Chapter 2: Masks and Memories.

*Lena*

I waltzed into the office the next day, a bright smile fixed on my face as if I didn’t slaughter two chickens in my basement the previous night. That was the beauty of a shower and clean clothes. No one would really know what you were up to the previous night.

But, even as I sat down on my desk to try and use work to suppress the pain in my heart, I wasn’t successful. All I could see when I closed my eyes was Eason’s handsome smiling face on the TV. The last thing I wanted or needed was to be haunted by my past. I was doing so well, I didn’t need another reminder of what I’d lost.

“Lena, there you are,” Jace’s voice called from the other side of the office as he approached my desk.

I quickly pushed the sad thoughts out of my head, greeting my colleague with a bemused smile. “I’m always here Jace.”

His green eyes sparkled with excitement as he thrust an elaborately decorated envelope into my hands. “How do you feel about masquerade balls?”

I raised an eyebrow, turning the envelope over in my hands. “Um… I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been.”

“Well, you’re about to experience one,” Jace said, looking at me the same way he had last night. I secretly hoped this wasn’t his version of a date.

As I opened the invitation, my eyes widened at the elegant script. “Jace, you know I’m not one for big social gatherings…”

He leaned in conspiratorially. “It’s going to be a great night. Plus it’s for a good cause.”

My curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

Happy he’d managed to grab my interest, he stretched to his full height. “Well, it’s to welcome the new ice hockey team to town. They want to set up base here, in our little town. Apparently, their captain made quite the generous donation to Mariposa Village Elementary School.”

My heart skipped a beat. The elementary school was special to me, because that was where I’d found myself. I’d spent two months here all alone except for when Zara would visit. I couldn’t get a job at the time because I didn’t finish college. Somehow, I’d found myself at the elementary school, and next thing I knew, I was volunteering there three times a week.

After that, I got a glowing recommendation to work as a copywriter for Sylvie. But to think that the school was now about to benefit from the generosity of a hockey player seemed like too much of a coincidence.

“What kind of donation?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“A whole new sports field,” Jace replied, clearly oblivious to my inner turmoil. “State of the art, from what I hear. It’s a big deal for the kids.”

I nodded slowly, my mind racing. A new hockey team in town, a generous captain... could it be? No, I told myself firmly. It’s just a coincidence. It has to be.

“So, what do you say?” Jace pressed. “Will you come? It’ll be a night to remember, I promise.”

I looked down at the invitation again, tracing the ornate mask design with my finger. A part of me wanted to refuse, to hide away in the safety of my home. But another part, a part I thought I’d buried long ago, stirred with curiosity and... hope?

“Alright,” I heard myself say. “I’ll be there.”

Jace’s face lit up. “Great! You won’t regret it, Lena. And if you’re looking for a mysterious stranger, I’ll be the man in the green mask.”

I nodded, absentmindedly. My mind was now fixed on this ball. I obsessed over it even as I hurried home, my mind racing with questions. A new captain? Who could it be? It didn’t matter who he was. As long as it wasn’t him.

Back home, I stood before my closet, contemplating what to wear. This wasn’t just any party - it was a chance to be someone else for a night, to hide behind a mask. With trembling hands, I reached for an outfit I’d hidden away years ago, one that reminded me of the life I’d left behind.

I slipped on the midnight blue, floor-length gown. The bodice hugged my curves before flowing into a skirt that seemed to ripple like water. I fastened a silver chain around my waist, and elbow-length gloves in the same deep blue that completed the ensemble.

But the star of the show was the silver mask. It curved around my blue eyes like wisps of smoke, adorned with tiny sapphires that caught the light. As I secured it in place, I barely recognized the woman in the mirror. She looked mysterious, alluring... dangerous.

Nothing like the one who had clawed against the basement the previous night.

The community center had been transformed when I arrived. Twinkling lights and rich fabrics turned the usually barren space into a fairytale ballroom. Masked figures swirled around me, their identities concealed behind exotic masks.

I made my way through the crowd, my eyes scanning for any familiar faces, any clue as to who this mysterious new captain might be. But there was no hint. It was as if this mysterious captain was hiding on purpose.

Suddenly, the music faded, and a hush fell over the room. A spotlight illuminated the stage, and a figure stepped up to the microphone. Even with the mask, I recognized the town mayor’s distinctive posture.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” his voice boomed through the speakers, “welcome to our Masquerade Ball!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, but I barely heard them. I was hanging on the Mayor’s every word.

