planned. That lead quickly to a memory list of the girls he had slept with over the past several years, most one nighters though he had several girlfriends lasting a few months each.<br/>
<br/>
"He really is a wild dick pussy chaser," you exclaim after this reflection and now in his clothes.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>You</i> are a wild dick pussy chaser," Lisa corrects you.<br/>
<br/>
You sigh pulling up some of Geoff's personality and grin with an ego of confidence saying, "Yes I am, sweetie pie, and you know you want to be caught."<br/>
<br/>
You throw your arm over her shoulder and lean in for a kiss. She responds by pushing you back but can't escape your solid grip.<br/>
<br/>
"Be nice Geoff or I'm gone. How many times do I have to tell you," she commands firmly with voice and eyes.<br/>
<br/>
Instinctively as Geoff, you let her go and wonder if this is what she meant. Any time they were in public, Geoff always seemed nice, but his personality sure turned quickly when you let it out.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry. Shall I take you home now?" you ask slyly.<br/>
<br/>
"To <i>my</i> house, but you can't stay," she says with a head shake knowing whose <i>home </i>you, or Geoff's personality, really wanted to go since there's usually no one at his house in the afternoon.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
As you cruised to the Mansfield home after dropping Lisa, you looked back into Geoff's life only to find a more troubled person and family than you thought. His mom was, <i>no is,</i> (he wants to not believe) an alcoholic. It nearly broke the marriage when he was little chasing his dad into several affairs with Geoff seeing women as objects to be used, probably why he chases so many now. However, she's been sober for over a decade, and his dad is now more caring than most. She spoils Geoff, and he expects to be treated that way by women, at least those in his social level. His dad however is very tough on him, worse than yours even. It's why he has a job - one that he doesn't like - and why he wants to go to college as far away as possible.<br/>
<br/>
Geoff jogs and works out some. That started to help to ease, really escape, the home life tension but now is just routine. He's smart enough to get by at school fairly easy which gives him time to do what he likes: politics. He ran and got on school council and enjoys the power wielding. His demeanor is easy-going and he can carry any conversation. He's not a leader, but a good supporter and party man. He'll be a success in whatever he tries once he graduates college most likely with both business and poli-sci degrees. You can see why Lisa and so many girls go for him, besides being good looking and knowing how to look good in whatever he wears.<br/>
<br/>
The other thing you find out is what Lisa told him the other night at Panera before she went with you as well as after you dropped her off. Unfortunately, it just confuses you more since it looks like she's leading him on. He's ambivalent about her actions probably since he has a backup. However, her comment to him about you makes you feel both good and bad that you are her closest friend that's not a girl but you two aren't involved in a serious way. Although after considering, it makes you sound gay.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123121121211112121212112
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Being Geoff Mansfield
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>After dinner Lisa calls Geoff's cell saying it's a nice night for a drive in your convertible, talking as if you are Geoff. You jump at the chance to be with her as well as escape his home which is just as depressing to you as to Geoff.<br/>
<br/>
"Shall we park somewhere so you can look up at the stars?" Geoff's personality pushes forth. It's one of his lines to get to the back seat. Lisa is right. His suggestive language humor is atrocious.<br/>
<br/>
"Just to the rec center," she instructs holding up the polished mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Damn, you're quick. Who's that now?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just me. I need you to add my mind strip then seal it."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure you don't want to seal more while we're alone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Geoff, you can be more annoying than Will Prescott, I swear," she spits folding her arms.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry. It's just that <i>he makes me so jealous!</i>" you chuckle.<br/>
<br/>
"I know you're jealous, Geoff," she replies matter-of-factually. "Don't be. Behave. I will be more appreciative."<br/>
<br/>
She smiles at you which adds to your confusion of her treating you as Geoff as the mask leader as well. You let it slide and just focus on controlling the Mansfield lewdness. That's what she wants, so you'll be that perfect gentleman. Maybe you'll learn enough that she will be your, that is Will's, girlfriend.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
You get a nice goodnight kiss dropping her off, rather early, and she reminds you of the date Friday to the museum gala. It's right up Geoff's alley schmoozing with notables of society. By then, it should be easy to impress her with Geoff under control and change her to be serious about you, Will. Actually her insisting you are Geoff constantly is already grating on you; but for Lisa, you'll do anything, at least for a while.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
School the next day is fun as you follow Geoff's memories and let his personality flow only reigning it in whenever Lisa comes round. She's more affectionate with a few quick kisses and hand holding between classes, although, a bit tentative, maybe because this Geoff has her off balance. It's better than yesterday when she was all business. Using Geoff's charm, you press for getting together, and she agrees to a short study date at the downtown library.<br/>
<br/>
By the time you're settled at a table and actually studying, she relaxes. You don't interrupt but let her know you're there with purposeful "accidental" touches of elbows, foot, etc. There's a glimpse of a smile from her after a while, and she eventually holds your hand while continuing to read.<br/>
<br/>
"Can I buy you a soda or coffee before going home?" you offer against Geoff's normal insistence and sexual overture.<br/>
<br/>
"That would be nice, Geoff. We have time since I wasn't distracted," she compliments your better behavior.<br/>
<br/>
With a surge of delight, you almost let out Geoff's inappropriate suggestion coupled with your own annoying humor but catch yourself, instead asking, "The Koffee Kuldron?" while holding out your hand, not grabbing hers and dragging her there.<br/>
<br/>
She accepts and slides her fingers apart to interlock with your own but stops you with a surprise as she reaches up and pulls your head down for a brief kiss.<br/>
<br/>
"I like it when you're nice, Geoff," she purrs dreamy-eyed at you.<br/>
<br/>
This time you have to fight off Geoff's reaction to ravish her mouth and squeeze her breasts against you for a thrill. It is maddening the way he thinks nothing of her or her feelings but just wants physical contact. Not that you don't want to be affectionate, too, but loving. Being Geoff is harder than you thought, and you wish Lisa could just let you be you.<br/>
<br/>
Sitting with a couple lattés at a sidewalk table, you see your truck with Cassie beside your double in the cab. She spots Lisa and waves giving a thumbs up that makes Lisa almost spill her drink and cough some that went down the wrong way.<br/>
<br/>
"You OK, Lisa?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," she comes back clearing her throat and dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "Just a surprise to see them together by here."<br/>
<br/>
It quite surprises you to; although after kissing Cassie goodnight, it was probably inevitable for your stand-in to follow up. Hopefully, it's nothing more than giving her a ride. However, there's no way to find out without meeting up with yourself which is out of character for Geoff. It makes you anxious since you really want Will to be with Lisa. That strikes the Geoff in you as bizarre and involuntarily brings forth his comment.<br/>
<br/>
"A couple of losers made for each other. They were bound to collide or be pushed into something."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa looks shocked but quickly shakes it off to a grimace instead.<br/>
<br/>
"That's not very kind. They are both nice and make a good couple." She watches them drive off, you're sure, with a sigh.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, Lisa. I thought you gave up on him," you say hoping she'll admit more. Instead she pats your hand and looks into your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"Like I've told you, he's a good friend. You don't have to be jealous." <br/>
<br/>
As she scoots over to lean on your shoulder, your arm instinctively goes around her. There's no resistance, and the kiss is very pleasant, one that lingers. You hold back your tongue even though Geoff wants to ram it in just like he would elsewhere.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
The rest of the week is stressful as you struggle controlling Geoff's personality around Lisa especially since you have the same underlying desires as Geoff, just not as flagrant but based on caring not carnal conquest. It's also hard to avoid your past or possible future trophies who try to entice you. Molly Shaw even gives you an inviting taste when she manipulates you into an empty classroom. The surprise has Geoff take control fondling her in a lip lock for several minutes before you can shake it off.<br/>
<br/>
She looks you in the eye hungrily saying,"You're wasting time with that Yarborough prude. I can tell."<br/>
<br/>
She gropes your boner at the end before swaying her hips and blowing a sensual kiss over her shoulder as she leaves. It's all you can do not to follow-up, and it's not just Geoff that is pointing that way hard. This is the type of life you only dreamed of.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Maybe I could be Geoff forever and reap these types of rewards, escape my mundane life, be smart and a success, let Lisa go.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
You may have even done it if it wasn't for that last thought and the other side of Geoff's life. It's not what you want to be. Your pitiful existence is better even if not with Lisa. But you won't give up on her. This just solidifies that you will take your old life back.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
Friday night Lisa looks wonderful dressed for the reception. The Geoff in you could care less and just wants to start making contacts and working the room for his future benefit. Plus he knows there are more opportunities if Lisa keeps him waiting much longer.<br/>
<br/>
"You look absolutely enchanting this evening, Lisa," you immediately push through Geoff's indifference.<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you, Geoff. I'm glad to have a handsome man this evening."<br/>
<br/>
Geoff's thoughts disgust you at his inference. However, he actually looks forward more to the reception than her having him. You hope that isn't what she meant. The thought of her and you as Geoff naked together irks you even more. You don't want her that way, not as Geoff. Only for who you really are.<br/>
<br/>
You behave the prefect gentleman the whole night except for abandoning her to pursue social and political climbing, but you also constantly introduce her so she makes good contacts as well. For Geoff, it's really just to highlight he is with a beautiful woman or to dump her on someone not worth his time so he can escape.<br/>
<br/>
Finally, you're alone in the car mentally and physically exhausted from how much it takes in these events plus in keeping Geoff acceptable for Lisa. The air is fresh and cool with the top down, and the moon is about half full low in the sky giving long deep blue-gray shadows. Lisa's hair streams gently behind her with the moonbeams giving it a halo effect. You don't even realize that you're off in the countryside from Acheson on the long way home, Geoff's usual seduction route, until Lisa speaks.<br/>
<br/>
"Can you go a little slower? It's so nice out here without the street lights and with all the stars."<br/>
<br/>
The car goes on autopilot slowing and turning down a farm lane stopping along a meadow with the remains of late summer flowers. Lisa's smiling. Her mouth beckoning for your lips. Your body doesn't want to hold back, but your heart knows you have to and to get something off your chest.<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa, I can't go any further. I can't stand being Geoff especially having you beside me?"<br/>
<br/>
"What are you saying, Geoff?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can't pretend. He disgusts me the deeper I see inside him. I thought it might be fun, but it's torment. I care for you too much. I'd rather be me."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa's face gets scared as you talk, then shocked, then very unlike Lisa with an inquisitive look you've seen elsewhere.<br/>
<br/>
"Who are you really?"<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
"Geoff?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? You know who I am?"<br/>
<br/>
There's a long pause as her eyes go wide, and she gasps, " Will? It's me, Cassie."<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231211212111121212121122
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Goodbye Geoff Mansfield
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>No one answered. You knew it's the right number. After all you have had that number for years. Cassie shakes Lisa's head getting no answer from her phone either. Where the hell are they?<br/>
<br/>
"So, you replaced Geoff to be with Lisa, and then ..."<br/>
<br/>
"No! I didn't replace him," you interrupt curtly agitated by the whole situation.<br/>
<br/>
Her face looks hurt at this, but it's hard for you to control the emotions since you're looking at Lisa's face, the person who set this all up and you really like. Plus Geoff's temper and frustration at Lisa is boiling within you as well just re-enforcing your own confusion and anger. You have to take a deep breath and squeeze you eyes shut a moment to concentrate that this is Cassie and she's been tricked as much as you.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry, Cassie. I didn't mean to yell at you," you sigh causing her to give you Lisa's sweet smile and put her hand on yours. "I know you didn't mean it that way." After another deep breath, you finish. "Yes, I agreed to be Geoff so he would be nicer to Lisa, but we couldn't let Geoff run around knowing. He's stuck under a golem mask and won't have any memory of any of this. What I can't understand is why Lisa wanted you two to switch."<br/>
<br/>
She looks down and is quiet making you wonder if there's something more to this than she's going to tell you. Finally her eyes come back to yours looking a little sad as she explains.<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't Lisa, Will. I suggested it to her Monday at school when she said she had found a way to finish her mask already. It was more of a joke just to see how each others lives really were. With what we'd already experienced Saturday when she actually became me then let me use her mind strip, I realized that we could really use these for so much more than playing other people or changing lives. We could learn new things and grow as a person. We are to meet tomorrow and switch back."<br/>
<br/>
She continues in her typical Cassie style of non-stop detail about how she wished she could be more like Lisa in some ways and some of her relationships. This causes her to blush and break eye contact, though you are a bit too dense to figure why mainly because you are amazed at Cassie's perceptive depth at using the masks' abilities. Your thoughts for the masks are selfish. Hers are so much more mature and methodical.<br/>
<br/>
Actually, you've learned a lot from being Geoff besides not wanting to be him. You wonder if you can retain his poise and confidence with people or any other abilities. You know that after removing the Jeremy mask that his memories faded. You didn't try anything like basketball moves later, but it was only on a short while. Perhaps wearing a mask for several days might make things more permanent.<br/>
<br/>
When she looks back, you are smiling and gaze into Lisa's face, the girl you've wanted so much. As this revelation strikes, you are so enthralled that you lean over to kiss her, but her cell goes off stopping that.<br/>
<br/>
"It's Cassie, er Lisa," she whispers looking at the number displayed. "Should I tell her we found out?"<br/>
<br/>
Instantly brought back to reality (if being other people with these masks can qualify as reality), you don't really know at first, but quickly shake your head "No" as she flips the phone open. "Let's meet," you whisper.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi there girl. ... Uh huh," she giggles then asks, "I didn't interrupt anything did I? ... Oh, good. No nothing here." She winks at you. "Hey, can we meet up? ... I know it's late." It's almost midnight. "Right. Well, what if we stop by? ... Yeah, I'm still with Geoff. ... OK. ... In about fifteen? ... OK. See ya."<br/>
<br/>
She then turns to you. "She says she'll sneak out  front and meet us for a few minutes. Parents." She rolls her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
Instantly thinking she had been with Will part of the evening, you ask, "What was she doing tonight?"<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
As you turn onto the street where the Harpers live, you are relaxed and in good spirit. Cassie told you that Lisa, who's wearing the Cassie mask, was at home all evening and not with you, actually Geoff in your golemized mask. Your Will substitute also had finally called you back and told you everything he had been doing all week once you directed him to do so. Mostly it was being grounded after he ticked off your dad for not doing chores. He and Cassie hadn't done much more than talk at and after school, though he admitted kissing her, and botched asking her out tonight because Caleb and he had made plans for a movie. You really are a bit of a lame jerk with women.<br/>
<br/>
It seems that being master of the mask even transcends electronic communication. Even with Geoff's voice, he knew it was you over the phone. You know you wouldn't have ever called Geoff back after seeing his number as a missed call, but this Will immediately did. He and Caleb had just come out of the movies and your call came up when he unsilenced it. You wonder if you could text or e-mail instructions as well.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
Lisa walks over to the passenger side and leans on the door rattling off words just like Cassie who she looks like. "Wow. You guys look really ritzy all dressed up. I bet that shindig was something else. I'd have loved to see what it was like, but I've got nothing so fancy or anyone as connected to get in to anything like that. So what's up that couldn't wait 'til morning, Lisa?"<br/>
<br/>
Cassie turns her face to you, and you see Lisa look up with Cassie's clueless expression. You're still having problems making yourself think beyond the physical appearance and actions and almost forget why you're here, but Lisa's expression slowly turns dour, and she shrugs.<br/>
<br/>
"So you two know?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes." you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Since when?"<br/>
<br/>
"Twenty minutes ago I told Lisa, ... I mean Cassie that I couldn't stand being Geoff any more and freaked her out so she admitted she was Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa smiled broadly making Cassie's face absolutely radiant in the street light.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I shouldn't be out here, if my parents catch me, ..."<br/>
<br/>
"My parents," Cassie giggles with Lisa's voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, but I can't talk now."<br/>
<br/>
"Why can't you two just remove the masks now?"<br/>
<br/>
"And change clothes here in the street? Cassie asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, yeah. sorry."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa laughs then offers, "Let's meet up tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"I've on with mom for the charity collection," Cassie says of Lisa's commitment she has to fulfill.<br/>
<br/>
"I've got lunch schedule," you tell them on Geoff's job.<br/>
<br/>
"Ring me when you two are out," Lisa calls softly as she trots quickly back inside.<br/>
<br/>
"Damn. I really don't want to continue another minute."<br/>
<br/>
"That's so typical of you Geoff. You go with a hot date like me, and you're wrapped up in your own self instead. Just take me home," Cassie pouts imitating Lisa being upset so perfectly that the Geoff in the mask huffs and peels out heading over to Lisa's.<br/>
<br/>
A minute later she holds out her phone and tells you, "Here. Tell Will to meet you at Lisa's. I have an idea."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"And how am I to explain running out of Caleb's? Dad will ground me if her finds out," Geoff under the Will golemized mask grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
You turn to Cassie. "What's an excuse he can use?"<br/>
<br/>
She takes the phone. "Will, please save me from this creep Mansfield and hurry, get to may house." She hangs up and giggles, "This is fun!"<br/>
<br/>
You just shake you head and continue. Fifteen minutes later, Geoff - still in the Will mask - has on the clothes you were wearing and is in the drivers seat of his convertible. You have him drive the three of you around the corner in front of Lisa's.<br/>
<br/>
"You sure about this?" you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"We all know he's a jerk and deserves worse. This way he's unharmed and will have to figure it out, <i>and</i> it cleans up this relationship."<br/>
<br/>
"OK."<br/>
<br/>
You splash some of the cheap rum you had him bring on his clothes then pull the mask off causing him to slump back unconscious while he fills up his clothes to his real self. Next you pour rum in his mouth watching him swallow a couple more shots even though he's out cold. You retreat towards your truck as he starts to wake. There's a loud 'smack' from behind followed by Lisa's voice.<br/>
<br/>
"THAT'S IT, Geoff! I thought you had changed, but getting drunk and grabbing me like that is too much. And don't try to claim you can't remember stuff again. We're finished. Don't bother to walk me in."<br/>
<br/>
There's a car door slam followed by a racing motor and squealing wheels. Peeking out you see Cassie wave to you from the porch of Lisa's house.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312112121111212121211221
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Shoe on the other foot.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You awake the next morning bewildered as you stare up from the floor. The whole thing about being Geoff the past several days is like a dream, and you don’t feel suave or sophisticated in grubby jeans and a day old t-shirt as you grapple with where the hell you are. Finally, the Will brain cells connect that you're back as him and slept over at Caleb's. That's the hideous snoring sound coming from above on the bed.<br/>
<br/>
Deciding to forgo the formalities of waking him to say goodbye, you quietly steal out and drive home. Morning light is low in the sky, but it's late enough that there's activity everywhere, including your house.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I see you're home. This will give you plenty of time to finish the chores," your dad greets you pointing to a list on the table.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh," you reply pouring some cereal while recalling the grounding the Geoff-as-Will got. Best not tick off the old man. Catching up with Lisa and Cassie will have to wait.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Cassie. How goes it today?" you say  hearing her voice answer.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi, Will. It's been pretty boring so far." True to Cassie form, Lisa then goes into continuing detail of the nothingness of her morning. Eventually she says, "...and then you called making my day." She pauses then rushes out, "How is your weekend going?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dad piled me with chores this morning. Just finished so no grounding again. At least Caleb and I saw the new 3D flick last night."<br/>
<br/>
"Oo!  How was it? I wanted to go see that, but not by myself. That's never any fun. Those things are made to share the experience especially the CG that's in it. I ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, you wanna go to the matinee? I could see it again," you interrupt and wait several beats before she answers very excitedly.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. Sure, Will. I'm free. When does it start? Hopefully, there won't be too many kids. They always disrupt things, but that's OK. Anytime with you will be ..." She suddenly stops.<br/>
<br/>
Since you checked the times before calling, you jump in with, "I'll pick you up in thirty, OK?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. I'll be ready."<br/>
<br/>
"See you then."<br/>
<br/>
You were actually going to let Lisa know that you switched out of Geoff last night, but her conversation just carried you away. Now it gives you a rush to play it up with her like the way she left Cassie in her mask not knowing you were Geoff. It ought to be fun except she knows you're supposedly a golem and may not act real. That might be a challenge. At least you got the memory dump from the Will mask of what "you" did the past few days and "your" infatuation with Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
When Cassie first suggested using the golem mask last night after dumping Geoff, you were pretty scared that you'd end up a zombie for life. But as the mask's master, it  worked like a normal mask of yourself transferring what had happened to "Will" while Geoff was under it. Of course, you also got the uncomfortable memory of being chewed out by your dad and the bullying from school. At least you don't have those bruises.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
As soon as you pick her up, Lisa begins her Cassie-imitation with non stop banter. It's pretty clear she thinks you're still a golem, so you decide to continue to play along for a while.  As you walk into the multiplex, she's winding down, fortunately, although her excitement for the movie itself is amazing especially since Lisa always dislikes these action adventure sci-fi computer graphics filled things.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, wow. Thanks again, Will, for agreeing to see it again with me. It is really that good, right? It's not going to bore you or anything going again? They say the graphics are fantastic how folks assume other identities and stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, it's pretty realistic but not as good as the real thing, I bet," you elbow her then quietly add almost to yourself, "I wonder when Lisa will be free to get together on that? She's been with Geoff so much, and last night was that big ... thing. Who knows what they did?" Your voice drops off sad as you pretend not to know.<br/>
<br/>
There's a rather long pause before she speaks which is very unlike Cassie. A sideways glance while waiting finds Lisa in thought, but you can't tell if it's hers or just Cassie thoughts she's lost in.<br/>
<br/>
Finally, she offers, "Does it matter?"<br/>
<br/>
You turn to her acting ashamed that you brought up Lisa when on a date since that's what your masked duplicate should do. You start to apologize, but she does instead.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry. I know you really like her, and she ..."<br/>
<br/>
She stops suddenly obviously not wishing to give out more either directly or what Cassie may remember from Lisa's mind strip. <br/>
<br/>
"No, I'm sorry, Cassie." You pause then smile adding, "I'm with you right now."<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a cute smile as you take her hand and go on in. She remains mostly quiet except trading comments on the lame movies in the trailers. There's a really hilarious one sending you both into hysterics falling back with your arm around her. The next is a mystery drama that is a period piece with minimal action or romance.<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa would like that," you say without thinking.<br/>
<br/>
"Why don't you ask her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh?" you react a few moments later not realizing what you said until a few moments more. "Sorry. I didn't mean to ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Will, ..."<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes show you she wants to tell you more, but she pauses a few seconds then shakes her head. Maybe if she thought it was really you, she would talk, but the movie starts, and your opportunity is lost. At least you know you will ask her. So you just give her a one arm hug, and she snuggles in with the goofy 3D glasses on.<br/>
<br/>
The film is great, and Lisa being Cassie is even better than Caleb to share it with. It's amazing to find someone, well some girl, who likes this stuff. Some of the scenes and romance aspects are stereotypical, but the plot, subplots and twists of who did what and why along with the acting make up for that, and the interwoven CG has you guessing most of the time on what and who is real and isn't as characters change and shuffle.<br/>
<br/>
Even though you have memories of seeing it, this time through gives you more insight. How the mystery technology in the movie has more levels and uses than the games where it starts maps to the idea Cassie told you last night about leaning with the masks. That now resonates with you, and you know what you will propose when all four of you get back together.  <br/>
<br/>
You stay through the credits then look at each other with multicolored fuzzy-eyed grins through the funny glasses. You wonder if Lisa is overwhelmed by the Cassie mask. You can't believe she'd be this thrilled especially thinking she is out with a golem. That seems to come true as you watch her blink and her face lose that excitement as she calmly talks taking off her glasses.<br/>
<br/>
"That was great, Will. Thanks, again."<br/>
<br/>
You lean over and kiss, your mind unsure of whether the feeling you get is from being with Cassie for this movie or knowing Lisa is underneath. As you walk through the lobby, you both check cells. You have two from the real Cassie and quickly send her: "No tell L GM switch" before reading either. One suggests a clubhouse meeting at 7, the other that she hasn't heard from Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
"Excuse me a moment, Will. I've got to make a call."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't go changing on me."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't worry. I'll stay the real Will just for you."<br/>
<br/>
She gives a nervous laugh at the ambiguous truth that she sees as disconcerting thinking you're a golem. You figure her call is to Cassie to switch back before the meeting, and you wonder if you should let them or keep her occupied so she has to pretend in front of Caleb. Actually, that may work to your advantage when you make your proposal for initially using the masks.<br/>
<br/>
A few minutes later, you're staring at a giant poster of that mystery in the trailers and see Cassie's energetic bounce reflected in the glass as she approaches. When she gets near, she stops. You can't see her eyes, but her head moves enough to indicate she recognizes the poster and then looks at you for a while as if thinking. With a deep breath, she steps forward and taps you on the shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you going to ask her to go with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh?" you say spinning around.<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa? The mystery movie you said she'd like?"<br/>
<br/>
Something gives you a gut feel that it's not Cassie telling you. You wonder why Lisa would tell the golem unless she's trying to test this on it. Maybe that's why she agreed to switch with Cassie - to test on it, and that's why you'll propose using the masks on each other, although you're not sure now if you want Caleb to impersonate you and get to be with Cassie and Lisa. However, this does give you a clear opening.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess, yes!" you state with conviction then turn and look her in the eyes. "Will you go to the opening with me next week?"<br/>
<br/>
She looks surprised, then almost terrified before becoming more skeptical.<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you wanted to take Lisa?"<br/>
<br/>
"I do that's why I'm asking you."<br/>
<br/>
"Will, it's me. Cassie."<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123121121211112121212112212
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Going a totally different direction
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You almost get deja vu thinking Cassie and Lisa already switched back as she points a finger at her face, but a couple seconds of panicked thought has you remembering Cassie's text not hearing from Lisa. So you just answer, "Lisa. It's me, Will," and point <i>behind</i> your ear. After a short pause, you smirk, "Cassie and I dumped Geoff last night, and I came back."<br/>
<br/>
Her expression goes to shock as you finish then her eyes get that fire you know too well.<br/>
<br/>
"I called to tell you, but your Cassie just sidetracked me. It wasn't until you pushed Lisa on me that I thought to try again."<br/>
<br/>
"Will Prescott, you can be most annoying," she pouts which soon bursts into a giggle that you join.<br/>
<br/>
"So, will you?"<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
You and Lisa then meet up with Cassie and, while both still masked, start to discuss what you've felt and learned so far.<br/>
<br/>
"So, I spent several days as Geoff and turned out for the better, right Lisa?"<br/>
<br/>
They both look at you, but Lisa draws in her cheeks as she squints at you shaking Cassie's head.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, one movie is hardly enough to tell, but I think I was less annoying than usual."<br/>
<br/>
This time she just rolls her eyes but smiles.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, I know how to resolve this," Cassie states excitedly. "Independent verification."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa just looks at her skeptically while you give a typical answer, "Huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"If I put on my own mask, I will get the memories of what Lisa did as me." Lisa suddenly goes pale as Cassie continues. "Then I can judge if Will is correct or not."<br/>
<br/>
"So you'll get all my thoughts as well as memories?" Lisa queries.<br/>
<br/>
"I just got memories from my mask, but it was golemized," you reply. "Another reason we need to verify the effects before we go expanding uses."<br/>
<br/>
"OK, then," Cassie says reaching up to pull off her face saying the release phrase. "Hey! This doesn't work."<br/>
<br/>
She starts wrestling around with both hands on her face and crashes onto Lisa's bed face down. Lisa and you stare in horror then rush over to help, but she doesn't respond. You roll her over, and she's grinning like a wild women.<br/>
<br/>
"Got ya!" she chirps as she pulls off the mask and blacks out.<br/>
<br/>
You grin at Lisa as she sighs, "Both of you are annoying."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"Damn it, Will. You told me all week we were waiting for Lisa, but really you all were playing while I just held a blank," Caleb shrieks after you tell him what you, Cassie and Lisa did with masks when you gather at the clubhouse that evening.<br/>
<br/>
"That was just the golem. We ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Damn right. <i>All</i> of you fucked with me, even it. I don't know now if I trust you. Maybe you all have masks on. Maybe you're not even the three of you underneath."<br/>
<br/>
He stomps around the room ready to smash anything he can. Fortunately, there's nothing in the basement to grab except the <i>Libra</i> which Cassie picked up and the masks and materials which you block him from getting near.<br/>
<br/>
"That isn't what we meant to do, Caleb. So just cool it and listen. We're all in it together now and promise never to do it again," you reason with him.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm the one who dug up that dirt and all the hard work polishing and getting threatened from that Jeremy thing, and you leave me out like I'm just some golem," he rants coming up face-to-face with the faceless thing. "SHIT!" He punches the golem. "OW! FUCK! - Fuck, fuck, fuck," he hollers shaking his hand.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"You know what I want, and you owe me that. She's Lisa's best friend, so she can get her."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's now sitting with his hand in the bowl you use to mix the sealant filled instead with the contents of your giant-sized cup of ice and soda.<br/>
<br/>
"That was stupid. You're lucky you didn't break something," you tell him more sarcastically than comforting mainly because you had mixed those sodas at the fountain just perfectly and only had had two sips.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, like your face."<br/>
<br/>
"OK, now let's try to act like adults and not to anything else childish," Lisa says trying to mediate.<br/>
<br/>
"Like leaving one of us out?" Caleb growls then closes his eyes, clinches his free fist, and tenses up for about ten seconds before relaxing with a big groan of frustration.<br/>
<br/>
"I suppose that means you won't consider my request?"<br/>
<br/>
Just as you say "No," Lisa says, "Maybe."<br/>
<br/>
You and Cassie both stare at her incredulous.<br/>
<br/>
She replies, "So what? It's not like it's really her, or something she wouldn't do."<br/>
<br/>
"You mean you would?" you and Cassie ask simultaneously.<br/>
<br/>
"W-wait," Caleb stutters pulling his hand out, syrup dripping everywhere, eyes now astounded not angry. "You mean ... she would?"<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that I don't think it will work, it's just that if we use the golem that leaves two of someone. We have to solve that. A person can't just go into hiding for a week. Where'll they go or do and not be seen or discovered."<br/>
<br/>
You're as much concerned with Cassie's plan as Caleb is obliviously content with it now back to soaking his knuckles in your soda. So much so that if you don't remind him to pull them out every few minutes, his hand would be blue.<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm. Why not? I bet I can do it," Cassie says forming a mischievous grin.<br/>
<br/>
She's been the adventurous one pushing all the ideas to test the limits of the masks. Lisa's been the logical one to make sure all practical aspects get covered and constraints are in place. You've been the nervous Nellie asking all the questions to be sure. Caleb? Caleb's too happy dreaming of the future to consider any ramifications even the possibility that someone might pummel him senseless.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
The next afternoon, Lisa is the last to join you at the clubhouse. Caleb's fingers are slightly swollen and the color of grape and cherry soda but not from soaking in that yesterday. Today you drank most of yours on the way here with Cassie. She's made arrangements to stay with a cousin who's going to Keyserling and has an apartment by herself. Their friendship is close enough to keep a secret and not ask why Cassie wants to hide for a week.<br/>
<br/>
"Here it is as promised." Lisa holds out the polished mask.<br/>
<br/>
"So let's go and bring her to life," Caleb pounces and unthinkingly rubs his hands in excitement. "OW!"<br/>
<br/>
"Relax, dude. We have to get the golem to Lisa's so the mask only catches memories we want her to remember when we let her out," you remind him.<br/>
<br/>
"Aw. Can't we just let her think ..."<br/>
<br/>
"NO!" all three of you shout.<br/>
<br/>
As you check the blank mask then put Cassie’s mask on the golem, Lisa asks concerned, "You're sure she won't have any bad memories if we put the mask on her after the golem wears it?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're setting her up with Caleb, so she'll definitely have bad memories," Cassie teases.<br/>
<br/>
"Who cares?" Caleb mutters.<br/>
<br/>
"We care!" you all bark at him again.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want her hurt," Lisa reprimands him going face-to-face. "She's a good friend, and you better behave. Remember she has connections that can affect you worse than someone in the Jeremy mask."<br/>
<br/>
He backs away cringing at the thought.</span></div></div>


path: 111231211212111121212121122121
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Just a simple little plan
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It all seems quite simple - in theory. Lisa's family is out for the afternoon which gives you a place to do the swap. Lisa has convinced Eva to come over for a girl's afternoon, something they do ever so often. So you, Lisa and the golem-as-Cassie wait at Lisa's for her to arrive.<br/>
<br/>
"This is so fun," Cassie-golem giggles then rambles rapidly. "Like a secret mission to brainwash operatives and then have them believe they thought it all themselves, sending them on a dangerous mission where the balance of trust can only be attained through success of the daring threesome of ..."<br/>
<br/>
"But you're not really ..." you grumble, but it doesn't phase the golem any more than it would the real Cassie.<br/>
<br/>
"Which makes it even more of a super-spy scenario that only us three, unique special agents, can accomplish using our wits and magical-science assist for total human absorption and reassembly to .."<br/>
<br/>
"Give some geeky guy a date with his fantasy woman," you add sarcastically then blabber emotionless, "... by manipulating the very fiber of physical laws, space and ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Enough!" Lisa interjects causing you and the golem to stop immediately and stare at her. "I wonder why I put up with either of you," Lisa shrugs with a faint smile.<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes and add, "Well, it was your suggestion and idea, 'though I don't understand why I have to be here or Cassie for a week."<br/>
<br/>
"Other than having to do the mask spell sealing it once we get Eva since only you can, the golem and your golem mask only respond to you needing you to always be around," Lisa explains. "Cassie is easier to keep close to Eva. Will Prescott is not. And we need to hide Eva which means your golemized mask. So since there can't be two of you, Cassie is the best to be seen with either, and she has a means of hiding out, ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Super stealth and secret safe houses secure Cassie while Will configured as Cassie keeps careful eye - for ... every ..." Golem-Cassie slows and stops when her eyes catch the two of you glaring at her.<br/>
<br/>
You really want to impress Lisa by showing you can use the masks for something worthwhile, especially since this is Lisa's idea. It's just that being a girl is not exactly what you had in mind for yourself, although the, darker?, recesses of your mind are very aroused at experiencing it. A conflict that makes you even more unsettled setting a sour expression on your face.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, come on, Will. It'll be fun," she adds as she pats you gently on your knee with a smile and a wink.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you'll see, Will. It's fun being me," the golem titters gleefully.<br/>
<br/>
Of course, your concerns melt away as warmth swarms your senses. Being a <i>girl</i>, let alone Cassie, for a week doesn't seem like much fun, but you'll do anything for Lisa. So you smile and nod just as there's a knock at the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Go hide now in the back room as we planned. We'll get you when we have the mask on her," Lisa whispers as she heads out of the room to answer the door followed by the Cassie-golem.<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
It's been well over an hour while you've waited in Lisa's parent's bedroom. You're in her dad's robe with your clothes piled neatly on the bed having refolded them several times due to nerves. You're bored after even updating your golemized mask with you latest memories. All you can do is keep reviewing the plan in your mind and make sure, for the umpteenth time, of it and that you have the sealant ready to set the new mask.<br/>
<br/>
Occasionally you hear the girls voices, especially Cassie's babbles, but can't make out what's actually being said. You know Lisa and Cassie were to get talking about Caleb and how Eva should go out with him because ..., you can't recall any of the ideas. It was just to make her eventual acceptance of the date through your "suggestions" - being really commands for the golem - seem natural when the mask transfers the memory of the date back to her. Also, you would keep your own Will golem in line and a spy on Caleb so nothing went too far. Lisa's instructions were clear that this date only go to a certain point or everyone would pay dearly.<br/>
<br/>
