SKIN DEEP

by

AUTHOR C

Chapter 6

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

EPILOGUE

Joe scooted across the floor and the figure moved with him. Now with the face closer to the fire, Joe saw it was indeed the mask but it fit the contours of the face too well. He swallowed hard. "Who are you?"

"Do you not recognize me?" The person – a woman – straightened up. Crowded into one corner of the cottage were Frank and the others, looking disoriented and confused. "You've all gazed upon me day after day, commenting on how hideous I was."

"We were talking about the mask."

The woman paused. "Ah, but what is a mask? Is it of cloth or wood or plastic, is it fakery or deception? We all wear masks, some are more our faces than others."

Joe made it to his feet and realized that the woman was actually the shop owner. The more he watched her talk, the more he was creeped out. The 'mask' was her face. "You're Remy, the shop owner, aren't you?"

A low inhuman growl escaped from her lips. "Yes. And in time when the moon is at its zenith, I will be beautiful once again, forever."

Joe registered the pounding on the door and wondered how he could get to it and open it. He and the others had to get out of here. He looked over to the corner and despite the dim light, realized there were more people than just his brother and their friends. He swallowed hard. "Everyone in this room...everyone bought one of your costumes, didn't they?"

Remy smiled, the lips stretching wide, wider than humanly possible. "Yes. That's what brought all of you here." She reached out to touch Joe. "Only you are aware of what will happen. But soon that won't matter." She glanced over her shoulder at the door, muttering something under her breath. The noise suddenly, chillingly, stopped.

Joe shuddered, thinking of Chet and Iola on the other side. "What did you do?"

"Sealed the cottage. No one can hear you scream."

Joe moved back, bumping into a wooden table. It shifted and two candlesticks toppled over, making the lit candles fall against each other. Flames from the candles licked at the dry wood of the table, catching it on fire.

Remy let out an odd little shriek as she moved away from the fire. Joe snatched up a candlestick, noticing the weight of it. He tossed it at the nearest window and felt satisfaction when it crashed through the glass. Cold air swept into the cottage, whipping at the flames on the table but blowing out the fire in the fireplace.

Remy glared at him. "No. You will not escape. I will be young again." She let out a growl and tried to get to him but Joe kept the burning table between them.

He grabbed the other candlestick and threw it at the next window. More cold wind blew into the cottage making him shiver. The flames on the table guttered for a moment and then grew brighter as they swept down the legs of the table. Joe watched in horror as the flames started to snake across the floor. He looked for something to put out the flames but didn't see a fire extinguisher or anything. "Open the door!"

Remy shook her head but as a trail of flames moved in her direction, she yanked the door open, startling Chet and Iola. They scrambled out of the way as the woman raced outside.

Joe jumped the flames nearest him, glad they weren't very high, and went to his brother. Frank stood motionless, sweating despite the cold. Joe remembering how Chet taking off his pirate shirt had roused him, started removing Frank's coat and hat. Then he shoved his brother out the door. He pushed everyone else outside too.

Remy let out a screech as he emerged. Already flames had engulfed one wall of the cottage. She ran at Joe. "You fool, you ruined it all. I—"

She stopped in mid-move as the mask seemed to spread down her neck to her shoulders and arms. She gasped and screamed but the words seemed to be fading.

Frank Hardy heard odd screaming and then blinked, noticing the light of the bonfire seemed odd. He turned his head and saw a cottage on fire instead. "What—?" He shivered, noticing half his costume was gone. "What's going on?"

Beside him, Tony stirred. "Hey, what—?"

Callie shivered. "I'm scared."

Remy glared at Joe out of faded gray eyes. "For centuries, I've kept young, using the youth of children to keep me beautiful." Her voice was raspy now, that of an old woman.

Chet's eyes went wide. "C-centuries? You mean you've done this before?"

