The Man Behind The Mask

The Man Behind the Mask

Michaela had only known him for six weeks, but she knew that she’d found her soulmate. The family wasn’t so sure. Dad didn’t like him at all, which was strange because he’s always been supportive of her relationships in the past. Even the fact that Matt was a decorated war hero didn’t impress him. Auntie Betty and Auntie Ruth had both tried to tell her that she should give it time, like maybe two years, before she married him. How old school was that? Clearly, they meant well, but their thinking was stuck somewhere in the mid-20th century. How could they not think it romantic when such an amazing guy asked her to marry him after just a week? Everyone's heard of love at first sight.

Automatically, she touched the scars on her forehead, carefully hidden by her fringe. He loves me even though he knows I'm scarred, she thought rearranging her hair once more. The physical scars had faded well, but every day when she brushed her hair, they reminded her of the car accident 10 years ago that had disfigured her and killed her mother. If only she had listened to her mother telling her to drive to the conditions on that rainy day when she had gone too fast, skidding uncontrollably into the path of a Mack truck, her Mum would still be here on her wedding day. Subconsciously, the emotional scars lingered on, and her eyes welled up. Blinking back the tears, she took another sip of champagne as her matron of honour brought the elegant, lace dress over to her. It was her mother’s wedding dress. Old-fashioned in style but still beautiful.

“Wish me luck, Mum. I miss you so much…” she whispered as the dress slipped over her head. Graciously, she accepted the compliments of her bridesmaids. Today was her day, a day she had never thought would come to pass, and nothing was going to spoil it.

Ronald James straightened his tie. His sisters Betty and Ruth fussed over the carnation in his buttonhole. His phone pinged, and he checked the text message. All was going to plan. They only needed to keep up this farce a short while longer, and the truth would be revealed. He sighed, aware that his daughter was about to get her heart broken into tiny pieces. He hated it, but it had to be this way. As hard as it was, he was fulfilling the promise he had made to her after her mother's funeral. He would always have her back and be there for her.

“The car’s here,” said Betty.

Her twin sister Ruth nodded her head. They both sighed in unison. They knew the plan, they hated it, but what else was there to do? Luckily, Ron had convinced Michaela to wait until he could organise a proper wedding for her rather than rushing off to the registry office like that creep Matthew had suggested. And luckily Ron was smart enough to hire a retired detective turned private investigator to make inquiries about Matthew. The private investigator's report read like a crime novel. The siblings felt like actors on a Netflix limited series.

“Okay, let's do it,” said Ron. “I want this over and done with.”

As the car neared the church, Ron turned to face his daughter.

“Are you sure, Mickey? You don't have to do this. I'll send you home in the car and take care of everything.”

“Don't be silly, Dad. I don't want my day ruined by old people stuck in a time warp. This is forever.”

Ron knew it was pointless to continue. His one hope had been saving her from the humiliation to come. The car pulled into the church driveway, and Ron took a few deep breaths to compose himself while the bridesmaids hovered around the bride, fussing with her veil and arranging the long train of her dress. The girls lined up as the organ began to thunder out the Wedding March. Ron held out his arm for his daughter to take and briefly squeezed her hand.

“Whatever happens, remember that I love you,” said Ron.

“I know, Dad. I love you too. Now come on, Matt’s waiting for me.”

They began the long walk down the aisle.

She could see him waiting for her at the front of the church, her soul mate, her kind and gentle hero who accepted her flaws. It was truly a dream come true. Even as she tried to keep her eyes forward, she was aware of a few people she didn’t know seated in the back pews of the church.

Who cares? Maybe they just like going to weddings, she thought.

They made it to Matthew at the front of the church, and her Dad kissed her and walked away. Suddenly, she felt quite queasy and lightheaded. The minister took his place and Matthew took her hand. The ceremony began as Matthew recited his vows in a confident voice. It was hard to find her own voice when it was her turn. Something felt off. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak, but didn't get the chance as two plainclothes police officers stepped forward.

“Matthew David White, aka Peter Allen Black, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Helen Mavis Black and Theresa Karen Black and the murder of your children, Anna Carol Black and Jaden Peter Black. You are also charged with bigamy.”

As the police advanced, Matthew pulled a knife from the pocket of his wedding suit and grabbed Michaela around the throat.

“I'll kill her,” he threatened. He sneered at the police, “How can I be charged with bigamy when I thought they were both dead? Anyway, they were my wives, and I could do what I liked with them. As for the snotty kids, why should I have to put up with their crying and whining? They all had it coming and got what they deserved.”

The police sniper silenced him with one shot to the head. Michaela felt his grip loosen and heard the knife drop to the floor. Matthew was a bloody mess on the red carpet surrounded by police. Her Dad was instantly by her side, holding her close.

“I'm sorry it had to happen this way, but I promised to always keep you safe, and you were his next target.”

She couldn't speak and could barely walk as her family helped her out of the church and into the waiting car. I knew this was too good to be true, she thought. Her head was spinning, and her mind was blank until a horrendous thought entered it.

My period didn't come this month. Please God, don't let me be pregnant with a killer’s child.