I sit, thinking about the Beast's offer. Images flash before my eyes, countless images of emotionally abused friends, cutters, underage alcoholics, those like K who plan to let their kids drink, everyone who I've failed. Everyone I knew but I failed to save. How can I stop The Beast if I can't even save those closest to me?

"Stop it," I mumble.

The images continue. I hold the sides of my head, tears stream down my face. I grip the sides of my head and begin to speak aloud, "stop hurting them! Give them back! Stop taking them away from me!"

The images of my past failures do not stop.

"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!"

...

No.

No I can't ignore this.

The truth is merely knowing you can't save anyone. Especially your friends. Not even people like K...

...

"Beast," I sigh, "I concede."

An apparition of The Beast appears with a shit-eating grin. I see immense joy in their eyes. They appear to be taking great pleasure in this transaction.

"Say it louder for the people in the back!" They smirk.

"You win," I sigh, "masks or no masks, I'm powerless to stop you. Just stop taking people from me. Stop giving them masks."

"And why would I do that?" The Beast chuckles, taking a mirror from their pocket and cleaning something from their teeth in a taunting fashion.

"You get me," I sigh.

The Beast's grin grows and they turn to face me. Gesturing me to continue.

"No more truth," I elaborate, "no more masks. Only the blissful lie you promised me. Fando will reach the door and be unable to open it without K's mask. They won't be able to open it if I deny the mask exists. After all, this is my mind, and my views can alter it. I concede defeat. You've taken so many from me. So many old friends, even K."

"Eh," the Beast chuckles, "you just failed to protect them, and that's mostly coincidence. As you recall kid, there are two things I represent. Two groups. That's why I am unique. I just take people. You're just some hick with a pen. Worthless and weak. I didn't target you more than I did anyone else."

I nod in understanding. They're right. I am just some worthless hick. I can't protect anyone, and when the damage is done, I can't help them heal. They won't let me. I am nothing more than a hick who has no chance of stopping The Beast, and at this point, with so many of my friends on their side...

I don't see a point.

"I concede defeat," I repeat.

The Beast nods and extends their arm.

"It's a DEAL!" Their voice booms as black fire appears around their hand. I reach out to accept their offer.

"Ah Hell no!" A voice from my pocket exclaims.

Catharsis takes form between us, and glares at The Beast. There is wrath in his eyes as his voice is shaky and unstable.

"Did you really think," he chuckles, "that this would end like that? That we'll concede to you after everyone you've taken from us!?!"

"Shut up you're blowing this," I growl.

"No," Catharsis demand, glaring, slowly becoming more and more of an independent entity as he speaks,  "you're blowing this! Everything you and Andrew have made! Everything you have fought for! Are you really going to throw it all away?"

I grab Catharsis by the throat and speak in a threatening manner, "you wanna go?"

"Let's go," Catharsis smirks, "but not here. I need go do something first."

"As a symbol or a character?" I inquire.

"Both," Catharsis replies.

"Fine," I drop the facade, "do it, but be ready Catharsis, cause if you fall, I'm taking the offer."

Catharsis nods in understanding and leaves. The apparition of The Beast smirks and follows me as we go towards wherever Catharsis went in such a hurry, slowly following to give him time to prepare.

"You sure that was a good idea?" The Beast asks.

I shake my head. "I really don't care."

"I have a horse in this race," the Beast reminds, "and I don't take kindly to rigged bets."

"And I don't take kindly to you taking people from me," I glare, "shut your God-forsaken mouth, and let this play out. This is gonna be one long chapter..."

Edgar and I proceed deeper and deeper into the abyss, now engaged in a casual, enjoyable discussion. I get a chance to see Edgar for more than the facade he was. As a character, he's not bad.

"Then I said," Edgar chuckles, "it's time to dance! Only issue was that there was only salsa music."

I burst out laughing and ask, "Why were you in a dance off with Abby again?"

"She made a bet that I could dance to anything," Edgar smiles, "I wanted to prove her wrong. I was wrong, but at least I won. Fun day that was."

"Sounds like it," I smile, "but Reaper having amnesia, that's gotta be rough."

"Yeah," Edgar sighs, "truth is, I'm kinda stalling. Keeping Gen safe by staying here. Anyways, we outta be about to where The Technician is so..."

*I hear footsteps and voices speaking.

*"Right right," I hear Fando's voice somewhere up ahead, "that jerk. Guy cut me off from all other fonts. I wish I could talk to the others. Tell them I'm OK."

*Fando's OK! I'm so happy! I quickly rush over to her, greeting her with a hug.

Suddenly, I feel an intense aura and someone emerges from the darkness, tackling me with a hug.

"Dude my ankle!" I exclaim.

"Sorry sorry," the figure apologies, "I just thought you were gone. We were looking everywhere for you!"

I manage to get back to my feet and see who's standing before me.

"Wolf?" I ask, "you're OK! Where are the others?"

"They..." Wolf hesitates, "they can't be trusted, but it's OK. Forget that. We have to get that mask. Come on, let's get a move on before something else happens."

"To late!" A voice exclaims, as Catharsis reveals himself.