You're sweating anxiously from all the concerns your brain has conjured about this going wrong. Worst case being that Eva gets out and tells her sister and others so that it goes round the cheer-leading squad. Chelsea Cooper would then get involved and have her boyfriend and captain of the basketball team deal with you and Caleb. Of course, Gordon Black would most likely let the whole team enjoy helping in the punishment along with all the other bullies at school. And what's making it worse now is all that the soda you downed earlier.<br/>
<br/>
Out the window you're picturing the scene of you being cornered in your hiding place by a pack of huge burly teenagers more aggressive and determined than wolves. The door flies open unexpectedly behind you making you jump and scream.<br/>
<br/>
"That's not exactly the effect I was expecting, but I hope you meant that in a good way, Will," she teases with a sultry tone. "We don't have much time, so I'm glad you changed and are ready."<br/>
<br/>
You just stare at her stunned, you're mind still not back in order to remember that she's a golem and there's a plan to do. All you think is that Cassie has the hots for you, you're naked under the robe, and this may be your last chance before the wolves rip your parts off.<br/>
<br/>
"Hurry up and come on, Will." She motions to you across the the bed with a tantalizing cute smile. "Lisa's waiting with Eva. She needs the mask before she wakes up."<br/>
<br/>
          * * *<br/>
<br/>
By the time you reach the bathroom, Lisa has loosened all of Eva's clothes and gotten the outer ones off plus placing a towel over her. You have your golem strip - after telling it to quit flirting with you and making comments about threesomes. When the mask comes back out of Eva, Lisa puts the Will golemized mask on her, and you watch as the voluptuous girl withers into a skinny Will Prescott in bra and panties.<br/>
<br/>
"What the fuck have you done to me?" the golemized Eva asks in your voice touching the girl's underwear it's wearing then taking on a look of panic when it spots you.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Will. Looking kinky good," the Cassie-golem purrs as it looms over the new Will slowly shaking its chest as it removes it's bra.<br/>
<br/>
The golem-you is speechless with the look of fear fading along with an obvious secondary growing interest. You begin to mirror its interest for a moment until you realize you need to give them instructions before something you definitely don't want to see happens with all three of you, especially in front of Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, sit and put a towel on. Will, relax and ignore the naked woman and take those clothes off." When his head keeps swiveling between you and Lisa, you add, "Pretend Lisa and I are not here and you didn't see us. Now get out of those clothes and go to the master bedroom and put your own on." <br/>
<br/>
You direct the Cassie-golem to sit on the toilet then remove its mask before setting up to seal the new mask. Lisa pulls Eva's clothes on the golem stretching them over its torso. The bottom half is left round its ankles as if Eva dropped them to do her business.<br/>
<br/>
It almost works to plan. The only thing you forgot is the stench that the sealant on the mask makes. Fortunately, being in the bathroom, the exhaust fan takes a lot of it out. There is just enough smell left to fit with the plan that Eva was ill from it and passed out.<br/>
<br/>
You pause to look at the newly sealed mask to see Eva's face floating in the mirror and her name in blue Gothic letters shimmering across the inside.<br/>
<br/>
"Is it ready?" Lisa asks bringing you back to the task at hand.<br/>
<br/>
"Ready," you answer and push the mask on the golem.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa and you quickly step out before she wakes, and you go don the Cassie mask and clothes while Lisa bangs on the bathroom door asking if Eva's OK, eventually explaining you two left when Eva wanted to use the toilet.<br/>
<br/>
The golem with Eva's mask goes home a little while later with your suggestion (command) to accept a date with Caleb and that she should heed Lisa's advice. You thought that adding Lisa giving orders may get you out of being Cassie since Lisa could control the golem, but Lisa insists that you stay as Cassie. It's what was agreed earlier even though Caleb wasn't in on it.<br/>
<br/>
All that's needed now is for Caleb to ask Eva and get this over with. You just have to survive being Cassie for a week avoiding going too far into her memories as you promised.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312112121111212121211221212
author_id: wordsmitty
title: I, me, am Cassie
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It isn't until you are sitting in the passenger seat of your truck with Eva (under your golemized-mask) driving that you begin to notice how different being Cassie is. The stress and activity of the switch had you preoccupied. Now relaxed, Cassie's body, mind and feelings are carrying on over the top of your own as you cruise through Cassie's neighborhood.<br/>
<br/>
It's a nineties subdivision from the same time they built Westside. In fact, it's only about a half mile from the school, and memories of you, <i>Cassie</i>, walking there and back pop through your head. The whole area begins to unfold in your head from the long walks she takes, and you find yourself completely immersed and very happy sitting beside Will.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks for the lift, Will," you find yourself purring as the truck stops in the Harper's driveway. Instinctively, Cassie has you lean over to peck him on the cheek. <br/>
<br/>
"Um, sure," he mumbles lamely, turning unexpectedly.<br/>
<br/>
Before you can stop, your lips meet perfectly sending a thrill through you. Fortunately, you control Cassie's real impulse to wrap her arms around his neck and suck out his tongue. The blush you feel is a combination of you and Cassie - embarrassed and joyous. As you pull away, the look on his face is truly goofy. Hopefully, you don't ever look like that, although the Cassie in the mask just thinks it's so cute.<br/>
<br/>
Waving as he backs out and drives off is more a temporary delay to accepting your new life. However, the longer you wait, the more anxious you become increasing the different sensations Cassie's body is sending from the ones you'd had for almost eighteen years, minus the short week as Mansfield. But that week was still as a guy. Now you're apprehensive of all the female aspects that you will be dealing with. You know the mask will guide you, but it has Cassie's memories and feelings, which you promised not to go though even if she said that would be OK. <br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie's got a boyfriend sittin' in a truck. First they started kissin', then they ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Shut UP! Dum dum," you bark back at your youngest bother and whack him upside the head when he tries to duck down as you pass behind the old, plaid couch. "Look, you failed that level again. I guess only a girl can get past those monsters," you tease noticing his character getting squashed on the game he was playing.<br/>
<br/>
"Aw damn, Cassie," he pouts as you start for the stairs and your room.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, can you help me, please?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, Mom," you call to Mrs. Harper, your mom now for the next week, and change direction for the back of the house.<br/>
<br/>
In the kitchen is a middle-aged woman about five-five with dusty auburn hair and a few more pounds than yourself wearing the flowered apron you got her for Mother's Day. She's struggling with several pots, and a pile of vegetables sits on the counter.<br/>
<br/>
"Medley or stew?"<br/>
<br/>
"Medley. I haven't had time today for the meat with your brothers practices, and helping the charity setup plus picking up the cleaning then the shopping, back for your brothers, and your father was off getting new tires because the flat was was worn out, and so were the others, and they had to get them from the other side of Saratoga Falls. You father kept calling with updates." She turns and smirks as she continues seemingly without a breath. "I told him the background sounded like Kelsey's Bar. It's just down the block from the mechanic's. His explanations were so cute and ... Oh, but how was your afternoon, dear?"<br/>
<br/>
Well, you definitely know where Cassie gets her babbling rambles. That and her freckles as you see her mom's face is almost a mirror copy if a mirror could reflect twenty-some more years in age. Half the vegetables are already cleaned and chopped as you listened.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you know. Just girl stuff: gossip, switching clothes and lives," you giggle at the inside joke that, as Will, you think is so silly and would never make, but Cassie is now running things.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, we better use that new rice maker from your father's Christmas present. It is so great. I wish I'd had one years ago instead of just pots and ..."<br/>
<br/>
You listen quite a bit finding that Cassie is not as verbose at home, perhaps because her mom fills any gap of silence. The evening passes without incident as the mask easily takes over through the family dinner and keeping your brothers at bay.<br/>
<br/>
Now, alone in your room - Cassie's room, it seems strange and intimidating while, at the same time, familiar and comfortable. Every item from the pictures, posters, toy animals, bed, desk, pencil holder, etc. has a story. Some funny, some sad, but most just plain. If you paused too long at one, it would open like a book or play like a movie in your mind revealing little bits of Cassie that only she knew. It makes you think about the little things in Will's life; but aside from some games, an old baseball and t-shirt, nothing's special the way your, Cassie's, stuff is.<br/>
<br/>
So Cassie pushes forth having you listen and sing to music while bouncing joyfully to straighten up the room. Her energy eventually slows, and you undress to put on your jammies but linger in front of the mirror, intrigued. You've dreamed of undressing a woman, lingering your eyes on her naked curves as each unique attribute is revealed, touching, fondling, feeling, letting the sensations fill you, plus now finding out what a woman feels, something that has fascinated every male for eternity. It's that opportunity with nothing to interfere.<br/>
<br/>
The small female form reflected is in nothing but undies, a flesh colored lace bra and pale rose-patterned panties delightfully highlighting her curves. Her thighs, a bit full, taper nicely in sinuous, tanned legs to dainty feet with bright teal toenails. The delectable figure arouses the Will in you. When your eyes raise back, you feel a twinge noticing every imperfection: those chubby thighs, small belly bulge - not slim or toned, average chest, wavy brunette hair draping just above your shoulders - dull and frizzled regardless of the styling, and your freckled, pumpkin-round face. Eventually, your gaze meets Cassie's eyes, your eyes now, looking back at you desirously.<br/>
<br/>
Here you are living every boys' fantasy of being a girl, to explore and excite her - your - body in every way, to control the power girls have over allowing or denying a guys sexual desires as well as their own. And yet, you find yourself intimidated, scared, and guilty even when some of her playful memories surface.<br/>
<br/>
<i>No! I'm not a pervert,</i> you tell yourself after those flash in your head. You're not going to use Cassie like that, like the way you and Caleb wanted to exploit the Garners. You block out those thoughts and look to distract yourself.<br/>
<br/>
Normally, Cassie's mind tells you, she would take this time to check Facebook, do homework, and write an entry in her diary and then maybe work on some story. She has a notebook full of those. You quickly pull on her PJs before she directs you to sit at her desk to begin that routine.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
After about an hour, the Facebook gossip and your homework is completed. You stretch sensing the weight of your chest rise as you yawn with the pull of sleep. Automatically opening the bottom drawer, under and to the back your hand finds what Cassie wants, a small maroon-leather bound book with gold script: "I am me." A shiver shakes the Will in you abruptly forward from drifting in Cassie's subconscious. Although it is just her diary, seeing it in the dim light of the desk lamp makes it appear like a mini version of the magic mask book. You pause while Cassie opens to the last entry. There's no need to read it. You know what it says as well as the previous ones about having adventures with the boy you really like. Even further back are impressions of Lisa convincing you to be her for a while and dating Geoff. That brings a smile to your face when it ended with finding Will playing Geoff, and now this new adventure (romance?) of Will being you.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head trying to shift Cassie's thoughts to the back. Maybe it's the tiredness or letting her guide the impersonation too much, but Cassie's pull is very strong. You remember when you first tried a mask with a mind band and scared Caleb having to push your real self to take control; but once you did, it was easy. Being Lisa came naturally for Cassie as did Will playing Geoff. Is this harder because a different gender is more complicated, more to learn to control, more confusing from that perspective?<br/>
<br/>
Looking down, an ornate silver and black fountain pen in your small hand is just lifting from creating a page filled with flowing script of your mixed impressions from two minds. A feeling of deja vu sweeps over you as you focus on a small doodle on the page and watch it swirl into the various shapes of each spell's diagram. There's an aroma of burnt candle wax and dusty soot of a fire, and the room feels cold and damp until you hold the pen in both hands having screwed on the cap.<br/>
<br/>
Returning the diary to its place, you snuff the lamp and slide under the covers pushing aside all but one of the fuzzy toy creatures: a mythical dragon. <i>Maybe they do exist,</i> you think not sure if it's from you or Cassie. <i>If these masks exist, why not other magic.</i><br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123121121211112121212112212121
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Complications
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>A feeling of comfort and contentment greets your semi-consciousness as it begins to come alive after a night's sleep. Soft romantic jazz is playing, and you feel like you're floating - no, in someone's arms. Your lips tingle with the taste as well as your tongue dancing with another. Warmth seethes through you from the arousal, but then the ghostly embrace that held you so tenderly, lovingly, drifts away. You don't want to open your eyes and lose the feeling, letting a sigh escape your lips in the sound of "Will" before you tremble into reality.<br/>
<br/>
Flickering into half focus are unaccustomed colors, and your body has strange but very familiar sensations from a morning dream. Suddenly you sit bolt upright in bed. <br/>
<br/>
<i>Why the hell was I hugging myself and where am I?</i> you think until you recognize the surroundings.<br/>
<br/>
A buzzing comes from one side, and your mind shifts into automatic. Without looking, instinct swats the clock radio stopping the annoying drone and the music. A chirpy energy sweeps your body as you literally hop out of bed with a big smile and waltz out the door in autopilot, humming, and into the bathroom next door. While sitting on the toilet, previous events flood your mind of how you and Lisa and Will are setting up a date with Eva and Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"Wait!" you almost scream in Cassie's voice as you struggle back into control.<br/>
<br/>
It's so weird how often you seem to lose it to the mask. You need to get fully wake, so you start the shower after flushing. Cassie prefers baths and would love to just take a long soak in warm, scented waters dreaming up stories to add to her notebook or just enjoying the sensory feelings fantasizing about ... You blot out that picture and get under the water even though it has not warmed, but that's good for both of you.<br/>
<br/>
As you avoid looking, Cassie takes over nonchalantly adding a flowery-scented body wash to the light blue scrubby then gliding it over your whole body. You feel detached as if someone else is moving your arms and hands, but you can't miss the sensations as the bristly nap rubs new places you didn't have as a guy. It's both intriguing and indifferent from the perspectives of your mind and the mask, but you don't explore further. Time is very limited before your brothers start beating on the door or flushing the other toilet for fun. So you just let Cassie finish up and wrap a towel around you completely forgetting your own interest in what's underneath.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
At school, the Will golem (really Eva under your golemized mask) walks towards you before second period and doesn't look happy. However, you instantly sense Cassie's excitement and flash him a big smile. Then before you know it, you saddle up close alongside so your hips touch as you walk.<br/>
<br/>
"What's with the long face, Willy? It's like you found something in your cereal this morning, and it wasn't a toy. You know that's the most important meal of the day," you chirp rapidly much to your own dismay even though you know you're just acting as Cassie normally would.<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, ... can we talk - in private?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, sure," you giggle and grab his arm to drag him into a quiet corner before realizing what it looks like you're doing. You mentally chastise yourself for letting her mask keep taking control. Unfortunately, you make it worse by positioning yourself in the corner as if Will's <i>cornered you</i> even though it's just so you can watch for anyone who may get close and overhear.<br/>
<br/>
He looks very uncomfortable as he says, "It's Caleb. He's chickening out."<br/>
<br/>
"What? Why? He can't do that. We've done too much. Gotta get him back in line somehow. We worked it out, and our plans are already set in motion like a covert scenario to fool the world. This isn't like ..." you ramble on like Cassie before catching yourself and letting the golem-masked Eva explain.<br/>
<br/>
"Eva smiled and waved at him this morning."<br/>
<br/>
"So, that's good, right. It's, like, the first leap into ..."<br/>
<br/>
He interrupts before Cassie's persona has you chattering further. "Some of the basketball team saw it and didn't like it. He got hassled with a, ... um, hair wash before class, and now he's scared it's going to get worse."<br/>
<br/>
You never anticipated this especially Caleb getting his head flushed in a urinal. Receipt of harassment is Tilley's specialty, mainly from Seth Javits. You and Caleb are normally too low to get the attention of the big bullies; usually just from thugs like Lester the Molester. This intrusion on your plans has you voice it very un-Cassie-like, "Fuck those assholes. We can't let those shitheads ruin this."<br/>
<br/>
"He wants me to ask her. Use a mask of him and take the beatings or whatever, ... but he'll still go on the date, you know, like he miraculously recovered," he ends sarcastically rolling his eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, <i>you</i> can't wear a mask, or another one, I don't think," you ponder a moment looking away. "And besides, what would he do, go hide somewhere?"<br/>
<br/>
"He said he'd wear mine - the golem one even. He said he'd be OK not knowing what happens, and he couldn't fuck up our life because I would still be me running it," he chuckles. You give him the evil eye at that comment, and he solemnly adds, "I told him I'd think about it to get time until I could get your direction."<br/>
<br/>
Amazingly, the golem actually made a decision and did well, or maybe it was just you - the Will in the mask. <i>Whatever, but ... wait! Why'd he ask the golem to use your mask when it's on the golem?</i> you think then recall. <i>Oh, right. We didn't tell him I was being Cassie and ... Crap! This is going to get complicated. If I switch out of Cassie to be Caleb, I need to hide Eva if he wants the golem mask of Will. Need to keep her unconscious. Another golem mask, maybe. It will take some serous planning and careful execution, like a real secret agent disguise or a morphing ...</i><br/>
<br/>
"Um, Cassie. You still there?"<br/>
<br/>
Fortunately, this breaks the mental wandering which is just as bad as Cassie's babbling. The halls are emptying as the next period is about to start, and you just have time to whisper, "Tell Caleb you'll let him know after school." With that you give him a peck on the lips and scurry off upset with Cassie, again, coming through so strong. You glance back and see that goofy look.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
While heading to lunch, you're still working out how to fix this and hope Lisa doesn't think you screwed it up, although maybe if you told her, she could help. However, it would look better if you had <i>some</i> plan first.<br/>
<br/>
It's purely an accident that you take a shortcut through the back hall and catch a glimpse through a window of Lisa talking with Geoff, quite amicably. He even puts his arm around her, and she gives him a peck before heading to the cafeteria where she joins Eva plus a few other A-listers. They don't take well to lesser types, like you, intruding, and you can't get Lisa's or Eva's attention to break away to talk. It's almost like they are ignoring you. You try to shrug that off figuring it's just Cassie's flare for the dramatic and your own paranoia at everything you do now that has to be perfect to impress Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
Cassie's logic is pretty sure that making another switch is the way to go. If you're going to switch, it would mean golemizing Cassie's mask; but if you did that, you need her hair for the golem sealant, or she wouldn't be able to get the memories from it when she takes back over. You still need to keep Lisa updated so she knows where everyone is.<br/>
<br/>
But maybe you can have the fake Eva get the basketball bullies to just leave Caleb alone. But that could make things worse or, at least, add more complications if the action is interpreted as Eva being more than serious about Caleb. What if that doesn't go over well with Chelsea Cooper, head cheerleader and queen dictator controlling all that happens in the upper echelons especially when it involves one of her cheerleaders such as Eva?<br/>
<br/>
You suddenly get a vision if the harassment continues: Caleb on crutches then in a wheelchair with Eva beside him, Lisa pushing, and you smiling behind walking hand-in-hand with Will.<br/>
<br/>
<i>STOP IT!</i> you almost scream aloud at the mask.<br/>
<br/>
The three-minute bell sends you off to afternoon class still with nothing resolved. No matter what, you need to get word to either Cassie or Lisa, and that makes you wonder what's up with Lisa and Geoff. You thought she accepted how you and Cassie had terminated that relationship, and you were hopeful she was coming back round to you now that you were acting "more mature" with these masks.<br/>
<br/>
Be that as it may, right now you have to make a decision on how to handle Caleb's situation.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231211212111121212121122121212
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Cassie Helps
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Greetings, Fair Cassandra."<br/>
<br/>
It's Penny (Penelope Shaffer), the other person at Westside with an ancient first name. Everyone else seems to have nearly normal names. Cassie's memories inform you that she and Penny bonded in elementary school after roll call the first day and hearing each other's full names. Your, er Cassie's, first grade teacher commented on the "unique" names and provided a little history of them in mythology. It was fascinating and part of what got Cassie's imagination going and driving her to write stories of her daydreams in magic worlds. Cassie and Penny have always used their full names on greeting ever since.<br/>
<br/>
Penny immediately leans in asking more confidentially, "I beseech thee, has the prophecy come true?" <br/>
<br/>
"Pretty Penelope, lady of most high. Perchance what prophecy are you seeking at midday?" You almost roll your eyes saying this though it is standard Cassie-Penny banter and, always, held serious.<br/>
<br/>
"You <i>know</i>," she teases with a wink and a lovelorn look.<br/>
<br/>
"I pray thee, I understand not," you answer feigning innocence. "There are so many truths and so many lies and rumors that are but half truths flitting like smoke through the air and falling through the twisting ears before entering the mind. They are worse than shadows that just follow the same object but can be scattered with a simple candle. Truths shine by themselves and walk upright for all to see and .."<br/>
<br/>
Penny elbows you at this and nods toward Caleb and Will bustling out the doors.<br/>
<br/>
"The way you are avoiding the topic must mean it is ...," she tosses her blond hair and sighs, "true love."<br/>
<br/>
Instinctively, for Cassie, you giggle while yourself inside shutters at Cassie's reaction and feelings toward Will - toward you. Without control you babble, "It's not like he's asked me steady, though a girl can dream. Maybe the big dance after the Eastman game. That's going to be such an affair this year. I've heard rumors that Chelsea's out to rent the lodge's ballroom so most won't be able to meet the ticket price. They're even going to say part of the price is for charity to make it higher. Like any of them know anything about helping others; those rich snoots. They should be forced to see what real life is like."<br/>
<br/>
Invoking Cassie's ire comes naturally against the upper cliques of Westside. As much as you'd like to curtail her rabid rambling, it just takes over. You find yourself actually starting to understand her, and enjoying it.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
The rest of the afternoon is absorbed by Cassie's friends and classes. Word's got round of kissing yourself this morning, and every girl is gabbing it up with you. Fortunately, Will's not in any of your afternoon classes so that you don't have to put on a show. However, these other distractions leave you with no time to decide between the two alternatives for helping Caleb. You're constantly gushing your crush, giggling, blushing and, you notice, sometimes becoming slightly aroused.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Damn this mask. There has to be some better way to control these things,</i> you think as you duck into the restroom between classes. Cassie's mind wants you to do the switch and knows she'll agree, so you go with it and use this opportunity to text her. You get an immediate response of how thrilled Cassie is to help and etc. etc. The character limit is now your favorite part of texting. There's just enough time to text the stand-in Will to have Caleb come by the clubhouse about thirty minutes or so after school. That will give you and Cassie time to golemize her mask and swap Eva around.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
Cassie's mind has you daydreaming during the English Lit. quiz. It's a breeze for her as an avid reader helping her own writing and how authors phrase and turn words and plots. It's kind of interesting with her perspective, though you prefer having some pictures, preferably moving. She can imagine just about anything, vividly, which is awkward when her thoughts on you surfaces, too often it seems. As you jerk back to the quiz, the cell in your bag goes off having forgotten to silence it after texting.<br/>
<br/>
"Miss Harper." Ms. Gladstone sternly calls. It's not a statement so much as a command. "You know the drill."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Crappola!</i> Cassie has you think, and your face reddens. Quickly and quietly, you take the phone and scurry to her desk turning it off before laying it down with an innocent smile.<br/>
<br/>
She shakes her head and whispers, "Pick it up <i>after</i> school." You nod and retake your seat seeing another delay in telling Lisa what's happening. <br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
Time is of the essence as you hurry to Ms. Gladstone's room. You hope you can catch Will for a ride since you didn't tell him to wait. There should just be enough time knowing your routine both as yourself and as Cassie does. <i>Has she been stalking me?</i><br/>
<br/>
Halfway there you catch sight of Lisa and detour to tell her what's happening but are intercepted by Penny chiding you about the phone, Will and just about everything causing more delay. Your eyes follow Lisa while you chat and see her greet Geoff with a kiss and then walk off with his arm around her. Mentioning your need to meet Will finally releases you, leaving you rushed and more concerned why Lisa’s back with Geoff. <br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
"I am so sorry about this, Ms. Gladstone," you apologize as you approach her desk. "I was so busy I forgot to turn it off." You expect her to hand over the phone, but instead she motions to the student desks.<br/>
<br/>
"Please have a seat and think about it, Miss Harper."<br/>
<br/>
You freeze. You don't have time to sit and think. You need to get going.<br/>
<br/>
"I have a, a special appointment, Ms. Gladstone. Can I do this tomorrow?"<br/>
<br/>
She raises an eyebrow, and with half a frown replies, "I'm sure Mr. Prescott will wait."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Even she knows about this supposed relationship!</i><br/>
<br/>
Unfortunately, he won't wait. You didn't tell him to wait, and golems do just what they're told which was to go to the old school. There's no use begging; she's always strict. Therefore you take a seat and wait hoping it isn't too long.<br/>
<br/>
A few students join you while Ms. Gladstone meets with another to discuss his work. Time slogs on until the late-period bell rings forty-five minutes later, and Ms. Gladstone pulls out your phone and nods to you.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
As soon as you're out the door, you find four texts.<br/>
<br/>
"On my way."<br/>
<br/>
"Waiting."<br/>
<br/>
"No time. Proceeding w/o u."<br/>
<br/>
"All set."<br/>
<br/>
Immediately you call your clone.<br/>
<br/>
"What happened?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing."<br/>
<br/>
"You didn't switch?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm still me."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Crap. It's still a stupid golem.</i> "Where's Cassie?" <i>She can at least explain.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Don't know."<br/>
<br/>
"Wasn't she there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Initially."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fuck. Am I always this uncommunicative?</i> "Where are you? You alone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Leaving the club. Just me and Caleb."<br/>
<br/>
There's a faint voice in the background as you flip between frustration and panic, your fingers strangling the phone. Then that background voice comes through clearly.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Cassie girl. You missing you're big squeeze here? I know it's lonely when he gets taken away, but I'm done monopolizing him, and he's anxious to get back, so just hang on, and he'll be there soon to whisk you up for a little romance. I'm sure you'll like that."<br/>
<br/>
It's Caleb's voice rapidly rattling on like you've never heard him adding confusion to your mix of emotions. When he stops to take a breath, it hits you.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, Cassie Caleb here, Will'ums dude. Didn't want to let you down, so when you didn't show, I took over. It all went real smooth, and now I'm your best bud. Well, really your boyfriend's best bud, and that's cool. Will here was great help doing as you said helping me. He's a good catch, so you better be good to help him and forget last summer. Anyway, I got to get home. Your hot hunk is on his way. Anything else?"<br/>
<br/>
Stunned would put it mildly as you stand there staring at the phone in your hand for a few seconds before asking. "So, where's Eva?"<br/>
<br/>
"Still where she was," returns as a surprisingly short answer.<br/>
<br/>
"What about Caleb?"<br/>
<br/>
"No problem. I can handle that. A little twist to normality, but seems quite easy enough. I'm, amazingly, not that complicated. Just brilliant, and ..."<br/>
<br/>
"The real Caleb?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's safe and sound. No need for you to worry. Hey, I gotta scoot. Here's lover-boy back. Have fun."<br/>
<br/>
"Wait. I ..."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll be there in less than five, Cass. Can't drive and talk. Against the law."<br/>
<br/>
With that, the call ends, and you again just look at the phone in disbelief wondering whether you should go pursue the facts on this or tell Lisa what's happened. You can only imagine what she'll think about letting Cassie become Caleb and having no idea what happened to him. Then again, you'd really like to find out what Lisa's doing with Geoff.<br/>
<br/>
This all seems to be getting out of hand. A big breath goes in and out as Cassie's persona sweeps a calming, happy tide over you. Being with Will is just what you need to relax and take your mind off all these events. As you see his truck round the corner, a smile comes easily, but you're still apprehensive about ignoring Lisa.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312112121111212121211221212122
author_id: wordsmitty
title: All those dates
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Will (Eva in the golemized mask) pulls up at the front entrance and hops out to open the door for you. "Why so late, Cassie? Is everything OK?"<br/>
<br/>
"Forgot to silence the phone, and it went off in Ms. Gladstone's class. She said come back after school, and I thought just to pick it up, but she had me sit-and-think," you roll your eyes, "about it for the whole late period like I was one of those repeat offenders, not one of her best students." It all comes out so naturally as you toss your bag on the floor and scoot in. "Thank you, Will."<br/>
<br/>
"Here, let me help with that."<br/>
<br/>
He pulls the seat belt for you to hold and position the shoulder strap across your chest while he leans in and buckles it up. One moment you're looking at the side of his head and the next, your eyes meet, then your lips. You're surprised, but Cassie just goes with it even running your fingers through his hair for the two seconds of the kiss. A happy, relaxed feeling releases a contented sigh.<br/>
<br/>
"Where to, my lady?" he asks starting the truck.<br/>
<br/>
Cassie has you giggle with delight before you can take back control. <i>Where to go? What to do?</i> You should keep Lisa informed, but you can just text or call later. You don't even know where Caleb is to tell her anyway. Might as well just follow Cassie's normal routine.<br/>
<br/>
"Home is fine. I've got chores and homework. I don't know why they try to force all this on us anymore with the Internet and all; we can always just look it up <i>if</i> it is ever needed. I guess it is for those standardized tests. Like we're all one standard to come out like identical automatons for college or jobs or whatever. Can’t they realize we're all different?" You take a breath and remember to ask, "What's Caleb doing?"<br/>
<br/>
The words just spill out so naturally now that it doesn't even bother you. The happy sensation she gets from being with Will overrides your concern with how things went earlier. You actually had to force yourself to add the last, although it doesn't really matter because you know Cassie so well that you're sure she will handle it all, probably better than Caleb himself.<br/>
<br/>
"He said he had things to do and I should spend more time with you anyway." He smiles reaching over to touch your hand. Cassie has you smile at him, but somehow that doesn't really sound like Caleb's advice. "So what's your plans?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mom says she's making meatloaf tonight - secret family recipe," you whisper the last leaning in conspiratorially with Cassie's flare for the dramatic. It feels fun. "Maybe she'll show me, but I bet she's already got it mixed up. I'll probably just make the vegetables, hopefully fresh green beans. Snip the ends and break in half each one. Otherwise, it's those mini-carrots. They don't even look like real carrots. They're not pointed, but at least you don't have to peel them, just chop 'em."<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds delicious." You know you don't like carrots, but you do enjoy a good meatloaf.<br/>
<br/>
"But that's not the best part," you chirp getting more animated with Cassie's memories. "Fresh mashed potatoes or maybe baked. Lather on the butter and a few special spices, and I could just eat those like ice cream."<br/>
<br/>
"In a cone?" Now that's the weird Will humor that Cassie so enjoys.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course not, silly." You playfully slap his arm. "We scoop it out and layer the meatloaf. I use to stir in the vegetables or plant them like spikes. Dad would get upset when I was little playing with my food until I started explaining how I was creating castle defenses. And I did always eat the vegetables and potatoes and all, so it got to be more a game. Although, I really shouldn't eat so much, kinda," you look down at the little belly pudge. Cassie'd like to be really slim and trim, but she isn't over-weight and is comfortable with herself.<br/>
<br/>
"You're perfect just the way you are, Cassie. If I was there, I'd protect you from those evil mounds of potatoes. They sound delicious."<br/>
<br/>
"Then why don't you have dinner with us, I'm sure Mom and Dad won't mind. It'd just be my annoying brothers." <i>Wait! How the hell did that escape? I just invited myself to dinner with family.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Gee, that would be swell. I'll check with my parents when we get to your house."<br/>
<br/>
You're now dreading the rest of the evening even if Cassie is overjoyed.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
After confirming with Cassie's mother that Will can join you for dinner, you send him off with a peck that he manages to pull into a much longer kiss leaving Cassie very happy and you very frustrated. The one thing that you aren't is angry. In fact you've come to the realization that you can't really fight impersonating someone and still be them. Sure, you can change what they may do or say, but if you go too far outside their normal actions, their whole personality drops away.<br/>
<br/>
The next hour is spent getting the house cleaned and straightened. Your mom is adamant not to have a guest see any dust or misaligned furniture or picture. Of course, it is a battle with your brothers whose only help is going to their rooms while offering teasing comments. It amazes you how you could pull from Cassie's memories and handle them so effectively while the Will in you just wants to pound them. That's how you'd handle your brother if he tries anything about your girlfriend coming to dinner. <br/>
<br/>
When finished, you head to Cassie's room to get ready. She wants to change and double-check her makeup, what little she wears. For a couple minutes you stare at the perfume bottle debating using any or how much. Cassie only has it for special occasions, and you try to leave but then put one quick squirt to your neck.<br/>
<br/>
With still a half hour to go, you need a distraction and go back to wondering about Caleb and Eva. You still should let Lisa know what is going on. So a couple deep breaths later, you pick up Cassie's phone, find Lisa in the address book, then dial.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, hi, Cassie.  I just got off the phone with Eva, golem Eva that is. Caleb asked her out, and she accepted!"<br/>
<br/>
Well that sets fire to your apology about Caleb not yet asking Eva out because he's scared and not even Caleb any more. But it's a relief.<br/>
<br/>
"That's great. Looks like everything is working out without any of us getting involved. Not that it shouldn't since it was my brilliant plan with your expert help, but now we can just sit back and let them have fun. Well, not too much fun, but then maybe they'll actually hit it off. Wouldn't that be a hoot and a half? I can just imagine what all those jocks would think about if ..."<br/>
<br/>
You stop suddenly remembering the reason Caleb wanted to switch and how he may still get worse. Crap! It's really Cassie who's going to get it until she switches back. And what if Caleb doesn't want to switch back until he's sure that it's safe?<br/>
<br/>
"Speaking of the jocks," Lisa begins. "I heard Caleb got a little greeting from them today because Eva had mentioned him being cute. Chelsea heard, too, and instructed Gordon that no one interfere with her cheerleaders."<br/>
<br/>
"No. Really? I can't believe it. Chelsea is really on-board with Eva and Caleb and ... Oh, oh. That's not good, is it?"<br/>
<br/>
Lisa giggles, "Who knows with her, and you are perfect, <i>Cassie</i>."<br/>
<br/>
Being in full Cassie mode right now, you instantly reply, "Thanks, Lisa. You're so sweet to say so. I've always considered myself special and would hate if anyone could imitate me."<br/>
<br/>
That sends Lisa into hysterics. You slap your head at what just came out.<br/>
<br/>
"I've always liked your sense of humor."<br/>
<br/>
The sound of Lisa happy warms you back to the summer memories. "Ah, maybe we should get together so I can keep that pretty smile on your face." <i>Oh, gawd. Did I really say something that corny?</i><br/>
<br/>
"That sounds like a good idea. How about coming over for dinner. We could have a pretend study date afterward?"<br/>
<br/>
The Will heart in you just about explodes with joy until the Cassie inside reminds you.<br/>
<br/>
"Um, not tonight, sorry. Will's coming over for dinner." <i>OK, that's "duh" number two.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Oh, so it's serious now. Dinner with the folks. Not just those kisses in the hall," comes in her friendly, teasing voice you know well.<br/>
<br/>
Trying to recover but still caught in the spirit of Cassie, you explain, "Actually, he kind of invited himself when I mentioned meatloaf, and he said he liked it, and I just blurted he should join us since Mom was making it tonight, and, well, ... I hope it's me and not the meatloaf."<br/>
<br/>
"Either way, you two are special."<br/>
<br/>
"You really think so?" <i>Shut up, Cassie.</i> "I mean, I, ...  well, um, ... er, ..."<br/>
<br/>
"We can talk tomorrow then. Oh, another call coming in. Later."<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
You feel really good. Not just Cassie, but you. Is Lisa interested in you? Maybe she was just being friendly? You hate to miss a chance, though. Will can't stay all evening; you have homework even if it's just a report of some reading that you'll breeze through. Besides there's no place for privacy in your house since your parents would never let Will in the bedrooms.<br/>
<br/>
A smile comes at that thought until you are horrified realizing that it is the Cassie in you again. Maybe you should go over to Lisa's and explain Cassie as Caleb, maybe find out about Geoff - and you. You're sure Cassie's parents would let you borrow the car for a study session. Then again, you still have no idea what happened to Caleb. Maybe since that date is agreed and the crisis averted, Cassie already changed back. You could check in and find out. Besides she'll be thrilled to know that Will is coming for dinner. ... Maybe it's best not to tell her that.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123121121211112121212112212121221
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Call Lisa back
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Just as you're about to call Lisa back, the doorbell rings. Instantly, your heart races, and Cassie has you check the mirror because it must be Will. Fortunately, you have just enough will power not to rush down as Cassie wants. Instead, you take a deep breath and think of Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
"Cassie, your guest is here," your dad calls.<br/>
<br/>
"Be right down," you answer while picking up the phone. There's no time to call, so you send Lisa a text saying that you can come over later if that is still OK.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
Amazingly, Cassie's brothers are on their best behavior, and her parents are suitably impressed. Will wears some of your best clothes, and the blond straw on his head actually looks styled. Your first thought, well after Cassie's little thrill of how handsome Will is, is why does a golem dress and look better than you? What's worse is his thoughtfulness having brought flowers that Cassie's mom put in a vase in the middle of the table reminding you all through dinner. It doesn't help that he kept out one daisy to hand you, and you to blushed.<br/>
<br/>
Fortunately, Will admits he can't stay after dinner relieving you of pushing him out. Graciously he thanks Cassie's mom, and you walk him out torn between chewing him out for being so perfect and Cassie's dreamy fascination for him being so perfect. So you take a middle ground.<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb asked Eva out earlier, and she accepted."<br/>
<br/>
