Masks of Deceit

The Weight of Deception

The day passed in a blur of routine. I dragged myself home after leaving my men with orders, my mind already shifting to the next stage of the plan. As soon as I reached my room, I crawled through the window and took a quick shower before collapsing into bed. Sleep should have come easy, but the pressure of what lay ahead gnawed at me, filling me with restlessness.

BEEP BEEP.

The alarm blared, piercing the silence of my thoughts. Groaning, I pushed myself up and quickly got dressed, steeling myself for another day of pretending.

I met up with the others outside, and as usual, Mika greeted me with his usual exuberance.

"Hey, guys, how've you been?" I asked, masking the exhaustion in my voice.

"We're good, man. It's been two days since we last saw you," Mika said, a grin tugging at his lips. The others nodded in agreement, their concern for me barely disguised.

"I'm alright," I said, "Just been a bit sick, that's all."

Suzume shot me a concerned glance but kept the atmosphere light.

Zai raised an eyebrow. "You've been off lately, man. You sure there's nothing going on?"

Sarah frowned. "I still can't sense anything from you… It's strange."

"That's because my power's to mask my feelings," I explained, trying to brush it off. "Still can't control it properly."

Mika laughed. "Well, you're still as weird as ever! But hey, no big deal."

"Thanks, Mika. Let's get going before we're late again." I flashed a smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes.

We boarded the bus, the familiar motion grounding me momentarily. School passed in a blur of lectures, and by the time lunch rolled around, my thoughts were already elsewhere—on the detective, Aizen. He was growing closer to uncovering "Justic3." I couldn't let him get too close, but I couldn't act too hastily, either. I'd need to play this carefully.

I grinned, a fleeting moment of satisfaction at the strategy forming in my mind.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, we all headed out to the cinema, eager to catch a break.

"So, Mika," I teased, catching sight of his fidgeting. "Shaking in your boots before the movie starts?"

Mika puffed out his chest. "Nah, my mom didn't raise a manchild! I got this!" But his wide eyes betrayed his nerves, making the rest of us burst into laughter.

"Maybe your mom didn't, but your dad certainly did!" Suzume quipped, and the laughter grew even louder.

Zai turned to Sarah, his voice quieter. "You good with a horror movie like this?"

Sarah smiled. "Yeah, as long as you're here with me."

The movie started, and the tension was palpable. The sudden jumpscares had Mika spilling his popcorn all over the place, sending the group into hysterics. It was the kind of moment that felt normal, like nothing in the world could touch us.

After the film ended, we headed to our favorite burger spot, "Ben's Burger," where we shared stories of using our powers.

Suzume grinned. "I met a homeless girl who'd forgotten her mom's face. I touched her, and drew her mom from memory. She cried when she saw it, thanked me so much… It felt so good to help her."

Mika, ever the enthusiast, chimed in. "I saved a guy from getting run over! I saw it in the future, pushed him out of the way just in time. He took me out for a meal after—felt like a hero!"

Sarah smiled softly. "I sensed a boy who was struggling with his exams. He was so scared of disappointing his mom. I helped him study, and he passed. Him and his mom were so grateful."

Zai, his usual reserved self, looked down. "I haven't done anything like that yet… I feel like I'm falling behind."

I added, forcing a chuckle. "Don't worry, Zai. I can't even control my power. Mine's the worst. How can I help if I'm just masking my emotions?"

The others nodded sympathetically, Suzume's eyes softening. "Don't worry, Nachar. You're the nicest person I know. Your power still counts."

I smiled weakly, the perfect mask slipping into place. "Thanks, Suzume. I appreciate it. You're the best."

The conversation drifted on, but my thoughts began to darken. They all believed me—believed I was just one of them. They had no idea that the man responsible for all the deaths, all the carnage in the city, was standing right in front of them.

We finished our meal, and before long, we were taking a group picture. It was a perfect moment, the kind I would have treasured if only I wasn't wearing the mask of a monster.

Back home, I locked myself in my room and started researching Aizen, the detective who was closing in on us. I had to slow things down, play the long game. My phone buzzed—an untraceable line I'd had one of my men set up.

"Hey, boss! Anything we need to do yet?"

I replied, my fingers trembling slightly. "No, not yet. I'm planning something. Stay put."

The weight of the silence around me felt suffocating. I knew I was playing with fire. If I acted too rashly, everything could fall apart. But worse… what if I lost everything? My friends, my school, the fragile family I had left?

What if I became what I feared most? A monster, consumed by the very power I thought I could control?

I stared at the glowing screen, my reflection barely visible in the dark. My heart pounded, and a question echoed in my mind:

Do I really want to do this?