Wolf and I prepare for combat, but Edgar signals us to lower our fists, and after exchanging a look, but we comply.

"Oh by the Two Devine thank you!" He exclaims, "Fando! We've got a situation!"

"Explain," Wolf growls.

"The Author," Catharsis catches his breath. He clearly came in a hurry. "The Author... just... whew."

Edgar conjures up a bottle of water and hands it to Catharsis.

"Thanks," he smiles and drinking some. "OK, so, The Author made a deal with The Beast, and if he goes through with it, then you'll never be able to reach the truth."

"What?" Edgar asks, "him giving up to The Beast? Wouldn't he normally double down on the allegory?"

"YOU would," Catharsis reminds, "but you're not one of his masks right now. He's maskless, and he's sick of failing. He keeps holding himself responsible for every single time he loses someone to The Beast. Every time they become someone he has to stop. Just like K..."

"Yeah..." Edgar sighs, "she was the first to get a mask..."

"Can someone please explain to us what the deal with that is?" I ask, "who are you talking about?"

"A story for another day," Catharsis sighs, "now, we made a deal. We're going to fight The Author. If he wins, he makes the deal. If we win, he keeps fighting. We have to win."

"And why should we trust you?" I demand.

"You shouldn't," Catharsis sighs, "because the me you trusted died when he was-"

"Well," a voice sighs, a somber tune beginning to play, "here I am."

"Author," Wolf pleads, "what are you doing? You can't quit now! What about those I represent?"

The Author shakes his head. "They can't be saved," he sighs, "I know because I tried. There is nothing I can do for you Wolf. It's pointless. All of it. I can't save anyone."

"Yes you can!" I exclaim, "I don't know what you've been through, but-"

"Enough!" The Author exclaims, an apparition of the Beast next to him, "it's time to end this! Three on three!"

"There's four of -" Catharsis is interrupted when the Author takes him as a mask and puts him on. He is silent for a moment as a battle begins, before, just as it starts followed by a slightly menacing tune that belongs in a scene where the antagonist of a musical is singing, Catharsis, now a mask and no longer a character, sings...

"For I am a writer!
And I am his true self!
I'm him!
He's me!

I'll stop you!
Destroy you!
Erase all those,
Who hurt me!"

The first verse ends as Catharsis begins laughing and an instrumental takes over as we make our first turn.

Catharsis struggles!

I see the mask shake on The Author's face, attempting to escape to no avail.

It had no effect!

Fando Strikes with Compassion!

I attack with the red energy, but the Author sidesteps my attack, causing me to trip.

Fando was knocked prone!

"Fando watch out!" Wolf exlaims.

Wolf shields Fando!

Wolf steps in front of me, ready to take any attacks that come my way.

"If you want it done right..." Edgar sighs.

Edgar Writes With Obsession!

Blah blah. Inky tendrils you know the drill.

The Author took 2000 damage!

The Author seems to be preparing something...

Catharsis continues his song.

"I tried to protect them.
Tried to do what's right.
How many,
I've failed!

I will destroy the masked!
Unmask those with facades,
But those I care about,
Wear masks too."

"Am I the only one who gets what he's saying here?" I ask.

"This..." Wolf looks at Edgar, "took a turn."

"Yeah," Edgar shrugs, "but keep in mind that we have characters like Reaper who's goal is to kill all writers. That's, like, you know, genocide. This is normal stuff in this world."

"That's true," Wolf replies, "OK let's keep going."

Catharsis struggles!

The mask shakes once more. This time almost coming off.

Fando got up!

"Hold up," I interject, "he's preparing something, right? We should focus on defense. Besides, he has Gen too, so if he changes masks who knows what he could do?"

"Got it," Edgar replies.

"You have a damaged soul," Wolf reminds, "so I'll stay right where I am. I mean, I wouldn't be worried if your soul wasn't all jacked up, but one death and you shatter into millions of itty bitty pieces."

Wolf shields Fando!

Edgar Writes To Create!

An inky black wall appears, shielding us from attack.

Inky energy surrounds the Author.

The Author is almost ready...

The Author's agility increased!

The Author's magic attack increased!

"Everyone brace yourselves!" I exclaim.

Catharsis struggles.

Catharsis suddenly pops off the Author's face. Taking physical form once again and using a skill.

Catharsis Writes With Grace!

The battle ends. Catharsis glares at the Author, and speaks, "dude, this isn't right."

"Yes it is!" The Author retorts, "we can't save anyone Catharsis! Just accept the lie!"

Catharsis shakes his head. "And what is that going to accomplish? I know you Author. You can't give up. The lie, you don't really want it. You just want to be able to defend them."

"You naive brat!" The Author roars, "Oh well. I can't blame Inoccence for being just that."

"What!?!" I exclaim, "dude! Is it really you?"

Catharsis sighs, but then smiles wearily at me. "Yes Fando, my dear friend. It's me. I was still a symbol, and when The Author turned ten, that's when the emotional abuse started. That's why I became this. The bullies, they were Smokey and The Technician.  I thought destruction, no, he made me think, destruction was his true self, but he's lying. He's lying to himself."

