Chapter 16: The Mask of the Monster
The Burden of Truth
Bucky sat at his desk, sweat dripping from his brow. Pages of ancient texts and printed news articles covered the table, illuminated by the flickering light of a single desk lamp. His reflection in the window stared back at him—a reflection he didn’t recognize anymore.
“They’re right,” he whispered to himself. “I’m the masked man. I’m the killer.”
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Nightmares of flames, blood, and the masked figure haunted him nightly. No amount of meditation or mental exercises silenced the voice in his head.
“Azur,” it hissed. “This is your destiny. Accept it.”
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The Demons Descend
Richard barged into the room, his face pale. “Bucky, turn on the news. Now.”
Bucky grabbed the remote and switched the TV on. A live broadcast showed chaos in the city: towering, grotesque demons were tearing through the streets, their claws ripping through buildings and their roars shaking the ground.
“This is happening just a few blocks away!” Richard shouted.
Bucky’s heart pounded. “They’re here for me,” he muttered.
“What?”
“They’re not just random monsters. They’re connected to this... thing inside me.”
Before Richard could respond, the floor shook violently, and the sound of shattering glass filled the air. A demon, with glowing red eyes and a hulking frame, stood outside the window, staring directly at Bucky.
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This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The Encounter
Bucky and Richard bolted out of the building, the demon following closely behind. But as they ran, the creature ignored them, turning its attention to a family trapped in a nearby car.
“Help us!” a woman screamed, clutching her child.
“No!” Bucky yelled, sprinting toward the demon. “Over here, you monster!”
But the demon didn’t attack him. It smashed its claw into the car, sending it flying. Bucky’s vision blurred with rage.
“Why won’t you fight me?” he growled.
The demon paused, tilting its head as if amused. Then it smiled—a sinister, knowing grin—and lunged at another group of innocents.
Bucky roared, his fists igniting with black flames. He charged the demon, slamming into it with a force that sent it crashing into a building.
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Unleashing the Power
Bucky felt something awaken inside him. His body glowed with a dark aura, and shadows danced around him like living entities. He raised his hand, summoning jagged spikes of shadow that impaled the demon.
Richard, watching from a distance, was stunned. “What the hell was that?”
“I don’t know!” Bucky shouted back. “But it worked.”
More demons emerged, each targeting the fleeing civilians. Despite his newfound powers, Bucky struggled to keep up. For every person he saved, three more fell victim to the creatures.
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Richard's Death
As the chaos unfolded, Richard saw a young boy cornered by a demon. Without thinking, he rushed to save him.
“Get away from him!” Richard yelled, throwing a rock at the demon’s head.
The creature turned its gaze to Richard, snarling. With a single swipe, it knocked him to the ground.
“Richard!” Bucky screamed.
The demon raised its claw, ready to deliver the final blow. Time seemed to slow as Bucky sprinted toward them, but he wasn’t fast enough. The claw came down, piercing Richard’s chest.
“No!” Bucky roared, his voice echoing unnaturally.
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Bringing Him Back
Bucky fell to his knees beside Richard, who lay motionless in a pool of blood. The boy Richard had saved stared in shock before fleeing.
“You can fix this,” the voice of Azur whispered in Bucky’s mind.
“I don’t want your help,” Bucky growled.
“But you need it.”
Black energy radiated from Bucky’s hands as he placed them on Richard’s chest. The stone in his head pulsed, and his eyes glowed a deep crimson. Shadows swirled around them, and Richard’s body arched as life surged back into him.
Richard gasped, his eyes wide. “Bucky... what did you do?”
“I saved you,” Bucky said, his voice trembling. “I couldn’t let you go.”
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The Demons Retreat
The demons, seeing Bucky’s display of power, stopped their rampage. One by one, they turned to him, their twisted faces breaking into eerie smiles.
“What’s going on?” Richard asked, his voice shaky.
The largest demon stepped forward, its body still burning from Bucky’s earlier attack. It bowed its head slightly.
“You are stronger than we thought,” it said in a guttural voice.
Bucky froze. “What are you talking about?”
The demon’s grin widened. “We’ll see you again, Azur.”
With that, the demons retreated into fiery portals, taking the bodies of their victims with them. The streets were silent except for the distant wails of sirens.
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The Aftermath
Bucky and Richard stood amidst the destruction. Over 150 people had died, and the streets were littered with rubble and blood.
“I couldn’t save them,” Bucky whispered, his voice filled with anguish.
“You saved me,” Richard said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “That counts for something.”
Bucky shook his head. “They smiled at me, Richard. They knew me. This... power inside me... it’s not mine. It’s his.”
“Then we’ll figure it out together,” Richard said firmly.
As they walked away from the carnage, Bucky glanced at his reflection in a shattered window. For a moment, the mask
ed man stared back at him, his eyes glowing red.
“This isn’t over,” Bucky muttered.
The reflection smirked.
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To Be Continued...