Volume 6: the mask
"Leo! Let me in, will you?" The woman said softly while banging on the door.
Leo, a 28-year-old man, felt a familiar dread wash over him. This wasn't the first time this "thing" had come to haunt him, reminding him of his traumatic past.
"Leo, let mommy in!" The voice grew louder, the banging more insistent.
"SHUT UP! YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER!" Leo shouted frantically, tearing through his room in a panic.
"Shit, shit, shit!" He jumped out of bed as the doorknob rattled. *(Don't let this bitch in!)* Leo closed his eyes and began to pray. "Oh, Lord, please make it stop! I know I haven't talked to you in a while. I'm sorry. Please help me in this dire time of need!"
Suddenly, the banging ceased. Leo opened his eyes and glanced around, twitching his head left and right.
"Prayer… actually… worked?! Ahaha, I did—no, we did it! The Lord is amaz—" His triumphant thought was cut short as the door crashed down on him.
"No, no, no, no! Hell no!" Without a second thought, Leo grabbed his shoes and jumped out of the window. He hit the ground hard and rushed to his car, only to realize he had left the keys inside. "Oh… COME ON!!"
He yelled, drawing the attention of his neighbors. A woman leaned out of her window, her expression a mix of concern and annoyance. "What's going on? It's 11 at night, and you're screaming again!"
"Yap, yap! Just go inside. I'll be alright, Bella," he replied, trying to catch his breath.
"Whatever," Bella said, rolling her eyes before slamming her window shut. "Can be a pain in my ass. He's fine, but can't get off my back for nothing."
Leo took a deep breath, shaking off the anxiety. "I'll sleep in my car. I hate when that… thing comes. It's been more active recently, too. I'm not sure why." He unlocked the car door and slammed it shut. *(I'll just… go to sleep in here.)*
******
Leo opened his eyes with a start, checking his phone frantically. "8… OH SHIT!!!" He threw himself out of the car and dashed back into his house.
He tore his room apart, searching for his suit. After finding it, he rushed into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face.
"Oh, yeah. That's the stuff!" he exclaimed, studying his reflection in the mirror. Leo was a pale man with neatly styled black hair, striking green eyes, and a slim face. Standing at 6'0", he wore a casual black suit—typical attire for a businessman.
After fixing his tie, he hurried out of his house, only to find Bella waiting at the door.
"Why were you outside all night?" she asked, curiosity evident in her hazel eyes.
Leo stepped aside awkwardly and patted her shoulder. "Bells… what a surprise! I can't answer that right now. How about we talk it out over dinner at the burger spot?! Sounds good? Great! See you at 8!" he yelled, waving as he hurried past her.
*(Such a weirdo. But… a hot one.)*
******
Leo clocked in and settled at his desk, glancing left and right before focusing on his paperwork. "Let's see… disappearance of pets, kids in the area, strange animal behavior… yep, better research the animal behavior." He sighed, removing his coat.
As he typed away on his computer, he stumbled upon an article about a woman and her two dogs.
"My dogs have been acting strange lately. They've been missing for three days. It's not like them to do this. Please reach me."
Leo dialed the number provided and cleared his throat. "Hello! Is this Mrs. Harvey? Excellent. I'm calling to discuss the strange disappearance of your pet dogs. How were they acting before they went missing? Oh, really?! Yes, of course. Please give me your address. Mhm… okay… yep. See you soon. Bye!" He hung up the phone and quickly headed out of the office building.
"Yo, Leo!" a man called in a calm voice. Leo took a deep breath and rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Mr. Armstrong?"
"How are you holding up, boy? You don't have to be here for cases. I've told you multiple—"
"It's better than sitting at home doing nothing, sir. I prefer to keep my mind occupied. It helps me cope."
"Well, alright. I won't hold you up. Just remember, I'll be sending a partner with you on this job. We're a new company; we don't reveal everything we know to the clients, right?"
Leo hesitated. "...right."
******
Leo stood next to his car, feeling the weight of anticipation. A short man and woman emerged from the shadowy tower, and the woman pointed at him, laughter bubbling between them as they approached.
