Strange Ones: Volume 3

The Man in the Mask

"And where do you think you're going?" He asked, turning into a trail of dark smoke that followed her.

Betty looked behind her back, gasping as she saw the smoke-like trail following her. What does he even want with me?! She exclaimed in her head. With another pink spear in her grasp, she immediately turned around to throw it at him, missing him by two inches. She made a sharp turn to the right, but it wasn't enough to lose him. Betty's eyes widen when she looked over her shoulder again, finding the smoke gone. Skidding to a halt, she started looking around at the new hallway. Forming another spear in her hand, she cautiously examined her surroundings, looking for her pursuer.

"I can't fight him alone." She whispered before reaching for her pockets for her phone. Upon pulling it out, she pressed a white app with a purple Delta Rune symbol on it. She was going to send a distress signal to a few of her closest friends. Luckily, she knew exactly who to call. "Frisk," She began. "You may or may not be available, but I have no choice!"

Betty immediately pressed a profile picture of Frisk, sending the digital distress signal in seconds. After that, she was startled by a voice behind her back.

"Why do you call for help?"

Summoning another spear, the pink Construct swung it at the masked man behind her, who suddenly disappeared. Betty was left in confusion before she felt a foot kick her in the back. She rolled on the floor before stabbing it with her pink weapon. She growled at the one who kicked her, the silver-masked man.

"Are you that much of a coward to fight me by yourself?" He asked, giving the girl an evil look. "Or are you just weak?"

Getting up on her feet again, Betty remained scowling at the masked being, spinning her spear around. "I will ask you again," She said seriously. "Who are you? What do you want and why are you here?"

"I told you once already. My name is not important." The unknown man rolled his green eyes. "Why are you so hung up on protecting those worthless humans? You were created by the most ruthless alliance of Strange Ones ever made. You were made for destruction, but here you are now: opposing not only your creators but also your purpose."

"What does all of this have to do me?!" The young Construct demanded.

"So, you're eager to know my motives? Fine." Beneath his mask, he wore a sinister smirk. "You are working with Delta. I came here to destroy you all, starting from the cronies and then the final boss."

"What do you think this world is to you, a video game?"

"No." He spun his ax around. "I'm just doing as I'm told."

Before the masked man in black could lunge at Betty again, the back of his right shoulder was struck by something hot. The stench of smoke was the only residue remaining on his back. He slowly turned around to face the source of the fireball. Standing behind him from far away was Frisk, whose right hand was on fire as she held her cell phone in her left. The young girl was breathing in and out of her mouth, implying that she had been running. Standing adjacent to her right was Saoirse, who had both her fans out. Drifting beside her left was a scowling Kumu. Behind her was a trembling Romeo.

Betty, looking over his shoulder, sighed with relief.

"Well," The shady man said, raising an eyebrow. "This day became more interesting, I should say. We have two brats, a beast, and a weak excuse of a Mimic."

"Leave her alone," Frisk growled.

"Or what?" He asked. "Are you going to tattle on me?" The masked man chuckled darkly. "Go ahead. Report this to your parents or whoever who feel comfortable talking to. I don't have time to play with children." His eyes later turned to Romeo. "As for you, how many strikes have you endured so far."

The red-haired executive shook tremendously, maintaining his silence.

"You refuse to say, hmm? Fine. I'll deal with all of you another time."

Claws were contracted from the man's fingers so he can scratch the air to form a shadowy vortex that appeared out of thin air. The four jumped in surprise as they watched him walk through it. Then, it disappeared after that. With a sigh, Frisk blew at the flame that lit up her hand, making it fade away. The girl's brown eyes turned to Betty before she ran up to her followed by Kumu, Saoirse, and Romeo.

"Betty," Frisk said as soon as she reached her. "Are you okay?"

In response, the Construct forcefully grabbed the other girl's shoulders and pinned her to a nearby wall. "Where have you been for the past hours?!" She shouted, livid. "You worried all of your friends!"

"Whoa! Calm down!" Frisk held up both her hands. "I have a lot to explain. But first, let me ask you something. Where's Chara?"

"She should be with Kubo and Asriel by now," Saoirse said. "Perhaps we should find her together."

"This is exactly what I was afraid of." Romeo chimed in, getting attention from the girls.

"What?" Frisk asked.

"You are all in danger because of me!" He began to shout in a panicking tone. "I lost all of my chances and it's my own fault!"

"Don't blame yourself, Mr. Romeo!" Saoirse furrowed her eyebrows at the man. "We'll think of something, I swear!"

"No, child! You don't understand!" Romeo pointed to where the black vortex was. "That man your friend was fighting long ago, he's a murderer! A monster! A maniac! He's the one who attacked that Atlas soldier and that player for the Strange Games! Now, he's going to kill innocent children like you because of me!"

"How do you know who he is?" Betty asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"That man is one of my captors." He began to mellow slightly. "One of those who are holding me against my will. Now, you are being targeted by him because of me..."

"Does he at least have a name?" Frisk asked.

"Yes." Romeo nodded. "Not much is known about him, but he goes by the name of Nox..."