L'homme Masqué (The Masked Man)
by Noel Bellamy, 2008
December 18th, 2005, not the happiest day, the worst day or even the most memorable day of my life. For me, that would be the day I became a father, the day I got fired and had to take up the job I'll mention in the story, and the day I got hit by a car and managed to make it out alive. In fact, that last of which is why I'm writing this down. Most of those tales you can hear from others and they could write better than I can, but this is a story that wouldn't have been an average occurrence.
This all goes back to September of 2005. Sine 2002, I had been working at a desk job at a local help line place. For a wage of 'good enough' and times of too early to too late with a lunch break inbetween with weekends and holidays off, I sat at a desk all day taking every call that came my way almost every day for three years. Unfortunately, The budget ran a bit low that year and I was one of the many laid off that year.
The question with that is what to do when you're layed off and you have a wife who's three month's pregnant with your first kid? To some, it's telling your wife and having her support as you continue looking for a position? To me, it was lying about it and taking up a 'part time job' while saying that I quit my old job and joined one for better money. What did I take up instead? Something a bit more shady, that is, a con artist.
The hours went from whenever I wanted to whenever I wanted with as many breaks inbetween as need be. Every day I would come up with new varieties, most involving cards or dice. If I was lucky, they'd take another shot after losing or have a friend with them. Even if I stayed out later, though, business ran pretty slow. It was mostly the same people, but you had gotten new faces every once in a while. That was almost every day for me for three months. Had it not been for that fateful day, that might have been how it went for a good chunk of my life.
Easily the coldest night I've ever done in that job. Snow poured from the sky as I sat out by the street corners late at night. Even wearing a knitted cap from my wife, A pair of mittens, a warm wool coat I got for my birthday the week before and a bottle of gray goose, it was cold. Planted up against the wall, fire escape above my head, just occasionally glancing to the side to see if there was anyone who looked like they might be interested. Every so often, I'd take a swig of vodka while making sure to space inbetween. Was about ten at night I stayed up to. I told my wife I was going out to the bar after work with friends.
Eleven O'clock is where it happened. That's when seemingly without sound or warning, I felt my body slowly being lifted by what looked like a small demon, completely in black, from head to Toe.He stood on the ladder of the fire escape, with his walking cane in his hand, using it to drag me away for all I have done. I immediately dropped the vodka from my hand, to the shatter of the glass bottle as I attempted to get out of my jacket with the weird creature slowly grabbing me and dragging me to the first level of the fire escape.
It's here I got the first look of the demon. Suddenly it's here where my memory clicked in once I saw the face of the demon. As an almost complete contrast to the black body suit, was a white mask with two black holes for eyes. In a slurred voice, I looked at him and asked "Are you that masked thief of France? The one who's stolen some of the most priceless artifacts of France?" Without hesitation, he spoke giving a small whisper to the night "Yes." It's here he retrieved something from a secret compartment in his walking stick, he reached out to me, and in his hand came a gleam even lighter than the snow that had been pouring all night. Three diamonds to win a simple game of poker.
"I'd like to challenge you" said the man. "I've been watching you from the top of the rooftop for the past hour or so, drinking vodka and shuffling cards, looking for business. I'm more than willing to give some, if you'd like it." I couldn't even respond, just looking at the diamonds. They didn't look like any of the family jewels or any other famous jewel, but regardless looked of value. I knew in my mind, there had to be a catch, any catch. The diamonds looked like something that belonged to a rich family like the Ricketts or The Fausts. Why would a man like this waste something like this on a simple game with me?
"What's the catch?" I asked. I could hear the snicker of the man as he put the diamonds back into his cane. "We'll play a round of one of your games, If you win, you get the diamonds. All I ask is that If I catch you cheat to win, you won't get anything. What do you say?" I simply just gave a smile, as I replied "Alright. What game?" To which he replied, "Texas Hold 'Em.
Thinking I had him beat, I pulled out from my jacket my deck of cards. "Look for yourself. Should be right number of cards, right number of aces, right number of everything. There's no way I could cheat" I told him. The Masked Man pulled in the cards by him, and grabbing his cane, hit me right on the arm, the cards from my sleeve tumbling down much to my dismay. He layed the cards down on the Fire Escape floor as he dealt out the cards, two for him and two for me.
I stared at the cards dealt to me as he put down three cards face down. The ten of Hearts and the King of Hearts. I gazed up to see the demon, peering at his cards as well. "I think I'll stay at just one diamond for now." Said the man in the mask "So, what would you wager?" I was somewhat taken back by his question, thinking it was simply one sided. "Excuse Me?" I asked. I could hear a cackling coming from the blank expression of the mask before he responded again "How much is this diamond worth to you? What would you bet in exchange for this diamond?
I thought about it long and hard. "What about the hat on your head" he asked. I took a second before replying "Not a chance" I smiled, looking at the mask without fear "My wife made this for me." I took off my mittens as I gave that to him. "You can take these, though. I bought this with my own money." He simply just sat there, not responding in either confusion or intrigue. "Alright," he said as he flipped over the first card, a King of Spades.