"Thought he said 'A' partner," Leo sighed, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.
"You must be Leo! I'm Sasha. Sasha Loud," she introduced herself with a bright smile.
"And I'm Kevin. Kevin Echo," the man chimed in, his tone almost teasing.
Leo shook both their hands, plastering on a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "So, Sasha and Echo."
"Actually, it's Kevin—"
"Yap, yap! Echo is better," Kevin interrupted with a laugh, lightening the mood for a moment.
Impatience gnawed at Leo. He jumped into his car, rapping his knuckles against the dashboard. "Let's go! Time is of the essence, my friends!"
---
As Leo pulled up to Mrs. Harvey's sprawling yard, Echo leaned forward, peering out the window. "This is it," he said, his voice laced with curiosity.
"Wait," Sasha sighed, her brow furrowed.
"Wait? For what?" Echo asked, puzzled.
Leo's eyes were fixed on the house, a shiver creeping down his spine. "Creepy," he muttered under his breath.
The trio stepped out into the cool air, the crunch of gravel beneath their feet echoing in the stillness. "This is the woman who lost the dogs, right?" Echo asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah. This house… feels weird," Leo said, his instincts prickling. "I don't know what it is. Something's off."
The old porch creaked ominously as they approached. "Mrs. Harvey! It's Leo, the man from the phone!" Leo called out, knocking firmly.
The door flew open, revealing an elderly woman peeking from the shadows. "Oh, you're a handsome one," Mrs. Harvey chuckled, warmth radiating from her despite the unsettling atmosphere.
---
Settled in her living room, they sipped coffee, the air thick with tension. "So, Mrs. Harvey, could you walk us through what happened? Your dogs just… left in the middle of the night?" Leo asked, his voice steady.
"Yes. I woke up and haven't seen them since. It's strange," she replied, her eyes darting around as if searching for something lost.
Sasha's eye twitched, a sign of her growing unease. "What's strange?"
Mrs. Harvey took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "One of my dogs, Julie… she would always stare out at the forest at night. One night, I heard what sounded like a girl laughing, then it turned to a dog's cry, a cat, and a laugh I've never heard before…"
"You sure it wasn't just some animal? Like a deer or something?" Echo asked, skepticism creeping into his tone.
"Boy, I'm seventy years old. I've never heard anything like that in my life," she insisted, her voice resolute.
Leo scribbled notes, his mind racing. (A laugh in the woods? This isn't just strange. It's worse.)
He sat back, contemplating. "Mind if I look around?"
"Please," Mrs. Harvey replied, her tone inviting yet anxious.
---
As Leo ascended the stairs, the smell hit him like a wall—rotting, foul, and utterly disconcerting. He covered his mouth, bewildered by the immaculate appearance of the room contrasted with the stench that lingered.
He wandered deeper into the house, the odor intensifying, leading him to the attic. A string hung invitingly; he pulled it, and the stairs creaked ominously as he climbed.
"What the hell?" he whispered to himself, the beam of his flashlight cutting through the darkness.
He froze, horrified. Swarms of ants and roaches were dragging pieces of what he recognized as Julie, carrying them through a crack in the wall.
"Oh, man," he gasped, falling back in shock.
He stumbled downstairs, his heart racing. "What's wrong?" Echo asked, concern etched on his face.
"There's something… something awful up there," Leo stammered, urgency clawing at his insides.
He pointed to a small hole where dark energy oozed. "Look."
"Gross," Echo murmured, pulling out his notebook. "The boss is gonna love this," he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Should we tell him?" Leo asked, dread pooling in his stomach. "Everyone knows how Armstrong operates."
"I can't just ignore this. It's freaky stuff, man," Echo retorted, jotting down notes.
Sasha emerged from the house, concern knitting her brow. "What's the situation?"
Leo gestured toward the insects. "That… is disgusting."
"Yep."
Sasha stood close to Leo, her presence grounding yet unsettling. "You seem shaken up. Is there something else we should know?"