Remy didn't even look at him. She only stared at Joe, anger in her gaze. "Youth is indeed wasted on the young. Especially you. You will know what pain is before your life is over—"

Before she could say more, an ice-cold wind moaned through the clearing. It swirled around Remy faster and faster until nothing was left but a stray wisp of dust. As the last of the dust drifted away, everyone else seemed to snap out of whatever daze they were in.

Joe and Frank saw almost all of their fellow classmates, standing around, looking confused. Joe moved over to Frank. "You okay?"

"I think so. What happened?"

"I don't know. I think it had something to do with heat." Joe shook his head. "I don't know. How are we going to explain this to the Mortons?"

Frank shook his head. "I'm not sure." He gestured to the extra kids. "Their parents are probably wondering where they are."

"It will be taken care of." The soft voice startled the group in the clearing and they all turned to see a young woman standing there.

Joe's jaw dropped. It was Miss Anderson, the resource librarian. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled. "Don't worry. It will be taken care of. Perhaps you will return to your party now."

No one moved and she sighed softly. "Please. Go back to your party."

The group was halfway back to the Morton farm when Joe realized she'd never answered his question. He wanted to turn back but it was like he was compelled to go back to the Mortons'. He nudged Frank. "Let's head home after this."

Frank nodded, looking confused. "I wish I knew what was going on."

Joe thought about Remy's last words and shuddered. "Me too, bro, me too."

*****

Joe woke up and groaned. He had a horrible headache and his stomach felt funny. He automatically glanced out his window and saw it was pouring down rain. He heard his mother knock on the door and then it swung open. She sat down on the bed. "Lightning struck a utility pole right outside the school. There's no electricity and the news just announced due to flash flood warnings, they're not going to have school today."

Joe nodded. "Sounds good to me."

"Are you feeling all right?"

"Just a headache and my stomach feels yucky."

Laura nodded. "I'll get you something for the headache and the yucky stomach." She patted his shoulder and left the room.

A moment later, Frank came in by way of the bathroom they shared. "I'm glad we don't have to go to school today."

"Me too." Joe focused on the rain coming down for a moment. "What happened?"

Frank shook his head. "I don't know." He shrugged. "You know when I was giving Mom my costume for her to wash, I noticed there was a little square of cloth cut out. Did Mom already get your shirt?"

"Yeah." Joe took a deep breath. "R-Remy as much as said it was everyone who bought costumes at her shop."

"Wonder why it didn't affect Mom or Dad?"

Laura came back into the room with medicine and a glass of juice. "Good morning, Frank, how do you feel?"

"Just tired, Mom."

Joe took his medicine, making a face at the anti-nausea stuff and then gulping down the other medicine with the glass of water. He handed his mother the empty glass. "Did you have fun last night, Mom?"

"Yes, I did. Oh by the way, Chet called to say thanks for coming last night."

Fenton Hardy walked into Joe's room. "Hello, boys."

"Hi, Dad," said Frank and Joe.

Fenton glanced at Laura. "I know it's early but I went to return our costumes. The place is empty. Even that hideous mask is gone."

Joe and Frank shared a look. Fenton shook his head. "I'd wondered about that woman but I guess there's no point in digging now. Oh and Sam told me something really odd. Libby Anderson, the resource librarian at the elementary school, left town early this morning, all her bags packed and everything. Didn't she just move here?"

Laura frowned. "I think so. I've only met her once. I think she was from the south, or something. Maybe it's a family thing."

"Maybe." Fenton stood there for a moment, sketched a wave to his sons and headed down the hall, still looking curious.

Laura smiled at her sons. "Why don't you sleep a while longer, Joe, to get rid of the headache. I'll wake you in time for breakfast."

"Okay, Mom." He waited until his mother was gone to turn to Frank. "She was there last night, wasn't she?"

"Yeah." Frank sighed. "This is just too weird."

Joe nodded, careful of his aching head. "Tell me about it."

Let the author know what you think of this story

Home   Library   Authors   Rogue's Gallery   Vehicles   Chums   Message Board  Rap Sheet  Links  Contact

Disclaimer