Trying to keep a poker face, not that I could beat my opponent at that, I let out a solid scream of excitement like a kid who's told he's getting to go to Disneyland. Not the one here, but the one in America. I took a look back at the stranger, staring intently at his cards. "Alright" he whispered. "I would like to raise the stakes to two diamonds. What in your mind is worth two diamonds?"
I thought about it, once again, his head still raised looking at my cap. Rubbing my hands together for warmth, I looked down and noticed it, the deck of cards we were using. It may have been my profession, but had I lost, all I'd have to do is buy another deck of cards of the same type. I took a deep breath, before responding, "I'll give my cards." Once again, the blank expression of the man with the mask froze "Fair Enough," he said. He turned over the second card, a miss with a seven of Spades.
Still trying not to show any emotion, I started to become nervous, as a kid who studied all night for a test, but once he got to school, he got to a question he just didn't remember reading about. "I'm good with staying on this, unless you have something in exchange for my last diamond I brought with me. Staring down through the cracks in the fire escape, it came to me, the cards I was going to use to help win, mixed in with the broken bottle. I looked up to the non-existent face and asked "What if I bought you a drink?"
Almost unsure what to make of it, the masked man repeated back "A drink?" I gave a nod, "A drink. Any time and Any place. I'm good to my word. My name is Noel Bellamy." I reached out my hand, and upon looking at it, he grabbed it and accepted the handshake. "Very well, three diamonds for mittens, a pair of gloves, and a drink." Sweat trickled down my forehead, a he flipped over the last card. I closed my eyes, before slowly peering down to it from starting at the face of the thief, I slowly edged my head down to see it: ironically, the first diamonds card of the game, however in this case, there was ten of them.
I layed down my cards, with a confident grin, "Two Pair," I had said. I looked at the masked man, who would look back down at both my cards and his own cards several times. After a while he simply stayed completely still, grabbing his walking stick before throwing down his cards, A king of clubs and a king of diamonds. My soul crushed as I had let the opportunity slip me. He picked up the cards and the mittens from off the fire escape.
"Noel Bellamy," he said, " I hope you stay true to your word. I'm thinking sometime after my next heist. I shall see you then, my friend." Before heading off, he reached from behind his mask, and pulled out the famous calling card he had been leaving after everyone of his heists. He handed the card to me, before proceeding to climb back up the fire escape and disappear yet again. I took a look at the card, the red mask, but as I was grasping it, I noticed it felt a bit heaver than it should have, so I turned around to see if he had attached anything to it. It's here where I managed to quit my job, for what was on the back was but a diamond.
Unfortunately, as of today I was not able to live up to the promise, because the Thief had been captured as early as the week right afterwards during an attempted heist. In the end, the man in the mask was nothing more but a young blonde boy of a rich family looking for some fun. To the boy who gave me the diamond that could support my family until I managed to find a new job, once you get out, I'm still willing to buy you that drink.
Present Day...
We see a man, aged around his mid forties, overweight, with balding, black hair, sitting on a desk in an almost completely empty room, with nothing in it but the man, a chair, a desk, paper lined up to the side of the desk, a typewriter and a full trash can. In the typewriter, he has a piece of paper on it, titled "
The Frostwolf by
Noel Bellamy. He sits angrily, trying to think of anything, but alas, he simply just tears the page out and gives a sigh as he lays his head back
Noel: Ugh...
Noel Bellamy, a 44-year-old author currently living in New York City, who had gained notoriety the year before due to his short story of meeting the man now known as
The Masked Gentleman, since then, writing several popular lays back in his chair, hopelessly writer's blocked like he had been for the past three months.
Noel: I think when I moved to here from France, I left my creativity as well.
Suddenly from the kitchen, he hears the scream of a woman with a thick French accent, belonging to that of Noel's wife,
Emilie Bellamy
Emelie: NOEL! THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE LINE FOR YOU!
Noel: IF IT'S WORK, TELL THEM I'M NOT COMING IN TOMORROW AGAIN. I'M STILL WORKING ON MY STORY.
Emelie: IT'S A FRIEND OF YOURS!
Noel gives a sigh as he gets up from his desk and makes his way to his wife, in the kitchen, where the phone is. Once he gets there, his wife hands him the phone, to which he dejectedly grabs before his wife heads upstairs.
Noel: Hello? This is Noel speaking.
???: Hello there, Noel, I believe you still owe me a drink.
Despite the fact the voice is much deeper than when he had left met him, Noel still recognizes the voice, and his eyes start to light up.
Noel: Thief? Is that you?
The Gent: That it is, my friend. I believe you live here in New York City, is that correct?
Noel: Yes. Yes it is.
The Gent: SPLENDID! I'd recommend to take the Taxi or however you wish to transport yourself to 'Ace's Bar of New York'. Though I had not intended on it, it seems most fitting considering the time we had known each other. I'd like to discuss something with you, if you do not mind. Are you free at the moment?
Noel takes a look to the hallway leading to his desk, remembering his writer's block.
Noel: Yeah, I'm free. I'll see you there.
The Gent: You as well, my friend!