"Nah," Leo lied, but inside, doubt gnawed at him. (This black energy… it's the same from the thing that haunts me.)
---
As they walked back to the car, Sasha suddenly paused, her suit flickering into a dress and back.
(What? Who was that?)
---
Leo drove toward the tower of their business, thoughts racing. "You report it to Armstrong. See what he wants us to do from here," he instructed Echo, who merely slammed the paper onto his chest. "You got it."
---
Leo ascended the long, dark staircase, his mind swirling with uncertainty. Each floor felt heavier, and by the time he reached the 89th, he could feel the weight of his worries pressing down.
He knocked on the door, his heart pounding. "It's Leo. Back from—"
Armstrong swung the door open, a grin splitting his face. "Leo-boy!" he boomed, placing powerful hands on Leo's shoulders, a mix of warmth and intimidation.
"Boss," Leo replied, handing over his notes, anxiety creeping in.
Armstrong's eyes scanned the pages. "So, let me get this right. You believe bugs are taking dogs?"
"It may sound foolish, but it's strange. There are multiple reports in this city of pets disappearing. We should take it seriously, sir."
"You want troops for the investigation? Hell, I'll let you gather a crew. Stay in the forest and find out what's happening. If you get nothing… then don't bother with it anymore."
"You want me to just stop? Why would—"
"Because I said so."
"Alright."
---
Leo exited Armstrong's office, his mind racing with thoughts of who to recruit. "Echo and Sasha are good. I'll need them for sure. Maybe find two more."
As he stepped into the elevator, Armstrong answered a phone call. "Yes? Yes, of course. I believe so. I'll keep an eye on him. The operation is good to go. Yes, sir."
---
Back home, Leo contemplated the bizarre events. "I need a strong crew. I've seen things like this before, but why are insects doing this? Mrs. Harvey can't know. There's something strange going on here."
He stepped out of his car, greeted by his neighbor, Bella, who stood in her doorway. "It's pretty late for dinner, huh?"
"You can come in," he offered, half-heartedly.
---
Settled on the couch, wine glasses in hand, they watched a movie, but Leo's mind was elsewhere.
"Why didn't you help him?" Bella asked, laughter fading into concern.
"My brother didn't care. He left me screaming like a girl to go play with a girl," Leo chuckled, but the humor fell flat.
Silence enveloped them. "Do you ever miss them?" Bella asked softly.
"Huh? Miss who—"
"Your wife and daughter."
The question caught Leo off guard, a wave of grief crashing over him. "W-why wouldn't I?"
"I'm not sure. I can tell it eats you up. You try to hide it, but you're grieving, Leo. Holding it in isn't good."
"In pain? Where did this come from?" Leo retorted, masking his vulnerability with laughter. "I'm fine, really."
"I just wanted to talk deep with you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's… okay," he muttered, eyes glued to the TV, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Bella noticed the shift and took a sip of her wine, sensing the weight of his hidden turmoil.
"Negative feelings aren't good. Please… try to work on those or they can attract many things," Bella warned gently, her gaze unwavering.
"Yep."
Bella looked around, taking another sip. "May I use your restroom?"
"Right down this hall," Leo pointed, feeling a strange heaviness settle in his chest.
Fifteen minutes passed before Bella emerged, and she found Leo staring blankly at the floor.
"Leo, maybe I should—"
"I'm always hurting, Bella. There are things in my life I just can't share. You still have your father and mother. Love and cherish them. You never know when it'll be their time. I think about them every day. At the end of the day… it was all my fault. I didn't make it to them on time," he confessed, his voice cracking under the strain.
Bella sat beside him, wrapping her arms around him. "Let it all out, Leo. I'm here with you… always."
---
On a distant tower, three shadowy figures surveyed Leo's neighborhood, their gazes sharp and penetrating.
"Large amounts of it in that area. This could be troublesome for it," one whispered ominously.
"Yeah," another replied.
"What shall we do, Venom?"
"We stalk and kill. This one poses a problem to our entire research
Next chapter: The forest
Coming in 10 days