"No way. He said this afternoon he was going to do that, but I was sure he'd chicken out."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he didn't. You should call and congratulate him. Make sure to tell him I wish him well and that he better be nice to her and not make any assumptions or stretch things too far. I'm astounded how many times a guy misinterprets a girl's actions or just lets his hormones run off without thinking. You remember about ..."<br/>
<br/>
You stop because he's put his phone to his ear.<br/>
<br/>
"Dude! Congrats. I hear you're all set. Eva, you sly dog. ... Yeah, she's real nice." Will smiles at you. "I'm lucky, too. I just had dinner with her family."<br/>
<br/>
You blush and get angry from the conflicting personalities you have. All you can do, though, is roll your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh. OK. Will do. I gotta go. See ya tomorrow." With that he pockets the phone and tells you, "Caleb says there'll be a switch before the date, whatever that means."<br/>
<br/>
So now you know: Cassie is still Caleb and will stay until the date. You relax and smile.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks, Cassie. It was a wonderful time."<br/>
<br/>
As he leans down to kiss you, you consider backing away, but if your brothers don't see a kiss - they're bound to be spying, it will be worse teasing. You go for a peck, but Will pulls you close, and Cassie keeps you glued together an enjoyable half a minute.<br/>
<br/>
"Good night, Will," you gush stumbling backwards all gushy while he swings into your truck and waves as he drives away.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
Back in your room and in control, you check your phone. Lisa replied saying to call her when you can come. Quickly, you skip downstairs. Your dad concurs using the car but to be back by ten, although you're sure he'll let you stay longer if you call first.<br/>
<br/>
"So, Cassie. Didn't it work out with Will?"<br/>
<br/>
"Funny, girl. You're just jealous you let him get away."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, let's just say there's more that I'm interested in. Besides, I think the combination of you two is perfect. So you coming over? We can discuss this more then."<br/>
<br/>
"Yep. Dad said I could have the car, but want's me home by ten. Can you believe that? It's not last century. I bet he wouldn't say that to my brothers, but what can I do. He does spoil me, sometimes," you giggle at the end. "I just need to grab my bag so it looks like we're actually studying, or are we? Do I need anything? I guess I won't be searched on either end, but still ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Relax, you two. Just bring yourselves. That should be enough for a fun evening. See you in a few."<br/>
<br/>
"On my way."<br/>
<br/>
There's a good mix of Cassie's eagerness and your happiness to spend time with Lisa that it's hard to control the excitement. It reminds you a bit of last summer when Lisa would agree for a stroll or to sit on their back deck talking or both helping her mom. You can't wait to get there and almost forget to kiss both Cassie's mom and dad as she always does before going anywhere.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
You've been to Lisa's before, but Cassie hasn't, so you have to play the part. Not that it will be difficult the way Cassie can overwhelm you at times, but for some reason your own emotion has stepped in and pushed Cassie aside. It must be because of Lisa. You hope she will say she's, at least, partly interested in you now. You're nervous especially with the specter of Geoff Mansfield still unresolved.<br/>
<br/>
Will Prescott is at the forefront for a change as Lisa opens the door and motions you inside. You take a deep breath and push Cassie forward.<br/>
<br/>
The Yarborough home is in a newer section about six years old. They bought it new when they moved to Acheson because Lisa's dad transferred to a job at Fort Suffolk. It has a two-story foyer with staircase on one side, living room on the other and wide hall through to a large open kitchen, dining and recreation room. There's a lantern-style chandelier hanging high in the foyer. The light through its wavy glass hits the walls with a dappled appearance. The foyer is big enough to be decorated with some bookshelves, an armchair and side table. There's a blue and gray patterned rug on the hardwood floor directly under the lantern illuminated like in a spotlight.<br/>
<br/>
"Mom, Dad, this is my friend Cassie," Lisa announces turning you to the living room. They're sitting reading: she a book, him a magazine. The room is decorated fairly modern with furniture made in sharp right angles with metal and light pastels contrasting to vibrant colors in the rug and wall decorations. Having seen it before, it bounces off your mind but splatters Cassie's with awe, and you let her loose to react.<br/>
<br/>
"Nice to meet you, Cassie," Mrs. Yarborough offers with a grin. Mr. Yarborough glances up and settles the magazine on his lap.<br/>
<br/>
"Nice to meet you too," you reply as Cassie swivels your head taking in everything. "You have a real nice place here. I really like this decor, and the colors just all come together. It's so fresh and modern yet homey the way a home should be. Not that ours isn't homey either. It's just another homey that's well-lived in. Of course, you live in yours, too. I guess it's just different. I like differences. Opens my mind to all the wonderful things that are here. Being different is good, I always say, and you have to accept differences. Yes, this is a very nice house."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, thank you, Cassie. It's nice to know some people really appreciate it," Mrs. Yarborough grins turning her eyes at the end to her husband.<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, nice meeting you," he adds forcing a smile and pulling the magazine back.<br/>
<br/>
"We won't bother you further." Lisa grabs your arm and drags you away, giggling. As you head up the stairs, she whispers, "That was the best I've ever heard a description of that room except from one other person." She winks. "I swear I was going to explode. You could just see that they both thought you took their view. You are such a perfect person now."<br/>
<br/>
It then dawned on you the two conflicting views of the room. You were with Lisa's parents a couple times drawn into a discussion on it, always trying to play the mediator even though you had your own opinion that you shared with Lisa. Obviously, that had bled through into Cassie's reaction and description but with her rambling flare.<br/>
<br/>
You both plop on Lisa’s bed and talk generally just like last summer except it includes school and you're detention, of course. You blurt seeing her on your way there, with Geoff. Lisa blushes and says it's just for show but doesn’t explain.<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t worry about that,” she purrs as she reaches to stroke Cassie's hair. “I’ve always liked being with you, just … not as you ... until now.”<br/>
<br/>
With that she leans in and kisses you. Initial shock from both you and Cassie gives way to your real feelings for Lisa, and you kiss her back. It's short, tender, and pleasant. You break happy and just gaze in her eyes as her hand slides back round your head. She whispers something before everything goes dark.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
Although being strangled in Cassie's jeans and bra, you're too attentive to Lisa's confession to do anything. She removed the mask to keep her revelation from Cassie's memories. Lisa's been trying to find that spark with someone and really enjoyed being with you last summer but didn't feel attracted to you physically. She hasn't felt anything physical with Geoff or any other guy. It wasn't until you started being Cassie that she realized what it was.<br/>
<br/>
"When you're inside Cassie, I feel we have a real connection. I know you like me, and, like I said, I feel comfortable with you, just, not as you are now, but as Cassie."<br/>
<br/>
You can't think of anything to say but your expression makes Lisa smile.<br/>
<br/>
"We're good friends, Will, and I'm sorry how I treated you after school started, but we can have a whole new start now," she beams the way that always made you feel so good. "What if you stayed Cassie, and we became a couple?"<br/>
<br/>
That was unexpected. <i>Is she serious?</i> Your mouth opens, but words don't come. Lisa waits with a hopeful expression. You can't just take over Cassie's life, not without her agreeing. Well, actually, you could by just putting her under your golemized mask. Is that what Lisa is implying? There's so many variables, and you want to analyze them all, but that's what's been a problem - your indecisiveness - and why Lisa got frustrated with you at times. You really do want to be with Lisa. Maybe it's worth doing.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231211212111121212121122121212211
author_id: wordsmitty
title: Lots to think about
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Part of you is disappointed that Lisa is not interested in you as Will Prescott the same way you are of her, but there's still a thrill running through you that you and she can be together, and that is the core of your feelings. It's just that you'd have to be a girl. Of course, you've been a girl, just not for very long. Could you really give up your life as a guy and become Cassie?<br/>
<br/>
Lisa's face turns serious the longer you stay silent, finally speaking, "I know it's a lot to consider on the spur of the moment."<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, yeah," you answer a bit in disbelief. That just makes her smile. "I don't think I can decide right now."<br/>
<br/>
"I understand. Just promise me that you will make a decision, soon. I can't stand it when you stay undecided."<br/>
<br/>
"Then you're serious, really?"<br/>
<br/>
She blushes and looks down. "Yes. ... It's been difficult." She looks back into your eyes as she continues. "But that's why I'm asking you. You've always made me feel relaxed, never forced anything, and I know you'll understand."<br/>
<br/>
You're tempted to hug her and whisper that she's right. You'll help because you do care, very much; but in Will Prescott's body, it would give the wrong impression. You take her hand.<br/>
<br/>
"No matter what, I'll always care, just ... what about Cassie? I don't know if she would want my life especially," you pause and swallow. "Especially the way the golem's been acting so infatuated with me, er, her."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa giggles, "That's just the golem. Have you tried telling it not to be infatuated so much with you as Cassie?"<br/>
<br/>
This time you blush. It hadn't ever entered your head, plus it made the Cassie in the mask feel so good the way Will acted toward her. That countered your own apprehension. Maybe it is that simple to tell it to stop just like when you tell it to do something. Suddenly your mind jumps. Could it be that Cassie told the golem to act that way when she switched to Caleb just to have fun with you? You told the golem to obey her, and you know she's got a good wit about her. The golem has been acting much differently than you normally do. <i>Good clothes and flowers? Cute!</i> you think with a "duh" expression.<br/>
<br/>
"Obviously not," Lisa smirks and winks making you more embarrassed how your mind wandered off as well as not thinking to stop the golem yourself.<br/>
<br/>
You chuckle nervously as you continue to think about Lisa's proposition. <i>Do I really like being a girl and treated that way?</i> You really have no intention of ever letting the golem do more than kissing no matter how the Cassie-in-the-mask pushes and enjoys. The thought of being with a guy makes you shiver. Being with a girl is how you lean, even as a girl. You can't fathom being more than friends with a guy. As a girl you could be with Lisa. Her offer is all starting to make a lot of sense.<br/>
<br/>
"Still what about Cassie?" You pause then add, "<i>if</i> she doesn't want my life."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe she'd like someone else, or maybe she wouldn't have to decide." She adds the end quietly.<br/>
<br/>
It takes you a few moments to realize her meaning. You could slip your golem mask on Cassie, and there would be no issues from her. She'd never know. In fact, it would be easy if you were there when Cassie switched out of Caleb and just lifted your golemized mask off Eva and onto her while Cassie was unconscious. If Lisa brought the golem over that's now wearing Eva's mask, you could release Eva with the date all set and ready to go letting the real Caleb and Eva go on it. It would be so easy that it excites you.<br/>
<br/>
Mirroring your thoughts, Lisa explains, "We will be switching Eva back regardless of how you decide: you become Cassie or you and Cassie stay a couple without her knowing any of this."<br/>
<br/>
"But that would leave you ..."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll get by, and I won't think anything bad about you no matter what your decision, Will. We'll still be friends. You have a good heart. That's why I'm offering. Whatever you decide, I can live with, but you have to live with it, too."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa reaches for Cassie's mask and holds it in her lap looking into the reflection of the shiny, blue crystal surface. You can see Cassie's form, too, as she tilts it this way and that. You both sit contemplating it for a couple minutes before you take it from her and lay back.<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks. I'm glad you came over," Lisa beams as you walk out the front door.<br/>
<br/>
"You're a good friend, Lisa, as friends go, but then friends are suppose to be good, aren't they? It's not like anyone has bad friends. How could they be bad if they're a friend, right? They wouldn't be a friend any more. Ergo, "bad friend" wouldn't apply." Lisa just smiles. "Well, I better get home before Dad pulls the reins on my chariot and locks me a away in the tower, you know."<br/>
<br/>
Lisa is grinning wider and wider, her blond hair haloed by the light inside. Your feelings for her make you smile back just as you realize that the mask, again, had you rambling like Cassie. "Ah, yeah, I better just say good night."<br/>
<br/>
"You're a very good friend, too. See you in class."<br/>
<br/>
"See you." You scurry down the sidewalk and into the car fumbling in your pack for the keys. A sigh escapes when you look up at Lisa's silhouette before driving off.<br/>
<br/>
There's a lot to think about, but one important thing pops into your head: you never mentioned that Cassie was playing Caleb right now. That's what you wanted to tell Lisa all afternoon and why you came over. It's not as big a deal as the secret you now have that's not been added to Cassie's memories in the mask. In fact, when she sees the kiss and notices the blackout, she'll probably just think you and Lisa ...<br/>
<br/>
Suddenly, hot anger flashes from within your mind, and your body flushes before a wave of sadness sweeps over you. It's what Cassie will feel or close to it. You know it because there's enough of her memories of her feeling’s for Will Prescott in the mask that it triggered a natural response. You don't want to hurt her. Then again, the way the golem behaved this evening wasn't really you; and if Cassie setup the whole thing, ... Now you get a little angry before laughing at it. That seems to be both how you and Cassie really see the golem situation. She doesn't expect Will Prescott to really act like that. It's her imagination, and you've seen how that can really take off.<br/>
<br/>
However, you try to keep focused as Cassie while you drive to consider Lisa's idea. Thoughts don't stay in the mask, so it's not a problem. The idea of all this switching actually excites Cassie. That imagination of hers enjoys those sorts of things which might be why she jumped into Caleb. It's like her stories. Her mind can even envision her as sleeping beauty under the golem mask waiting for her prince to release her finding her still young and beautiful because she never ages.<br/>
<br/>
That turns you to thinking about the masks. Do they actually halt aging for the person underneath? What if a person in a mask gets seriously hurt; would the person underneath be affected or would they pop out unscathed if the mask was removed? Could the person underneath a mask die from some ailment they have or does a mask cure that temporarily or stop any sickness of the actual user while wearing? There's so many things you don't know about the masks.<br/>
<br/>
These are things that Cassie would consider, not Will Prescott. You would just use the masks. It's a different perspective that intrigues you. It gives you insights into Cassie that you never knew. She's an interesting person, smart and fun loving. Someone you could really enjoy being with. But what about being her?<br/>
<br/>
* * * *<br/>
<br/>
The thoughts and possibilities continue to play in your mind even as you now lie in bed with the lights out ready to sleep. You immerse yourself into Cassie's memories and ideas letting them ponder the possibilities and questions. Would she do the same to you or anyone else, or would she ask them first? Even if they said no, would the drive and reward be worth tricking them into being put under a golem? The idea of doing that to Lisa so you could get Will bubbles up while running scenarios as Cassie. It shocks you so much that you lose Cassie's thoughts and don't get her conclusion on anything.<br/>
<br/>
Instead your own misgivings surface. She won't even know it unless she agrees. But what if she doesn't want your life but someone else’s. Maybe she wants Eva's. Could you live with leaving Eva under your golemized mask never to be herself again or know what's happened? You really don't have any connection with her, so it doesn't bother you. After all you're already doing it to her temporarily, and so is Lisa who's her good friend. Does that mean it's OK?<br/>
<br/>
It all jumbles up becoming more confusing rather than clearer. You hate making decisions especially those that are tough, but you have to if you want Lisa or anyone else in the future. You can't be the same old indecisive Will Prescott the rest of your life. You've got a magic book and the ability to be anyone you want and to control others. You didn't go looking for it, but you now have an immense power, a power that you decided to share with a few others. Caleb's getting a dream date. What have you gotten so far except playing Geoff Mansfield and Cassie Harper? You want to get close to Lisa; that's definite. What else still lies hidden in the book?<br/>
<br/>
Sleep doesn't let your mind rest. There are pleasant dreams and a horrific nightmare, none that you can recall when you wake. You’re just left still agonizing over all the things that could happen, good and bad. The only resolution is to make up your mind how to proceed.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123122
author_id: seuzz
title: A Game and a Garner
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You spend the next hour hashing out ideas for getting close to one of the Garner girls. You're not happy with the ultimate plan—there are several ways it could go wrong—but it's the best you come up with.<br/>
<br/>
So the next morning—a Monday—you find Jeremy at his locker and apologize for the crap that happened at the school over the weekend. You've caught him in a good mood, and he is surprisingly gracious. You're relieved and happy when he accepts your suggestion to hang out that evening and shoot some hoops. A fist bump with Caleb back at your locker is all you need to tell him that you've set up the distraction.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Your time with Jeremy is a bit awkward. You've nothing about your current lives really to talk about, so you spend it mostly talking about your days together in middle school and before. Conversation is strained, and you're too conscious of the fact that he is holding back in his one-on-one play with you, but neither of you gets pissed at the other. Still, it's a relief when your cell phone buzzes, and you're able to tell him that you have to break things off. You're less pleased to see that he's just as relieved.<br/>
<br/>
You rush over to the old elementary school to wait for Caleb, and are a little pissed when it's Jeremy who gets out of Caleb's car when it pulls in. "Jesus, will you get out of that thing? What if someone sees you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course someone saw me in it," he chortles. "That was the point, wasn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let's get out of sight."<br/>
<br/>
You go down into the basement, and Caleb unwraps the object he was carrying in his jacket: it's the second mask, which (thanks to the new spell) also has a memory band soldered into it. "Did you get her?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Take a look."<br/>
<br/>
You hold the mask up to the light and peer into it. Yes, there's a reflection, and it looks like a Garner girl. The hair is long ... "Eva, huh." You turn the mask over, and see her name glittering on the inside of the mask, where the band has been attached to the brow.  <br/>
<br/>
"Yeah." Caleb flexes his long, strong arms. "Turns out she's got a thing for Richards."<br/>
<br/>
"Ick. Did you try it out?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nah, I thought I'd let you do the honors."<br/>
<br/>
"Fine. Just don't expect me to suddenly develop a thing for him or for you."<br/>
<br/>
He gives you a look as he pulls the grimoire out from under a desk and opens it. He sets the mask onto the page with the spell that made the glue you used to attach the mind-band to the mask; when he lifts it, the page flutters and he turns it.<br/>
<br/>
Meanwhile, you take off your shirt—you will want to see her naked—and shoes and lie on the dusty floor. Caleb hands you the mask, and with a thrill of anticipation you drop it onto your face.<br/>
<br/>
Something like warm sunlight flows over and envelops you. You feel yourself sinking. <br/>
<br/>
And then someone walks into your head. <br/>
<br/>
You feel a very strong presence with you, next to you, then inside you. <i>Oh God,</i> you gasp. It's like a million tentacles have exploded inside your brain, wrapping themselves around every tendril of your mind. They are squeezing, grasping, pulling at you. Your mind seems to be wheeling in dozens of different directions all at once. <br/>
<br/>
Then everything feels very still.<br/>
<br/>
You open your eyes. The room is dark and dusty, but you know exactly where you are. You give a little gasp that is actually a laugh. You sit up and smile at Jeremy, who is standing goggle-eyed over you.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey there," you murmur in a soft, throaty voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Will?" he asks uncertainly. "Are you in there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mmm-hmm." You smile up at him mischievously. "Better than that, I'll let you in here if you ask me nice." You rub at your crotch. "Or maybe we should pick up where we left off." You grasp the front of his track pants and tug them down. His erect cock pops out of the front of his boxers. You lean in to lick it with your tongue.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Jesus!" He scrambles back, colliding with desks and falling back into a tangle of old school furniture. <br/>
<br/>
You clap your hands and howl with laughter as you stand up. "That's what you get, asshole, for trying to prank me! You were just supposed to get close to her, maybe flirt with her, not—" Eva's memories come of Jeremy's lips, his tongue, his probing fingers, the bites on her neck. "You wanted me to wake up with her memories, and gross me out, huh? Well, I got you back, you fucker, didn't I?'<br/>
<br/>
He grins. "Yeah, okay, touché and well-played. So you, uh, you do have her memories?"<br/>
<br/>
You give an Eva-like squeak and squirm girlishly. "Pretty sure I do." You cup one of the huge breasts that now dangles off your much shorter torso. "Wanna suck on my boobies? Well, you can't." You look away with a sniff and turn a cold shoulder on him. "You're not really Jeremy, you're just a pervert trying to get into my panties."<br/>
<br/>
He stands up and slowly approaches, ogling down you. You ignore him, though, your attention having been caught by the mirror. In it, you admire the small face and the slender throat, and again cup and squeeze a large breast with its spreading pink flower. As Caleb circles behind you, you pull down on your pants and underwear, turning this way and running slim hands along your hips and thighs, and to pluck at the bush between your leg. <br/>
<br/>
Caleb bends over—a tall order, since you now barely come up past his elbow—and kisses you deeply on the neck; without taking your eyes from the mirror, you reach up and brush your fingers through his hair. <br/>
<br/>
"I'll swap masks with you afterward and do it again," he murmurs, "if you let me fuck you first."</span></div></div>


path: 111231221
author_id: seuzz
title: Dirty Omens
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Eva's personality and feelings—the excitement she felt at being with Jeremy—are strong enough that you've no real difficulty giving in to them. There's nothing padded in the basement, so it's a little awkward. But you find an old, dirty, and badly ripped faux-leather swivel chair, and Caleb/Jeremy sits in it and takes the bottom. You straddle him and rub your new pussy against his very erect cock until you are ready to take it inside yourself. <br/>
<br/>
"Oh God," you gasp. It's one thing to have Eva's memories of the times she's done this, but quite another to directly experience it. The chair groans piteously as the two of you thrust at each other. You brace your hands against his shoulders and throw your head back. He pushes harder and deeper into you until ...<br/>
<br/>
With a snap the chair breaks off its central column, and both of you tumble hard to the ground.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"If you wanna switch, I'm totally fine with it still," Caleb says after you've disentangled yourselves. <br/>
<br/>
"I think it killed the mood," you say. "Let's bring in some old beach towels or <i>something</i> soft before we try that again." Still, you curl up with him and start looking through the next spell while stroking each other.<br/>
<br/>
It's a very different kind of spell, and it looks like it's going to be a problem. By the time you've got it figured out, you are both in despair. <br/>
<br/>
"It's gonna cost at least a couple hundred to buy that much fuel," Caleb moans. <br/>
<br/>
You're more put off by the fact that it calls for four hundred pounds of earth dug out of graveyard. "We're gonna need help. Both for money and moving that much dirt."<br/>
<br/>
"We can get the dirt between the two of us," Caleb insists. <br/>
<br/>
"And the money?"<br/>
<br/>
He's silent for a moment. "Eva?" he says at last.<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. I mean, we could get the money from Eva. You, uh, do look like her," he points out. "And you should know how to get some money."<br/>
<br/>
"It could be either of us," you retort. But you do ponder the suggestion. You're almost certain you could fake her signature, and she's got a good memory for numbers, so she even knows her bank checking account number. "I haven't got any ID of hers," you say slowly. "But her aunt works at one of the branches, and I guess I could fake my way past her ..."<br/>
<br/>
But then you shake your head. That would be stealing. And besides, you already spent the afternoon fucking Eva over, and it ended with a bad omen. <br/>
<br/>
"We could bring Keith in on it," you suggest. "He has that job at Don's Donuts, so he should have some free money."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks dubious. "I like Keith, but he's kind of a flake, don't you think? Besides, the fewer people know about this, the better."<br/>
<br/>
"So, do you have a suggestion?"<br/>
<br/>
He thinks a bit. "Well, I have a cousin at the university."<br/>
<br/>
"Really? First time you've ever mentioned him. Besides, I thought you said we didn't want to bring anyone else in."<br/>
<br/>
"We wouldn't," he grins. "We'd just rent Dylan the Eva mask."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes bug out. "Are you crazy?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, think about it. We don't have to tell him where we got it, only that we found it. Tell him that for two hundred bucks we'll let him wear it over a Friday and Saturday."<br/>
<br/>
"But what if someone sees him? And if he's wearing that mask, he'll know who it is."<br/>
<br/>
"He's at the university. What are the chances that he'll run into someone who knows Eva? Even if he doesn't, with the memories, he could fake his way past. Or he can just pretend to be someone else. A lookalike."<br/>
<br/>
"Eva already has one of those. It's a creature named Jessica."<br/>
<br/>
"Thing is," Caleb says, "I guarantee you he'll pay for the chance, and will keep his mouth shut if it means getting another shot at wearing the mask. We charge him for those chances too, and we can bankroll any other spells that need major money."<br/>
<br/>
"How can you be so sure he'll want to do this?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's gay and more than a little kinky. He'd so get off on using her to get in bed with a bunch of the college jocks and frat boys."</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212
author_id: seuzz
title: Dealin' with Dylan
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Jailbait," Eva says with a <i>tsk</i> as she surveys herself critically in the mirror. She turns and stands on her tiptoes and studies her profile. "But fuckable jailbait, I guess. Yeah, I know some frat boys who'd like a snatch at this."<br/>
<br/>
"You can make her up to look older," you point out to Dylan, for it is Caleb's cousin who is inside the mask. He is taking his transformation into a high school cheerleader with remarkable aplomb.<br/>
<br/>
"Does she come with a wardrobe?"<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "In fact, we'll probably have to hit the thrift store to get something for you to wear."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I wasn't going to wear her home," says Eva. "Unlike you perverts I don't get off on having boobies to play with. But this'll work."<br/>
<br/>
She then turns to give you and Caleb a hard stare. "Where did you say you found this thing?"<br/>
<br/>
"In a dumpster?" Caleb's answer would sound more convincing if he hadn't stuck a question mark at the end of it.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh," Eva says dryly. "Don't bullshit me, man. I want in on whatever you guys are up to."<br/>
<br/>
"We're not up to anything!" you protest.<br/>
<br/>
"Then you don't have a lot of imagination, do you?" Eva turns back to the mirror.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, just rent the mask from us. Two hundred bucks and you can have it for tomorrow night and Saturday night," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"And we'll tell you if we find something else new and exciting," Caleb adds. You suppress the urge to kick him.<br/>
<br/>
"Two hundred is a lot for only two nights."<br/>
<br/>
"Think of what you're renting."<br/>
<br/>
"And I'd have to buy that wardrobe. Makeup. Shoes."<br/>
<br/>
"None of which mean anything if you haven't got the mask."<br/>
<br/>
"Mmm." She holds up four fingers. "Four weekends. Fifty bucks per weekend."<br/>
<br/>
"We need the two hundred now."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll give it to you in advance <i>if</i>—" She holds your eye. "If you tell me the truth about all this stuff." Her expression is very hard.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So you give up and tell Dylan all about the book and the masks that you made. He takes it all in with a minimum of questions—it's almost like this kind of thing is old news to him—and ends by asking you what the next spell, the one you need all that money for, does.<br/>
<br/>
"We don't know." You explain how the book doesn't describe a spell's effects until you've made and used the object. <br/>
<br/>
"Very convenient," she sneers, but shrugs. With your help, she rips the mask away, turning its wearer back into a skinny blonde guy who's only a few years older than Eva and almost as bitchy. "I'll be back in twenty minutes with your cash," he says as puts his clothes back on. "Then we'll talk about our new partnership." On that staggeringly presumptive note, he leaves you.<br/>
<br/>
Once he's gone, you and Caleb tear into each other. Your friend is defensive. "How did I know he'd figure everything out?" Caleb insists.<br/>
<br/>
"Because he's your cousin! And you heard him. He wants to be our partner!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but he's got money. And it's not like he can mess up any of our plans, not when we don't got any."<br/>
<br/>
"Why do I get the feeling <i>he's</i> going to be making plans?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb shrugs. "It might be nice to have some idea of what to do with this stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"And what if he tells someone else?"<br/>
<br/>
"He wouldn't," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"Unless that becomes part of <i>his</i> plan."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?" Caleb glares at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, nothing," you say. "Maybe he just rubs me the wrong way."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Whatever else, Caleb's cousin Dylan is true to his word and returns with ten twenty-dollar bills. You hand over the mask, but caution him about keeping away from any of Eva's known haunts. He sighs impatiently and tells you to unbunch your boxers.<br/>
<br/>
Money in hand, you and Caleb hit the supply stores the next day after school; it's a Friday, and you'll have all weekend to work on the new project. You're a little less than thrilled about part two of your plan, which involves sneaking into a graveyard in the middle of the night. It's hard, unpleasant, and slightly spooky work shoveling out four hundred pounds of earth into lots of bags and stowing them in your truck, but at least you're done before midnight. You drop off Caleb before swinging by the school, where you stack the sacks in a corner next to an outside wall. As you do so, your eye keeps wandering back to the basement door.<br/>
<br/>
You don't like Dylan. You don't trust him. He's going to do something, you're sure, something either very stupid or very unpleasant. When you look in his eyes you can see the gears whirring. He says that you and Caleb have no "imagination." The trouble is that you do; you just keep trying to ignore the possibilities even while digging deeper into the book. But now there's one possibility you just can't ignore.<br/>
<br/>
You've got some spare material in the basement; you could easily make up a new blank mask-and-strip. Such a thing might be useful as ... <i>insurance</i> ... in case something went wrong.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121
author_id: seuzz
title: The Buzzin' Cousin
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>There isn't a lot of stuff left over for making another mask, but there is enough, and it's tricky because you have only a flashlight to work with in the dark. But you succeed in making another raw mask. You take it home with you, to polish up in your spare time.<br/>
<br/>
The next day you and Caleb meet early at the clubhouse and start unlocking the next spell: You lay the open book in the middle of the conference table, and pile it over with fuel-soaked graveyard dirt, some magic mix, and a hank of your own hair. There's a fraught moment when you toss the lighted match into the mess. But the resulting low-level flame gives off no heat, and after piling up furniture to obscure the spooky sight, you and Caleb feel no compunction about leaving it untended. According to the spell, it will take several days for the "impurities" to burn off, and you'll have to monitor the flames and relight them if they go out, but it seems like a blessedly low-maintenance spell.<br/>
<br/>
The two of you don't talk a whole lot while you're working: Neither of you seems to want to raise the subject of Dylan. When you lock up, you tell Caleb that he doesn't need to make any special trips over to the clubhouse during the week, and that you'll keep an eye on the thing in the basement. He nods distractedly.<br/>
<br/>
On Sunday afternoon you go to the clubhouse to check on the fire and find that it's gone out. You relight it, and then sit down with the mask and laptop you've brought, to polish the one while entertaining yourself with a movie on the other. About halfway through you scramble to hide the mask when the handle to the door jostles and Caleb comes in.<br/>
<br/>
"I thought I'd find you here," he says. "I called and your mom said you were out. Anything up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just keeping an eye on the thing," you reply. "Robert was being a pest." He nods and tosses you an object. It's the Eva mask. "Oh, so Dylan returned it. He say anything about his weekend?"<br/>
<br/>
"Enough to make me want to fumigate the fucking thing."<br/>
<br/>
You quickly drop the mask. "So I guess he had a good time."<br/>
<br/>
"The way he tells it, he was the life of about five different frat house parties, all going at more or less the same time." His lips peel back in disgust. "I think I don't want to put it on anymore."<br/>
<br/>
"You never put it on to start with, and you still owe me a fuck in it, now that I think about it."<br/>
<br/>
He pales. "You wouldn't."<br/>
<br/>
You wave off his concern and then sigh. "We might as well let him just have it. It's ruined for us."<br/>
<br/>
"We'll have to make a new one," he says. He glances around. "Say, didn't we have some leftover stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
You hesitate; you don't really want to tell Caleb about your "insurance" plan for his cousin. "Not as much as it seemed like."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll go pick up some supplies. Don't worry, I'll do the labor."<br/>
<br/>
He seems preoccupied and doesn't look you in the eye. "Is something wrong, dude?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
It's his turn to hesitate. "I know you don't like my cousin—"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that I don't like him. I just don't like him knowing so much."<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that big a deal," Caleb protests. "He doesn't have any reason to tell anyone anything."<br/>
<br/>
"The more people know, the more chance of a fuck up."<br/>
<br/>
"You wanted to tell Keith."<br/>
<br/>
"I <i>suggested</i> we tell Keith."<br/>
<br/>
"And I suggested we tell Dylan. We finally decided to go with him."<br/>
<br/>
He's got you there. "Well, I guess I changed my mind about wanting a third wheel."<br/>
<br/>
"It's because you don't like him."<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb, it's not—"<br/>
<br/>
He waves you off. "Never mind. You don't have to like him. But we have to work with him. And try to remember that he <i>is</i> my cousin."<br/>
<br/>
It's a bad end to the conversation, but at least you're not yelling at each other when you part. But talk between you at school the next week is a little cooler than normal, and when you remind Caleb that he you'll keep on eye on things in the clubhouse, he thanks you for it and doesn't show up there after school.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
By Thursday morning the thing seems to be ready—it's no longer catching fire, which according to the spell means that it's almost done. At this point, though, you have to "polish" it, with makes you groan. You've just gotten finished with the mask, and the product of this spell—a dark, slab-like hunk of solid clay—is many times larger. You tell Caleb at school, and he says he'll be over to help, which makes you feel grateful. You're less grateful when you pull at the clubhouse after school to find that Caleb has brought Dylan along. "I figured it would go three times as fast with three of us," he explains.<br/>
<br/>
It makes sense, but you're still not pleased. And then you discover that it takes just a little rubbing—hardly more than a buff to get loose dust off the surface—and the thing is ready. "Wish all my housework was this easy," Dylan sniffs.<br/>
<br/>
You lay the book on the thing, and the next page turns. The three of you crowd around the book and the laptop, trying to figure out the rest of the spell. Dylan speaks first.<br/>
<br/>
"It's a golem!" he exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
"A living statue. Well, not living yet. You put one of your masks on that thing, and it will come to life."<br/>
<br/>
You all stare at each other. "Come to life? As the person in the mask?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Probably," says Dylan. "Who else would it be?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do we really want a fourth person in on this," you murmur to Caleb, but it's too late. Dylan has snatched up the nearby Eva mask, and before you can stop him he drops it onto the thing.<br/>
<br/>
The mask sinks into it and almost an instant later the golem morphs into an exact replica of Eva Garner. <br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, I am <i>so</i> wasted," she moans after sitting up. She clutches her head and lays back down again. "Would one of you assholes turn the sun off?"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess she thinks she's still at the Crows," Dylan sniggered. "They <i>were</i> a lot of assholes. Tasty ones, but still ..."<br/>
<br/>
You suppress your gag reflex. "What do we do with her? We can't have two Eva Garners running around."<br/>
<br/>
"Golems are supposed to be servants," Dylan says in a condescending tone, like you're an especially thick grade school urchin. "She'll do whatever we want, I'm sure."<br/>
<br/>
"Eva, stand up," you order her roughly. She gives you a dirty look, but gets up off the ground. You hesitate before giving the next obvious order, but it's the best kind of test. "Kiss me."<br/>
<br/>
She rolls her eyes but hobbles forward. You'd meant to ask for some tongue, but she only scrunches her lips together and gives you a quick, dry peck on the cheek. <br/>
<br/>
Still, it seems to prove Dylan's point. You and Caleb exchange wide-eyed glances; Dylan looks very smug. "You know what this means, don't you?" he says with a nasty smile. "You've got your own private whore."<br/>
<br/>
Frankly, after what Dylan put her through, you're not sure you want this Eva golem as your sex toy, but you see his point. "If we could get Jessica," Caleb whispers. <br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea. Gloria," you add.<br/>
<br/>
"Grab yourself the whole cheerleader squad," Dylan says dismissively, but even his eyes gleam.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, thank you God," Caleb exults, and falls to his knees in an ecstatic reaction.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, don't start sending up your hosannas just yet," Dylan says. He picks up the book and examines it closely, then reaches up to the golem's face, says the word of removal, and pulls. The thing turns back into a slab as the mask appears in his hand. "You'll need masks of those girls."<br/>
<br/>
"We can do that," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"In fact," Dylan says, "I'll place an order with you. I'm looking for a roommate. Sell me this thing—" he indicates the naked golem "—and a blank mask."<br/>
<br/>
Again, you and Caleb exchange glances. "How much?" you ask cautiously.<br/>
<br/>
"Dude!" Caleb explodes. "We can't sell our—!"<br/>
<br/>
"How much," you repeat.<br/>
<br/>
Dylan looks at you shrewdly. "Two hundred up front, one hundred on delivery, and let's say fifty for the mask."<br/>
<br/>
"Six hundred, two hundred of it up front, for the lot," you reply.<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't got—" He stops himself and thinks a little more while staring holes into you. "Two hundred up front for golem and mask, and ... a thousand for a second golem and mask."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb lets out a quick whoop, then covers his mouth. "Why so much more for the second?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Because it will be worth it," Dylan snaps. "But it will take me time to get that kind of money together."<br/>
<br/>
You could give him the golem and a blank mask right now. But your suspicions are aroused, and you desperately want to know what he is up to.<br/>
<br/>
* Non-canonical: "<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231221211" target="_top" title="Interactive Story Chapter in Item # 2236945">Sell Dylan the golem and mask</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231221211" target="_blank" title="Open in new window."><img border="0" height="12" loading="lazy" onmouseout="$(this).css('opacity', '.4');" onmouseover="$(this).css('opacity', '1');" src="https://www.Writing.Com/nw.gif" style="opacity:.4;" width="12"/></a><br/>
* Non-canonical: "<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231221212" target="_top" title="Interactive Story Chapter in Item # 2236945">Wait to use the mask on Dylan</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231221212" target="_blank" title="Open in new window."><img border="0" height="12" loading="lazy" onmouseout="$(this).css('opacity', '.4');" onmouseover="$(this).css('opacity', '1');" src="https://www.Writing.Com/nw.gif" style="opacity:.4;" width="12"/></a> <br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211
author_id: seuzz
title: What's the Deal?