Catharsis glows with a Devine light now, he glares back at the apparition of The Beast. "You have seduced many," he growls, "but I know that I can't save everyone, but I can save so many if I can just get people to see. This is what the Author believes. He believes in K, and other you have taken. They can still be saved. He has..."

In a pillar of holy light, Catharsis is consumed, pushing us all back in an explosion of energy. When I can see again, he's changed. He wears white robes, hood down, smiling. His skin is more tan, like he's been outside more. He looks at me, and smiles.

"My true name, is Hope. Hope, that the Author, no, that humanity can stop you BEAST!"

Hope blasts the apparition with a devine power, removing it.

"Why are you doing this?" The Author sighs, "we can't save anyone. Give up."

"You wouldn't say that with a mask," Hope glares,  "Fando back me up."

For some reason, I know just what to say. I have visions of everyone I've seen before, once again, the girl in the purple jacket is absent.

"You can do this," I smile, approaching the Author, "you can't quit now. If you can't save those you love, can't you at least save their children? If you give up, the cycle continues, and someone needs to get the ball rolling. Why not you? You can do this."

"I can't," the Author takes out a knife, "I can't. I know who can!"

"Dude wait!" Edgar exclaims, but he's to late. He's returned to a mask, and the Author takes him into his pocket. He takes out a knife, and in one swift motion, cuts his face clean off, but there's no blood and his face simply becomes featureless. The skin is there.

He puts on his face, which is now another mask, and snaps his fingers, summoning Gen and Edgar. An upbeat, decently paced piano, or maybe keyboard, based tune begins to play as they begin to sing.

"I call it," the Author smirks, "From The True Me."

The Author begins...

"I have seen this world.
And truth is it kinda sucks.
Things have been just Hell,
Since I began using my facades.

But now I think,
That I've got it figured out.
I know how for now,
I can continue this fight."

Gen and Edgar begin to sing, as a stage appears beneath them. Gen and Edgar take center stage in the spotlight.

"Since they started getting masks,
We've begun to die inside.
We really don't think.
We're gonna win this fight.

I miss being me,
But I'm stuck using these
Damn facades."

The Author returns to center stage and the spotlight and continues.

"I just keep fighting,
But Smokey and The Technician,
Are in my way.

If I give up,
My true self,
Then everything should be fine."

The three all begin to sing now in the spotlight.

"I'll take my freinds' advice.
I won't give up this fight!
But I can't keep fighting as me!

All that it takes is,
Abandonment!

Forget your true self!
Become another mask,
A husk!

This is my choice!
My mind's made up!
I'll make myself a mask.

From the true me!"

Gen begins to sing alone now.

"I may be the real one,
Since now all three of us,
Are masks.

Seek love from others.
Approval is,
All I ask."

Edgar takes the spotlight next.

"Maybe it is me.
Obsession, you see.
Let this world,

Consume me!"

The Author sings alone now. The other two dancing backup to the beat.

"Or it may be me!
Maybe I'll be free!
It may turn around!

We will see!"

All three sing in harmony.

"Removed my face,
Made it another lie!
So many masks!
I can't decide!

One of us is real.
There's a new one here!
Welcome to your world,
Leo Benedict!

All we gotta do,
Is choose which one is me!
This is our goal."

They all smile at me and sing.

"From the real me!"

They disappear in a cloud of ink.

"So..." Wolf asks, "He just... turned himself into a mask?"

Hope summons a wall of ink and bangs his head on it.

"Does this mean he's not himself anymore?" I ask.

"He's used facades so much," Hope sighs, "that he doesn't feel there is a real one, so what once was him, is his new mask, Leo Benedict. A fake name he used in another book. What was it called?"

"By My Side?" I ask.

Why did I know that?

"That's the one!" The voices exclaim.

"Yeah," Hope nods, "so now, he's a husk with no true face. He's just masks now. There is no Author. Only three facades fighting to be the real one."

"Which one do we help?" Wolf asks.

"Duh," I reply, "Leo. He may be a mask, but he WAS his face. He's the real one."

Hope nods.

"Very good Fando," Hope smiles, "you really are his-"

Hope catches himself.

"Just tell her!" The voices yell.

"Sorry," Hope apologies, "that's a tale for another day. Come on, we have a mask to collect."

We proceed deeper, to face The Technician.

Edgar, Gen, and I return to the door, me a mask upon my mask.

"Oh boy," Edgar sighs, "bad move kid."

"Hey," I sigh, "only one of us is strong enough for this. Edgar, you're out of the running. You already lost man."

"That's fair," Edgar shrugs, "you were unmasked with me on earlier. So it's between you and..."

"Oh boy," Gen smiles, "maybe if I'm real, the readers will like me! When we doing this?"

"Why," I smile, "right after The Technician is defeated. Then, we shall determine my true self. Until then..."

I remove myself from the husk.

"No one is real. We are all facades."

"How does this even work?" Edgar asks, "you were the original?"

"It's symbolic," I remind, "look man, I can't afford to have the original me be default, so, there is no default. If Fando defeats Gen, Gen will become the real me. If not, I'll return, but for now..."

I look the brothers dead in the eyes, "there is no real me..."