“Tonight, we gather to celebrate a generous gift to our community,” the mayor continued. “A new sports field for Mariposa Village Elementary School, donated by the captain of our new hockey team.” The Mayor beamed with pride and joy. “And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce the man of the hour, the captain himself…”

Time seemed to slow as I watched the mayor gesture to the side of the stage. A tall figure emerged from the shadows, his face covered by a detailed white hockey-themed mask. But there was something about his walk, the set of his shoulders...

My world tilted on its axis as the captain reached for his mask. In that breathless moment before he revealed his face, I knew. I knew with a certainty that shook me to my core.

The mask came off, and familiar brown eyes scanned the crowd. Eyes I’d never thought I’d see again. No, eyes I hoped I wouldn’t see again.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the mayor’s voice seemed to come from far away, “please welcome Eason Elrod!”

The room exploded in applause, but I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Eason was here, in my town. The man I’d left to protect, the life I’d run from... it had all come crashing back in an instant.

As Eason’s gaze swept the room, I instinctively moved to hide within the crowd, grateful for the anonymity of my mask. But even as I hid, a part of me yearned to step forward, to reveal myself.

But I couldn’t. He wasn’t mine anymore. I already gave that up.

—

*Eason*

I hated parties, especially when I was the center of attention. But years of media training had taught me to smile even when I wasn’t feeling up to it. So, as I took off my mask - scanning the room amidst the murmur of soft conversations and gasps - I fixed a bright, welcoming smile on my face just as I’d been taught.

Before I could make my way through the crowd, mingle a little, smile some more, and nod when necessary, I was ambushed. A portly man in an ornate golden mask approached me, his arm linked with a young woman in a delicate floral mask. I recognized them immediately as Principal Chen of Mariposa Village Elementary School and his daughter, Daisy.

“Mr. Eason!” Principal Chen exclaimed, his voice dripping with enthusiasm. “What an honor to have you here at our masked party. We can’t thank you enough for your generous donation of the training field.”

I nodded politely, accepting his praise with a measured smile. “It was my pleasure, Principal Chen. I believe in investing in our community’s future.”

Daisy stepped forward, her eyes sparkling behind her mask. I already knew what she wanted. “Yes, Mr. Eason, you’ve made such a difference for our school. The children will benefit for years to come.” She suddenly grazed my arm, fluttering her lashes. “It must not be easy to be so talented and so famous.”

“Yes, yes. It’s quite an achievement,” Principal Chen chimed in.

I could see the admiration, and well, more than that in her gaze. But I refused to name it, and for a moment, I felt a twinge of discomfort. I needed to redirect this conversation.

“You’re very kind,” I replied smoothly, extracting my arm from her grasp. “Actually, I’d like to introduce you to someone.” I turned slightly, gesturing to Ethan, who had been standing quietly at my side. “This is Ethan, a right-winger on my team.”

Ethan stepped forward, his sharp gray mask matching his cool demeanor. I watched as Daisy’s attention shifted, her posture changing almost imperceptibly as she took in Ethan’s presence.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Ethan said, his voice low and controlled. He too had had enough practice.

My eyes wandered, glancing through the crowd I hadn’t had a chance to interact with yet. It was strange, and terribly unlike me, but I couldn't shake the intense urge to make my way through the sea of people.

But as my gaze traveled, I felt my body go rigid. My eyes had drifted past the Principal and his daughter, traveling down the ballroom, drawn to a figure within the crowd. My once quiet heart began to work overtime as I focused on a young woman in a deep blue gown, her face partially covered by a silver mask.

My breath caught in my throat. Despite the mask, there was something achingly familiar about her - the graceful curve of her neck, the way she tilted her head as she laughed, the slight gesture of her hand as she brushed a strand of soft brown hair behind her ear. It couldn’t be... and yet...

She looked exactly like Lena.

My heart began to race, memories flooding back in a dizzying rush. Lena, who said she’d left the country, who I thought I’d never see again. Lena, whose absence had left a void in my life that no amount of success or power could fill.

I took an involuntary step forward, my body moving of its own accord. The conversation around me faded to a dull murmur as I stared, transfixed. Was my mind playing tricks on me? Was this some cruel joke of fate?

Just then, as if sensing my gaze, she turned. Our eyes met across the room, that startling blue color fixed on me was one I knew oh so well. For a moment, the world stood still. I saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes, a flash of something that might have been surprise... or fear.

Before I could move, before I could call out, she abruptly turned away. And just as quickly as I spotted her, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving me frozen in place.

My Lena, I couldn’t lose her again.