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Okay, it's a deal," you say. "You want to take them now?"<br/>
<br/>
"We haven't got a new mask ready," Caleb points out.<br/>
<br/>
You go over to your little hiding place and pull out the mask, which you completed (along with mind-band) just yesterday. "I was going to surprise you," you tell Caleb. "But we could use the money."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's still late afternoon, and you don't want to attract attention by moving anything in the daylight, so you sit and make chitchat while waiting for it to get dark. You try asking Dylan what he plans to do with his purchases, but he only repeats his "new roommate" line with a knowing smirk and refuses to elaborate. The golem, which is still wearing Eva's face, lays in a corner, nursing the remnants of last weekend's hangover.<br/>
<br/>
After the conversation fails, you and Caleb go off in a corner to talk over your own plans. You keep your voices low so Dylan can't overhear you. "Four hundred pounds of dirt for your cousin's second golem," you observe. "That's not going to be fun."<br/>
<br/>
"We could borrow his first golem and get it to help us," he suggests. "We've got that mask of Jeremy we could use."<br/>
<br/>
"Or we could use your cousin's new boyfriend, after he gets himself one," you retort. Caleb jabs you. "Alright, alright. Anyway, we can't use Jeremy. There's no metal memory thingamajob in that mask, and I don't think the golems will work without, you know, some kind of personality in them. Something to make them go."<br/>
<br/>
"We could copy Jeremy's personality and solder it in." Caleb snickers. "Or we could solder that Lisa into it. Wouldn't that be awesome? Lisa stuck in Jeremy's body?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's the sickest thing I've ever heard, and I'm not laughing when I say that." Your tone is cold, but Caleb still giggles. "But getting a couple of big guys would be useful. Here, how about this? We make up two masks this week and get close to someone big. One of the football players or wrestlers."<br/>
<br/>
"We only have one golem to borrow," Caleb points out.<br/>
<br/>
"We'd wear them ourselves. Why overstrain ourselves when can use borrowed muscles?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb still looks skeptical. "I'd rather save the two masks for cheerleaders."<br/>
<br/>
"Plenty of time for that later." You continue to discuss options without settling on any decision, except one to make two new masks. <br/>
<br/>
When it's dark enough, you hustle the still-naked Eva-disguised golem into your truck and drive back to Dylan's off-campus apartment while Caleb and Dylan follow in his car. (You are careful to obey all traffic regulations, as you don't want to be caught with a naked fake-Eva in the cab of your truck.) At your destination, you cadge another twenty bucks out of Dylan in return for permanent ownership of the now wholly disgusting Eva mask. He only has another seventy bucks in cash on him, but he promises to pay you the balance for his purchase on the next afternoon.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You spend Saturday waiting to hear back from Dylan about your money, and when you can't stand it anymore you have Caleb call him; but Dylan puts you off with the excuse that he needs another twenty-four hours to pull the money together. <br/>
<br/>
"You don't think he'd stiff us, do you?" you ask Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"What? No!"<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, we gave him what he wanted. A golem and a blank mask. What's to keep him from disappearing with them?"<br/>
<br/>
"He wants a second golem."<br/>
<br/>
"Why? What's he gonna do with a second one?"<br/>
<br/>
"What would <i>you</i> do with two sex slaves?" Caleb asks, leaning toward you with a leer. <br/>
<br/>
You push him back, but concede the point.<br/>
<br/>
So with nothing else to do, you accept Keith's invitation to see a new horror movie with a couple of school friends. Your mind isn't on it, though, and you and Caleb bail on the others after the movie lets out. You wind up hanging out in the arcade at the minigolf course by the mall, pumping tokens into old machines and talking about who to copy and embody in a golem once you've set yourselves up the way Dylan has.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is surprisingly pessimistic, though. "We're never gonna get close to anyone good enough," he sighs as you concentrate on killing space invaders.<br/>
<br/>
"Not with that attitude, we're not," you retort.<br/>
<br/>
"No, think about it, man. Who do we want? Cheerleaders, right? Or any girl that'd look good in shorts and a halter top."<br/>
<br/>
"Some girls I'd go for even if they didn't."<br/>
<br/>
"Like?"<br/>
<br/>
"Wait'll I get killed," you mumble as you bang at the plastic button and glower at the flashing, croaking screen. "I'm concentrating on this."<br/>
<br/>
"Point is, anyone worth getting isn't going to be anyone we can get close enough to get."<br/>
<br/>
"Speak for yourself."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb snorts. "So where are they?" he challenges. "These girls you're hanging out with that are good enough to get?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say I was hanging around with them <i>now.</i> But we could get to them. <i>I</i> could get to them."<br/>
<br/>
"If you could get to them, Will, you'd be hanging out with them now. Right now, instead of—"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'm just not applying myself."<br/>
<br/>
"Right now?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, not <i>now,</i>" you snap as you sweatily dodge a rain of fire from the invaders.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb says, "What about her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Who?" You glance around, then do a bona-fide triple take at the only girl in the shed—the one who sold you the stack of tokens.<br/>
<br/>
"Her? Why her?" You turn back to the game just in time to see your last life shot to fuck and back.<br/>
<br/>
"Because she's available?"<br/>
<br/>
"Does she go to our school?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. Go apply yourself and find out," Caleb suggests with overt sarcasm.<br/>
<br/>
"Fine! I will!" You put your shoulders back, square your guts, and saunter back over to the booth.<br/>
<br/>
She's a skinny girl, not too tall, about your age, her blonde hair chopped short. She's reading a Kindle while leaning up against the counter. "Hey," you say.<br/>
<br/>
She glances up. "You need some more tokens?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, just your phone number."<br/>
<br/>
"What?" The girl now gives you a very hard, direct look.<br/>
<br/>
All your swagger instantly melts. "Hey, just asking," you protest, and raise some placating palms. "No, seriously, my friend and I have a bet. Do you go to Westside or Eastman?"<br/>
<br/>
"You both lose." She settles back on her elbows, lowering her eyes to the Kindle. "Saint Xavier's," she mumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa!" You and Caleb exchange a startled glance. "You're a mutant?"<br/>
<br/>
She looks up, and if anything her obvious loathing of you deepens.<br/>
<br/>
St. Xavier's is a tony boarding school west of town, with a student body drawn from the richest parts of the country, and even from overseas. Because of the school's name—and the resentment of the snooty students that are sometimes seen parading around town in their fancy blazers and slacks—the place is often jeered at as the "Xavier School for Moneyed Mutants."<br/>
<br/>
"And you're holding down a <i>job?</i>" Caleb exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm a local," the girl says, hunkering down further. "I have to."<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa. I thought— I didn't know Xavier took locals."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, they do," the girl snaps. "And we get it from both sides," she mutters. "<i>Oh, you're a mutant?</i>" she sneers in mockery of you. "<i>Oh,</i>" she adds in a different tone dripping with disgust, "<i>you're a local!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry," you say. "I didn't—"<br/>
<br/>
"Just fuck off, okay?"<br/>
<br/>
You start to protest, but Caleb plucks at you and pulls you outside. "Just leave it, man. You've already bombed, no need to make the rubble bounce."<br/>
<br/>
But pride reasserts itself, and you go back in. The girl is still hunched up behind the counter, and her mouth splits into a hard grimace even as she pointedly doesn't look up at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, I'm really sorry for what I said," you tell her. "And yeah," you recklessly continue, "I was totally hitting on you 'cos I thought I liked you."<br/>
<br/>
"And now you decided you don't."<br/>
<br/>
"No! I—! Do you have a name? My name's Will."<br/>
<br/>
She hesitates. Then, between gritted teeth she grinds out the reply, "Roxanne."<br/>
<br/>
"So, it's nice to meet you Roxanne. I never met anyone who goes to Mu— Xavier's. So, fuck me, sorry, I didn't know how to talk to you."<br/>
<br/>
"You could talk to me like I'm normal people."<br/>
<br/>
"So will you talk to me?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
Outside: "What happened?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Got her name," you brag.<br/>
<br/>
He's impressed. "Really? You get her number, too?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, I didn't want to push it. Besides, I didn't like her <i>that</i> much. Her tits were too small."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You have to spend Sunday morning at church, and then lunch with your family, so it's after two o'clock before you can meet up with Caleb. Even before you ask, he tells you that he hasn't heard from Dylan. "I was thinking we could drive out to see him," he says.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212111
author_id: seuzz
title: A Golem Goes Wild
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Dylan's car is out front of his place when you arrive, but there's no answer to your knock. Well, he might have walked someplace, or—<br/>
<br/>
You bang on the door harder. "Dude, we know you're there! Come out!"<br/>
<br/>
It's very faint, but you think you hear a dull thumping sound from within—rhythmic and regular. It pauses after few moments, then resumes. "Ew, he's not doing what it sounds like, is he?" you say to Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
He doesn't reply but edges over to a window and peers in. He stares for a moment, then shouts, "Holy fuck!" and grabs the door handle and twists. It's locked, but without pausing for explanation, Caleb throws himself against it. It's a cheap door, and the deadbolt isn't engaged, so it falls open with only a few blows.<br/>
<br/>
Dylan is lying on the floor on his stomach, hogtied with his hands behind him and his feet in the air. There's a gag in his mouth. Caleb bends down to pull at the ropes, then tells you get a knife.<br/>
<br/>
Dylan is very weak after you get him untied, with barely the strength to get up and onto his sofa. He asks for water, and drinks long and deep from the giant tumbler you bring him. When he's sufficiently recovered, he gives you a dirty, accusing look. "The fucking golem is defective!" he snarls.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Long story short: The previous night he used the Eva mask to infiltrate a house of rich preppy types and landed in bed with one. After his date fell asleep, Dylan pulled the blank mask from his purse and used it to copy him. But this morning, when he put the mask on his new golem, the thing refused to obey his orders. And when Dylan insisted, the thing jumped him, knocked him into a daze, then tied him up and left after taking some of Dylan's own clothes.<br/>
<br/>
"So where is it now?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"How the fuck should I know?" Dylan is much less grateful for his rescue than you think he should be. "You're the one who made it!"<br/>
<br/>
"That doesn't mean I—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who did you copy?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
"No one you know," Dylan says. "Rich fucker named Patrick Sawyer."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb frowns. "If I was a golem, where would I go?" he asks himself. "To find the guy who made me?"<br/>
<br/>
"He didn't show up at the old school," you point out, "and my folks didn't say anyone had been by my house looking for me."<br/>
<br/>
"And he's defective," Dylan snaps. "He wouldn't obey you anyhow."<br/>
<br/>
"He's wandering around with a face just like someone else's, and with their memories." You muse a moment, then turn pale. "Oh God! What if he goes home, goes back to his place and runs into the real guy?"<br/>
<br/>
The color drains from Caleb's face. I guess that's what he could do."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure! If he acts like the real dude, knows everything the real dude knows! Oh, shit!" You quail at a sudden thought. "What if he tries to get rid of the real guy and take his place!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyes nearly start from his head. "Would he do that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why not? Isn't that what doppelgangers and stuff are always doing in movies? Getting rid of their originals and taking their place?"<br/>
<br/>
"Where does this guy live?" Caleb asks Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
Dylan gapes a moment, then stammers out an address. "But you won't going to be able to get in there to look. These guys are real assholes, and they're not going to waste their time on a couple of high schoolers."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you have a better idea?" you demand.<br/>
<br/>
Dylan grimaces, then says, "Wait here, I'll be back in ten minutes."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Leave the talking to me," Eva Garner says as she parks in front of a blocky, two-story house. "I know these guys and I was out here last night."<br/>
<br/>
<i>And you look like you got ridden hard,</i> you spitefully think.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe it's because you know it's really Caleb's gay cousin Dylan done up to look like Eva, but you feel like you'd rather sit in a bag of garbage than touch this girl who looks exactly like Eva Garner. But it probably has more to do with how grimy and unwashed she looks. Her face is red and shiny, and her hair is limp, and she looks bloated inside the green dress that is clearly at least two sizes too small for her. <i>At least get yourself cleaned up and put together,</i> you wanted to tell Dylan when he came tottering out of his bedroom in the rig. Eva looks like she partied all night, fell asleep and drooled over herself for an hour, then woke up and has been stumbling through the day without showering or changing.<br/>
<br/>
"Is this a frat house?" Caleb asks as your trio strides up the walk. Faintly, music beats from somewhere upstairs.<br/>
<br/>
"Practically," Dylan retorts. "Buncha rich fucks made it their unofficial frat house." He rings the doorbell. "If they painted some Greek letters over the door you'd never know the difference."<br/>
<br/>
The door is answered by a willowy kid with longish blonde hair, dressed in soft slacks and a sweater. He nods in a friendly yet noncommittal way. "Hey, 'sup?" he says. He openly eyes Eva. "Party was last night."<br/>
<br/>
"Is Patrick around?" she asks him.<br/>
<br/>
"Who?"<br/>
<br/>
"Patrick. Sawyer."<br/>
<br/>
Blondie sucks in a lip and shakes his head. "Ain't no one here named Patrick."<br/>
<br/>
"Does he <i>live</i> here?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nope."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, last night—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who is it?" a voice calls from inside, and Blondie steps aside to let a burly guy with three-days' growth of dark beard push into the doorway. "Oh, hey," he says when he sees Eva, and he chucks his chin at her. "'Sup?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm looking for Patrick," Eva says through gritted teeth.<br/>
<br/>
"We got a guy named Patrick living with us?" Blondie asks Whiskers.<br/>
<br/>
"Nope."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, was there a guy named Patrick here last night?"<br/>
<br/>
Whiskers chortles—a foamy, beery sound. "We had a lot of guys coming through last night."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, the one I'm looking for—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I think I know the one you're looking for," says Whiskers. He eyes Eva like a greedy child eyeing a box full of cupcakes. "The one you went upstairs with." He glances at Blondie. "Whose bedroom they use?"<br/>
<br/>
"Andy's, I <i>think.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, sure, No-Fuck Andy."<br/>
<br/>
"Is it Andy I'm looking for?" Eva asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Andy doesn't get laid. You want— What'd you say his name was?"<br/>
<br/>
"Patrick," Eva grinds out.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you want Patrick." Whiskers smirks at her.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, where—?"<br/>
<br/>
"He doesn't live here. Why don't you come in?" Whiskers steps back from the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Is Patrick here?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think we can scare him up."<br/>
<br/>
Eva gives him a long, hard look. Then with a theatrical sigh, she steps over the threshold.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb starts to follow, but Whiskers blocks him with a beefy arm. "Lemme see your ID."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb glares, but shows Whiskers his driver's license. Whiskers makes great play of examining it. Then he declares, "This isn't a student ID."<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's—"<br/>
<br/>
"You go to school here?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, we—"<br/>
<br/>
"Then you're underage. We got open containers of alcohol. Cops raid this place, find you and them, we're all in a lot of shit." He pushes Caleb back. "Your sister will call you when she's ready to go." He shuts the door.<br/>
<br/>
"What now?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb sighs. "I guess we wait for my sister to call."<br/>
<br/>
"You okay with leaving your cousin in there? With ... <i>them?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Why not? He hung out with them last night. He's probably having a blast."<br/>
<br/>
But his tone is bitter and frightened.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Well, this is all kinds of fucked up," Eva snarls when she rejoins you an hour later. "'Patrick' isn't even his name and he doesn't even go to school here!"<br/>
<br/>
"Who is he, and where do we find him?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
Eva crosses her arms. "Some private boarding school out that way!" She waves vaguely toward the river.<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes pop. "St. Xavier's?" you exclaim.<br/>
<br/>
"That's it." She looks at you. "You know it? You know how to get into it?"</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121111
author_id: seuzz
title: Send Dylan after the golem.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Dylan seems to come more to life once he's got the Eva mask on—the strength latent in the mask may be helping him. You leave him to look for the golem near campus while you and Caleb go back to the clubhouse. <br/>
<br/>
On the way you talk over possibilities. There's not much more to say, though. If an uncontrollable golem got rid of this Patrick guy and took his place you'd never know it. But what could the golem do then, besides continue Patrick's life? Nothing, you hope. But that's something else you don't know. "You know what would suck," Caleb observes. "If all the horrible side effects and warnings about these spells are at the very back of the book."<br/>
<br/>
Aat the clubhouse you pore over the golem spell, trying different ways of translating it. For all your trouble, you keep coming back to where you started, that the golem should obey its "master." But you can't account for its not obeying Dylan. You sold it to him, right? So he should be its master, shouldn't he?<br/>
<br/>
An hour later Caleb's phone chirps: it's Dylan-as-Eva, asking if he can swing by with his "friend, Patrick." That's all that gets said, but it's enough to get a rise out of you, and both of you hurry out front of the old school to meet them.<br/>
<br/>
Fifteen minutes later a big pick up truck of the sort you and Caleb both like to drool over pulls up. Eva hops out; her friend, who is driving, is slower to exit the cab. He's not a big guy, but he looks bulkier about the shoulders than either you or Caleb. He's got dark, vaguely continental looks and is dressed real nice in a polo and slacks; his raven-colored hair is fashioned into a short cut that looks too stylish to have come out of anything less than a salon. His eyes twitch when they light on you.<br/>
<br/>
"So, this is my friend, Patrick," Eva says. "Caleb, do you have that, uh ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? Oh, sure." Caleb starts digging around in his pockets and pulls out his keys. He fumbles over them, seemingly looking for one. Eva, meanwhile, keeps shooting "significant" glances at you, like you're supposed to do something.<br/>
<br/>
For lack of anything else, you turn to Patrick. "So, what are you up to this tonight?"<br/>
<br/>
He gets a very pinched look on his face, and swallows. "Nothing much. Well ..." He seems to struggle.<br/>
<br/>
"Ye-es?" you say. This is very odd. "What were you going to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," he says with slow reluctance. "I was going to take this cunt off someplace quiet—" He gestures at Eva "—and find out how much she knows about me." He licks his lips. "Then I was going to kill her, if I had to."<br/>
<br/>
The silence that follows is, incongruously, interrupted by a chorus of birds in the trees above.<br/>
<br/>
"What did you say?" Eva asks him.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," Patrick quickly replies.<br/>
<br/>
"No, what did you say?" you demand.<br/>
<br/>
He stiffens. "I <i>said</i> I was going to go off with this cunt and find out what she knows about me. Then kill her, probably."<br/>
<br/>
His face is very white, and he is looking everyplace but at you.<br/>
<br/>
"You're a golem, aren't you?" you finally say when you find your voice again. He nods. You get right up in his face. "You have to do whatever I tell you, right?" He licks his lips and nods again.<br/>
<br/>
You and your friends look at each other. "What about me?" Caleb asks the thing, "You gotta do what I say?" <br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you, no," the golem spits back. "Her neither, so save your breath."<br/>
<br/>
"Why do you have to obey me?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Because you're my master."<br/>
<br/>
"What makes me your master?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck if I know. I just know that I have to do what you tell me to do. If my dad's lawyers were here, though—" it starts to add in an undertone.<br/>
<br/>
You take a deep breath, and marvel over the narrow escape all of you may have had. "So how'd you get this truck? Where's the real—? Where's your original?"<br/>
<br/>
It twists and hangs its head. "Up in his bedroom."<br/>
<br/>
"Alive? Tied up?"<br/>
<br/>
"No." It jerks and twitches like it wants to jump out of its skin. "When he came upstairs half an hour ago I grabbed him." Eva gives a start. "Knocked him out. Smothered him with a pillow. I hid him under the bed, behind some dirty clothes."<br/>
<br/>
"He's dead?" It nods. <br/>
<br/>
Caleb bends over and starts to heave. Eva turns very pale. <br/>
<br/>
"Why?" you demand of it, though you think you know the answer.<br/>
<br/>
"What else was I going to do? I knew I was a fake, knew I had no future if I didn't get rid of him and take his place."<br/>
<br/>
"Why didn't you come find me?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't know I had a master, not until I saw you just now."<br/>
<br/>
There's another long silence. Then Eva shakes her head. "I want my money back from you guys. The thing's useless if it won't obey me."<br/>
<br/>
You start to punch her, but at the last second open your palm and turn it into a hard slap. "Your boytoy just killed a guy, and you're bitching about seventy stupid bucks?!"<br/>
<br/>
She glares at you. "You made the goddamn thing, dipshit. <i>You're</i> responsible. Just ask Dr. Frankenstein."<br/>
<br/>
You come very close to throttling her right there, but just manage to keep your temper in check. "What were you going to do with your original's body?" you ask the golem.<br/>
<br/>
"I bought a big burlap bag on the way out here," it says, glancing over at Eva/Dylan. "After dark I was going to smuggle it out my window and into the truck, then go dump it in the country."<br/>
<br/>
You order it wait inside the truck while you conference with the others.<br/>
<br/>
"So, we have a killer golem and dead body. We can't turn it in to the police, obviously. So what do we do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Isn't it obvious," says Eva. "Nothing. Help it hide the body. Then we've got a rich buddy inside that house, who'll do what we tell it to."<br/>
<br/>
"That'll do what <i>I</i> tell it," you say, wheeling on her. "In fact, what are you doing here? You're not part of this club. You're not even a satisfied customer, remember?"<br/>
<br/>
She turns very red and stares daggers at you, but says nothing. But neither does she leave. <br/>
<br/>
You turn back to Caleb. "Dude, help me out here."<br/>
<br/>
"I think Dylan's got a point," he says quietly. "What else can we do but keep very quiet?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we could send it back home with that truck, then pick it up later, strip it of the mask, destroy the mask, and pretend this whole stupid thing didn't happen. Let his housemates find the body."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks very dubious, but he doesn't want to argue, so he shrugs. "Take a walk and think about it," he advises. "I'll go along with whatever you decide."<br/>
<br/>
Dusk is beginning to fall as you start to make a perimeter of the park. You want to wash your hands of the whole thing, and you certainly don't want to profit from Dylan's colossal cock up. But as the cool evening wind brushes your brow, you begin to see the downsides to your proposal. A family has lost its son; but letting the golem continue in the part would spare them that knowledge. It also sounds like a brutal killing. The police will want to pin it on someone and seize any circumstantial evidence they can—if the body is found, an innocent person, probably one of Patrick's housemates, may suffer badly.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Caged Mutant
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Fuck," Caleb says. "No way we can get into the mutant school."<br/>
<br/>
"What about that girl up at the minigolf?" you say. When he only frowns and blinks, you add, "Can you think of any other way in?"<br/>
<br/>
"What girl?" Eva asks. You tell her about the booth-girl up at the Monte Viso entertainment complex. "No offense, Will," she says when you're done, "but how desperate would she have to be to do something with <i>you?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, sure," you retort, "I have no idea why I would take offense at <i>that.</i> But if we don't try talking to her—"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say we shouldn't try," Eva says as she starts the car. "I was just hoping you could promise me she's <i>desperate enough</i> to listen to you."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Roxanne doesn't work on Sundays, you learn from the guy who is manning the booth in her stead, and he can't—or won't—give you her cell number. But he does consent to write your number down, and says—though whether he means it is another question—that he'll pass it and a message along to her if he hears from you.<br/>
<br/>
Your trio then returns to the elementary school long enough to pick up the grimoire and some magic supplies, and swings by Caleb's house to pick up the mask that he's nearly finished polishing, before returning to Dylan's. No one says anything, but you're thinking (and the others probably are too) that it might take a disguise to get into St. Xavier's.<br/>
<br/>
After you're settled in Dylan's living room, and he's changed back into his own face and clothes, you work on some new gear, talking as you do. Dylan begins by revealing that, in addition to some of his clothes, the rebel golem also stole all the cash he had on hand, <i>and</i> his debit and credit cards. "Pretty fucking ironic," he grouses, "since that's what I wanted to do to <i>him.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you wanted to have fun with him," you mutter. Caleb says, "The golem didn't come with his own debit and credit cards."<br/>
<br/>
"I <i>did</i> want to have fun with him," Dylan retorts. "And I was gonna pick some plastic up off the guy I copied. You know, I owed you guys some money, so I thought, Hey, I'll just pick up some rich fucker, copy him, lift his wallet along with his face, then hit an ATM machine before he noticed it was gone."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" you exclaim. "You'd actually—"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't tell me you wouldn't," Dylan sneers. "What kind of virginal assholes are you? What else are these things good for?" He indicates the mask that Caleb is polishing. "Aside from, you know, the other stuff you can do with them."<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb exchange pale looks. What Dylan is true: you could use these things for some pretty hardcore identity theft. But could you actually go through with the kind of thing Dylan is talking about? "That's how come I picked the guys I did," Dylan concludes with a sigh. "They could afford to miss it."<br/>
<br/>
"Except you didn't even get one of them," Caleb says. "You got one of the mutants."<br/>
<br/>
"Why do you call them that?"<br/>
<br/>
"You're not from around here, are you?" you observe.<br/>
<br/>
"Springfield, originally," he says. "Tell me about this school."<br/>
<br/>
So you give him the four-one-one on St Xavier's, as much as you know. Dylan nods when you finish.<br/>
<br/>
"Patrick, or whatever his name is, must be a senior out there or something," he says. "If they're all as rich and bratty as you make it sound, he'd fit right in over at Broad Street. Probably thinks they're a lot of would-bes and wanna-bes. He was sure fucking arrogant enough." He shivers.<br/>
<br/>
"This girl we want to talk to is a local, though," you say. "I guess there's a chance he might be too."<br/>
<br/>
"And how is she going to help?" Dylan wants to know.<br/>
<br/>
You shrug and mumble something about "identifying the guy." Even now you can't articulate aloud your idea that you might have to copy this girl Roxanne.<br/>
<br/>
And then Caleb has to say, "You know, the golem's been gone for hours. If it was going to go out to Xavier's and do something funky, you know, it's probably done it by now."<br/>
<br/>
That casts a pall over the room, and the conversation shrivels into silence.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's a little past seven when your phone dings with a text. You assume it's from your mother, asking if you're coming home for supper, but it's from Roxanne: <i>R u that guy whos sorry he called me a mutant?</i><br/>
<br/>
Not a promising start, but at least she did text you. After a little hesitation, you text back, <i>Yes im still sorry can we meet so I can say sorry again?<br/>
<br/>
Dont want sorries,</i> she replies, <i>but u can come out to batting cages.</i> You ask where those are, and she gives you directions.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you done?" Dylan asks as you get up, for you're still carving runes into the memory band. "Are you just going to leave that for the rest of us?" he asks when you thrust the metal strip at him.<br/>
<br/>
"I've gotta go talk to her."<br/>
<br/>
"And what do we do with these?" Caleb asks. He is still polishing his mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep working on them. And pray we won't need them."<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne's directions send you to the northeast part of town, past the mall and into a residential section you've never been in before. In the heart of the suburb is a park, and in the middle of the park is a set of batting cages.<br/>
<br/>
Night has fallen by the time you arrive, and the fields are dark but the cages are lit up by buzzing arc lights. From inside one you hear the metallic clang of a bat hitting a ball. That's the one you approach.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," you call out to the figure inside. He or she is wearing a batting helmet, and not until they look over do you recognize Roxanne's fox-like face. She gives you a wary look before replying with a "Hey" of her own.<br/>
<br/>
"It's me," you say. "The guy from yesterday. You texted me."<br/>
<br/>
"I know who you are." With a grimace she steps back as another ball goes whizzing past. "Gimme a minute?" she says. So you step back and watch her.<br/>
<br/>
Does she have good form? You can't tell, not being a baseball player yourself. But she misses more often than she hits, and she fouls one ball off the cage near her head in way that almost brains her. But after five or ten minutes, she signals that you can come over to talk. "How do I get in?" you ask as you clasp the cage.<br/>
<br/>
"You don't, you stay out there. I almost changed my mind after texting you. But what the hell." She gives you a look up and down. "You don't look like a serial killer."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks. But why'd you tell me where you were?"<br/>
<br/>
"To see what you'd do. You came looking for me again. Is that usual with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean, like, looking for a girl again? I 'unno. But you seemed kind of interesting. And I don't know anyone who goes to ... St. Xavier's."<br/>
<br/>
She makes a face. "Oh, you mean I'm exotic. X is for X-Men, X is for Xavier's, X is for exotic." She steps back from wire cage that separates you. "Well, I'm just a local girl, I grew up in this shit town the same as you. I just go to a different high school."<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna go someplace, hang out, tell me about it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"'Cos I'm interested. I'll tell you about myself."<br/>
<br/>
"You think I'm interested in you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I came out to see you when you texted me."<br/>
<br/>
There's a shadow across her face, so you can't really make out her expression as she regards you.<br/>
<br/>
Then she says, "Okay. But just remember," she adds, "keep ten feet away from me at all times. And don't forget I've got a bat."<br/>
<br/>
You nod. Even though, judging by her performance inside the batting cage, you're not sure she could hit you with it even if she tried.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After a short consultation in the parking lot—keeping ten feet apart—you drive out separately to a Burger King, where you each get a shake and split a small order of fries.<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne is still wary, but she's relaxed enough—or maybe just tired enough—to talk without putting her hackles up. You don't have a lot in common, it turns out, except for both being seventeen, so you don't have much trouble steering the conversation in the direction of St. Xavier's, asking what it's like there.<br/>
<br/>
"Rich," she says. "Rich and pampered. Do you know what eventing is? It's horseback-riding. Well, that's one of the P. E. things they have out there. No shit, there's a stable with horses and everything. And most of the girls provide their own."<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa. What if I wanted to go out there and look around?"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean visit?" Roxanne shakes her head. "Not possible. You gotta be a student to get in. Or a parent looking to enroll. The boarders sleep there, and the rest of us get taken in on a bus. Where do you go to school? Would I be able to get in there and look around?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, sure, I guess. Don't know why you'd want to though."<br/>
<br/>
"Same reason you want to go out to St. Xavier. See how the other half lives." She says it with a sarcastic sneer.<br/>
<br/>
But you wonder if she's more than half-serious. Could you copy her, then invite her to "visit" Westside for a day, and while she's there use her face to infiltrate the mutant school? Or—your heart beats wildly at the thought—could you just tell her about the book and masks, and ask her help getting into her academy to look around?</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Girl Who Can Get You In
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You decide to edge your way into the topic rather than tackle it head-on. "You said you're a local. How does a local get into Xavier's?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne cocks an eyebrow. "Why, are you interested in switching schools?" You shrug, and she sighs.<br/>
<br/>
"Well," she says, "you have to get in through the cathedral. You know, Saint Francis Xavier's. There's a big mass of us 'mutants' from around here, and that's how we got in. It really is a local school. It's just that they've done a spectacular job marketing themselves to the rich folks."<br/>
<br/>
"So you're a Catholic?" you ask. Roxanne gives you a look. "Supposedly?"<br/>
<br/>
"You just have to get in through the cathedral. There's scholarships and stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"Aren't there any local 'rich folks' who send their kids to Xavier's?"<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne rolls her eyes. "I don't think so. Unless owning the Dairy Queen makes you royalty or something."<br/>
<br/>
"Who owns the Dairy Queen?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ophelia Wilmot's dad." She leans across the table with a suspicious expression. "Why all the questions?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just trying to get a feel for—"<br/>
<br/>
But you see it in her eye. She's not going to go for the "casual act" much longer.<br/>
<br/>
So you fold your hands and start to share confidences.<br/>
<br/>
"I have a friend who goes to the college," you tell her in a low voice, "and he says that Saturday night there was a student from St. Xavier's out at a party at one of the college houses." Roxanne's eyebrows go up, but she doesn't otherwise react. "And, uh, he spent the night there. With a girl. You know. And, uh, for reasons, we'd like to know who it was she spent the night with."<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne falls back in her seat. Her mouth twists up like she's biting into something bitter.<br/>
<br/>
"So all this, meeting with me," she says, "you were just looking to pump me for information about—"<br/>
<br/>
"No! I mean— Okay, yeah, I thought of you when my friend told me about this, uh, Xavier's guy who was with this girl, and who, uh—"<br/>
<br/>
"Where's your friend? Can I talk to him? I think I'd rather talk to him than you!"<br/>
<br/>
"Why are you so pissy about it?" you demand, for you feel stung. "But I wanted to talk to you too. Yeah!" you add when Roxanne blinks. "Didn't I come up and talk to you at the minigolf place? And I didn't know then you were a— That you went to Xavier's! So when my friend is asking about— And I see a chance to—"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, okay!" Roxanne sighs. "I'll talk to you to help your friend out! Jeez." She rolls her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
That's when you decide that maybe she really does like you.<br/>
<br/>
And that maybe you should share the truth with her.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She thinks your friend is full of shit, though. Boarders at St. Xavier's don't get to spend the night in town. "Only a prefect could get away with trying that," she says.<br/>
<br/>
But then she catches herself. She doesn't answer right away when you ask her what a "prefect" is. So you ask, "Do you think it could be one of them?"<br/>
<br/>
"There's <i>one</i> of them it could be," she says. "Well, <i>three</i> of them. Realistically, I think there's only one who'd—" She trails off.<br/>
<br/>
Then she shakes herself. "Or," she finishes, "it could be anyone, as long as they made a deal with the right prefect." She fixes you with a stare. "If you really want to track this guy down, I'd need a description."<br/>
<br/>
"Let's go out and talk to Dylan and Caleb," you tell her as you take out your cell phone. "I hope you don't freak out too easily. Dylan's gay—"<br/>
<br/>
"Gays don't freak me out."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not the freaky part. It's how he got your prefect to sleep with him that's freaky." That gets her to raise her eyebrows, but she says nothing as you tap in a text to Caleb, then motion her to follow you out. She looks very wary as she gets to her feet.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Shit!" Roxanne yells. "Shit shit shit shit <i>shit!</i> Shit!" She grabs her hair—what she can of it—and pulls while gaping raggedly at the girl in front of her.<br/>
<br/>
It's Eva. Just a few seconds ago, it was Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
But before that it was Eva, and before <i>that</i> it had been Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
And before that it had been Eva, and before that—originally—it had been Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
That's because the mask had to go on and off a couple of people a couple of times before it sank in to Roxanne that it wasn't a parlor trick or a hallucination, that it really was what it looked like. And even after that it took a good quarter-hour and another change of costume before the <i>whole fucking reality</i> of the thing hit her.<br/>
<br/>
You and your friends have a magic mask that you can use to turn yourself into a cheerleader. And you had a book that shows how to make such things.<br/>
<br/>
"Shit!" she yells again.<br/>
<br/>
You need her help, so neither you nor Caleb try to stifle her. You just exchange awkward, embarrassed looks. Well, embarrassed on your part. Caleb looks a little peeved.<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne sinks onto Dylan's futon and stares in a haggard way at the sleeping girl who looks like Eva Garner. She covers her mouth with one hand and draws in several deep, slow breaths. She closes her eyes and groans.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you okay now?" you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"Nn-nhn," she grunts. "Why are you <i>showing</i> me this?" she whines.<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb exchange another glance.<br/>
<br/>
"'Cos this isn't the <i>only</i> magical stuff we made," you tell Roxanne.<br/>
<br/>
She raises her head and gives you a sharp, pale look.<br/>
<br/>
"We also made a thing, called a golem," you tell her. "It's, um, it's like a magical robot. It doesn't look like anything, just like a, uh—"<br/>
<br/>
"Like a half-melted statue," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"But you can put a mask on it, and it turns into a person. A fake person. A copy of a person. Like the way, uh, Dylan here turns into—" You feel shy about describing out loud what Roxanne has been witnessing, even though the transformed Dylan is sprawled unconsciously nearby. "But there isn't even a real person underneath."<br/>
<br/>
"Why would you want to do that?" Roxanne asks, in a tone of horror.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you could hang out with it. Like, suppose you like the person it's pretending to be and you want to hang out with them but the real person won't hang out with you. Also—" You swallow. "It's supposed to obey you—"<br/>
<br/>
"Supposed to," Caleb emphasizes.<br/>
<br/>
"—so it could be a kind of servant. Doing what you tell it to do."<br/>
<br/>
"And you'd want to do that because?" Roxanne's voice rises to a half-shriek.<br/>
<br/>
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Caleb edging toward the front door. To block it, you suppose, if Roxanne tries to bolt.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we made it for Dylan," you tell her. "Made it and sold it to him. And we also sold him a blank mask. He, uh, wanted to copy a guy, 'cos he wanted a, uh—"<br/>
<br/>
"A roommate," Caleb interrupts. "That's what he told us, Will. He wanted a roommate."<br/>
<br/>
"Right." You nod at Roxanne. "A roommate. The golem wearing the mask could be—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, <i>Jesus!</i>" Roxanne leaps to her feet, but instead of trying to escape she just paces the room. "So why are you telling me <i>this?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
You take a deep breath.<br/>
<br/>
"Because it ran away. It was supposed to obey Dylan—"<br/>
<br/>
"Supposed to," Caleb emphasizes again.<br/>
<br/>
"—but it was ... defective? Or something? Anyway, it knocked Dylan out, tied him up, stole his clothes and all his money, and ran away. And the thing, uh, it looks like your prefect. Or whoever it was from Xaviers. And ... well—" You suck in another deep breath. "What if it goes back to your school and runs into the real guy?"<br/>
<br/>
"When did this happen?" Roxanne whispers. Her eyes are as big as ping-pong balls.<br/>
<br/>
"Earlier. Sometime this afternoon." Actually, Dylan said it was late in the morning, but that would make the situation sound even more dire. "So, the long and short of it is, there's two of this guy running around, maybe out at your school."<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne staggers back a step. "And you're just now—? What have you been doing about it?"<br/>