Noel hangs up the phone, giving a yell to his wife.
Noel: HONEY, I'M GOING OUT TO DRINK!
Emelie: TAKE A CAB HOME BY SIX!
Noel: I WILL! LOVE YOU!
We fast forward to a few hours later, it's here we see The Gent with long blonde hair, tied back in a ponytail dressed a tad more casually than most in the bar in a suit, but nothing too out of the ordinary other than the red mask tied around his head. He's staring at his cell phone, pondering to himself until a familiar face comes in, sitting down next to him, albeit heavier and with less hair.
Noel: Well look, at you. Last time I saw you was on the news and you were no taller than my own son.
The Gent smiles as he puts the phone back into his pocket and reaches out his hand to the man from his days as a thief.
The Gent: A drink?
Noel gives a smile as he accepts the hand.
Noel: A drink.
Noel moves his head closer in so the barkeep can see him.
Noel: HEY, BARKEEP! A MUG FOR ME AND THE GUY IN THE SUIT. SURPRISE ME ON WHAT KIND.
Noel moves his head back in to look face to face with The Gent.
Noel: So, Thief, what made you hunt me down? I heard you got out a few years ago and were looking to become one of those professional wrestler. I take it you read my story?
Before The Masked Gent can speak, the bartender slides two mugs to both the Gent and Noel. They both take the mugs and give cheers before both taking a drink.
The Gent: Just a heads up, call me The Masked Gentleman, now. I'm done with my thieving days. I did read your story, though. However, that's not why I am here. You see, I've been met with a strange occurrence lately in the form of this.
The Gent reaches into his pocket and hands him it, much to Noel's confusion.
Noel: A phone? Granted , it looks outdated, but it's nothing odd.
The Gent: My apologies for not specifying. You see, during my match at one of the most recent shows, your number was put into my cell phone, leaving no fingerprints or other evidence. I was wondering, because I had a theory. Was your story, L'homme Masqué, ever published outside of the US?
Noel takes another drink of beer before handing the phone back to The Gent.
Noel: It was, but really, it's online as well. My story went worldwide when it was first published
The Gent: Well then, that certainly broadens the suspects.
Noel: Sorry, I can't help you there, "The Masked Gentleman"
The Gent he takes yet another drink from the mug.
The Gent: It's quite alright, Sir Bellamy. We're but simple thieves of our own trade, reformed. Be it as a wrestler or as a writer, we've learned our ways.
Noel gives a big, heart filled smile, before finishing off his beer.
Noel: Sorry. I just had a fun idea. What if the man who put in was a con artist, like I was, and wants you to give them money?
Noel starts to laugh at the idea of that happening, however The Masked Gent simply stays with a straight face. After Noel realizes that, he stops laughing.
Noel: What's wrong? Lighten up, it's a joke. You showed more emotion with the mask.
The Gent: ...That theory you just said. There's a man who's a con artist himself in WZCW who had applied for WZCW around that time....could it be him?
Noel, not expecting The Gent to take his theory seriously, thinks about it.
Noel: I guess, but it's a tad of a stretch.
The Masked Gentleman finishes off his drink.
The Gent: A stretch is a boy just barely a teenager managing to steal some of France's most priceless artifacts and go undetected for more than a year, then post-sentencing, deciding to get into the world of Professional Wrestling. I was a tad curious as to why I was set to be teamed with a Mr. Beard against two fellow relative newcomers.
The Gent thinks to himself
The Gent: Let's see...If memory serves me right, his name is Vega that I'm aiming for...Though come to think of it, his partner, I believe his name is Jacoby Capone, doesn't seem too trustworthy either, and he also applied at around the same time. He seems like an unlikable person, but not objectively bad from what I've seen of him. There's quite a few, actually.
Noel: Well, think about it from a Holmes standpoint. Eliminate the impossible. Who do you know can't be the one who broke into your room.
The Gent: Brilliant, Noel. At the moment, that would myself, a Mr. Sam Smith...and that's about it?
Noel: That's it? Well, what about your partner, this 'Beard'? ...Is that his real last name, or does he goes by a title, like you do? Would 'Beard' be Hungarian?
The Masked Gentleman ponders
The Gent: ...It was his last day, if I recall. Or rather, it was going to be. However, the other day I had visited him, and he simply told me essentially 'buzz off' until Aftershock.
Noel: Can't trust anyone? Man, rough call.
The Gent stands up.
The Gent: I'm afraid I cannot stay and drink more, however I've got a few questions that I'm afraid I can't resolve here.
Noel: Take care, Mask. May you find what you're looking for, and if you can keep in touch. I might need to talk to you again soon.
The Gent: That I shall, and thank you. I shall hopefully see you soon, as well.
As a goodbye, The Gent hands over a replica version of his mask, before heading out. Out of curiosity, Noel turns around the mask to see a little note written in cursive with a black pen, saying "Sorry there's not a diamond this time." Noel gives a chuckle at it, before grabbing one of the bar napkins and a pen from his pocket and scribbles down on the piece of paper 'L'homme Masqué 2: The Masked Gentleman'.
