50. Drop His Mask
Chapter 50
Drop His Mask
The Host
Present Day
“ S he knows who you are. That’s going to be a problem,” Sharon griped condescendingly in his ear. “We thought you were ready, but you clearly aren’t. I will speak with Harold on this matter. Let’s do away with the girl first, and when we return, we may need to discuss your abilities to continue in your position.”
The Host winced, remembering how the knife felt when Sharon stabbed it into his leg. He imagined if the Creators were currently on the island, he would have had to deal with them in person. But luckily, and as planned, they were both gone, along with most of the Sponsors. Off at a yearly function held in Luscinia. The one where they would agree on the next round of players.
The Host leaned back further into his chair. Instead of his typical spot in the control room, he had been permitted to stay in his home due to his weaknesses. For the last week, he had been confined to this space. The Creators thought he had fallen apart, but it was a ruse. Instead, he was laying the last of his plans. Preparing for today.
It was time.
Griffin had understood the message. The Host knew he would be ready.
“Miko, go get her. Bring her to me. I don’t care if the game is finished or not. I can’t wait any longer. Do not return here without her. They’ll expect a guard. I can’t go myself.” The Host wanted more than anything to see Raven. She had recognized him, knew who he was. But he was afraid, terrified that when she looked into his eyes, she would only find the remnants of the man she knew.
Miko cast a worried glance between the remaining men in the room. “Yes, sir.”
Felix stepped forward. “I will retrieve our other ally.”
The Host waved his hand, but his eyes followed the retreating Felix. His gut was screaming at him to not let Felix leave, that something was amiss. But The Host didn’t have time for paranoia.
“The explosions will go off in the next hour. You have all the information needed.” Drago paced the room, his mask still firmly in place. “There is only one more part of the show that the Sponsors need to see, that the entire world needs to witness, and then we will be done.”
The Host sneered, “Yes, we need to show Raven’s records, show that they allowed a mother into this game. Show the pictures of Sparrow. How not only is Raven a mother, but she has a daughter. ”
Drago’s features darkened. “Julian, you are a good man. I can see it; I can understand that this has been the most difficult for you. For all that the poor girl has been put through, you seem to feel it, too. Too close to her I would say. But do you really think pictures and records will change the minds of a country, of an entire world?”
A door opened and closed behind The Host and he turned, finding Anadil.
He got to his feet, this didn’t seem right, he didn’t like the change in the air. He could feel, he could taste, he could see the tension.
Anadil walked further into the room, and in a surprising show, she stopped next to Drago. His arm lifting and wrapping around her. Tugging her tightly to him. He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
The Host had imagined they knew each other, but he hadn’t expected this.
It left him uneasy.
“Julian, you are a good man. And I promised you freedom. I am going to not only fulfill that promise, but I’m going to do one better. When Raven leaves here, and she will be leaving here, I will place her in your trusted hands. But she’s the only one that will be in your trusted hands. No one else. Because after all, why would Raven need to come back to Violencia if there’s nothing left for her there? While you may both be escaping as promised, I am sorry to say that I am not quite done with her yet. Nor am I done with you.”
Anadil leaned forward, out of Drago’s embrace, and The Host jumped back.
She brandished a key.
For a long time, The Host had examined his collar, thought of any possible way to remove it. Saw the unusually shaped hole where a key was needed .
It didn’t take but a second to recognize what she held in her hand.
“How?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “Have you…have you had that the entire time?” This time it was rage that boiled up inside of him. Of the instances she had seen him falling apart because of the chemicals they pumped into him, and she had the key?
Anadil didn’t speak as she pushed it in, twisting and letting the collar fall to the ground.
The Host gulped in air. It was as if it were his first breaths in longer than he could remember.
While The Host was distracted, Anadil reached up, undoing his mask and throwing that away next.
“You are no longer The Host. You are free. When the explosion goes off, meet where we agreed. Raven will be there ready for you to save her. To take her into your arms and tell her your woes. Of how evil I am, of all the things you did for her, for Sparrow. And then when you are reunited with the girl you so desperately love and you make it to Grypheem overwhelmed by the world outside of our own, you won’t forget about Violencia. Because there will be something there for you to find.”
The Host’s eyes met Anadil’s.
Hers were no longer warm; they were sharp, critical.
Nightingale’s.
She spun from him, running to the door and slamming it behind her. An unmistakable click echoed around the space.
It took too long for The Host to unfreeze.
“No! You can’t do that!” he screamed the words to a ghost. He understood in a moment of clarity what she meant. But it was too late.
She was gone.
Drago cocked his head. “She is just as ruthless as ever. ”
The Host didn’t bother to check if he was stuck in this room. He was sure that he was. Just as he was sure Nightingale was about to make her next devastating move. He just hoped this time it wouldn’t end with a knife in Raven’s gut.
It was less than fifteen minutes later that the screen in his room flashed on. The image sent unwanted shivers of déjà vu along The Host’s spine.