<br/>
You give her a steady look. "We've been trying to get to know someone at Xavier's," you tell her. "So we can figure out who the person is and how to get into the school so we can—"<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne falls onto the futon again, in something like a half-faint. She nurses her temple. "So what am <i>I</i> supposed to do?" she groans.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212111221
author_id: seuzz
title: A Meeting of Minds
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"You could help us get into your school, to look around," you tell Roxanne. "So we could look for the, uh—"<br/>
<br/>
"And how is that supposed to work?" she exclaims. "I told you, we can't have visitors out th—"<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't have to be a visitor. It could be, uh, one of the regular students?" You feel yourself blushing. "We've got a, uh, blank mask and set up. If we could, uh, copy someone who went to your school—"<br/>
<br/>
All the blood drains from Roxanne's face. "Who?" she demands, haggardly.<br/>
<br/>
"Your choice?" you reply in a small voice. "I mean, it's just an idea, if you don't—"<br/>
<br/>
Your stammerings are interrupted by a groan from the floor, where Eva is stirring. Her brow furrows, and she winces as she sits up. She is dressed in Dylan's clothes, which, though loose-fitting, are bunched up around her in a way that looks binding. She gives you a dirty look, before turning to Roxanne.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, are you finally satisfied?" she groans. "You know, maybe <i>you</i> should try this thing out next time you want someone to put it on. Find out for yourself," she continues as she levers herself upright, "how much it <i>feels like shit</i> to put one of these things on and take one—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who did you sleep with?" Roxanne demands of Eva. Her eyes and teeth flash. "Who was the  guy you fucked while wearing—" A look of loathing crosses her face as she points at Eva.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, don't act like <i>you</i> wouldn't put one of these things on if it got <i>you</i> laid." But then she grimaces and says. "Patrick Sawyer," she says. "He said his name was Patrick Sawyer."<br/>
<br/>
"Never heard of him."<br/>
<br/>
"He <i>said</i> his name was Patrick Sawyer, but he could've been lying."<br/>
<br/>
"The guys at the party said he went to Xavier's," Caleb puts in.<br/>
<br/>
"Why, because that's what he told them?" Roxanne retorts. "He could've been lying!"<br/>
<br/>
Eva sighs. "Well, do you have some pictures on your phone of some of the guys out at your school? Something I can look at to—"<br/>
<br/>
But Roxanne has already pulled out her phone and is scrolling furiously through it. You and Caleb and "Eva" exchange glances.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have a lot," Roxanne says, "on account of I see them every day and I don't especially want to look at them outside of school. But here." She sidles up to Eva, and the two girls stand awkwardly side by side as they flick through the phone.<br/>
<br/>
"I need a breath of fresh air," Caleb says, and moves toward the door.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll go with you," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
Outside, Caleb stands on the stoop and stares out across the roofs of the houses toward the Keyserling campus. "What a clusterfuck," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"I know. If we can't figure out who this 'Patrick' guy is—"<br/>
<br/>
"I mean Roxanne in there. Jesus. It was fucked up enough without you bringing her—"<br/>
<br/>
"What else was I supposed to do?" you demand. "We need to get into Xavier's to look around, and she—"<br/>
<br/>
"She doesn't need to know about any of this, Will," Caleb tells you. "You could'a just pasted her with a mask, you know. Or at least with the memory copying thingie. Wasn't that how come you talked to her yesterday, up at Monte Viso? Because you wanted to—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'd rather have her on our side," you retort. "It's easier this way, to get into the mutant school."<br/>
<br/>
"We just need her memories, Will. Her memories of what the guys out there look like, for a start. If we could just copy those—"<br/>
<br/>
"She's got pictures. Her and Dylan will figure it out."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb frowns. "Why are you suddenly so ... <i>gallant?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Gallant?" you exclaim.<br/>
<br/>
"You're so dead set against copying her. Like with Lisa."<br/>
<br/>
You blush. "Well, why are you so gung-ho?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb glances back at the door. "Because she's cute," he says. "In a tomboy kind of way. I bet she fucks like a sex-starved jackrabbit. If we got <i>her</i> face onto a golem—" He rubs his hands. <br/>
<br/>
To your own astonishment, you have the urge to punch him. But you master yourself. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe that's how come I <i>don't</i> want anyone, like, doing something nasty with her," you coldly retort.<br/>
<br/>
"Because she probably fucks like a sex-starved jackrabbit?"<br/>
<br/>
"No! Because—" You snap off the retort when the door opens.<br/>
<br/>
"No luck," Eva informs you as she gestures you and Caleb back in. "Roxy hasn't got a lot of friends out there."<br/>
<br/>
Behind her, you see Roxanne bridle.<br/>
<br/>
"There is one way we could figure it out," you interrupt before Roxanne can say anything. "But, it's, um—" You glance back at Caleb. "Really kind of creepy."<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne's thought is readable on her face: <i>As if this stuff isn't creepy enough?</i><br/>
<br/>
"The problem," you continue with a quaver in your voice, "is that Dylan knows what the guy looks like, but he doesn't know the names of anyone at Xavier's. Roxanne"—you take a deep breath—"knows everyone at Xavier's, but she doesn't know what Dylan's, uh, date looks like."<br/>
<br/>
You look around the room, hoping that you won't have to make your suggestion out loud. But only Caleb looks like he's following your train of thought.<br/>
<br/>
"So," you conclude, "if we could put the two together— If, like, we could merge Roxanne's memories and Dylan's— If Dylan could <i>see into</i> Roxanne's memories—"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean like telepathy?" Roxanne asks in a stony voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Not exactly."<br/>
<br/>
You cross over to the wobbly dining room table where Dylan and Caleb had been working earlier this afternoon, and pick up the completed memory band. You show it to Roxanne.<br/>
<br/>
"This is one of the things that goes into a disguise. It copies, uh, memories. If we put it on you, and then Dylan—"<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne's head swings between you and Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, what are you assholes trying to do?" she demands, and backs up a couple of steps.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb says, "We're trying to figure out who got copied. To save his life."<br/>
<br/>
"Save his life?" Roxanne echoes.<br/>
<br/>
"It's a doppelganger," Caleb says. "We accidentally made a doppelganger, and we're trying to catch it and stop it before it does what doppelgangers are supposed to do." When no one says anything, he fills in the blank himself: "Get rid of the original and take his place."<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne puts a hand out to keep herself from falling over. Then she sinks to the floor.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
His name is Charles Whitney, Dylan is able to tell you a little while later, and Roxanne barks at the name. "Yeah, he's a real dick," she mutters.<br/>
<br/>
He's also a local who, like her got into St. Xavier's on a scholarship—and being a local, it explains how he was able to spend the night in a faux-fraternity without getting into trouble. Dylan informed you of all that too, because Roxanne had to bust out of the house to cool her head. You give her a few minutes to be alone out there while Dylan writes down all the information that Roxanne knows about the guy. Afterward, he lays out on the futon, and you tear the memory band out of him. You take it outside to give to Roxanne, who is tapping away at her phone.<br/>
<br/>
"Here," you tell her, and hold it out. She flinches from it. "What are you doing?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Trying to send Charles a text," she mutters. "Warning him."<br/>
<br/>
<i>You might be warning the doppelganger,</i> you think, but you say nothing.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck this," she mutters, and swipes to a new screen, which she taps at before putting her phone to her ear. "Hey," she says, "do you know Charles Whitney's phone number?" She listens. "Do you know his address, where he lives? Well, who do you know who—?"<br/>
<br/>
It's the start of ten minutes of calling around as she tries to track down the contact information for a classmate she cordially dislikes. She's finally able to send him a text. That's when she asks, "What if it's the doppelganger, when we catch up to him?"<br/>
<br/>
"We can take care of him," you assure her. She snorts. "No, really there's ways—"<br/>
<br/>
"Put a fucking cork in it," she snaps. "You guys are fucking around with the mysteries of the universe and you've let loose a— a— <i>thing!</i> And you tell me you know how to handle it."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we do know, in this case. Oh, and here, before I forget." You press the memory band into her hand.<br/>
<br/>
She holds it like it's hot, and thrusts it into her pocket. She turns her back on you. "Thanks," she growls. "And thanks for not putting it on yourself."<br/>
<br/>
"I wouldn't have known what your friend— what Dylan's friend— would have looked like."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, thanks anyway for not putting it on." She presses the heels of her hands into her eyes. "Can you take me for a drive?" she says, "while I'm waiting to hear back from Charles?"<br/>
<br/>
The request perks you up, and you nod. She follows you back over to your truck. You take it slowly around the block, not talking.<br/>
<br/>
You've not gone a hundred yards, though, before a Mustang roars up beside you and cuts you off. As you stare, four large boys pile out and swarm up to your door and to Roxanne's. You roll your window down a crack. "The fuck's going on?" you demand.<br/>
<br/>
Then all the hair on your head goes up as a horrible anticipation washes over you. The two boys glowering in through your window are identical twins.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112211
author_id: seuzz
title: Getting Real with Charles Whitney
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It's a short fight. Your truck doors are wrenched open, and you and Roxanne are dragged out. Roxanne looses a single, short shriek before being muffled. You're slammed against the side of your truck, and one of the twins flicks out a knife and pricks the skin next to your eyeball with its tip. "Tell your girlfriend to put a sock in it," he growls, "or your optometrist is gonna be giving half-price on all your follow up visits."<br/>
<br/>
One of the other guys laughs, but the one with the knife glares feverishly at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Who are you?" you gasp.<br/>
<br/>
"I think you know, you fucking faggot!" he snarls. He tickles your eyebrow with the knife.<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't him," his twin says.<br/>
<br/>
"We got the wrong people?" asks one of the other guys.<br/>
<br/>
"No, we got the right ones," says the one with the knife. He nods at Roxanne. "<i>She's</i> with 'em!"<br/>
<br/>
Roxanne twists her head free. "Charles, you <i>fuck!</i> I was trying to text you, tell you that—!" She bites her lip, and looks between the twins. "That there's a guy out there who looks like you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, no shit!" snorts the one with the knife. "How come you think we came out to find you?"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You and Roxanne are bustled back down the street to Dylan's apartment. Charles Whitney keeps his knife out even after the shouting has stopped. That and the white, feverish snarl on his face are enough to keep you on edge.<br/>
<br/>
It takes awhile for explanations to get sorted out, because Whitney and his friends (and his twin) want answers to certain questions, but you and Caleb and Dylan don't quite know how to answer them until you've got answers of your own. But when it's all sorted out: <br/>
<br/>
The fake Charles Whitney, after leaving Dylan's, had gone back to Whitney's place, just as you and Caleb had anticipated. He found Whitney there, but after a lot of shouting and accusations—and even a short but bruising fight—the two settled down to an edgy, wary talk. The fake, of course, thought that <i>he</i> was the real Charles Patrick Whitney, but he couldn't explain himself, and neither could he explain where he came from, except that he'd woken up inside a ratty little apartment down by the university, with a guy demanding sex from him. (Lots of black looks at Dylan.) Meanwhile, two of Whitney's friends—the ones with him now—had shown up, and were able to vouch that the real Charles had left the party the previous night with them, and so was accepted (even by the golem) as the real one. The quartet then decided to find Dylan in order to get some answers, and have been camped out, watching the apartment, since earlier this evening, working up the nerve to bust in. It was your and Roxanne's bad luck to drive off alone, giving them a chance to grab you.<br/>
<br/>
It's hard to have any sympathy for a guy who pulled a knife on you. Especially because he reminds you so much of Geoff Mansfield. He has raven-dark hair; black, flashing eyes; and dresses in the same expensive-looking clothes.<br/>
<br/>
And as for your side of the story ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Fuck!" Charles Whitney (the real one) roars. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! You <i>fuck!</i>" He trembles all over as he studies the two masks he is holding: the mask of himself, and the mask of Eva.<br/>
<br/>
"Easy, there," his friend Ethan Gilkey says, and lays a restraining hand on his arm.<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't you he was fucking and fucking up!" Froth shows on Whitney's lips, and his eyes bulge at Dylan. "I should—!"<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, I said I was sorry!" Dylan retorts. "And it wasn't like I was hurting you. I gave you a good time last night, and if I wanted to keep having a good time with you—"<br/>
<br/>
He is only able to rattle on this way because Whitney is choking on his own fury.<br/>
<br/>
"—you didn't have to know. Blame it on these two clownholes," he says, nodding at you and Caleb. "They fucked up the spell for the thing."<br/>
<br/>
Ah yes, the golem. It is naked now—a lumpy and vaguely phallic column standing in the corner. You got it to strip down to its boxers before you pulled the mask off, exposing it for what it really is.<br/>
<br/>
So Whitney and his friends now know all about the golem, the masks, and the book that you and your friends used to make them. It didn't take as long with them as it did with Roxanne, probably because they had already met a doppelganger.<br/>
<br/>
Whitney is shaking hard as he hands the masks to Ethan. But instead of rushing Dylan, he squats on his haunches and buries his face in his hands. Then he puts his head between his knees. Ethan pats him on the back. But there's a sharp look on his face when raises it back up to speak. "So what are you gonna do with these things?" he demands.<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb and Dylan exchange glances. Roxanne, who has been camped out on the futon with her arms and legs tightly crossed, rolls her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"We— We weren't planning on doing anything with them," you stammer. "I mean, we made the, uh—" You nod at the golem. "And we sold it to Dylan here 'cos we needed money to keep goin. But we're just, you know, figuring this shit out. Going through the book."<br/>
<br/>
"Like a science project?" asks Whitney's other friend, Zachary Holzer. He laughs. "Fuckin'-A, man, that's funny."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, but what are you doing with <i>these things now?</i>" Ethan asks. He's not nearly as amused as his friend.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we're not doing anything with <i>that!</i>" Dylan lobs a thumb at the golem. "Frigging thing is busted."<br/>
<br/>
Whitney comes alive. "Well, you're not keeping <i>this!</i>" He leaps up and wrenches the masks from Ethan. He shuffles them, then tosses one to Dylan like it's hot, and hugs the other to his chest. He flushes.<br/>
<br/>
The moment seems to tremble. You have a horrible sense of anticipation, but an anticipation of what?<br/>
<br/>
The answer comes when Whitney lunges for the book, which has been balancing on the edge of Dylan's dining room table. "And you're not keeping this either!" He sweeps that knife—it's five inches long, at least, and folds up into a sturdy wooden handle—around the room, and backs toward the door.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you doing?" Ethan asks him.<br/>
<br/>
"Whaddaya think I'm doing?" Whitney whinnies. "You want these fuckers making more of these things? You want them coming after us? We know too much, man!" He reaches the door. "Well, are you coming?" he shrieks.<br/>
<br/>
You're too paralyzed to say or do anything, and Caleb and Dylan seem thunderstruck as well. Ethan and Zachary give both you and their friend some wary looks, then back toward the door too. Whitney fumbles the door open, and backs through it.<br/>
<br/>
"You got any more magic shit we should know about?" he shouts at you, but doesn't wait for an answer. The other two run after as he spins and sprints away.<br/>
<br/>
It's left to Roxanne to caption the picture of you, Caleb, and Dylan standing dumbly in Dylan's living room as the door swings open on the dark night outside. "Well, you guys sure made a real clusterfuck of it," she says.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
There's not much else to say, except to agree with Roxanne. You ask her to tell you what more she knows about Charles and his friends, but she declares herself "beyond done" with you guys, and storms out. You and Caleb take off too. It's getting late, and you've got school in the morning.<br/>
<br/>
You toss in your bed for what feels like hours. The shock of losing the book is so hot and fresh that it hardly even registers. You had it, and now you don't, but (weirdly) you have more than half an expectation that you'll have it again when you get up in the morning. Like, Whitney and his friends couldn't simply take it from you, right?<br/>
<br/>
Except that is what they did.<br/>
<br/>
And what will they do with it? That's the question they asked you, and it didn't sound like they wanted to do "science project" type stuff with it. But what else could they do with it?<br/>
<br/>
Well, they could do what Dylan tried doing to Whitney, only to other people. Including you and your friends.<br/>
<br/>
What did Charles say as he ran off? <i>We know too much!</i> Well, you and Caleb and Dylan also know too much.<br/>
<br/>
And unlike you and your friends, Charles pulled a knife out, and it looked like he was capable of using it.<br/>
<br/>
So that's why it takes you longer than usual to get to sleep.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're moving slow the next morning, and your mom fusses that you're going to be late for school. One reason you're slow is that you're getting texts from Caleb. He too passed a sleepless night, and he wants to know what you're planning to do to get the book back. You've not given it any real thought, and it turns out that neither has he. <i>What abt talking t that girl sm more?</i> he suggests.<br/>
<br/>
You reply that you don't think she's interested in talking to you anymore.<br/>
<br/>
But the next text that comes in—it pops up on your drive out to school—is from Roxanne. She wants to know if you'd be up for meeting with her. To your surprise, she answers your question <i>when</i> with <i>now.</i><br/>
<br/>
Is she skipping? You're on your way to school, and meeting her would mean skipping at least your first couple of classes. Of course you want to meet with her. But why the urgency to meet now? Why can't it be this afternoon?<br/>
<br/>
So you are wary. She goes to the Mutant school with Charles. What if this girl has to meet you outside of school during school hours because that's when the real Roxanne will be in class?</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211122111
author_id: seuzz
title: The Long Wait
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You are very wary as you walk into the McDonalds where you agreed to meet Roxanne, and she returns you a wary look of her own. Neither of you order any food, but instead huddle over a small Formica-topped table in the back near the restrooms. Roxanne asks what happened at Dylan's place after she left. Then she asks if you've heard from Charles or his friends. You shake your head, then ask her if she's skipping school.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course I am," she snaps. "You think I wanna go in with—" She bites her lip.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you gonna stop going to school?"<br/>
<br/>
"No! What are you, my mom? Are <i>you</i> gonna stop going to school?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't go to Xavier's."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you go to school with his two friends?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think so. I don't think I've seen them around."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, they don't go to school with me and Charles. I guess that's lucky for you." She shivers.<br/>
<br/>
You draw in a deep breath, and exhale. You ask her if she wants to get something to eat or drink. She shakes her head. <br/>
<br/>
"Look," you tell her after a moment's silence. "I'm <i>really</i> sorry I dragged you into this." She gives you a sharp, angry look. "But, you know, we didn't think it would turn out this way. The only way we could think of to find the fake guy was to talk to someone who maybe knew him, and—"<br/>
<br/>
"You shouldn't have been fucking around with that stuff!"<br/>
<br/>
You can't help bridling a little.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, okay," and you don't try to hide the sulky tone. "That makes sense <i>now.</i> But we were just trying to figure out how the stuff works."<br/>
<br/>
"Would you fuck around with an H-bomb? Would you fuck around with a 747? And that stuff is ... <i>demonic!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't summon demons with it."<br/>
<br/>
"How do you know? That thing was alive, that thing that you made!" She is breathing heavily. "How can it be alive if there isn't, like, something alive inside it? And what would that be except a—"<br/>
<br/>
You do see her point, so you can only hang your head. "Well, it's out of my hands now. Our hands."<br/>
<br/>
But that just stirs her up more. "You mean you're just giving up?" she demands.<br/>
<br/>
"We don't have the book anymore! Charles and them—"<br/>
<br/>
"You're just going to let them keep it?" Her eyes bulge. "Oh, God! It was bad enough when it was you and your gay friends playing around with it! But Charles—! Oh, fuck!"<br/>
<br/>
"So how am I supposed to get it back? I don't go to school with them, I don't know them! <i>You're</i> the one who goes to school with—"<br/>
<br/>
She pales, and her lips turn very white.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen, I'm sorry," you say. "I don't— It's not your business. It was never supposed to be your business. Give me—" Your voice quavers. "Give me Charles's number, and I'll try to get in touch with him. See if he'll talk to me. See if I can talk him out of, you know, doing anything ... stupid."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not scared he's going to do anything stupid," she retorts as she takes out her phone. "I'm scared he's going to do something smart and <i>evil!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You part soon after, not on the friendliest of terms, but Roxanne does (gruffly) ask you to keep her informed on what happens. You drive around town, trying to figure out what to do. It's while you're driving that you get a text from Caleb, and when you tell him you're skipping, he says he'll skip too and join you at his cousin's. You don't much feel like seeing Dylan again, but you also figure that three heads are better than two.<br/>
<br/>
"I only got twenty minutes I can give you before I have to be in class," he archly informs you when you arrive. (You've beaten Caleb out to his place.) When you point out to him that you're skipping school on account of the crisis, he only sniffs. "That's because it's <i>your</i> problem."<br/>
<br/>
"It's not yours too?" you retort.<br/>
<br/>
"Why is it mine? It was your book the asshole took. I was just buying stuff off you." He glances at the golem, still standing in his living room, and gives it a dirty look. "And all I got from it was this charming conversation piece."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'm gonna try getting the book back from that guy."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. If you do, I'm gonna wanna buy a couple of blank masks off you. And I <i>might</i> still be in the market for—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck you! I'm not getting it back so I can <i>go back into business with you!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Then why <i>are</i> you trying to get it back? Oh, God," he moans, "you're going to be <i>selfish</i> with it."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know what I'm going to do with it! Maybe burn it! You know—" You fling a finger at the golem. "There might be a <i>demon</i> inside that thing."<br/>
<br/>
But Dylan only looks amused.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not going to burn it," he informs you. "You can have too much fun with it. You and Caleb already know <i>that!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
He throws you out before Caleb arrives, but you wait outside for Caleb, and the two of you wind up going to get a coffee at the student union. You crouch over a table, talking. Caleb agrees that you've got to try getting the book back from Charles—or, at the least, that you've got to keep tabs on him and his friends. "He's not gonna <i>give</i> it back, you know," he points out. "The best we can do is, like, agree to share it or something."<br/>
<br/>
"We could steal it back from him, if we got close enough," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
He gives you a look. <br/>
<br/>
"Don't even <i>think</i> that, Will," he says, "or those guys will see you <i>thinking</i> it. And then they won't let us get close."<br/>
<br/>
So you turn to composing the text to send to Charles. After trying out and discarding various threatening possibilities—like mentioning the dangers of "demonic possession" associated with the book; Caleb says the other guys will know you're bullshitting them—you wind up sending a very bland text: <i>Hey this is will from other night. I really want to get together and talk abt that book and all that stuff. Just talk. Its really important.</i><br/>
<br/>
"They're not going to go for it," you tell Caleb after sending it.<br/>
<br/>
"The important part is that we keep the lines of communication open," he says. "And don't make it sound like we're threatening them."<br/>
<br/>
"There's no lines of communication if they don't reply. And now," you add with sudden, horrified realization, "they've got my number and can come find <i>me!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Isn't that what we want?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
You stare at him, but think better of sharing the horrified thought you had: <i>They could find me, copy me, and the next time you saw me, it wouldn't be me!</i> Aloud, you only mumble, "Well, maybe you're right."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You don't hear from Charles that day or the next, and you text him again with a similar message: <i>Me and my friends just want to talk to you. We can meet wherever.</i> You text Roxanne to tell her that you haven't been able to get in contact with Charles; she tells you that she went back to school on Tuesday, but she's been avoiding him. You creep up to the edge of asking her to talk to him, to tell him that you want to see him, but hang back. <i>I told her it's not her business,</i> you remind yourself. <br/>
<br/>
You send texts to Charles on Wednesday and Thursday as well, with the same lack of result.<br/>
<br/>
On Friday afternoon, you get a text from Roxanne, asking if you've made any progress. When you admit that you haven't, she sends you a short note telling you to meet her at the mini-golf course.<br/>
<br/>
The western sky is still awash with light when you arrive, but the outside lights are on. Friday night must be a family night, because the place is covered up with harried parents and shrieking kids. Roxanne herself seems to be doing a brisk business not only selling tickets but cleaning up the crude picnic tables inside the eating shed.<br/>
<br/>
"What have you been doing?" she shouts over the din. She is carrying a couple of trays of paper plates and cups over to the trash can. You hustle alongside her, and together you have to dodge a line of five-year-olds who are playing tag.<br/>
<br/>
"I've been texting Charles—"<br/>
<br/>
"He's not gonna answer! Not if he hasn't been answering you yet! You're gonna have to go see him!"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know where he lives!"<br/>
<br/>
"Christ. I said <i>Cripes!</i>" she shouts at a fat woman who has given her a dirty look. "Look, I can give you his address if you go look for him tonight. Like, now, after you leave here."<br/>
<br/>
"Um, I guess I can—"<br/>
<br/>
"Or you can go see his friends."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll have to go get my friend Caleb."<br/>
<br/>
"Right," she snorts. "Because if <i>you</i> can't take 'em, your friend definitely can!" After dropping off the trays at the makeshift kitchen, she wheels on you. "It's Friday night, they'll all be out partying. I maybe can get a line on where they'll be, if you want to track them down."<br/>
<br/>
"I should just wait till tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"Or—and this is really what you should do—you can go out to their places and snoop around. See if you can't get your shit back that way."<br/>
<br/>
Her suggestion staggers you. "You want I should, like break in?"<br/>
<br/>
She glances around. "You wanna say that a little louder?" You flush. "Yeah, you can try talking to them, see what good that'll do," Roxanne says. "But trust me, you wanna get your book back, you're better off trying the other way."</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212111221112
author_id: seuzz
title: Burglars Three
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You text Caleb and ask him to meet you in front of the nearby movie theater. You also ask him to bring Dylan along—you figure that, for what you've got planned, you could use the help.<br/>
<br/>
To outvote Caleb, if nothing else.<br/>
<br/>
Which showed foresight: Caleb calls you a nut after you spring your plan on him, while Dylan tells his cousin to grow a pair.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, if you're all into breaking and entering," Caleb demands of Dylan, "why weren't you telling us to do this before? Why weren't <i>you</i> going out and—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because it was the middle of the week," Dylan retorts. "I was going to call you tomorrow, tell you this is what we should do."<br/>
<br/>
You find yourself doubting Dylan, but you're glad of his support. He asks what you know about the guys' houses and families, and you admit that you've only got their addresses, courtesy of Roxanne. "Is <i>she</i> coming too?" Caleb wants to know. "The fuck why not?" he asks when you tell him she isn't.<br/>
<br/>
"Because she's got to work."<br/>
<br/>
"If it's so important to <i>her</i>—"<br/>
<br/>
Dylan tells him to shut up, and that's the end of the argument.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It doesn't make sense to delay. Your targets will be out partying, and the sooner you case their places, the better chance you'll catch them empty, because (as Dylan points out) that their parents might all be out socializing too.<br/>
<br/>
Ethan Gilkey's house is the nearest to the mall. The lights are on in the living room as you cruise by, but there's an SUV parked in front of the garage. It's also nestled amidst a lot of other houses, so even if the lights were off you're not sure you'd dare try breaking in.<br/>
<br/>
Zachary Holzer's house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, and the lights are out. You're ready to pass on it, but Dylan consults an online map and tells you there's an empty field abutting its back yard. After five minutes of wandering around and getting lost, you find that field, park next to it, and hoof across a lot of bumpy, muddy, uncut turf to approach Holzer's house from the back. Caleb locks his hands together in a stirrup, to support you as you clamber to the top of the high wooden wall that surrounds the place. "Looks dark back here too," you hiss.<br/>
<br/>
"Lemme see," Dylan says.<br/>
<br/>
"I only got two hands!" the groaning Caleb protests.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, get down," Dylan tells you, "and I'll—"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you, I don't need— I'm going over," you say. "Then Caleb can help you up and over."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, and I'll gladly stay back here," Caleb mutters.<br/>
<br/>
You grasp the top of the fence and heave yourself high enough to throw a leg over. You're balancing there and wincing as the boards pinch your family jewels when you hear the deep growl.<br/>
<br/>
You have just enough time to cuss and to pull your leg back when there's an explosion of barks, and something very big and very heavy hurls itself at the fence, knocking you off. <br/>
<br/>
You hit Caleb on your way down. "Jesus!" someone shouts (and you're not sure it isn't you), and the three of you scramble back across the muddy fields, stumbling and falling, to regain your truck. The dog—which by its bark sounds like it's the size of a grizzly bear—slavers and claws at the fence behind you.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, that's two down," Caleb whimpers. "Can we go home now?"<br/>
<br/>
Dylan says, "Don't be a baby," and you say, "We've still got Whitney's place to go by."<br/>
<br/>
"Less than a fifty percent chance the book'll be at his place."<br/>
<br/>
"More like a hundred percent," Dylan says. "He's gonna be the one keeping it."<br/>
<br/>
"They why didn't we go looking at his place first?"<br/>
<br/>
"These places were on the way," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fer Chriss—!"<br/>
<br/>
"Look, if we can't get into his place, then, um, we'll go hitting the parties, looking for them there."<br/>
<br/>
"You can," Caleb retorts. "I'm going home. In fact, you can take me back to my car now—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not taking you nowhere! You can sit out in my truck when we get to Whitney's."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb grumbles in the back of his throat, and leaves the talk to you and Dylan as the latter reads you off directions from his phone.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Shit," Caleb mutters as the three of you, from inside the truck, look over the last place on your list of houses. "This isn't even worth getting out for."<br/>
<br/>
You're a fair piece out in the countryside, where the houses are spread apart, and the Whitney's colonial-style house stands splendidly isolated from the neighbors. The night is pitch dark by now, but by the glow of the porch light you can make out the shadows and silhouettes of tall trees and bushes that dot the rolling grounds. There is no fence about.<br/>
<br/>
All this is to the good—no neighbors, almost certainly no dog prowling the yard, and none of the lights in any of the windows are on.<br/>
<br/>
But the place is almost certainly alarmed to the teeth.<br/>
<br/>
"Come on, we should check it out anyway," you say, though you have as little hope and enthusiasm as Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"What, you wanna stumble around in the dark?" he protests. "What if they got bear traps?"<br/>
<br/>
"They're not gonna have bear traps! Besides, you're staying in the truck."<br/>
<br/>
But Caleb is determined to be glum. "Yeah," he says as he slumps in his seat. "But I'm the one'll have to come help you out of the Bengal tiger trap when you fall into it."<br/>
<br/>
He is right about it being very dark, and Dylan asks if you've got a flashlight in your truck. You have to think a bit before you remember an emergency tool kit that should be in the storage bin behind the wheel well in the truck bed. You rummage around (using the light from Dylan's phone to see by) until you find a big, silvery flashlight that's not much smaller than a baseball bat. "Are the batteries any good?" Dylan asks. You flick it on. "When was the last time you changed them out?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. Never, I think. I wasn't even sure I had this thing. But maybe my dad—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you really oughta be a professional burglar," Dylan mutters.<br/>
<br/>
Together you creep partway up the drive to the house, then veer off to sneak across the grounds. You almost immediately come to grief: There's a small, gurgling creek cutting across the grounds, and you nearly fall in, so you have to return to the drive and use the bridge to cross it. "These people must be loaded," Dylan says, voicing the obvious.<br/>
<br/>
You make a wide circuit of the house, first to one side and then to the other, looking for signs that anyone is home. But except for the porch light, the place is dark. "Do you think there's, like sensors, on the grounds?" you ask. You've been giving the place a wide berth.<br/>
<br/>
"This is real life, not a <i>Mission Impossible</i> movie."<br/>
<br/>
"How do you know what people've got? I've seen in TV shows—"<br/>
<br/>
"Those are TV shows."<br/>
<br/>
But Dylan, like yourself, keeps his distance from the house itself.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually you make your way to the back, where you find a large deck and a swimming pool. You're just summoning up your nerve to approach them when Dylan catches your elbow and points. "What's that?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>That</i> is a dark shape back far off behind the swimming pool, like another house. In the night, it is nothing more than a blacker shadow against the black sky, but it is something else to check out. As you approach it, though, it gradually resolves itself into a barn. "Not much chance of an alarm here," Dylan observes.<br/>
<br/>
The doors are padlocked, but there's a wide window directly above them, and by standing on Dylan's shoulders you're able to pull yourself up into a loft. After searching around, you find a rope, which you lower to help pull Dylan up. Then you descend a ladder into the barn.<br/>
<br/>
It's not being used as a barn, though. There's no hay bales or farm implements or feed; instead, it's a carport for a RV and an SUV, and there's not much room between them and the empty animal pens for you to squeeze through. You sweep the place with your flashlight, though. You've about given up when with a soft whistle through his teeth Dylan directs your attention to something you'd missed: a large trunk nestled back inside one of the pens.<br/>
<br/>
"Worth breaking into?" Dylan asks when you find it locked.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't got a crowbar or nothing." But you give the trunk an experimental heave, and find that though it is bulky, it isn't heavy. "Maybe it's got a loose panel, or something," you say, "and we can get into it through—"<br/>
<br/>
But you find something better than a loose panel. Beneath the trunk is trapdoor.<br/>
<br/>
You and Dylan pause in surprise, then shift the trunk to the side so you lift the door by a heavy iron. A soft exhalation of cold air drifts up from below.<br/>
<br/>
It's a storm cellar, you decide after you've dropped down into it. It is stocked with a couple of chairs, a table, and some supplies, including kerosene lamps.<br/>
<br/>
And among those supplies—<br/>
<br/>
"This is stuff for making a golem," you whisper to Dylan as you run your flashlight over the sacks and jars and bottles. "Of course I'm sure!" you snap in reply to his inevitable question. On the shelves that hang on the wall you find more of the kind of things that are used to make masks. "This is his workshop!"<br/>
<br/>
But where is the book? And where are the masks?</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112211122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Loot Box
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Dylan sniggers.<br/>
<br/>
"Imagine," he says, "being so set up you have a secret lair and everything where you can do your magic experiments, and it's the one place that someone can just randomly bust in and find it!" He looks between you and Caleb. "Like that old school basement you guys were hanging out at!"<br/>
<br/>
You don't mind Dylan teasing you. You've got the book back! And a few more things.<br/>
<br/>
It took some work hauling the trunk out of the barn and back to your truck. Then, at Dylan's, you had to use a hammer and screwdriver to chisel off the lock. But inside—<br/>
<br/>
Besides the book, the trunk contained a bag of dirt, a couple of tubs of goopy black paste, three masks, and a free-floating mind-band. Two of the masks are polished but blank, and don't contain any mind-bands. But the third has a mind-band in it, identifying it as a copy of someone named RORY TAYLOR BYNUM.<br/>
<br/>
It's Caleb, who's been a cold douche of water all night, who punctures the swelling relief. <br/>
<br/>
"You know those guys are going to come looking for it," he says. "And they're going to know where to look and who to look for."<br/>
<br/>
Dylan shrugs. "So we disguise ourselves."<br/>
<br/>
"We can't disguise ourselves while going to school!" Caleb explodes. "Or being at home!"<br/>
<br/>
"I can disguise myself," Dylan retorts. He fingers one of the blank masks. "I'll just copy myself the body of some big bruiser they can't fuck with. This is my place, and except for a couple of classes where I have to show my face, I wouldn't have to come out of it."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb snorts. "What about Will and me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do they even know who you are?" Dylan retorts. "I'm the one they're gonna come for first!"<br/>
<br/>
"They can look for me," you say. Caleb's words have left your heart sinking with fear. "They got my cell phone number."<br/>
<br/>
"So throw your cell phone away."<br/>
<br/>
"I can't do <i>that!</i> And that's not the point! They can get my address. They got my name, they can get—! And I can't disguise myself!"<br/>
<br/>
The atmosphere, which had been so happy just a moment ago, is now fraught. Finally, Caleb asks if you're free to spend the night with him at his house. "Sure," you reply. "Why?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb hefts the grimoire. "'Cos I think we got some homework to do."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're up until three in the morning at his place, slouched in the floor with chips and sodas and coffee. Only part of the time is taken up with reading back through the grimoire. The rest of it is taken with speculating about Charles and his friends, and what they have gotten up to.<br/>
<br/>
They have unlocked three more spells in the week since you lost the book to them, and they would have unlocked more except that they fucked the book up somehow. The last open page has been damaged, with half of it torn away. All that is left of it is a set of ingredients that look identical to those that make a mind-band, along with a single, gnomic instruction. But the bottom half, where there would be a sigil, is gone. The page that follows is partially visible below, but the text is completely illegible, looking as though it has been dunked in water until the ink has bled and run.<br/>
<br/>
How Charles and his friends damaged the book you don't know. But it looks as if they got impatient and found a way to try turning the page without executing the spell. Though it bitterly disappoints you to see the book busted, you feel almost equal relief that they foiled themselves.<br/>
<br/>
But you've got more than enough to worry about with the two other spells.<br/>
<br/>
The first—which comes directly after the spell making the golem—is the most disturbing. You had not had a chance to look at it closely before losing the book, and you're now kind of glad you hadn't. It looks almost identical to the spell that makes a golem, but instead of using four hundred pounds of cemetery earth, it calls for forty pounds, and a human body. Whether that means a corpse or a living person, you're not sure. But the result is another golem, according to the reverse of the page. What the spell does, if anything, to the person used in the spell is not described. You and Caleb are a little aghast, though, at the implication that Charles and his friends did execute the spell. You don't like wondering if you and Caleb would have been able to resist experimenting with it as well.<br/>
