[u]The Mask of Fear[/u] (Masks and Murder Remastered) Part 2 His hands started to wander from my armor, so I broke away and stood back up. “Better watch it, slick,” I grinned as I flipped my hair out of my face, “You’re in enough trouble already.” “I think being in trouble with you is a good thing,” Matthew looked up at me admiringly. “You’ll be saying that until I lay you flat,” I pounded my fists together to emphasize. “You already did that,” Matthew gave me a sly smile, “Wish you were still doing it.” “Get up, you lazy sponge,” I hoisted Matthew up by the collar and set him on his feet. “Oooh, strong words from the strong girl,” Matthew feigned awe, “Why don’t you take off all that bulky armor so we can fight like real Guardians?” “Your definition of fight is different from mine,” I giggled at his joking, “And I’m not taking off anything for you tonight, pervert.” “Night’s not out yet,” Matthew sidled up next to me and wrapped an arm around my waist, “Still plenty of time to get into trouble with the people I like.” We laughed together for a little bit before I leaned my head against his shoulder and traced a finger over his chest. "You can also have some fun with the people you like. Take them out dancing at the parties in the City and share the sweets that all the vendors pass out," I told him suggestively. "And that's what we'll do, Marissa: when we return to the City tomorrow and the sun sets and the streets glow with lights of many colors, when every square is alive with music and laughter and the smells of wonderful foods drift out of every house, we will dance together and sing and drink and feed each other chocolates!" He exclaimed in delight, taking my hands in his and twirling me around a bit before stopping me with his arms wrapped around me. I giggled at the twirl and the thought of the romantic nights ahead of us. "You're the smoothest Hunter I know, Matthew," I told him, a little flustered and blushing under my helmet, "But why can't we just go start all that now?" "Because you're the most wonderful Titan I know, and out here we can be completely alone with each other," he said flirtatiously. "You always know what to say," I sighed with false sarcasm, all my worry from earlier gone. "But before we enjoy ourselves, you need to catch me," Matthew whispered deviously into my ear, then let go of me and ran off. I stood there for a moment without turning around, smiling and letting him have a moment to hide. I did so love whenever he played his games, even if I complained about them a lot. After a minute I spun around to find Matthew gone without a trace, his last jeer carrying through the wind. “Can’t see me with those Auroras eyes!” he referred to how my green and blue eyes were similar to the Auroras Borealis above. Sighing at his childish taunts, I began my search. I started in the low-lying brush and in the trees, knowing they were prime places for him to mask himself with his invisibility, but I had no luck finding him. So I checked the shadowed sheds and other huts of Golden Age remains, now less afraid and having my Ghost cast light into them so I could see. Nothing. Now I wandered in the direction I had last seen and heard him go, checking every bush, tree, and chunk of cement or metal alike that seemed close enough to have hidden Matthew. Then I saw the cave. Dark, big enough to walk through, probably full of nooks and crannies, and the last place I would want to stroll into. Perfect choice for Matthew. So I went inside, ignoring the cold shiver that ran up my spine. I was a Guardian, after all, and had killed countless Hive. Plus, this area was pretty inactive, so the Hive were probably gone or buried too deep to be a problem. The tunnel reeked of decay and the uneven stone of the interior gave me the feeling of walking down the throat of a monster, but I paid those things no mind as I searched for Matthew. There was no warmth in Hive tunnels like you’d expect from somewhere that housed a multiplying swarm, but the temperature was pretty nice under the insulation of the surrounding earth. Could do without the dampness though, the puddles and drops of water were irritating. There weren’t too many good places to hide in here, but I still looked closely at indentions and gaps in the stone for anyone hiding in the shadows. I would search as far as the first cavern, because even Matthew wasn’t dumb enough to wander too far into the home of an enemy unprepared. But the tunnel just kept going on, following a relatively straight path with only a few curves but not even sloping downhill as you’d expect from a Hive system. They always dug deep, building where they had the space for massive halls and caverns. The tunnel was getting wider though, so I assumed it was heading under higher ground than I had entered at. After awhile I heard a clatter from a dark corner in one of the more spacious areas of the passageway; typical of one of Matthew's little hints to draw my attention. I froze and looked around, spotting an opening in the stone wall that I probably wouldn’t have noticed without the noise. Stupid rocks all blended in with each other. Creeping over quietly, I hoped that maybe the noise had been made on accident and I could get the drop on him. I peaked around the rocky corner and looked into the tiny alcove, finding that it only had enough room for one or two people to squeeze into. But the space was already taken up by a crouched figure. "Found you," I smiled. The figure snapped around in surprise, and in the light cast by my Ghost I saw the reflected light of the brown dome that covered a Thrall's head as well as the many needlelike teeth that were bared in its lipless snarl. It made me jump a bit, but I managed not to scream at the surprise this time. Matthew had to stop using that mask to scare me. But then the teeth parted as no mask could do and it rose on spindly legs, and I realized that I was looking in the face of an actual Thrall. Its bone-white skin and skeletal frame becoming visible in the light as it prepared to lunge at me with its long, clawed hands. My fist darted out in front of my body and bashed it down before it could touch me, making the foul creature crumple to the ground and lay there for a moment before trying to push itself up. But I had already pulled out my hand cannon and stuck a piece of lead in its skull. The foul creature was reduced to ash, falling to the floor one last time in a puff. Link to part 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/237536647/0/0 Link to part 3: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/237537146/0/0 Link to Archive: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217384398/0/0