<br/>
The spell after that is more puzzling. Again, it calls for the same ingredients as go into a golem, but in much smaller quantities—only a handful of dirt, for example. The result is supposed to be a paste that is applied to the interior of a mask. The book calls the resulting mask a <i>ludius,</i> and it explains that, though it can be worn without danger by the magician, when set upon another person, or golem, it creates a copy that must obey him, as a golem does. However, by removing the mask, the victim can be restored. You and Caleb both agree that there is no way to tell for sure what it does without testing it out.<br/>
<br/>
There is one quick way of making a test, though. The interior of the mask of Rory Bynum is a grayish color, and you and Caleb can only conclude that it has been treated with the stuff made by the seventh spell in the book.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's only nine in the morning when you roust Dylan from bed by banging on his front door. He is very cross, and demands to know what you're doing up so early.<br/>
<br/>
He is even more cross after you and Caleb have grabbed him, and tried tearing his face off.<br/>
<br/>
"We've got a real problem," Caleb explains after you're settled in Dylan's living room. "These guys have a way of making instant golems, and of replacing <i>anyone</i> with a fake."<br/>
<br/>
It's Saturday, and you and Caleb got up very early to drive out to the old elementary school, where you experimented—gingerly!—with the mask you got from Charles's trunk. With some rope from your truck, Caleb tied you up and sat on you, then put the mask onto you. When you awoke (only moments later, it felt to you) a very pale-in-the-face Caleb hollowly related what had happened. You had transformed into someone who answered to the name Rory Bynum, who was very peeved to find himself tied up with a strange guy sitting on top of him. Caleb only got a few answers from him—like, that he went to Eastman High—before deciding that he had better get the mask back off you before you got free. You are able to tell Caleb that you have no memory of anything that happened while the mask was on you, and he says that Rory Bynum claimed never to have heard of Will Prescott.<br/>
<br/>
"There was no way it was going to obey me," Caleb tells Dylan, "but then, we're not the magicians who made the stuff. Still, the point is, those guys could put a mask onto the real person, and it would turn him a copy of someone that would obey them. That's why we had to test you, to find out if you were one of those fakes."<br/>
<br/>
Worse, after the three of you look over the spell again, and puzzle out some of the possible implications, it appears that masks treated this way would be even more dangerous. Charles could make a mask of himself, treat it with the "golem paste," and set it upon Rory Bynum, or anyone else, then don a mask of the other person. Then, if the stuff works as advertised—<br/>
<br/>
<i>A big "if,"</i> Dylan snorted, and with a roll of his eyes glanced over at the golem that still stands in the corner.<br/>
<br/>
But if the stuff works as advertised, he could replace and impersonate the other person, while leaving an obedient duplicate of himself behind so that he wouldn't be missed.<br/>
<br/>
"These guys could turn <i>us</i> into golems," Caleb says. "Also, they could turn themselves into other people and come at us from any direction!"<br/>
<br/>
But Dylan doesn't seem very fazed.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure they could," he sneers. "If they had the book and the supplies. But they don't, right? What they need to be scared of is <i>us</i> doing it to them!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb flushes, and leans forward on the futon.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, we got the book <i>now!</i> But we don't know how much of a stash they've got held back! We got some stuff out of Whitney's trunk, but is that <i>all</i> of his stash? How much is he hiding up in his bedroom? How many masks have him and his friends got? We don't know!"<br/>
<br/>
That does sober Dylan up. "So what do you think we should do?"<br/>
<br/>
You jump in.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, look, I'm not sure we need to panic yet," you say, for you've been thinking a little past what Caleb has said. "We know they made three masks in the last week. Well, there's three guys, and it takes someone about a week to polish one up. If they've got a bunch of other blanks, it's going to take them at least until the end of the weekend, and probably till Monday or Tuesday, to polish up three more, and that's if they don't do anything else. So we got a little bit of time."<br/>
<br/>
"You weren't thinking that when you busted in here a little while ago," Dylan grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you're the one who's got the biggest target on his back," Caleb tells him. He points to the two blank masks. "You should use this stuff to get a hiding place while we figure out what to do."<br/>
<br/>
"Or," Dylan counters with a proposal that floors you, "we can text those guys, tell them we've got the shit back, and talk about making a deal."</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211122111223
author_id: seuzz
title: The Best Defense
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Dylan's suggestion shocks you. That asshole held a knife on you! He was going to stab you in the eyeball!<br/>
<br/>
No, you'd prefer a different strategy, one Dylan mentioned in passing. "What did you mean," you ask him, "when you said they should be more scared of us doing it to them?"<br/>
<br/>
Dylan blinks at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Only what I said," he replies. "If we're scared they're going to do something to us, they should also be scared we'll do it to them. I mean, we've got the book now."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's the solution, isn't it?" You turn to Caleb. "We wouldn't have to worry about them if, you know—" You shrug. "If they were fakes."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyes widen, but he says nothing. Neither does Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
But you add nothing to what you've said. You've put the idea out there, and that's enough. It's up to them to respond. You'll go along with whatever they say.<br/>
<br/>
You can tell by his body language—relaxed, with an insolent twist of his shoulders—that Dylan has no problem with what you've said. Maybe Caleb notices too, and decides he's been outvoted even before a vote has been taken. But after sucking long and hard at his lower lip, he says, "Hit or be hit, huh? Yeah, I guess I'd rather do the hitting."<br/>
<br/>
And like that, it's decided.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You'll need more masks and mind-bands, though, so Dylan gives you what money he can spare, and you and Caleb go shopping for supplies. After that, you return to the elementary school to add it to your other loot. You are paranoid enough that you keep watch for anyone who might be following you, and you double back a couple of times, to Caleb's annoyance.<br/>
<br/>
You've got two masks already, but it will take you a week, at least, to cast a third—for you'll need three if you're going to use the golem-goop on Charles and his two friends. But the two masks you have need mind-bands as well, so you cast half a dozen of them (Caleb says it'll be better to have too many than too few) then take them back to Dylan's to work on so there will be three of you waiting should Charles and his friends come by.<br/>
<br/>
"I looked up your friends while I was waiting for you to get back," Dylan tells you after you're spread out on his living room floor. "Two of 'em go to Eastman."<br/>
<br/>
"What friends?" you ask as you chisel another rune into the band you're working on.<br/>
<br/>
"Charles's friends."<br/>
<br/>
"They ain't no friends of ours," Caleb mutters. But you're more troubled by the logistical problem that implies: You're going to have to find some guys you don't know at a school you don't attend.<br/>
<br/>
You point the problem out to Caleb. "We got their names and where they live," he brusquely replies.<br/>
<br/>
"What, are you thinking about breaking into their houses, catching them there?"<br/>
<br/>
"If that's the way we have to do it."<br/>
<br/>
"There's that other friend, or whoever he is, they got at Eastman with them," Dylan says. When you cock a puzzled eyebrow at him, he sighs and digs back into Whitney's trunk. "This guy," he says, pulling out one of the masks. "Rory Taylor Bynum."<br/>
<br/>
"We can't use that," Caleb says. "We told you, it won't obey us."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, here's someone else you can maybe get to them through. If they have a mask of him, they must be friends with him or something. They can get to him, which means he can get to them."<br/>
<br/>
"We're not going to tell anyone else about this stuff," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"That's not what I meant! I mean, if you made <i>your own copy</i> of him, like they did, you could use his face to get close to them."<br/>
<br/>
"We don't know this guy any better than we know them," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, at least I can tell you more about him! Your other guys only have the usual dumb x2z stuff, it looks like, in their social media profiles. But I can tell you this Rory guy— Oh my God!" <br/>
<br/>
He scrambles for his cell phone. "He's on the swim team," he says as he shows you the screen. "Check out the speedo."<br/>
<br/>
You look, then flinch. The picture leaves almost nothing to the imagination. The guy is wearing only three articles of clothing from the knees up: a speedo colored like an American flag, a purple bow tie, and a pair of aviator sunglasses. He flashes a shit-eating grin at the camera, and his torso ripples with muscles all over, including an 8-pack.<br/>
<br/>
"Dude," you snicker at Caleb after he's also paled at the photo. "You were sitting on <i>that</i> this morning? When I put on the mask?"<br/>
<br/>
He shoots you a hot look. "You were still in your clothes."<br/>
<br/>
"And you didn't try getting me out of them? Oww!" You laugh and scoot out of reach as Caleb whales at your shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
Silence falls for a minute or two. Then Caleb says, "You know, I bet that's what they were planning to do."<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
"They're in separate schools, right? Whitney goes to the Mutant school, and his two friends go to Eastman. Well, I bet Whitney was going to use these blank masks to get his friends into Xavier's with him. So they could all hang together. And then, if they wanted to hang out together at Eastman, he could do himself up as this other guy."<br/>
<br/>
"Or maybe they were just experimenting on him," you suggest. "Like we were with Jeremy."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess that's true," Caleb admits. "Still." He chews his lip and pulls out the two blank masks. "Maybe we should be thinking of something like that."<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?"<br/>
<br/>
"An impersonation. Slip one of us in for Whitney or one of his friends. Hang out with them, find out what they're up to. Then, if we have to, take them down."<br/>
<br/>
"If we could do that, we could just take 'em down right away," you reply. "Turn 'em into, you know."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but we have to have three masks to do that, and that'll take a week to get ready. We got two masks now. Or we'll have two masks, after we get done with these bands. That's enough to do a substitution, right? We could do it today."<br/>
<br/>
"If we could find one of them today."<br/>
<br/>
And that's the problem with all your plans. Getting to one of these guys, and getting him alone.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's late afternoon before you are able to get the runes carved into the bands and the bands affixed to the masks.<br/>
<br/>
You also make up some of the new golemizing goop, as Caleb has taken to calling it, so that you'll have it on hand. There's a two-part process to using it. First, you have to copy someone into a mask, after which you coat the inside of the mask with the goop, like the way you have to seal it up. Then you have to burn some hair inside the mask. But whose hair?<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is left scratching his head after reading the description of the spell, and he cusses the Latin, which has to be translated by an online program that keeps insisting on spitting back weird stuff. He also compares it to the spells that make the two types of golem.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, as near as I can figure," he says, "with this paste stuff, burning the hair into it puts it under the control of whoever's hair it was. So if we burn your hair into it"—he turns to Dylan—"the golem will be controlled by you."<br/>
<br/>
"I've heard that song before," Dylan sneers.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb twists around to stare at the golem that is still standing in the corner. "Whose hair did we use when we made that thing?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I think we used mine," you reply after a moment's thought.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb gives you a narrow stare, then turns to Dylan. "Get that mask of Eva. I want to try something."<br/>
<br/>
It's the golem he wants to try out again, despite Dylan's misgivings. Eva, when she reappears, looks like she's been awake for thirty-six hours and is in need of a steam-cleaning—a girl who was once so alluring now disgusts you. So it is less pleasing than it should be when, with some test commands, you discover that she will obey you, even if reluctantly, but won't obey Caleb or Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, there's your problem," Caleb concludes after pulling the mask from it. "The golem works just fine. We just didn't know it would obey Will instead of <i>all</i> of us."<br/>
<br/>
Dylan makes like he's going to throttle his cousin. "Okay, so it wasn't defective! You were just <i>incompetent!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
But all that is in the nature of an aside, and you return to the earlier conversation.<br/>
<br/>
The quickest way to safety, it seems to you, is to use the masks on two of three guys you are targeting, and to wait a week (after you've made a third mask) to capture the third.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb points out that as long as the third guy is free, you'll all be in danger. He prefers to make a substitution, putting one of you in for one of the three, to act as a spy. That way, you can learn what, if anything, Whitney and his friends are planning to do and can maybe head it off.<br/>
<br/>
Both plans have one problem: how are you going to get close to any of the three? It's Dylan who suggests using Roxanne. When you reply that Roxanne wants nothing to do with the crisis, he retorts, "So maybe one of us should take her place."</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212111221112232
author_id: masktrixie
title: The Man in the Holzer Mask
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“We leave Roxanne out of this,” you blurt, almost a little too quickly. “You saw how she reacted to the stuff we showed her. Plus she’s the one that has most to lose if Charles decides to go after someone.” Or, you suddenly consider, the most likely person he’ll have turned into a golem to cover his tracks.<br/>
<br/>
“She’s already in too deep,” Dylan mutters. <br/>
<br/>
“Yeah? And whose fault is that?” you say, anger rising. “She only got dragged into this mess – like Charles and his asshat friends – because you decided to catfish someone.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’d have done the same,” Dylan retorts. <br/>
<br/>
“Enough!” Caleb interrupts. “It doesn’t matter who did what. We’ve still got to find out what they know before they come for us. They’re not going to just give things up. If we’re not involving Roxanne, that leaves impersonation or trying to use that golem goop.”<br/>
<br/>
“Let's go with spying,” you say. “We’ve got the masks they’ve been making, so they can’t have swapped with anyone yet.”<br/>
<br/>
“We haven’t got all of them, Will,” Caleb says quietly. <br/>
<br/>
“How do you figure?” you ask. “We just went over the math. It takes a week to prepare these things.”<br/>
<br/>
Caleb shoots you a look. “Because they unlocked three spells, dumbass. It means they’d have to have used them. Even if that one of Rory Bynum was used for testing, that still leaves the –” the word seems to catch in his throat. “The corpse golem.”<br/>
<br/>
You forgot about that. Whatever the spell does – and you’re still not completely sure what it would look like – there was no evidence of it in Charles’ makeshift lab. That means it’s still running around somewhere.<br/>
<br/>
“It doesn’t change anything,” you shoot back. “You’re right. Our first priority has to be replacing one of Whitney’s cronies: Ethan Gilkey and Zachary Holzer. We just need a way to get to them. Alone.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, the fastest way’s pretty obvious,” Dylan chirps in. “We’ve got a lovely disguise of a very attractive – if a little dishevelled at the moment – young lady…”<br/>
<br/>
“Too risky,” Caleb interjects. “You try a honey trap and someone’s going to smell a rat in an instant. By now, they’re gonna have realized we got their stuff. They’ll be on alert. There’s no way this Whitney guy wouldn’t have told ‘em about Jessica.”<br/>
<br/>
But Whitney didn’t know about every mask, did he?<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
It’s 9pm by the time you’re ready to make your move. Dylan, for his part, ordered a questionable pizza as you went over the plan: isolate one of the Eastman guys and switch with him. The only problem was how to find them without raising suspicion. <br/>
<br/>
It was a problem that you all struggled with over three slices each, Caleb wedging cheese between his teeth and almost choking at one point as you mulled it over. Initially, you were convinced they’d most likely be hanging around together, or sticking to their own houses until they worked out what they were doing. But then you realized a simple home truth that made things far easier.<br/>
<br/>
“We’re pussies,” you suddenly exclaimed.<br/>
<br/>
“Fuck you!” Caleb had retorted, almost immediately, before you managed to get your point over. Charles (and Charles) had burst in on you, Dylan, Caleb and Roxanne. It was a straight four-on-four, and yet with the wave of his (admittedly terrifying) knife and a promise to remove one of your eyes, you’d given up a book of potentially life-changing magic, along with virtually everything you knew. Charles, Ethan and Zachary aren’t expecting you to come after them. They’re expecting you to hide.<br/>
<br/>
Armed with that epiphany, you’d hit up information on the parties in town, narrowing your options down to Meghan Farris’ bash… before Dylan pointed out your mistake. You shouldn’t have been looking for <i>Eastman or Westside</i> parties. You should have been looking over at Keyserling, and the fake frat house of those spoiled rich assholes. <br/>
<br/>
Now, the hour ticking on, you’re sat in your truck, headlights off, wondering if this is really a good plan. What if they aren’t coming? What if it was just Charles at that stupid party? What if there’s no party tonight? What if…<br/>
<br/>
<i>GET RDY! 1 CMNG!!!!</i> <br/>
<br/>
The message from Caleb pings on your phone. You take a deep breath and climb out of the cab. There are only two roads to the edge-of-campus row of student accommodation, so Dylan watched one side of the road, while Caleb watched the other. It was a fishing expedition, but somehow it’s paid off. You head to the road, wondering which one’s coming, a mask in your hand concealed under a slung laptop bag. By now, Caleb will be coming up behind, while Dylan should be moving in too. Your plan is to grab them on the street, pretend they’re drunk and you’re his bros, and get them to your truck. It’s stupid, and wild, and reckless. But maybe it would work.<br/>
<br/>
Your heart thuds. Up ahead, you can see your target. It’s one of Charles’ two friends – the blonde one, with short-cut hair and a squarish face: Zachary Holzer. He looks like he can handle himself if a fight happens. But, fortunately, at the moment so can you. He gives you only the briefest of looks as he passes you on the sidewalk, wearing a smart shirt and jeans. He’s so close he couldn’t fail to recognize Will Prescott. But, right now, you look like Jeremy Richards.<br/>
<br/>
 For a moment, your heart thuds in your chest. Then, as you’re only a foot away, you whip out the mask and lunge at him.<br/>
<br/>
Holzer collapses to the sidewalk, and you quickly glance around to make sure no one’s around. A figure’s running up, but it doesn’t take a moment to realize it’s Caleb. “C’mon!” you yell. “Help me with him, yeah?”<br/>
<br/>
Caleb rushes up, but skids to a halt. “The fuck happened?” he asks.<br/>
<br/>
“C’mon!”<br/>
<br/>
“The. Fuck. Happened. Will.”<br/>
<br/>
You pause, and look down. On the floor is Zachary Holzer’s prone body. Except the mask hasn’t vanished like normal. Instead, it’s stuck fast on his face. You glance at Caleb, and then reach down, pulling it off. Beneath, Holzer’s eyes flutter, dazed but still clearly conscious. You jam the mask down again… and once more it remains stuck to him. <br/>
<br/>
“What the hell are you doing?” you hear another voice. You glance around, and see Dylan. Both you and Caleb breathe a sigh of relief. <br/>
<br/>
“C’mon,” you say. “Something’s gone wrong. Let’s get him to the truck.”<br/>
<br/>
You don’t see anyone on the street, and no one stops you as you help what looks like a passed out drunk wearing a mask down the street toward the car – it’s probably a normal night off campus. With a groan, you haul Holzer into the back. Then, confident you’re alone, look at your conspirators. <br/>
<br/>
“What the fuck’s happening?” Dylan snaps. You can only shrug meekly. Then an idea emerges. What if you can’t put a mask on a mask… you pull off the first, then, warily, you grip Holzer’s forehead and tug. <br/>
<br/>
“Holy shit!” Dylan says, tumbling back a little. Caleb can only stare. Looking back at you is another boy – someone you don’t recognize. He’s grey in the moonlight, still and dead, and it’s only when you all catch yourself that you realize it’s a golem. No… not a golem. A perfect statue of someone you don’t recognize. He’s handsome, fit and muscular but not overly so, with hair perfectly coiffed. <br/>
<br/>
“What the hell is that?” Dylan asks.<br/>
<br/>
“Not what,” Caleb says quietly. “Who.”<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
“His name is Marius Hall,” you say, slumped in Dylan’s house. The past half-hour seems to have past in a blur. First, you hauled the statue to the elementary school, the three of you man-handling it down into the basement to keep it secure. Then you headed back to work out what the hell you’re going to do. The good news is that the Holzer mask doesn’t have any of the golem gloop on it, meaning you can put it on your <i>own</i> golem and, assuming you’re right about how everything works, have it infiltrate Charles’ circle as planned. <br/>
<br/>
The bad news is that the three are clearly further along in their plans than you thought. It’s why you donned Roxanne’s mind band to identify the corpse-golem. <br/>
<br/>
“So he’s a Xavier’s student?”<br/>
<br/>
“More,” you mutter. “He’s <i>the</i> Xavier’s student. Quarterback of the football team, and head boy. Prefect. Uh… they’ve got some kind of goofy honor system, the students police themselves.”<br/>
<br/>
“They what?” Caleb snorts.<br/>
<br/>
“Seriously. And Marius Hall is in charge of it all. Fuck, they must have switched with him. They could control the entire school.”<br/>
<br/>
“And if all three have already switched, we’re never gonna find ‘em,” Dylan says. <br/>
<br/>
“We’re gonna have to go after them, then,” you say. “One of us is going to have to use a golem goop mask on an Xavier’s student, snoop around and track down Charles, Ethan and Zachary.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, Rox…”<br/>
<br/>
“Not Roxanne,” you say firmly. “She deserves to be kept out of it. We pick someone else.” You use the mind band, and ponder likely options. You could choose someone who lives in town; that would give you an easy way to get back to Caleb, Dylan and the book. But it’d be harder to flush out the others. Alternatively, you could select one of the students who boards at the school… but you’d be on your own if something went wrong. <br/>
<br/>
Or, finally, you could always use the Zachary Holzer mask instead of your golem, and pretend you’re under Charles’ control.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112211122321
author_id: masktrixie
title: The Old Town Road
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“There’s a bunch of students who live in town, drive in or catch the, uh, ‘bus of shame’,” you say, delving through Roxanne’s memories as you categorize a likely person to make a switch with. “They’d be perfect. I can investigate during the day, and head back and meet up with you guys at night, keep you updated on what’s going on.”<br/>
<br/>
“Sounds like a plan,” Caleb acknowledges. Dylan doesn’t seem particularly invested. “They all wealthy pricks?”<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. “Some of them are rich – like Kelsey Blankenship rich – and others got a scholarship from the local Catholic church. Roxanne’s one of those kids. Damn…” you pause for a moment, getting a glimpse of just how on the breadline Roxanne’s family really are. For her, the St. Francis Xavier School isn’t just a small upgrade on going to Westside or Eastman; it’s a chance at getting out of this one-horse town. <br/>
<br/>
“Makes sense,” Dylan comments. “Elite preppy school full of assholes, gotta have some normal kids in there to keep ‘em grounded.”<br/>
<br/>
“Nah,” you say, eyes almost glazing over as Roxanne’s did when she had to learn the history of the place. “It’s part of how they made it. Jesus, it’s a fucking country estate. Used to be owned by the Latty family. As in, the ‘Latty’ in ‘Lattyville’. When the family left, they set up a trust fund, managed by the local church. A certain percentage of students have to come from there each year. Otherwise, you’ve got to be two of rich, Catholic or academically brilliant. The fifth and sixth forms, uh, the juniors and seniors, they are dormed in the main building, Founder’s Hall. Then you’ve got New Hall, the school itself, a fucking boathouse…”<br/>
<br/>
“OK, we didn’t ask for a tour,” Caleb says. “The uber-rich are rich. What about the students?”<br/>
<br/>
You nod, and concentrate. “OK, OK. Hmm. So, the ones Roxanne knows best are Gabe… Gabriel Santos. He’s Hispanic, lives on the north side of town, another one of the church-sponsored kids. He seems solid. Roxanne likes him. And there’s…” you blush, as a rush of emotions ripple from the band and you feel all the things Roxanne would <i>love</i> to do to the next person. “Uh… hmm. Ah, there’s a girl called Niamh Stirland, she lives down on the edge of Acheson. Kind of a cute gamer-girl type.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ha! Looks like someone’s got a crush!” Dylan laughs, pointing at your discomfort. You shoot him a look.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s the band!” you say, tapping your forehead. “<i>Roxanne</i> has the crush, not me.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, she’s gay? Kind of makes all that blatant hitting on her pointless.”<br/>
<br/>
You squirm a little. “I wasn’t hitting on her,” you mutter, embarrassed. Roxanne’s more pansexual if anything, but you decide now isn’t the time to delve into the finer points of her sexuality. <i>Good,</i>, a thought swells up from the band, <i>because it’s nobody else’s fucking business.</i> “Anyway, Niamh isn't an option. She doesn’t really hang around with the wealthier kids, mostly keeps with a geeky inner circle, talking about old retro games.”<br/>
<br/>
“She sounds cool,” Caleb says. “Wonder why we’ve never crossed paths before. Sounds like a bust for a disguise, though. Who else?”<br/>
<br/>
You shrug and focus. “All right. Ophelia Wilmot. Sporty, kinda-outdoorsy type. Roxanne doesn’t know much about her, except she seems pretty tight with a lot of the girls. She’s definitely more connected than the first two, although… do we think those three assholes would have switched into girls?”<br/>
<br/>
“Why not?” Dylan says with a grin. “You did.”<br/>
<br/>
You flush with embarrassment a little. “I don’t think they would, though. So far, we know they targeted two guys, Rory Bynum and this Marius Hall.”<br/>
<br/>
“All right, so who hangs out with them?” Caleb says. You concentrate and think.<br/>
<br/>
“Brandon Masterson,” you say firmly. <i>Fucking asshole.</i> Roxanne’s distaste for him leaves a thick coating of bile in the back of your throat. “Spends half of his life pushing weights, the other half talking about digital currency. Some trust fund tool who lives up in that estate with all the stupid English names.”<br/>
<br/>
“Sounds like Charles’ kind of douche,” Caleb offers. “Could be a good way in?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah. Let’s see who else… Ken…” you laugh. “Ken Zero? Really? That’s the guy’s name?” you shake your head. “OK, Zero’s basically a drama dork, nice enough but pretty hooked into the gossip scene. Roxanne mostly avoids him because he’s a little… OK, more than a little… extra. Definitely someone you could replace without suspicion, though, as he’s always sticking his nose into shit.”<br/>
<br/>
You take a breath, clearly your thoughts. “Final candidate is Megan Jones.” Your vision swims of a dark-skinned girl, with hair in tight braids, wearing thick-rimmed glasses. “Kind of a classroom lawyer,” you say. “She’s local, but I think she’s there on an academic bursary. Totally political, young Democrat, pretty formidable, too.” Surprisingly, you feel Roxanne’s antipathy for her in your mind. <i>Good peep at heart, though she’s sharp-tongued as hell. The problem with Megan is she’s too focused on appearing to be righteous,</i> Roxanne says. <i>She’s not a devil-spawned bitch like fucking Steiner. She’s just had to fight her whole life for this shot, and isn’t going to throw it away.</i><br/>
<br/>
You decide to stop picking Roxanne’s mind. Megan Jones; Brandon Masterson; Gabriel Santos; Ophelia Wilmot; Ken Zero.<br/>
<br/>
Five candidates. Five lives. Five ways into Xavier’s.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112211122322
author_id: masktrixie
title: Prepare To Be Boarded
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“One of the boarders is the best bet,” you say, delving through Roxanne’s memories as you categorize a likely person to make a switch with. “They all stay up in something called Founders Hall, like the goddamn X-Men. It’ll let me keep an eye on things 24 hours a day, while you two get masks ready. Then we can jump them all at once.” Roxanne's thoughts bristle at the mutant comparison... but admits it's accurate.<br/>
<br/>
“Sounds like a plan,” Caleb acknowledges. “Living in the lap of luxury up there?”<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. “Nah, it’s a boarding school but there are still rules. Strict no-tolerance policy for alcohol or contraband, although everyone ignores it. Set meal times, dress codes, all that shit. Roxanne’s never been up to the dorms, but unless you’re a prefect, everyone has a room mate.”<br/>
<br/>
“You said prefect earlier," Dylan interjects. "What, exactly, are they? Like a hall monitor?"<br/>
<br/>
“Urgh, yeah, like a hall monitor on steroids,” you say, eyes almost glazing over as Roxanne’s did when she had to learn the history of the place. “I told you, they operate some dumb student honor system. It’s the prefects that are in charge of running it, two for each ‘house’ – a kind of inter-school competition deal. Two of them, Lucas and Kate, Roxanne likes. Marius she doesn’t deal with. The other three are bad news. One’s some kind of military-grade martinet, and the other two, Abi and Todd, are Gary Chen levels of bad news.” You blanche a little at the thought of either of them. “The fifth and sixth forms, uh, the juniors and seniors, they are dormed in the main building, Founder’s Hall. Then you’ve got New Hall, the school itself, a fucking boathouse…”<br/>
<br/>
“OK, we didn’t ask for a tour,” Caleb says. “The uber-rich are rich. Who’d make a good swap? And how, exactly, are you going to get your ass up there?”<br/>
<br/>
You nod, and concentrate. “OK, OK. Hmm. So, we don’t actually need to get up there. A bunch of the students spend their weekends in town on day passes – something called an exeat. Plus, being a Catholic school, they also bus down the choir to the cathedral for services. Might be able to swap with one of them there.”<br/>
<br/>
“All right, so what’s the plan, Will?”<br/>
<br/>
You furrow your brow. “Well, with the choir, it’s cut across the entire school. It’d be pretty easy to switch with a student from a lower grade – uh, form. That might be a good option, as they’d never expect it. It’s also the best chance to get one of the prefects, who are in the choir or helping supervise. The risk… is they’re also likely to be the people those three assholes have replaced.”<br/>
<br/>
“Best avoid them, then,” Caleb says. “Who else is an option?”<br/>
<br/>
“Uh… some kid called Scott Ricci. He’s kind of a prankster, always goofing around. He and his group – plus their girlfriends – are always wasting time in town on Sundays. Should be easy to switch with one of them. We’re not going to be able to plan exactly who, though; it kind of depends who’s hanging around.”<br/>
<br/>
“Whoever it is, they’ll all be in the same social circle, though,” Caleb opines. “Doesn’t really matter, given we’re just using their face temporarily.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, it’s the difference between wearing boxers or a bra,” Dylan laughs. “Might as well be in a body you’ll like if you’re going full undercover.”<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks for that helpful observation,” you say sarcastically. Although, having been Eva Garner, you’re curious what a week as a girl might be like. You close your eyes, and scour Roxanne’s mind. “There’s two other options. The first is…” you pinch your nose, a vague memory of Roxanne’s tickling the edge of your consciousness. “There’s a bunch of sixth formers… seniors… who do hospital visits sometimes. Kind of an extra credit thing, add it to their resume to look good for college applications? It’s for the kids who want to go pre-med. I don’t know if it’s happening tomorrow, though, or even what time. Roxanne doesn’t do it, and it’s only this… kind of vague memory.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’d make a switch easy, though,” Caleb says. “Someone unconscious at a hospital? Nobody’s going to think twice. We’d need to figure out when, exactly, the Xavier’s students’d be there, though.”<br/>
<br/>
“Too vague,” Dylan counters. “What’s the other option?”<br/>
<br/>
“That’d mean heading out tonight,” you say. “A couple of the kids do this ‘local boarding’ thing, where they go home at the weekends, stay at school for the rest of the week. Chances are, we could find one of them at the Warehouse. If we make a switch with one of them, we get the best of both worlds. I can stay at the school Monday to Saturday, meet up with you guys on the weekends.”<br/>
<br/>
“You mean Monday to Friday,” Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
“Nah-uh,” you say. “They have <i>Saturday school</i>. Kind of personal development shit.”<br/>
<br/>
Caleb doesn’t respond, simply blows out his cheeks at the idea. “Well, that’s definitely an option, then. It's getting late, though, we'd need to do it quick. What do you think we should do? You’re the one going undercover.” </span></div></div>


path: 111231221211122111223222
author_id: masktrixie
title: Jokers Wild
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“All right, dickhead. Talk.”<br/>
<br/>
“Fuck you!” the face of Zachary Holzer spits back. “I ain’t saying a goddamn thing.”<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns to you, and beckons. You nod. “Start treating Caleb and Dylan here as your friends,” you say quietly. Holzer gives you a look, but then his face contorts into a warm smile. <br/>
<br/>
“Sure,” he says, turning to Caleb. “I’m sorry, man. You know I’m just messin’, right?”<br/>
<br/>
Seeing as how you decided not to act until tomorrow, it gives you a little time to interrogate the golem and set it off on its way. If you’re right with how the magic works, the golem – even with the face of Zachary Holzer – is going to obey you. And as long as Charles Whitney doesn’t try and remove its mask, he’s likely going to think it’s still his puppet.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks at you and nods. “So, you going to talk, or what?” he asks the golem. Holzer looks at you. <br/>
<br/>
“About what? The book? Wow, that’s a mind-bender, right?”<br/>
<br/>
“About the corpse!”<br/>
<br/>
“Whoa, whoa! What? What the hell are you talking about?” he suddenly looks alarmed. “Wait, is that what that spell did? Holy f... I didn’t know! I swear! Charlie said it’d just hypnotize ‘em or something…”<br/>
<br/>
“Quiet,” you say very softly. The golem obeys you almost instantly. “Just start off with what happened when you took the book.”<br/>
<br/>
And so the golem tells you. The initial disbelief at what had happened; how Charles took charge instantly. How he’d already been taking Latin classes, so took the book with him. The purchase of supplies to make a mask. And then the discussion about what to do with them. How he – at least Zachary – had suggested using an industrial buffer to start speeding the process up, and… <br/>
<br/>
“Crud, that’s brilliant,” Caleb interrupts. “Also, bad news if they’ve started mass-producing them. Never mind two or three masks, they could have made…”<br/>
<br/>
“Five,” Holzer confirms. “And we were planning on making more. Then… honestly, I got nothing. I remember putting the mask on so I could replace someone at Charlie-boy’s school, then next thing I know I was getting dressed at his place. Told me to forget I’d ever heard of the masks, just head back to my place.”<br/>
<br/>
“Shit,” you say, rolling your eyes. “Looks like they made their masks before making the switch. Prepared in advance.”<br/>
<br/>
“Smart,” Dylan says. “Saves time, means they don’t have multiple bodies on the floor ‘n’ shit while everyone’s out cold.”<br/>
<br/>
“Fine,” you say, turning to the golem. “So who did you plan on replacing?”<br/>
<br/>
“I dunno,” he says. “I told you, I didn’t think Charles was going through with it. He told us the next spell would put someone under our control. Like, instead of makin’ another Charlie, it’d let us put the mask on the person and they’d be under our control. They’d be us, then we’d be them. Kind of like a body swap, only without them grousin’ about getting the raw end of the deal.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, it doesn’t work like that,” you say. “The spell turned this guy, Marius, <i>into</i> a golem.”<br/>
<br/>
“Jesus,” Holzer says, and from his tone of voice you suspect he’s sincere. “Charlie thought it’d just let us switch, with no one knowing. He had this plan. I got Rory in the lockers, so he’d have an identity if he ever wanted to slide into Eastman. The plan was for all three of us to switch into kids at Xavier’s. Rich kids, y’know? Could get away with anything. That was step one.”<br/>
<br/>
“And what was step two?” Caleb asks. The golem shrugs.<br/>
<br/>
“What the hell do you think, doofus?” he says. “Xavier’s is a launchpad to being rich and famous. Once we had the school, we were one switcharoo away from money. And I don’t mean Saratoga Falls money. I mean <i>Fuck you</i> money. Sportscars, supermodel girlfriends, houses in the Bahamas money. Charles had it all laid out, said he was gonna take care of me ‘n’ Ethan.”<br/>
<br/>
“Great,” you sigh. “So you have no idea who Charles was planning on disguising you as?”<br/>
<br/>
Holzer shrugs. “Nah, man. I mean, Ethan told him he wasn’t queer, didn’t want to spend his life trapped with a pair of tits. Ha! Told him it was less gay than playin’ with another man’s junk all day. I said I wasn’t fussy, as long as I was rich and, y’know, as good looking as the original version. Guy or a girl, it was a different body, new life. Kind of open to new experiences, right? I’m not gay or anything either, but…” he smirks again. “Lesbians are hot.”<br/>
<br/>
“What about Roxanne?”<br/>
<br/>
“Who? Oh, the chick you were with? What about her? Charlie said it’d be a waste of space dealin’ with her. I mean, not like we were stickin’ around in our old bodies anyway, what was she gonna do about it?”<br/>
<br/>
You eventually tell Holzer to get back to whatever he was doing, only with a twist. If Charles Whitney contacted him, he’d pretend to do whatever ‘Charlie’ wanted. And then he’d text you exactly what was going down.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
You’re feeling only slightly less queasy the next day. You all agreed it was best to leave the book somewhere Charles Whitney didn’t know about, resulting in Dylan agreeing – if reluctantly – to babysit the book and what you presume is the corpse of Marius Hall in the old elementary school. You returned home, but if you thought dreams would come easily after your marathon late-night session on Friday, you were kidding yourself. Thoughts of the stone-cold, stone-dead corpse haunted you right up until 6am, and the spectre of Charles – the guy with the knife you now know is perfectly capable of murder – lingered in your mind.<br/>
<br/>
Sunday morning was tough, too. Your mom almost seemed to have a sixth sense that you were barely paying attention in church, and wouldn’t let you weasel out of basic chores until it was past lunch. It wasn’t until 2pm you managed to meet up with Caleb and Dylan at the elementary school. There, you begin to lay your plans for infiltrating Xavier’s – and chasing after the rogue trio. <br/>
<br/>
An hour later, you’re sat with Caleb in the Crystal Cave, when he gives you a slight kick. “We’re on,” he says.<br/>
<br/>
You glance over. A gaggle of four students, two guys and two girls, have walked in, the girls tucked under two of the guys’ arms. The guys all look thick-as-thieves, talking easily with each other, mischievous smiles on their faces. Of the girls, one is a brunette dressed smartly, a cupid's bow lip of lips puckered out as she concentrates on her phone, thumb texting even as she listens to the conversation, while the other seems to be laughing along with the guys. She’s got dirty blonde hair down to her shoulders, parted in the center, with a cute, round face with features – eyes, nose, mouth – just a little too small. You keep quiet one of the guys saddles up to the counter and places their order. Then, Caleb – equipped with Roxanne’s mind band – fills you in.<br/>
<br/>
“Scott Ricci is the one on the left,” he says, pointing to a guy who seems to be spouting stories left, right and center. “Kind of a class prankster, gets his kicks telling younger kids ghost stories then scaring the bejesus out of them at night. Actually, some of his shit’s pretty funny. The guy going along with it is Sean Ince, smart enough to keep his head down, get lost in the pack. Always present for the fun, never the ringleader. Roxanne doesn’t mind either of them; sometimes their jokes go too far, but mostly they’re just out to have a laugh. Either of ‘em would work.”<br/>
<br/>
“Cool,” you say, trying not to look at them or eavesdrop.<br/>
<br/>
“Unless you want to be a girl,” Caleb continues. “The one under Sean’s arm is Bailey Kinney. Family’s based at Fort Suffolk. Dad’s always on deployment and mom’s on shifts so she boards during the week. She and Roxanne get on pretty well, mainly because Bailey’s unwilling to take any crap. Huh; draws little anime cartoons of everyone. The other girl is…” he lets out a low whistle.<br/>
<br/>
“What?” you say, glancing over.<br/>
<br/>
“Alexis Garnet-Jacobs,” Caleb says, affecting some kind of faux-upper class accent. “Mouthful of a name, but… OK, so Roxanne says she’s fine about half the time, but she’s old money and knows it. You can be talking with her like a human one minute, then she flips and goes hard on the superiority complex.”<br/>
<br/>
“Who’s going to be the best one to look around?” you ask, trying to keep your mind on the task at hand. Caleb sticks out his tongue in thought.<br/>
<br/>
“Hmm… actually, any of them would work. Scott and Sean are involved with all kinds of shit, and they’re always pulling dumb stuff. Perfect cover if you get caught. Scott's always got a plan, but Sean's got the wider circle of groups he hangs around with from time to time. Bailey means you’d be able to keep an eye on Roxanne – they share a few classes together. And Alexis… well. The golem said they were looking to get rich, right? Alexis has got a name that means she can mix with that crowd.”</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212111221112232222
author_id: masktrixie
title: Capturing the Bailey
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“I’ll go for the blonde. Bailey, right?” you say to Caleb, a little nervously. He doesn’t seem to object, just nods as he sips his drink. “Whitney’s gonna know the masks are gone, and it won’t be too long ‘til he puts the squeeze on her. As Bailey I might see who does it.”<br/>
<br/>
“Good thinking,” Caleb agrees. “Plus… boobs.”<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. “Right now, priority’s Whitney. We still don’t know how he damaged the book, either. Might have even ripped out that page deliberately somehow, and he’s still got the sigil to cast spells. We know what he’s capable of.” You think back to that long blade and the threat of losing an eye. <br/>
<br/>
“Just…” Caleb places a hand on your shoulder. “Stay safe, man, OK? If you need to run, then go. I’ll keep working on stuff, keep an eye on the new-you and Holzer. Plus keep the book safe.”<br/>
<br/>
You nod. You’ve already prepared the masks, with the William Martin Prescott identity containing Caleb’s hair for control. The other is still blank, just waiting for a new life. “It’s all you, Caleb. Just don’t make ‘me’ do anything stupid.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, you’re totally going to streak next football game,” he says with a grin. “Plus maybe it’s time for you to act on that crush you’ve always had on Yumi.”<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t. You. Dare.” <br/>
<br/>
He grins, before tapping you on the arm. The blonde girl has stood up from the group, and is heading toward the bathroom. The place isn’t that crowded on a Sunday, so you know no one else will be in there. “Show time, dude.”<br/>
<br/>
You stand up, Will mask in your rucksack, the blank and its slight blue sheen in your hand, and walk over. You cast a nervy glance back to make sure no one’s watching, then slip into the bathroom after her. It’s an old door, one still with a lock, and as quietly as possible, you turn it, lock engaging. There’s a light hum from one of the stalls, and quietly you edge toward it. This all feels so wrong… and yet what option do you have?<br/>
<br/>
You hear the stall door open. You poise, ready with the mask as a head bobs into view. In an instant, you push forward with your hand… only for something to knock you back with ferocious energy. A second blow hits, and you find yourself hurtling to the floor in a blur. You hit hard, the mask skidding out of your grip, even as a pulsing agony begins to echo through your jaw. Dazed, you look up, to see the blonde girl, eyes full of fury, look down at you, her arm swinging into the air as she follows through on her blow. <br/>
<br/>
She doesn’t hesitate. “Goddamn pervert!” she yells, driving her heel hard into your stomach. You double over. She moves like lightning, kick after kick. <br/>
<br/>
<i>Holy shit I’ve picked a fight with a ninja!</i> <br/>
<br/>
The girl pauses, blows her hair out of her face, and looks at you, fists still scrunched up in perfect form. She must have seen you and landed the first jab the moment you tried something, then a second out of pure muscle memory. “What you think you’re trying, you goddamn creep? Skulking in the ladies’ with your Halloween mask? Do I look like a punk to you?”<br/>
<br/>
You groan, searching for an explanation as you writhe on the floor. This is bad on so many levels. Not only are you not going to be able to make the switch… she’s going to expose everything! You’ve got no reason to be in the girls’ toilets! You’re going to go to prison, end up on some kind of watch list, the magic’s going to be exposed and Charles Whitney is going to do whatever nefarious scheme he had planned!<br/>
<br/>
“Well?” The girl says, hands moving to her hips. A confident swagger; she knows she can kick the crap out of you at any moment. “What you got to say for yourself, freak?”<br/>
<br/>
“I… sorry…” you manage to groan. She narrows her eyes, making a <i>pfffffttt</i> from her lips as she steps away for a moment.<br/>
<br/>
“Tell it to the cops,” she says, fishing out her phone, finger swiping to unlock it. “Not that they’re gonna listen. What, you thought you’d get a quick feel and run off, pervert? Well, you sure picked the wrong girl. My dad showed me how to deal with punks like you a long time ago.” She bends down and picks up the mask. “And what’s this? Protect your identity, huh?” She rolls her eyes, and gives you another kick. It seems to suck the wind out of your lungs. “Ooooh, I’m so scare…”<br/>
<br/>
You look up just in time to watch the girl wave the mask a little too close to her face, only for it to vanish. Her body slumps, then collapses hard against the floor next to you. You roll over and try and gasp for breath again. “Shit,” you just about manage.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
“You took your sweet time,” Sean says as you slide back into the seat. “About to send out a search party.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah, well. Some pervert jumped me, so I had to serve him his own ass on a platter,” you say, casually enough that no one takes it seriously, watching the new Will Prescott head back to Caleb. “Girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”<br/>
<br/>
“Amen to that,” Alexis says, nodding. “Don’t need a knight in shining armor when you’ve got the moves.” She mimes a weak karate chop. It’s nothing compared with the true asswhupping the genuine Bailey Elizabeth Kinney (according to the mask) delivered minutes ago.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, I know well enough not to mess with either of you,” Sean says, finishing his drink. “Besides, think I left my armor at home. Though! Hey, that might work for screwing with some of the newbies. Gotta be a suit of armor in the drama prop cupboard. Go clanking around at night.”<br/>
<br/>
Scott Ricci gives a shake of the head. “Nah, man. How many ghost stories about the place are we gonna make stick? Whole point of freaking out the first formers is they’ve got to buy into the story. Ghost of a car, or a dead lil’ sick girl on rollerskates? You can sell that. A freakin’ knight in full plate? Hell, America wasn’t even colonized then.”<br/>
<br/>
“Like you’re an expert on American history,” Sean says.<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t even take that dull-ass shit. But my grades suggest I’m a solid 3.5 student, which is more than I need for a decent pre-law.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah, and it’s pretty much an open secret you aren’t the one writing the assignments that push you up there,” you chip in, fixing him with a look. <i>Scott and half the boys in the school get Davina Macklin to write their essays – for a price. Suckers.</i> “You deal with Macklin, you’re dealing with the devil.”<br/>
<br/>
“Chill, Bailey,” Scott says. “Actually, some shit I’m just good at. I only go to Macklin when I’m struggling. Y’know, augment my average a little. Thought you’d have figured it out by now – everything at Xavier’s is dealing with the devil. You deal with Baldwin or Abi to keep your stash. You deal with Macklin for your grades. And sometimes you just have to deal with Reeves ‘cause there’s <i>always</i> an asshole like Reeves.”<br/>
<br/>
It’s a flurry of names that you somehow feel intimately familiar with. Bailey Kinney is somewhere in the comfortable middle of the school hierarchy: high enough not to get bugged, low enough not to be scrambling for the crown. Mostly, she gets a free pass from everyone. “I never had a problem with Dalton,” you say, referring to Dalton Reeves, a prefect like Marius – and a complete stickler for rules.<br/>
<br/>
“That’s ‘cause Dalton’s got a fetish for anything even remotely military,” Sean says. “Fact you live on base probably gives him a hard-on.”<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t live on base,” you retort, your mind filling you in. Bailey Kinney is from a military family. She ended up everywhere from the West Coast to Germany as a kid, and when her parents gave her the chance of some stability she grabbed at it. While her family is nominally based out of Fort Suffolk, her parents vanish so often boarding at Xavier’s just seemed an obvious choice, paid for by the military. It’s one Bailey is more than happy with. “I live at the school, same as you. Speaking of, I better go back to the Fort for my ride.”<br/>
<br/>
“You can always come back to school with us, y’know, next time,” Sean says, leaning in for a kiss. It feels weird, so you push him off lightly.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah, but that’d mean dragging all my clothes, books, whatever into town. No thank you. Besides, Uncle Sam puts on a free bus, your tax dollars at work. And I should reeeeaaally get back, do that assignment for Monsieur Kienast… I’ll see you goofs Monday.”<br/>
<br/>
You stand up and head out, walking to where the shuttle to the base leaves from a few blocks away. Bailey’s folks won’t be home, and she’s already finished her assignments. But in your rush you barely had a chance to look at the life you’ve just stepped into… and you need to get it straight in your head before you head into the lion’s den. <br/>
<br/>
Somewhere at Xavier’s, three guys are pretending to be three other people. One of them is faking it as head boy Marius Hall. The other two you’re going to have to smoke out somehow. You could always put some feelers out now, use Bailey's network of friends to see if anyone has been acting weird. Or, you can bide your time, get comfortable in your new skin, and wait until you reach Xavier's.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112211122322222
author_id: masktrixie
title: Give Us a Clue
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Mom, I’m home!” you step inside the modest house, one of many identical homes in an identical street on the edges of Fort Suffolk, and listen to the resonating silence. Nope, she must be on duty. <i>Hey, honey, how was your day? Oh, fine, I got jumped in a bathroom and switched bodies with a total stranger, now he’s using me as a puppet, you?</i> Bailey’s inner monologue drips with sarcasm. Satisfied nobody’s in, you grab a hot pocket from the freezer, stick it in the microwave, and walk up to her – your – bedroom as you devour it to take a closer look at your new life.<br/>
<br/>
You didn’t get much of a chance to look at Bailey during the switch. You were too busy grabbing your breath back, then recovering from the sense of brief nausea that hit as you tried to balance two thoughts in your head while you scrambled to get dressed, all while a second Will Prescott talked to you (yikes, that was weird). So, once your dinner is over you walk over to the mirror, and look at the girl in front of you, body swathed in a white wool-knit deliberately three sizes too large. Brushing the shoulder-length hair of the way – blonde tendrils and dark roots, you tilt your head, trying to work out her best features. Her face is triangular, with a wide jaw and too small a mouth, combined with small teeth that proved a nightmare for her orthodontist. A relatively strong nose, then eyes that are either fierce or bashful with little leeway in between.<br/>
<br/>
You tilt your head to the side, lick away an errant dab of tomato paste from the corner of your mouth, and give a slight smile. You can work with this. Bailey’s room is barely furnished – she only spends two nights a week here – so aside from a few childhood stuffed toys and her summer wardrobe, almost everything else is at Xavier’s. You walk over to her desk, pulling out her sketchpad, which she deliberately keeps away from school. It’s a project she loves, but one that might reflect badly on some of her fellow students. And at Xavier’s, either of those things can hurt your social capital.<br/>
<br/>
The opening page is a complex wimmelbilder, an insanely detailed piece she’s been working on for two months, creating anime cartoons of her entire year. They are all deliberately simplified figures with a few exaggerated features. Scott and Jared, for example, are gleefully preparing to tip water over Travis’ head, as he strides around with a guitar strumming to himself. Davina Macklin, Vee, is depicted as a figure with dark hair, narrow head and sharp, beak-like features with a single eyebrow, like a wicked witch of the west, while next to her Abi Steiner is smiling sweetly, commanding a small group of idiots, her eyes depicted as swirling hypnotic spirals. Half the year is still missing, including Roxanne. So you take a seat, get out a 2B pencil, and get to work. It’s a slow, methodical, meditative process. But it helps you settle comfortably into the mind of your new body. An hour later, a caricature of an indie girl with short-cut hair is present, vinyls under one arm, other stretched out to give the finger to… well. They haven’t been drawn in yet. But Bailey Kinney has a few ideas who might fit the slot.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
“Hello Bailey.”<br/>
<br/>
“Old Bailey.”<br/>
<br/>
“Motte and Bailey.”<br/>
<br/>
“Bayleaz ankoffee.”<br/>
<br/>
You look at the grinning gaggle of Brits as you climb into the small bus that’ll shepherd you back to Xavier’s. These cock knockers – two twins and an irritating jerk who can’t even speak English – have been trying to get under your skin since they arrived at the start of term. With a weary shake of the head, you reach over and clout the nearest over the head with a glancing slap, before swinging your sports bag straight at the head of another on the opposite side of another. <br/>
<br/>
“Boys,” you say, emphasising their childishness as you climb on through. Up at the back, there are two other kids, a second former and a third former, who keep quiet as you slip into a seat and fasten your belt. The engine starts a moment later, and you pull out your phone, scrolling through the messages that ping back and forth in the girls’ groups. You’re in several now; one that’s just titled St X Girlz, and seems to have been a mix of whoever Corinne Kennedy thought to include that day; another for the tennis team (mostly about meetings, given you want as little to do with Abi Steiner or Hope O’Malley as possible), Scott Ricci’s group; Scott Ricci’s secret group; and one for the study group you’re in. You flick through the messages as the bus pulls out of the fort, and begins its tedious journey out across Van Dief County toward Lattyville, then up the ’44 toward the school. You can’t help but break character a little and bob your head up as you arrive, passing through a gatehouse and down a twisting road, before a clutch of buildings emerge through the trees. The largest, oldest and the one that casts the most dramatic shadow, is Founders’ Hall. <br/>
<br/>
<i>Home, sweet home</i> you muse as you step off the bus, sling your sports bag over shoulders and head inside. For Bailey, this is business as usual; for you, it’s a startling change. The whole place looks like a country estate – mainly because it was – complete with battlements, wood-panelled walls and an overriding sense of stuffiness. The reception has a trophy cabinet, along with a wooden panel with names etched in gold of head boys for each year. Across the corridor, one of the lower form students walks out of the library with Catan under his arm, and your Bailey brain tells you chances are Scott or someone you know will be in the games room playing pool. <i>Library. Billards room. Hall.</i> You half expect to head up to your room and find Mr Boddy, bludgeoned by Mrs Peacock with the lead pipe.<br/>
<br/>
The reality is far less exciting. Coming up the stairs, you almost walk into a blonde girl coming down, but she backs off immediately, avoiding eye contact. Frances Washington, your mind tells you – who arrived after doing something at her previous school. So far, she’s barely spoken to anyone.<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks,” you comment, only to get no reply as she scurries off. <i>Hard to believe she gave her teacher a blow job, according to Scott. Although he’s always full of shit.</i> You instead make your way to G6, opening the door to reveal Corinne – your roommate – on her bed, phone out, legs crossed. She gives you a toothy smile of greeting as you sling your bag down. <br/>
<br/>
“Hey,” she says. “How was your weekend?”<br/>
<br/>
“Usual,” you say, falling back onto your cot. The room’s tidy and well-kept, although you’ve both got a few pieces of contraband kept around. None of it’s yours, though – you’re holding it for Sean, Corinne for Mary Occam, the leader of her group. “How ‘bout you? Get out at all?”<br/>
<br/>
“No,” she says. “Nothing on at the cinema, just some horror movie. Mary didn’t want to do much.”<br/>
<br/>
“That’s not like her, thought she always had a plan.” Glancing back through Bailey’s memories, she vaguely recalls Mary being a little unlike herself earlier in the week. Could it be someone swapped with her? Or maybe she was just having a bad day. <br/>
<br/>
Corinne grins toothily for a moment, then shrugs. She’s usually pretty quiet in person – it’s one of the reasons Bailey likes having her as a roommate – but she’s not going to be a good source for information. And that’s really what you need right now; someone to give you some kind of lead. It’s still relatively early in the evening, about 8pm, so you’ve got time to explore the building and go knocking on a few doors before lights out.<br/>
<br/>
Leaning back on your bunk, you stare at the ceiling and flick through Bailey’s mind as to who that might be. First, you delve into Bailey’s mind to see if there are any suspects. None spring to mind, so you turn to your options, instead. First up are the gossips: Hallie Lamb knows who’s dating who, what everyone’s up to and probably where they rank in the invisible school social hierarchy at any point. Yet, while she’s a gossip, she’s also discreet enough when someone needs a secret to be kept. A better bet for someone to pump for information is Tammy-Lynn Acker, a snoop and blabbermouth who wouldn’t be able to keep a secret if you offered her a thousand dollars (not that Bailey has that kind of cash, although enough people in the school probably could get it). The problem with Tammy-Lynn is that <i>everyone</i> knows she’s a snitch. Although maybe Zachary and Ethan wouldn’t…<br/>
<br/>
Alternatively, going out to find Scott and Sean might be a good lead. Both keep and ear to the ground in case of dorm sweeps, and Scott bunks with Rob Hitch, another Saratoga local who boards at weekends like Bailey. Rob’s on the football team, though, and likes nothing more than to talk about the ups and downs of training (a subject that bores Bailey to tears). Marius is the quarterback, so you know the football team is already infiltrated. If you could force your new persona to listen, Rob might let something slip that gives you a clue as to who you’re looking for.<br/>
<br/>
“You OK?” Corinne asks, glancing over. <br/>
<br/>
“Huh?” you ask, turning your head.<br/>
<br/>
“You haven’t moved in half an hour,” she says. “Usually you’re doing something. Even when you’re not doing something. Something up?”<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. “No,” the answer comes. “But you’re right, I only came up to dump my stuff. I’ll be back in a while.”</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211122111223222221
author_id: masktrixie
title: The Bleating of the Lamb
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Hallie’s your best option, you decide. Tammy-Lynn is sure to tell someone else that you’ve been asking about what’s going on at school, and you can’t risk that getting back to Charles Whitney in some way.  Scott, Sean, Rob, meanwhile – and probably Jared van Camp, given he’s rarely away from the first two for long – are just as likely to divert the subject. With Hallie, you can always hone in on what you want to know… and it’s unlikely at least two of the replacements are girls, she’s almost certainly not one of them. <br/>
<br/>
You head out of your room, down toward the showers. Hallie drew one of the better room assignments at the start of the year (along with, to the surprise of no one, Mary, who got a window room with Samantha Tait). Her room mate is Alyssa Erikson, a girl who’d love to be a real-life Nancy Drew, or Lois Lane, or Rory Gilmore, or anyone who investigates and reports. Alyssa has a disability that requires a little more space, meaning that she and Hallie have the largest room in the school; the kind of solo space usually only prefects can expect. You give the door a light tap and, a few moments later, it opens.<br/>
<br/>
“Bailey Kinney,” Alyssa says, already in her pajamas, bouncing a little. “What brings you to our cave of wonders at this time of night?”<br/>
<br/>
“Hey!” you say, smiling. Alyssa’s pretty friendly, if a little eager for her scoops. Together, what she and Hallie know about the school isn’t worth knowing… although Bailey’s closer to the latter. “Just swingin’ by to see Hallie.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh,” Alyssa says, with a pause, and a quick, serious look of warning to you – not against the idea, but of what’s to come. “Uh, of course. Hey, Hallie. You have a visitor.”<br/>
<br/>
You step inside, seeing Hallie curled up on her bed, watching what looks like some teen romance on her iPad. Her hair is a mess, her nose running, her eyes red and puffy. <i>Ah, crap</i> your Will mind goes, knowing instantly the signs of a teenage girl in distress. Your Bailey reaction is slightly different: <i>Tell me who did this and I will end them.</i><br/>
<br/>
“Heeeeeey,” Hallie says, the words drawling out of her mouth along with a sniff, her voice quiet and trembling. “Bailey… are you… what’s up?”<br/>
<br/>
You step inside, Alyssa sinking onto her own cot as you walk over. Instinctively, you stoop down a little, taking a knee to bring you to eye level with the girl almost curled into her duvet. “Never mind what’s up with me,” you say. “Are you OK? What’s happened?”<br/>
<br/>
Hallie’s lips vibrate for a moment, quivering as it seeks the words. She’s curled away from you, so you reach over and, lamely, put a hand on her foot. It feels ridiculous, but also a little sweet. Finally, she finds the words.<br/>
<br/>
“JOHNNY BROKE UP WITH ME.”<br/>
<br/>
You pat her foot again. Still feels ridiculous, but somehow it helps. This feels like a complete dead end in your investigation, but if you’re going to maintain your Bailey cover you’re stuck with being a good friend to this girl. Johnathan Court is a ruggedly handsome member of the basketball team, the tallest in the year and one of the rowers along with Todd Baldwin. He’s pretty high up in the school social hierarchy, and – unusually – Bailey has absolutely no idea what his parents do, or how wealthy he is. You shuffle onto the bed, and Hallie lets you come, this time muffling her face with a pillow. <br/>
<br/>
“Oh, girl,” you mutter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know…” <i>don’t ask… don’t ask… </i> “What happened?”<br/>
<br/>
The puffy, reddened face of Hallie emerges. “I don’t know! He was fine on Tuesday, we were snuggling and, y’know. Said we were going to meet up the next night, and he stood me up. Then we barely spoke until Saturday, totally ghosted me. Then after lunch, he said that we weren’t working out and that was that and it was over. He didn't even say why.” She bursts into tears again, and curls up. <br/>
<br/>
You sigh, and pat her again. Bailey’s natural instinct is to go and kick him in the nuts, and you realize it’s your best option at extricating yourself from the situation. You let her fire grow behind her eyes, and square your jaw. “Didn’t he…” you mutter quietly. “Didn’t. He.” You rise. Hallie’s mouth just flaps, while you give her a firm nod. “Well, just let me see about that.”<br/>
<br/>
“No, Bailey, just…”<br/>
<br/>
“You do what you need to do,” you say. “But you’re my friend, Hallie. I got you.” You walk out, only for a small voice to catch you as you leave. <br/>
<br/>
“Bailey, wait…”<br/>
<br/>
You turn. Alyssa’s there, door closed. “Look, don’t do anything, all right?”<br/>
<br/>
“Johnathan Court is a big boy,” you retort, “he can handle himself.”<br/>
<br/>
“No,” Alyssa says, stepping closer. “I think it’s more complicated than that. I think Johnathan hasn’t really been interpreting the relationship in the same way as Hallie, if you get what I mean.”<br/>
<br/>
You feel your heart thud. <i>Boy, do you. This is a reverse Lisa situation.</i> “Oh,” you say, cooling down a little. <br/>
<br/>
“Yeah,” Alyssa says. “I’ll keep an eye on her tonight. She’ll be OK. What did you want to see her about, anyway? Something I could help with?”<br/>
<br/>
You shrug, visibly letting your faux frustrations cool. “Nah,” you say. “Just angling for the latest news, y’know.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, I’ve got a report in the paper on how the Old Xavians meeting went, plus I did some research at the county records office and have a report on the real traffic situation between here at Saratoga Falls. Let’s just say road works are imminent.”<br/>
<br/>
“Actually I meant…”<br/>
<br/>
“Gossip,” Alyssa grins. “Like, how Niamh’s off to the UK for a week in November because it looks like she might get a place at Cambridge?”<br/>
<br/>
“Holy shit, really?” you say, not caring in the slightest but knowing Bailey would.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, I got the good stuff. How Marius flubbed the plays in practice this week, ended up throwing the ball and hitting Glen in the head? Or even yesterday, how I saw Marius and Lucas fighting, and <i>Abi</i> of all people breaking them up.”<br/>
<br/>
“Fighting about what?” you ask, leaning in. Alyssa shrugs, then leans close herself with a smile.<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t know. But Lucas seemed pretty upset, and Marius didn’t know why. You know how cool Lucas usually is, unless something really bugs him. Well, this really bugged him.”<br/>
<br/>
“Whoa,” you say. Lucas Tanner, another of the prefects, just leapt to the top of your suspects list. You can’t help but wonder what his problem with Marius was… or with whoever was masquerading as Marius. <br/>
<br/>
“Told you I got the goods,” Alyssa says with a smirk. She leans on the doorframe for support. “Anyhoos, this corridor’s freezing. I’ll catch you in class tomorrow. And don’t worry about Hallie. I’ll keep an eye on her.”<br/>
<br/>
You nod. “Thanks, Alyssa.”<br/>
<br/>
“Anytime.”<br/>
<br/>
You turn and walk away, relatively defeated but with a few names to investigate. It might be worth probing a little further and working out why Marius and Lucas were arguing with each other. Bailey’s mind tells you Lucas Tanner is probably the most laid-back prefect in the school, so it’s out of character for him to do anything heated. Now you think about it, you’re also curious about Johnny Court’s apparent memory loss and sudden change of heart with Hallie – it seems pretty suspicious. Either thread, though, is going to require patience and time. The smartest course of action still seems just to sink into Bailey Kinney’s life and identity, enjoy being this girl for a week (or however long it takes Caleb to make more masks, given you now know about that weird buffer trick) and scope out Xavier’s from the inside.<br/>
<br/>
But maybe you don’t have to be so patient.<br/>
<br/>
In an ideal world, you figure as you head back your room, pausing in the doorway to let Mathilde Ambard past on her way into her own chambers, you could just get Marius Hall alone, remove the mask and discover which one of the three has replaced him. The problem is that unless you can do it subtly, the unmasked person is going to know you’ve replaced Bailey – and then it’ll be three-on-one. Or, you consider, perhaps three-on-two. As Bailey, you could approach Roxanne and ask for her assistance. Together, you’d stand a better chance and, assuming the trio haven’t got any more masks, there’d be little they could do to stop you.<br/>
<br/>
Or, you figure, perhaps you could really throw a spanner in the works and move much faster. You’re pretty certain that ‘Charles Whitney’ is really some unfortunate under a golem-mask, too. You could always ambush <i>him</i> instead. That way, two things will happen. First, ‘Charles’ would be absent from school, probably causing the real one to have to scramble to explain his own absence. And, second, you might be able to gain a new ally: the person he replaced. This whole diversion began with two Charles Whitneys – what if you could recruit whoever he replaced and work with them to take down the secret invasion?</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212111221112232222213
author_id: masktrixie
title: Let's See Who You Really Are
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Maybe it’s the Bailey inside you – she’s not one to sit back and do nothing – but the more you think about it, the more you’re convinced unmasking the Charles Whitney golem is your best option. Someone is under there, and it seems like they might be a useful ally. To do it, however, you’re going to need an ally of your own. <br/>
<br/>
Bailey’s internal clock snaps her eyes open at 6am sharp, and instinctively you grab her bathrobe and head for the showers. Five minutes of hot, hot water on the back of your neck later, and the tension seems to ebb away as muscles relax. You could tell Caleb about the change of plan, but honestly he’s too far away to affect the outcome, and the last thing you want is a lecture from him on how you’re being irresponsible. Instead, as you towel off, blow dry your hair and put on a little light makeup – the kind that conceals all blemishes while convincing boys you’re not wearing any at all – you decide to leave Caleb out of the operation. And, as you slip into a pleated skirt, crisp white shirt ironed to perfection, straightened tie and a dark green blazer, you’re confident of who you’re going to ask for help. <br/>
<br/>
You take a deep breath, and check yourself in the mirror, Corinne hovering behind you to wait her turn. Bailey Kinney stares back; pretty if not beautiful; confident if not brash; elite if not exclusive. It’s time to take the fight to Whitney. <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
You end up a few seats down from Roxanne in Chapel, the start of the school where the kids are line-marched into a giant school meeting that involves a ‘lesson’, a hymn and general notices. Bailey usually zones out, so you glance around and try and figure out how you’re going to make your move. Roxanne is only a few seats down, in the midst of the group, and while you’re tempted to ask her help you can’t imagine she’d take to you impersonating Bailey very well. Then again, you’re also conscious that you forgot to tell her how your burglary attempt went, so she’s probably worrying about it. Certainly, she looks like she hasn’t slept last night – although whether that has anything to do with the masks or not is impossible to say. You know, however, that if your roles were reversed you doubt you’d be sleeping safe and secure. <br/>
<br/>
At the front of the whole school, behind the house masters and in the choir seats, are the six prefects. Marius – or rather not-Marius – is sat next to Todd Baldwin, with the slighter figure of Kate Gross at the back. Opposite, smiling like an angel, is Abigail Steiner, a girl who Bailey’s mind tells you is nowhere near as nice as she appears. Then it’s Lucas Tanner, who seems to have regained his chilled out persona, and finally, sat bolt upright as if he’s got a stick up his ass, Dalton Reeves. <br/>
<br/>
Afterwards, you fall in with Jack Bright and Eric Murphy, mainly because you share most of your classes together, but also to force you not to try and talk to Roxanne. You’re also trying to resist the urge to contact Caleb and tell him about the change of plan; he’s likely going to try and talk you out of it, and you need every ounce of guts it’ll take to go ahead with it. There’s nothing wrong with the life of Bailey Kinney – in many ways, it’s a complete upgrade to your own – but if you can deal Charles a blow sooner, you’re more than happy to do it. Besides, if Caleb had copied his idea and used some kind of industrial process to make the masks, he should have finished the first one by now. <br/>
<br/>
Class is irritating, although it’s mostly from your Bailey thoughts leaking in. Jack seems to have got a video of <i>someone</i> doing <i>something</i> on Saturday night in Saratoga Falls, but for some reason he’s only passing it around his friends. At first you assumed it was some vile clip of one of the girls finally having fun, but you heard Kelvin ask “what’s he doing?” as he watched, so instead you just allow yourself to be piqued that you’re out of the loop. Second period is art, though, which means you can work on Bailey’s hyper-style anime (<i>manga, it’s shojo manga, at least get it right,</i> Bailey’s mind practically screams) while you work out the best way to do what you’re about to try. The problem is getting Charles Whitney alone for long enough to remove the mask and figure out what to do. The other problem is that he’s an asshole who hangs around with his own clique at school, generally doing little work and disrupting everyone else. The fucker’s always off smoking, too, around the back of the amphitheatre, where the X-Men – the faculty – have made it their business to tacitly ignore it. <br/>
<br/>
And that, you realize, is the perfect place to strike. Bailey’s mind whirs into action, and you begin messaging a few of her friends. Nothing major, but you know Paul Noonan is likely not to go if he thinks it might impress Hannah McMaster, so you get Louise Chipperman to casually mention to him that Hannah’s looking for someone who knows Saratoga Falls to recommend a place for a birthday lunch, knowing he’ll take the bait. Tyler Van Buren is even easier; all you do is mention to Emily Dustal that the girl’s soccer team was looking good, and you knew the team’s ex-captain would be so incensed that she’d need Tyler, Mark and probably a bunch of others to calm her down before fourth period. <br/>
<br/>
And that means, at break, Charles Whitney makes the walk to the amphitheatre all alone. Rather than take Bailey’s books to her locker, you dumped them with Gavin Pace, knowing the farmer’s son would be too polite not to agree to carry them for you. That bought enough time to rush across the back of the school – instinctively skirting around the edges of the master’s lawn, some kind of sacred school rule meaning students can’t walk on it – and rush to the amphitheatre. It’s a strange structure; a Greek semi-circular theatre, stuck straight up at the back of the school toward the Mohegan and the boathouse. Heading around the back, you note the rusted grate door to the ‘catecombs’ – some kind of rabbit warren that used to be an ice cellar, or a storm drain, or a US Army operations shelter during the Cold War, depending on which dumb school legend you believe. It’s the perfect space to drag him down if someone comes. Otherwise, you linger by the wall, standing among the cigarette butts discarded that have slowly turned to compost, and hope you’ve made the right call.<br/>
<br/>
You hear the crunch of footsteps a short time later. Your pulse quickens. Your mouth feels dry. And, for a brief moment, doubt creeps in. What if Whitney’s not on his own? What if he is? Can Bailey Kinney take him on? You really don’t know the answer. You take a deep breath, and, against your better judgment, decide to take a peep.<br/>
<br/>
Charles Whitney is alone. He’s also not stupid. He pauses, looking at you straight in the eyes. But, staring at you, you know he doesn’t see Bailey Kinney. This is a Charles Whitney who knows that appearances can be deceiving; who has teamed up with his own twin to take magic by force. And the glance he gives you means he’s on to you. <br/>
<br/>
You expect him to run. But there’s something on his face that tells you he’s got no intention of doing it. Instead, he smiles slowly. “So it was you,” he says quietly. “Boss is going to love this.”<br/>
<br/>
It throws you for a moment. Did Charles – whoever and wherever he is – not <i>know</i>. He takes a step forward. “What you do with Bailey?”<br/>
<br/>
“She’s safe,” you say, confirming Charles’ thoughts – whoever and whatever is wearing his face. The golem smirks and takes another step forward.<br/>
<br/>
“And what? You thought you were going to confront me?” he says. “I don’t need a knife to deal with a little bitch like whichever of you three it is under there. And I’ve got no problem hitting a girl.”<br/>
<br/>
It’s at this point he charges. He’s like a bull, hard and fast, fists balled up. He’s confident, brash, certain he can use his bulk against you. He’s a football player, and a brief thought flashes through Bailey’s mind that she has no chance against him in a fair fight. <br/>
<br/>
But Bailey Kinney doesn’t have to play fair. So you sidestep and send the fucker crashing into the grate door to the catecombs, instead. He hurls down, and Bailey’s muscle memory urges you to rush forward and kick him, repeatedly. You do so, causing him to slip further, pinning his hand into the metal grating. Bailey’s mind is urging you to keep your ground, stay on your feet and make him hurt. But you know there’s a faster, more magical way to render him useless. You drop to your knees, reaching down and grappling at his forehead as you mumble a now-familiar phrase.<br/>
<br/>
As you say the words, the mask comes free in your hand, the wearer slumping to the floor, face down, unconscious. You glance at the mask instinctively, staring at the lightly floating name inside, and the tell-tale sign it was golemized. Then you look down at the figure, strewn in Charles’ uniform, although it’s looser now. Then, with a heavy breath, pull him up off the grate, slipping his loose arm out of the gap it had fallen through, and turning him over.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh fuck,” you murmur. <br/>
<br/>
It wasn’t who you expected at all.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121112211122322222131
author_id: masktrixie
title: The Man in the Whitney Mask
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You let off a cacophony of very un-Bailey swears as you pace for a moment, wondering what the hell you’re going to do. The grate to the Catacombs seems to be locked, and there’s little else out here that you can lurk behind in case someone comes out except the boathouse in the distance. You decide it’s worth the risk, and stoop down, pulling the slumped, masculine figure up, your right arm around his waist, as you drag him across the grass. You can only hope no one sees as Bailey’s legs buckle and threaten to give, but somehow, with a desperate panting effort, you manage to get to the wooden deck surrounding the structure, and open the unlocked door. <br/>
<br/>
It’s just in time. The boy is beginning to groan and stir as you close the door and turn on the lights, illuminating a large shed stacked with canoes, paddles, piles of rope and life preservers. The eyes of your victim flutter, then grow wide, scrambling back away from you and the mask of Charles Whitney you have in your hand. <br/>
<br/>
“Charlie! Dude! No, dude! Whatever it is, no!”<br/>
<br/>
“Be quiet!” you hiss in Bailey’s fiercest tone. “I’m not Charles Whitney.”<br/>
<br/>
“All right! You’re whoever that girl is… is… that Bailey?Why are you her? Where are we? How long was I out?”<br/>
<br/>
You fold your arms. “I’m not Charles <i>under</i> this girl, either. And if you don’t shut up I’m gonna stick this mask right back on you. And it’s Monday, for the record.”<br/>
<br/>
“Monday? Wha…” The figure on the floor takes a few uneasy breaths to process what you’ve just said. Then his eyes widen, fists tighten, and a wave of anger washes over his features. “That dickwad! He zombied me!” And then he glances up, swallowing hard. “You’re whoever took the book, aren’t you?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah,” you say, sighing. “I’m the guy you three stole it from in the first place.”<br/>
<br/>
And at last, an uneasy sense of cool realization washes over the face of Zachary Holzer.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***<br/>
</div><br/>
Holzer’s story rambles in circles and leaps in time. Moves from Wednesday to Saturday and then back to Monday, before repeating snippets of them all. What you get – more than a coherent narrative – is that he’s scared shitless. And he has every right to be. <br/>
<br/>
At first, Ethan and Zachary had left the book to Charles, laughing about how they could impersonate people at each others’ schools, somehow distract the original, or use someone’s face – like Rory Bynum – to bed the hottest girls that were “too frigid to get with us”. As best you can tell, Zachary and Ethan did the donkey work, getting the grave dirt, while Charles kept the book at arm’s length. Then, Charles decided to make his move, convincing the others that they could actually switch places with someone. The obvious target was Marius Hall, and the trio had jumped him early on Wednesday. As you already know from your own Zachary Holzer golem, Zach had no idea that the spell would kill Marius, or turn Marius into a golem, or <i>whatever happened to him</i>. For Holzer, the magic had crossed a line – moved from fun to murder. He’d tried to back out, but Charles and Ethan had persuaded him continue by letting him be Marius for a while. <br/>
<br/>
“And it was fun, y’know. But then the fucking book went missing! I figured it was probably Charles, this whole shit’s made him mad with power. Told him I wanted out of the game, just wanted to go back to my old life and forget about it. Last thing I knew, he was ripping the mask of Marius off my face. Zombied me, like we did that that other dude.”<br/>
<br/>
<i>Zombied</i>. You assume he’s talking about using the mask to golemize someone. As far as you can tell, he’s been filling in for Charles, unwillingly, for two days. “Yeah, he used a mask of himself on you. You’ve been Charles Whitney for two days.” <br/>
<br/>
“Explains why this shirt reeks of his shit taste in cologne,” Zach grunts.<br/>
<br/>
“Never mind that. What other dude?” you ask. <br/>
<br/>
“Lucas. Lucas Tanner. That’s who Ethan became. ‘Least it was on Saturday, who the fuck knows who he is now, could be anyone. He was suspicious of Charles, too.”<br/>
<br/>
“Which means Charles is now Marius…” you say slowly. “Gosh darn it.”<br/>
<br/>
Zachary’s breathing becomes more regular. “So… I’m getting out of here.” He begins to get up.<br/>
<br/>
You turn and look at him, then glance at Bailey’s watch. With all this chaos, you’ve got three minutes before your next class. “The hell you are! “There’s another Zachary Holzer back in town! And… and…”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m not an idiot!” he snaps back. “Besides, ain’t like you’re going to stop me. I don’t hit chicks, but you aren’t really one.”<br/>
<br/>
“And do what?” you say angrily, trying to think. You aren’t sure you trust Holzer enough to tell him who has the book, or even where Marius is, so you’re not going to give him any more help than necessary.<br/>
<br/>
“Get a room on that roach motel on the south end of town. Get there, then I can work it out.”<br/>
<br/>
“And how do you think you’re gonna do that? Think you’re just gonna, I dunno, walk out the school gates?”<br/>
<br/>
Zach looks at you with a dawning realization that you’re just as deep in this as he is. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a keychain. “I’m wearing Charles’ clothes, right? Which means I have Charles’ car keys. I’ll get back to my place, grab some cash out of my emergency stash, and be gone before zombie-me finishes up school.”<br/>
<br/>
It’s not the worst plan ever. But you’re now down to two minutes to get to Bailey’s classes; you’re going to be late, but only by a hair if you sprint – and Bailey’s mind is confident she can cover the distance, blame it on going to the bathroom and carry on unnoticed. The problem is that it leaves Zachary Holzer free to leave the school however he wants, and decide to <i>do</i> whatever he wants. <br/>
<br/>
You quickly run through your options. There’s no way you can stick the Charles mask on him, and you don’t have any masks spare to knock him out again. That means ‘Charles Whitney’ is going to be noticeably absent from classes, and likely tip off the real Charles – and his confederate Ethan – that you’re present in the school. As Marius Hall and Lucas Tanner, the duo also have more power than you could ever muster in your current guise.<br/>
<br/>
But they have no idea <i>who</i> you are. You could easily hide out as Bailey and stick to the same plan as before, now with Zachary Holzer as a possible ally. Alternatively, you could flee the school with Zach, letting Bailey take the blame for cutting class. It’d burn your current identity, but you could always get another. There’s one last option, too – to try and keep Zachary Holzer close rather than letting him run back to Saratoga Falls and do who-knows-what. All you’d need to do is convince him to stay in the boathouse until lunchtime, and then you’ll have more time to work out what to do.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312212112
author_id: seuzz
title: Go on to Yumi's.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The Saito's front door is answered by a tall, well-built Japanese guy in track pants and a tank top, who you recognize as her older brother: a scary dude you steered clear of when he was a senior at Westside and you were a freshman. You feel Caleb flinch too.<br/>
<br/>
"Is Yumi home," your friend blurts out. His voice is squeaky and, even worse, her name comes out as "Yummy."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe," her brother says in a dead voice. "And who are you jackasses?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're just friends from school," you say. "Er, you're Morita, right? Nice to see you again."<br/>
<br/>
His dark, implacable gaze switches to you. "It's Mokichi," he says. "Pat Morita was the old guy in 'Karate Kid.' Do I look like I know karate?"<br/>
<br/>
Neither "yes" nor "no" would be a good answer, you sense. You're saved from a terrible choice by Yumi's voice. "Is that Lin? Tell her I'll be down in a minute."<br/>
<br/>
Mokichi shouts something back in Japanese without taking his gaze from you. There's the sound of running footsteps, and Yumi appears behind him. Her face shows surprise, and then she smiles. She says something in Japanese to Mokichi and jabs him in the ribs with her elbow as she steps around him.<br/>
<br/>
"Ignore him," she tells you sweetly. "He only <i>thinks</i> he's Godzilla or something." Mokichi glares one last time at you and Caleb and disappears into the house. "So what's up?" Yumi asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh nothing," you say. "Just driving around, got lost, saw your house, thought we'd stop and see if you're in. I mean, I know it's Friday and you've probably got plans, but ..." You trail off hopefully.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," she says brightly. "No biggie. Lin's coming over, in fact, that's all. We were going to see if we could scare up some boys, but nothing serious. You guys'll be perfect." She opens the door wide to usher you in. As you enter, you're not sure whether to be pleased that she's willing to hang out with you or insulted that she thinks you and Caleb aren't "serious" enough for her.<br/>
<br/>
She invites you sit out in the backyard—"Away from any assholes," she says—and excuses herself to finish changing. You wish she wouldn't, because she's still in her cheerleader get up from after-school practice. After she's gone, Caleb starts talking furiously. "We have to get her image when she gets back. Before Lin shows up."<br/>
<br/>
"Easier said than done," you observe. "Her brother's watching us through the kitchen window. No, don't look! Jesus, I forgot about him."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we gotta make some kind of play, and fast."<br/>
<br/>
"And if he looks out here and sees us hovering over his unconscious sister he'll kick our asses to Yokohama or somewhere. Look at 'im. He ain't built like a football player, but I bet he could hit so hard and fast you wouldn't notice your teeth were gone until he picked them up and showed them to you."<br/>
<br/>
"Then maybe we should bail."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't panic. He might leave when Lin gets here."<br/>
<br/>
"But then Lin would be here."<br/>
<br/>
"And Lin's body is almost as sweet as Yumi's. Actually, it could all work out." You wave him to silence as Yumi reappears.<br/>
<br/>
She's changed into jeans and a loose-fitting blouse that does a heart-breakingly good job of hiding all of her curves. "That's a nice outfit," you lie.<br/>
<br/>
"Just old clothes," she shrugs. "I put 'em on when I don't feel like dressing up. Glad you like them, though." You are beginning to wonder if she is intentionally dropping these insults.<br/>
<br/>
The three of you sit on the grass and talk of this and that: school and homework and teachers and bullies. You ask her if Chelsea Cooper is as big of a bitch to her friends as she is to everyone else. Yumi just smiles. It's at that point that Lin Pol arrives.<br/>
<br/>
Lin is also of Asian extraction, but she's taller than the short, bouncy Yumi, with wider hips and bigger boobs. She also wears her hair long and down below her shoulders. If Yumi looks like she'd be a fun and intense fuck, Lin looks like the kind of girl you could slowly and sweetly drown yourself in.<br/>
<br/>
She's as happy to see you as Yumi was, which is to say she seems very sweet and pleasant and complimentary, but she has a disconcerting habit of saying things that seem a little condescending. She seems to go out of her way to ask Yumi if she'll be going to the Halloween party with Paul Davis. Yumi laughs and says he hasn't asked her yet. Lin laughs in turn and teases her about holding out for James Lamont. Yumi says James is more suited for Jenny Ashton and that she's been trying to prod them together. None of these people, who you vaguely know, are A-listers; at best they are only on a level with you and Caleb. It all seems like a conscious effort to put you and your friend in your place.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'll try to put Carson and Dana together," Yumi finally laughs.<br/>
<br/>
Carson must be Carson Ioeger. "Who's Dana?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, she's my cousin. One of them. You don't know her, she goes to Eastman. Dana Pak."<br/>
<br/>
"I have a cousin who's Japanese," you blurt out. "Maybe you know her? She used to go to Eastman. Umeko Prescott."<br/>
<br/>
"Just because she's Japanese doesn't mean I know her," Yumi says in a tone that is just a few degrees cooler than the one she'd been using a moment ago. "Anyway, wouldn't she be half-Japanese with a name like Prescott?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, she's full Japanese. She was adopted by my Aunt Mary and Uncle Scott. Oh, and I didn't mean—"<br/>
<br/>
"I know what you didn't mean," Yumi says. "I'm just teasing you. But I don't know your cousin."<br/>
<br/>
The conversation shifts in another direction, to family, but you drop out, preoccupied. It's been awhile since you've seen Umeko; you've been spending so much spare time with Caleb that you can't remember the last time you hung out with her. It occurs to you that you could use this new mask on <i>her</i> instead; you could get to her more easily than you can to either of these girls.<br/>
<br/>
Oh, but you'd have to share her with Caleb; worse, it would be Caleb wearing her form. You don't like that idea much. It's one thing to fuck Caleb when he looks like a girl you barely know but lust after; it's another to have him wearing a girl who's known you since you were very young, who you've long had a crush on, who taught you how to kiss ...<br/>
<br/>
Yeah, you don't want that.<br/>
<br/>
You shake yourself back to the present when Yumi excuses herself and says she needs to go inside. Caleb catches your eye meaningfully. You ask her if you can get some water, and follow her in when she says "Of course." The blank mask is wrapped in the jacket you've been carrying with you all this time.<br/>
<br/>
And yet, even as you walk slightly behind her and admiring her ass, your mind drifts from Yumi back to Umeko. No, you don't want to copy Umeko. You want to be with the real one. But you can't do that as yourself. Then how would you do it?<br/>
<br/>
As you enter the house you hear Mokichi's rough voice calling to someone in Japanese. And then it hits you: Umeko had complained about having lost her ability to speak native tongue shortly after being adopted, and wanting to relearn it. As Mokichi—or his identical twin—you could find her, hang out with her, teach her Japanese, get close to her ...<br/>
<br/>
And the dude is nicely ripped, which would be a huge help in getting all that dirt together for the new golems.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121121
author_id: seuzz
title: Copy Yumi.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You thought Yumi would be heading for the rest room, but she actually heads into the living room to talk to her mother. But while you're nursing a glass of water in the kitchen Lin passes through. You smile to yourself, set the glass aside, and quietly follow her until she disappears behind a bathroom door. <br/>
<br/>
You linger on the farther side of the corridor, pretending to admire the pictures—mostly of some very severe-looking people in traditional Japanese dress standing at various shrines—and wait for her. Given where you're standing she probably won't see you when she exits ... and she doesn't. Before she can take two steps you slip up behind her, put one arm around her torso and press the mask to her face. She gasps and goes limp.<br/>
<br/>
You pull her into the restroom and close and lock the door. The mask has sunk into her, but you only have a few minutes. You pull down her skirt and panties and prop her up again on the toilet; when she comes around, you hope, she'll just think she had a fainting spell while still in the bathroom. The mask seems to take a bit longer to reappear, and you take advantage of the wait to fondle one of her breasts.<br/>
<br/>
When you return to the back yard, Yumi asks where you've been; you ask her about the photos in the hallway, and she's happy to tell you all about them. When Lin reappears she shows scant sign of disorientation, and certainly doesn't seem suspicious of either you or Caleb. But your business is done, and you suggest to Caleb that you guys leave. It's one final kick to the balls that neither girl argues for you to linger.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She is as deep and as warm and as moist as you'd imagined. She doesn't grip or leap or strain or clasp you tightly when you press into her; she just folds herself around you and draws you in. There is no bottom or end to her, and she rubs the small of your back like she's trying to gently coax you inside so she can swallow you. Her kisses are wet and long and lingering, and her tongue wraps around yours like a boa constrictor in a cuddlesome mood.<br/>
<br/>
If only she didn't keep giggling. You pull your head back and stare down at her. "What the fuck is so funny?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," she says, with a little gasp. "Really, I'm not laughing." She squeaks like a squeeze toy trying to catch its breath. "Not at you, anyway." And then she falls into a ten-second gale of uncontrollable giggling.<br/>
<br/>
Brusquely, you finish up with a lot of short, hard thrusts, then pull out and lay on your side. You wrap the old thrift-store quilt around your own legs, leaving Lin exposed in all her glory. You give one of her breasts a hard squeeze. "Fine. I'll just pretend you're laughing at Jeremy. Next time I'll do it to you in my own flesh."<br/>
<br/>
"If you don't mind doing it with <i>me</i> when it's my turn to fuck her," she gaily replies. "Anyway, you'll understand when you put on the mask. That's all I'll say."<br/>
<br/>
"So you want to switch now? Or have another go like this?"<br/>
<br/>
"You can't possibly be ready," she says. "Anyway, I need to catch my breath." She squeaks again.<br/>
<br/>
Just then the door opens. <br/>
<br/>
You can't make out the figure that is standing in the doorway, and it takes you a moment to remember that you are wearing Jeremy's large body. So there is an awkward silence before you scramble to your feet and snarl "This is a private party, fucker."<br/>
<br/>
It quails, and then an unwelcome voice quavers, "Have either of you seen a guy named Caleb Johansson around?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dylan?" Caleb gasps.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, it's you," he says, sounding extremely displeased. "I should have known."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you believe in knocking." You tower over him, but he doesn't flinch again.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't either of you believe in keeping your cell phones turned on?" he asks. "I've been calling, like, forever."<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, I think they're out in the truck," Caleb says. <br/>
<br/>
"Don't apologize," you say over your shoulder. "You better have a good reason for busting in on us."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe being tied up by that fucking defective golem you sold me counts as an emergency," he sneers.<br/>
<br/>
There's a silence before Caleb speaks. "<i>What</i> happened?"<br/>
<br/>
He sighs in a very impatient way. "That golem you sold me. I made a copy of a guy last night, and when I put it on the golem this afternoon, you know, to have some fun—like you were having?" His voice drips scorn. "Anyway, he jumped on me, beat me senseless, tied me up, and ran away. I just now got away. I've been trying to call you guys."<br/>
<br/>
His story hardly makes any sense, and neither it nor his temper are improved when you get him to repeat it.<br/>
<br/>
"This doesn't make sense," you say. "It was working perfectly when we delivered it to you. You know that."<br/>
<br/>
"All I know is what happened tonight." He tries to sound angry, but he just sounds peevish.<br/>
<br/>
"Fine. What do you expect us to do? It's <i>your</i> property. If you can't keep ahold of it—"<br/>
<br/>
"Well maybe you guys feel alright having something weird and occult that you made running around. Especially when it looks like a real person. But I don't."<br/>
<br/>
You swallow. "Don't make yourself out to be more virtuous than us or some shit like that," you say. But he's right.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb comes up next to you, and you start to see that he's taken off the mask of Lin. "Where did it go?"<br/>
<br/>
"How the fuck should I know?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, who did you copy?"<br/>
<br/>
"No one you know. A guy named Patrick Sawyer."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, a naked guy shouldn't be too inconspicuous," you say. "He'll get himself arrested."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, he stole some of my clothes before he left."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus! And you didn't think to mention— Never mind."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb leans against a desk. "If I were a copy of a person, where would I go?"<br/>
<br/>
"What if you didn't know if you were a copy?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb thinks. "Doesn't matter if I knew I was a copy or not. I'd go home."<br/>
<br/>
"Christ, that's gonna be interesting." You turn to Dylan. "Why didn't you think to check at this Patrick guy's house?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not going go back there and ask if they've seen two of him running around!" Dylan shrieks.<br/>
<br/>
"But you expect us to? You're a real piece of work, you fucker."<br/>
<br/>
"Will you both shut up," Caleb jumps in. "If something has happened, we'll read about it in the paper tomorrow. And it's too late tonight to go snooping around.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not going back home," Dylan says. "He tied me up. What if he comes back to finish me off? He's pretty big and he's stronger than me." He looks around. "Can I stay here?" He nods at you. "Or maybe you could let me borrow that beanpole tonight. He looks like he could handle Patrick."</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211212
author_id: seuzz
title: A Ghost
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You sit down and rip the Jeremy mask from your face. Everything briefly goes dark—well, darker—before you wake again and hand it over to Dylan. "You'll be more comfortable in your own house."<br/>
<br/>
"Until the thing breaks in a strangles me in my bed," he grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"Deadbolt your door and make lots of coffee." You're not in the mood to argue.<br/>
<br/>
But you do agree to follow him home so he can show you Patrick's house on the way. "That's it," he says, pointing to a large, two-story house in a nicer part of the student housing ghetto. It's brightly lit, with lots of big, expensive-looking pick-ups and SUVs out front. "Those guys are all fucking loaded," he says, as though reading your thoughts. You wonder what Caleb, in the car behind you, thinks.<br/>
<br/>
Dylan is much larger and stronger in Jeremy's body, but he still looks nervously at the door to his much pokier digs when you get out. It's your turn to read his thoughts. "You can't just move in permanently into that basement," you tell him. "We'll be by early tomorrow to talk about what we're going to do."<br/>
<br/>
"Make it as early as you like," he says. "I won't be sleeping." You wish the Jeremy mask had Richards' personality attached; <i>he</i> wouldn't be nearly as freaked out. But he takes a deep breath, unlocks the door and goes inside, leaving you outside to wait for Caleb to pull up.<br/>
<br/>
Your friend has just parked and you're about to get in when a tremendous ruckus breaks out from behind Dylan's door, and you hear him calling for you. You run for the door, and hear Caleb following. The door sticks, so you kick it in.<br/>
<br/>
But Dylan has not been betrayed by his new body:  he's got someone in a headlock, and before you can intervene he throws it to the ground and sits on it. "I knew it!" he yells as he looks up at you. "Fucker was hiding in here and tried to jump me!"<br/>
<br/>
You look down at the guy he has pinned to the floor: dark, well-dressed, handsome in a preppy kind of way. His eyes flicker and he does a small double-take when he sees you. His lips peel back ... and then all the fight seems to go out of him. He sags.<br/>
<br/>
"You're Patrick Sawyer?" you ask him.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course he is," Dylan spits.<br/>
<br/>
"I was asking him." You kneel down next to the figure. "You're Patrick Sawyer?"<br/>
<br/>
"I am now," he smirks.<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean by that?" He just smiles in a nasty way.<br/>
<br/>
"Get the mask off him," Dylan says. "I can't sit on him forever."<br/>
<br/>
"Hang on. I wanna find out what went wrong." You look back down at Patrick. "How come you don't want to obey Dylan here?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because I don't have to."<br/>
<br/>
"Is there anyone you have to obey?" He makes a face, but gives a curt nod. "Who?"<br/>
<br/>
"You."<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb and Dylan exchange glances. "How come?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because you're my master. Don't ask me why," he adds with a snarl. "I just have to."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck," Dylan says in a low voice.<br/>
<br/>
"So if I told you to suck Dylan's cock, you'd have to?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't ask me to."<br/>
<br/>
"But you would?" It gives another curt nod. "But if Dylan or Caleb asked you to?"<br/>
<br/>
"No fucking way. I'm not gay."<br/>
<br/>
You sit on the ground next to it, and again you and Dylan and Caleb look at each other. "Well, I guess that solves that particular mystery," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"Unless it's lying," Dylan snarls. "I still say it's defective."<br/>
<br/>
"What makes me your master?" you ask Patrick.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck if I know."<br/>
<br/>
"Where's the real Patrick? Oh, screw it, I'm tired of talking to you." You put your hand to its brow in the prescribed manner and tug. The mask comes away, leaving a slab of clay dressed in Patrick's clothes. You put the mask to your own face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Well, this is about as cocked up as things can get," you mutter. You put your face in your hands and rub it slowly. "I think it's a bad idea to make any more golems. More trouble than they're worth."<br/>
<br/>
"What happened?" Caleb asks. His voice is shaky.<br/>
<br/>
"He killed the real guy. Snuck into the house ahead of him, hid in the bedroom, coshed from behind, smothered him." You shiver. "Well, I guess when you've nothing else to do but try to ... Well, to try to take over the only life you know how to lead. Still, at least it didn't have fun." You shiver again, harder this time. "It sucks killing someone, especially someone who is just like you."<br/>
<br/>
"What did he do with the body?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
"It," Dylan corrects. He is very white in the face. "It's just an 'it'."<br/>
<br/>
"I wish you wouldn't talk that way," you tell him angrily. "The thing thought and felt exactly what the real Patrick thought or would have felt. It's got the same stuff on the inside. At least, when it's ... alive."<br/>
<br/>
"But it's not alive," Dylan insists. "It's just a thing."<br/>
<br/>
"Would you like to put this thing on?" you ask him hotly and put your hand to your brow. "It isn't any fun." Dylan glowers at you.<br/>
<br/>
"But to answer your question," you continue, "he waited until it was dark and dragged Patrick's body out to the old Acheson cemetery and put it in a shallow grave. Fuck, I think it was the hole you and I dug to make this fucking thing." You kick the bare golem. "Had to kill him again, too, for reals this time, because it turned out he was only stunned."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe he's still alive then," Caleb says hopefully.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I don't think so," you say. You don't want to describe what the fake Patrick did to the real Patrick's neck with the shovel blade. "That's enough of that," you add. You pull the mask off and let yourself fall into a deep faint.<br/>
<br/>
The other two are talking in low voices when you come to. "What else are we going to do?" Dylan is asking.<br/>
<br/>
"What else are we going to do what?" you muzzily ask.<br/>
<br/>
"If the real Patrick is dead, what are we going to do about it?" Caleb says. "It's not like we can go to the police."<br/>
<br/>
"Why not? Give them an anonymous tip about where the body is."<br/>
<br/>
"Why not let the golem continue to play him?" Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"Why not let one of us replace him?" Dylan adds.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Jesus, that's sick," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"The point is," Caleb jumps in before Dylan can reply, "why let the world know he's dead when there's a perfectly good way of letting people think he's still alive?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um ... Because it's a lie? Because he wouldn't be the real Patrick?"<br/>
<br/>
"You said the fake has the same stuff inside him as the real Patrick," Caleb says. That stops you. And then he adds the kicker. "Besides, you'd rather his parents know the truth? That he's dead?" He kicks at the mask. "If he's the same inside and outside, let him continue to play the part."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, alright," you say. "We'll make sure the corpse is nicely buried and put a fake in to replace him."<br/>
<br/>
"After what he tried to do to me, I don't want this golem thing running around," Dylan says. <br/>
<br/>
"It's not gonna try killing you again. There's no point."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't care." He sounds very firm.<br/>
<br/>
"Then one of us would have to give up his own life to become him."<br/>
<br/>
"I can live with that," Dylan says. <br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I see," you say. "You're volunteering." <br/>
<br/>
Dylan shrugs, and looks very pleased with himself.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122121122
author_id: seuzz
title: Copy Mokichi.
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You follow the sound of Mokichi's voice upstairs. From the darkened hall you see two lighted doors; through one you glimpse Mokichi, sitting at a desk with his back to the door. The other voice comes from the other bedroom—a girl's voice. Both are speaking Japanese, and both sound strained and unhappy, but of course you have no idea what is being said. Then Mokichi says, in English, "Whatever"; a chilly silence descends. <br/>
<br/>
Holding your breath you slip into his bedroom and push the door to. When you're right behind him he catches a movement out of the corner of his eye. But it's too late, and before he can turn you have the mask over his face.<br/>
<br/>
While it copies him you close and lock his bedroom door and turn off the light. Apparaently a wise precaution; a minute later you hear footsteps that pause in front of the door. A girl's voice says something in Japanese that sounds very waspish, and then the same footfalls retreat down the stairs. <br/>
<br/>
Still, you crouch by the door until you notice a glow coming from Mokichi's chair. You leap over and catch the mask as it drops; softly, you run back over to the door, turn on the light, and leave.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Okay, I'm dying to know who you scored for us," Caleb says as you get into your truck an hour later. "I don't think Yumi was gone long enough. Was it Lin?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't freak out when I tell you, okay? It's Mokichi."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks at you. "You really must have a thing for the Asian types if you'll happily suck <i>him</i> off."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you. I got him for his muscles."<br/>
<br/>
"Gayer and gayer. I didn't know you had this side to you, Will."<br/>
<br/>
"For digging up all that graveyard crap, you idiot!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if that's your story, stick to it."<br/>
<br/>
"I couldn't get one of the girls," you say hotly. Of course he's teasing, but it is embarrassing all the same. "You said so yourself, they weren't inside long enough. And we need someone strong to help out on the dig."<br/>
<br/>
"Just as long as I get to wear him," Caleb says. "I hope he does know karate, so I can kick your ass."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Mokichi doesn't know karate, it turns out, and you, not Caleb, are the one wearing his mask a few hours later as you the two of you break into the old disused Acheson graveyard. You insisted on being Mokichi while Caleb took Jeremy; though you said nothing about it to Caleb, you wanted to see how much of Mokichi's knowledge—particularly his knowledge of Japanese—carries over.<br/>
<br/>
All of it, as it happens. "How do you say 'I'm going to kick your ass' in Japanese," Caleb asks as he jabs a shovel into the earth. <br/>
<br/>
"<i>I like to blow hairy men,</i>" you curtly reply in Mokichi's first tongue. You prop open the bag as he tips earth into it.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>I like to blow hairy men,</i>" Caleb/Jeremy repeats uncertainly.<br/>
<br/>
"No, <i>I like to blow </i>hairy<i> men.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>I like to blow </i>hairy<i> men.</i> How do you say 'I'm going to kick your balls so hard you'll be coughing them up'?"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>I like to blow fat hairy men and swallow their cum.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh. Pithy." He tries saying it, and you work with him until he's word perfect. <br/>
<br/>
It's hard work, but Mokichi is stronger than you, so it's not as bad as last time. The work also keeps your warm: only some very baggy shorts and an over-long t-shirt would fit your disguised frame.<br/>
<br/>
"Is this where we dug last time?" Caleb asks. "The earth feels loose, like it's settling."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't say that," you reply. "We dug over there—" you nod your head "—and I don't like thinking about what we might be digging toward."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is silent for a moment. "Do you also feel like we're being watched?" he asks in a low voice.<br/>
<br/>
You nod. It was a feeling that settled on you not long after you leaped over the cemetery wall. You couldn't find anyone, but you couldn't shake the sense that something very alert was eyeing the two of you. You shiver to find out that Caleb has had the same dreadful sense. You'd been distracting yourself by thinking about Umeko and how you might arrange a meeting with her in this disguise, but Caleb <i>would</i> start chattering. Apparently, he's nervous too.<br/>
<br/>
"Come on," he says, wiping his brow. "That's got to be enough by now."<br/>
<br/>
You lift the bag he's just filled into the back of your truck and count what you've got: nineteen bags at (you've calculated) twenty pounds each ... "Let's get five more and call it quits. I'll take over digging," you add as he groans.<br/>
<br/>
"We have to use this next golem to do the digging before we give it to Dylan," he says as you tip a shovelful into the next bag. You grunt agreement. "We should have finished two more masks by then," he continues thoughtfully. "So, one of us can wear Jeremy, the other can wear the slant-eye—" Instinctively you mutter a bad word at him in Japanese. He sighs. "I guess we get another muscle guy to put on the golem. That leaves one mask to use on a girl. Think you can get close to your sister using that thing?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can get close to a girl," you say brusquely. "Anyway, you're forgetting some of the masks we've got access to." You don't even pause as you dig. "The one you just finished. The one I'll finish by tomorrow night. The two we can make while the golem burns. Jeremy. Yours truly. And Dylan's boyfriend, whoever he turns out to be. Not counting Eva, that's seven. If we rent Dylan's golem and his boyfriend, and we wear these masks ourselves, and we get one more muscle head for this golem, that will leave us with <i>three</i> masks we can use on girls by the time we start working on a golem of our own."<br/>
<br/>
Jeremy gives a low whistle. "You worked all that out in your head?"<br/>
<br/>
"The guy I'm wearing is good with numbers. And no wisecracks or—" You switch to Japanese. "<i>I'll make you suck all the cum out of four fat hairy men.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"You and what army?" he jeers.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>The guys you'll be sucking off, that's who.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's late and you're exhausted when you finish, so you just drop the bags off in a corner of the school playground and split for the night. With Mokichi's long, lean frame it's easier than usual to swing up into your bedroom. You strip and toss the mask under your bed.<br/>
<br/>
You've not been laying there long when you hear a creaking sound, as though something very big has settled outside the door to your bedroom. All at once, the terrible feeling that you'd had in the cemetery washes over you again. The door groans slightly, and in the dark it even seems to bulge. </span></div></div>


path: 111231221211221
author_id: seuzz
title: When Patrick Met Patrick
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Quietly, and with great trepidation, you get out of bed. There's a further rustle at the door, an expectant one, as the springs to your bed squeak. You take one small step. Another small step. A third small step toward the door. Your heart hammers in your chest as you reach for the knob, and you see it rattle as though gripped by something strong. A spark leaps between it and your finger when you touch it, and the knob seems to relax. Screwing your face up tight, you yank the door open.<br/>
<br/>
Something big and white and clammy falls through the open doorway with an inhuman cry. You scream too. It twists on the floor and a hideous misshapen face, lit by the crepuscular moon, turns up to gaze malevolently up at you.<br/>
<br/>
It's the creature they call Robert Prescott. <br/>
<br/>
Your scream turns to a roar as you seize him and throw him onto the bed, pummeling him while inarticulate gabble bursts from both you. A few minutes later the light blazes on and your pajama-clad father grips and pulls you off your little brother.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I can't meet you, dude," you sigh when Caleb calls early the next morning. You tell him about your midnight fight with your brother. "I'm grounded the rest of the day."<br/>
<br/>
There's heavy breathing on the other end. "Well, can Dylan and me come by?"<br/>
<br/>
"No visitors either," you say, thinking quickly. Visitors are actually okay—you're expecting some good ones for lunch—but you really don't feel like dealing with Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck," Caleb says. And then he tells you what it is all about.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus," you mutter when he's done and you've explored the ins and outs of the situation. "Forecast is for a ninety-nine percent of shit storm. If this Patrick dude and this runaway duplicate that Dylan made happen to run into each other—"<br/>
<br/>
"Which they will."<br/>
<br/>
You sigh heavily and try to think.<br/>
<br/>
"It's Saturday, right? Are these the kind of guys who'd have a party on Saturday night?" Caleb has a quick consultation with Dylan. "Yeah. In fact one is scheduled for tonight."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, there's your answer," you say. "Crash the party and snoop around."<br/>
<br/>
Another consultation. "No good," says Caleb. "Dylan says they won't let guys like us in."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, how the hell did Dylan get in there the other night?" Caleb tells you. "Then use Eva again."<br/>
<br/>
"And who will I go as?"<br/>
<br/>
"Go as Jeremy. Or, hang on, Mokichi's a college student. Come by and pick up the mask from me."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you said you couldn't have visitors."<br/>
<br/>
"I lied. I just didn't want to see Dylan's face."<br/>
<br/>
"You're cold, man."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Caleb stops by an hour later to collect the Mokichi mask. He drops off a trinket: a blank mind-strip. "I used the last of our stuff to make it," he says. "I thought if we could get one on Patrick tonight it would tell us something."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice thinking," you say. "But it needs the runework."<br/>
<br/>
"Why do you think I brought it to you?" He shoves the book at you too. "Make yourself useful while Dylan and me do the legwork." You make a face at his retreating back.<br/>
<br/>
A little later Umeko and her parents show up for a Sunday-dinner-on-Saturday, since they will be out camping come Sunday itself. You ask her if she knows a "Patrick Sawyer" at the school. She doesn't, and you drop the subject.<br/>
<br/>
After lunch you catch Robert snooping in your room again and chase him out, then get down to work finishing the mind strip. You are constantly interrupted by family demands, and you barely have gotten it finished when your dad calls you down for a visitor. You jump when you see it's Mokichi. "'Sup?" he says with barely disguised hostility. "You get that thing finished up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Jeez," you mutter. "Couldn't come by as yourself?"<br/>
<br/>
"I was already changed out." The thrift-store clothes make him look like a gangbanger. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, it's up in my room. Come on."<br/>
<br/>
You pass Robert on the stairs. He stops to stare open-mouthed at Mokichi as he passes. "You got a problem, little dude?" the latter asks him. Your brother turns very white, and jumps over the landing banister to crash into the living room below. "What's his problem?" your friend asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. He's been weird all day. Weirder." In your room you close the door and hand him the mind-strip. "Is Dylan going as Eva again?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, he's going as this Mokichi dude."<br/>
<br/>
You choke, and the other guy grins. "Didn't know it was me, did ya, ya fucker? Serves you right, telling Caleb you didn't want me in your house."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay, very funny. Except I don't believe you. No fucking way Caleb is putting on the Eva mask again."<br/>
<br/>
"That's how come he's going as Jeremy Richards."<br/>
<br/>
You stare. "Okay, I don't care who you are. Just get out."<br/>
<br/>
"What, you scared I'm gonna pull a Sulu on you?" He puts his arm around your neck and pulls you close as he grasps the door handle. Robert scrambles away as the door opens, to gape at the two of you. Mokichi grins at him, and turns to give you a big kiss on the cheek. Then he winks at Robert and brushes past.<br/>
<br/>
You stick your finger in Robert's face. "Not one word, you little cock zit. Not one word."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's not until Sunday after church that you hear from Caleb and Dylan, when they call you from the clubhouse. Neither one looks unhappy, but they don't look very happy either. To your query about what happened they simply hold up the mind-strip. You put it on.<br/>
<br/>
It takes you quite a while to sort through the confusing jumble of memories, and even after you have to talk your way through it with the others.<br/>
<br/>
"So Patrick walks into his bedroom and gets hit from behind by his double," you say slowly. "When he wakes up he's laying on top of a sack out at the old Acheson cemetery."<br/>
<br/>
"Where," Caleb says, "by a stupid coincidence you and me were digging up a lot of dirt." He makes a face. "Considering who Dylan and me were dressed up as last night, it's a good thing he didn't recognize us."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it was dark." You concentrate on Patrick's fuzzy memory. "He gets in a fight with his duplicate again. Guy's pretty cold-blooded to stab it in the chest with that broken shovel handle. At least we know how to kill a golem now." It's not even your own memory, and you still shudder at the image you have of staring down into ... your own face ... and watching it dissolve into a mask and a pile of clay after grinding the makeshift spear deeper into its chest.<br/>
<br/>
"If only he'd left well enough alone," Caleb says. "Too bad he had to put the mask on again."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, that's where it gets confusing, but it looks like he figured out what happened. At least enough to know that Dylan is involved." You glance over at Caleb's cousin, who looks very pinched. "He's got a grudge. Be glad he hasn't run into you."<br/>
<br/>
"Right," he says. "I need a place to hide."<br/>
<br/>
"You know, I don't like to say it, and I didn't want to say it until we talked to you," Caleb says. "But I don't like this guy knowing about the masks."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't either. But what are we--? No, you can't be serious."<br/>
<br/>
"You have an alternative?"<br/>
<br/>
"We just tried saving him from being replaced by his own double."<br/>
<br/>
"We just tried keeping anyone from finding out that there could be duplicates of people running around," Caleb says. "And now someone has found out."<br/>
<br/>
You leap to your feet and pace the basement. "This stuff is getting out of control. I mean, what you're talking about is murder. We should just give it up. I mean, what could Patrick figure out?"<br/>
<br/>
"We don't know, do we? And Dylan is right about needing a place to hide."</span></div></div>


path: 111231221211222
author_id: seuzz
title: The Fourth Musketeer
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You swallow hard. Something very big is pressing itself against your door. There is a scraping noise, as of hands running down the woodwork. You strain your ears, and think you can just hear labored breathing that comes in gasps. The door handle rattles.<br/>
<br/>
You hold your breath, but the noises stop. Then there's a creaking noise, and you have the distinct impression that the thing, baulked at the doorway, has retreated.<br/>
<br/>
You hear nothing else that night, and you are awake for a very long time while you're not hearing things.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Caleb calls you early the next morning. "You need to meet me at the clubhouse. We've got trouble." He won't amplify further, and you hurry over.<br/>
<br/>
You are far from pleased to see that a disheveled Dylan is there too. Caleb nods at him. "My cousin has a consumer complaint."<br/>
<br/>
"That golem you made me is defective," he says, and points to his eye, which is an ugly purple. "It gave me this."<br/>
<br/>
"I can't say I blame it."<br/>
<br/>
Before things can get even uglier even quicker, Caleb jumps in and tells you Dylan's story: He made a copy of a guy on Thursday night, and then yesterday afternoon he put it on the golem. But instead of obeying Dylan's orders, it beat him up, tied him up, stole some of his clothes, and disappeared. Dylan managed to get free, and when he couldn't get in touch with either you or Caleb broke into the clubhouse and spent the night.<br/>
<br/>
"I still don't see how it's our problem," you say when he's done. "We sold it to you—"<br/>
<br/>
"Exactly," Dylan says triumphantly. "GM is on the hook when they sell defective cars."<br/>
<br/>
"The point is," Caleb says before you can retort, "The point is that there is now a duplicate of— What's his name?"<br/>
<br/>
"Patrick Sawyer."<br/>
<br/>
"Patrick Sawyer running around." He gives you a hard look. "It would be bad if he got caught, you know."<br/>
<br/>
Oh. Yeah. That would be bad.<br/>
<br/>
"You thought about checking out his house, see if the duplicate is there?"<br/>
<br/>
"He lives with a dozen other guys," Dylan says. "Like a frat house, but not officially?"<br/>
<br/>
"But I think you're right," says Caleb. "That's where I would go if I were ... Well, if I were the duplicate of someone."<br/>
<br/>
"And what if you found the original there?" As soon as you ask the question you don't like the most likely answer. The others look uneasily between each other.<br/>
<br/>
"We need to get into the house," says Caleb. "Or at least keep a close watch on it for, you know, funny business."<br/>
<br/>
"By the time we see anything it'll be too late," you point out. "Others will see it too." You scratch your head. "There's nothing in the book that says anything about calling a golem or tracking one."<br/>
<br/>
"So we just wait until something explodes?" Caleb asks incredulously.<br/>
<br/>
You are highly irritated by all this. "Look, I've got things to do this afternoon. I'll hook up with you later. Maybe you guys should check out this guy's house, see if you get any ideas from looking at it."<br/>
<br/>
Neither Caleb nor Dylan look pleased, but you don't give them a chance to argue and push past them and out of the clubhouse.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Neither Caleb nor Dylan would be happy to learn that your "business" consists in having lunch with Umeko and her parents. (Usually they come on Sunday, but they will be out of town tomorrow.) But you're determined not to miss a chance with her. Probably it's your irritation over the other stuff that is happening that puts you and your brother athwart each other; the two of you fight for her attention all during the meal. It embarrasses you, in fact, that you fight so hard with him, and are mortified at the quiet amusement shown by everyone at the table. Things reach a climax of sorts when you "accidentally" dump a bowl of gravy into Robert's lap, forcing him to leave the table and change his pants.<br/>
<br/>
He doesn't come back down, even when lunch begins breaking up. Nor is he around when you walk Umeko to the car. "So, what is your Monday schedule at the university like?" you ask, grateful for the uninterrupted opportunity.<br/>
<br/>
"An early class at eight-thirty, then a break until ten-twenty," she says. "Full up from then until around three."<br/>
<br/>
"It must be nice, having long breaks like that," you muse.<br/>
<br/>
"You have study halls, don't you? It's the same thing."<br/>
<br/>
"But <i>you</i> can leave campus. What's your, um, Thursday schedule like? Classes, I mean."<br/>
<br/>
"Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just wondering."<br/>
<br/>
She's very amused, but tells you anyway. And then you say a quick goodbye so you can scurry upstairs to write down what she said. If you can get the golem done by Thursday, you can send it to school in your place (wearing a mask of you) and you can "bump" into her on campus as Mokichi.<br/>
<br/>
You run back into the house, take the stairs three at a time, swing around the corner, and do a long jump into your room. You stick the landing ... and freeze at the sight of a stranger sitting on your bed. The stranger turns around.<br/>
<br/>
It's Mokichi. You almost crap in your pants. <i>How did he track you down?</i><br/>
<br/>
And then he speaks: "Mom and Dad are going to <i>kill</i> you. You know that, right?"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're breathing hard, and that's all you can do: He has his hands on your neck and shoulders and his knee in the small of your back, and he's pressing you down hard into your bed. "You've no idea how long I've waited to do this, fucker," he gloats.<br/>
<br/>
"What do you want?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno yet. But it's gonna be sweet, whatever it is."<br/>
<br/>
"How'd you find it?"<br/>
<br/>
"The mask?" He laughs. "Well, last night I was up late and thought I saw someone go in your window. I got a good look, too, and I couldn't believe it. I mean, my own brother with a boyfriend sneaking in to see him at night after everyone's gone to bed? I came out to see if I could hear you guys going at it, but—"<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, that was you at my door last night?"<br/>
<br/>
"I was trying to listen in, yeah. You heard me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fucker, you scared the shit out of me!"<br/>
<br/>
"What?!"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind. Go on."<br/>
<br/>
"Huh. Yeah, so I came in here after lunch. Snooping, yeah, and what are you gonna do about it now? I found this mask under your bed, and, well ... I was kind of freaked out after I put it on, until I started remembering some of the things that ... this guy Mokichi was doing last night. Then it started making sense."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, you've made your point about being able to beat me up. Can you get off?"<br/>
<br/>
He gives you a rough shove but lets you go. His dark eyes flash mercilessly when you turn toward him. "So tell me all about this thing," he demands.<br/>
<br/>
You give him a few facts. He's not satisfied and grinds more out of you. You keep trying to hold stuff back, but (perhaps guided by Mokichi's own intelligence) he won't let go until he knows everything you do. When you're done, he grins: "So if Caleb's cousin can be in this club, why can't I?"<br/>
<br/>
"He pays us."<br/>
<br/>
"I can pay you too. I can not tell Mom and Dad."<br/>
<br/>
"Blackmail, huh? You'd be in trouble too."<br/>
<br/>
"Not as much as you. They'll build Azkaban just so they can put you there."<br/>
<br/>
You waver. "We'll give you stuff to keep you happy."<br/>
<br/>
"All in, or I call Mom and Dad." He pulls off his shirt. "I'll introduce myself as your boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
"You're bluffing."<br/>
<br/>
"Try me."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Okay, this is where we've been doing our stuff," you tell him. You are both standing in the middle of the clubhouse, and Robert—now back in his own form—is looking around with undisguised curiosity. "But this is serious stuff. Way serious stuff. So, you know, you have to do what Caleb and me tell you."<br/>
<br/>
"Pfft, yeah. It sounds like you're just having a blast."<br/>
<br/>
You're about to give a sharp reply when your cell phone chirps. It's a text message from Caleb: "whr r u?"</span></div></div>


