Replay, Chain Letter, pt3: The Placeholder

I scratched my ass and paused for a moment looking at the young face in the mirror. I cocked a grin again and raised an eyebrow it felt so right in this guise, young cocky and overconfident.

The strength in this kid seemed boundless; I started to duck and weave shadow boxing with my reflection, it felt natural as if my newly acquired muscles somehow knew what to do.

Picking up the notebook I tapped at the name ‘Alex O’Brian’ wondering if it would be possible to get his memories at a later date, “Of course.” Whispered the voice.

I looked at my reflection again, smiling I rifled through Chapman’s clothes and found a green vest similar to the one the kid was wearing. Quickly I swapped it with the t-shirt; I loved its tightness, and the way it hugged my borrowed body.

Grabbing the notebook and heading out the door, I returned to my own house. Inside I spent a good couple of hours exploring the kids body, it would have been longer but my enjoyment was disturbed by someone ringing that damn doorbell again. To be on the safe side I checked out the window, it was a police officer. Quickly I shifted back to my own identity before opening the door.

“Sir,” the officer blinked a couple of times, “may I come in?”

Stepping to one side, I let him in. He looked me up and down, as if to reconfirm what he saw. “You have the notebook?” He asked me. My heart skipped a beat and I paled, thoughts were running through my head how the hell did he know?

“Don’t look so worried, do you have the notebook?” He asked again. I handed it over and he thumbed through the pages stopping near the end. He handed it back pointing at a name.

“Officer Peter Canning?”

“Yes, I wasn’t sure to begin with, but is it your first day?” He asked. I nodded slowly not sure what to say, “As time passes you’ll be easier to see by us.”

A shiver ran down my spine, “Us? Previous owners of the mask?” I mumbled.

He taps at the book again, “No, the avatars; servants of the mask, let me show you.” He takes my finger and runs it down the page, only this time the names subtly change colour. “It won’t work for me, only the owner of the mask can use the book in this way.” I watched as the names under my finger changed, “The gold ones shows previous mask owners, silver avatars like me, the black ones just copies.” He taps the last name, Alex O’Brian. “He’s nothing but a copy, an empty one at that. You didn’t get to copy his memories did you?”

“No, he left before I could get hold of anything I could use.” I gruffly reply.

He smiles, “We got a call from a ‘good samaritan’ saying they’d seen a kid in a green vest leave your neighbours house, we picked him up about an hour ago. He’s in custody at the moment but we’ll be releasing him soon.” He chuckles.

“I got the feeling you might want to look at this,” he holds up a small plastic bag, inside is the same band Alex was wearing when I saw him. “I think it must be quite important to him as he was quite upset when I took it from him.”

I removed it from the bag, but I felt nothing. “You need to be using his image to capture his memories.” Explained the officer.

Rubbing my finger over Alex’s name, I felt the rush again as I took his form. Almost immediately I felt a shock from the band. Suddenly I knew everything, his memories blossomed, his history, his relationships, his inner secrets. I blinked at the officer as I remembered and felt the annoyance at him removing the band from my wrist.

“You got it now?” He asks.

“Yeah, the fuck I do. Fucking shit, this isn’t right I was never in the guys house, this is a setup.” I shout at the officer, pulling him in close.

He pushes me away, “Remember who you are! These are just his memories.”

Shaking my head I focus again, “Yeah, yeah… his emotions where so strong, like I was drowning.”

He chuckles, “Yes, I understand its like that for the first couple of times.”

I looked at Alex’s name in the book again, “Still black text though.”

“Yes, he’s just a copy. The original is still at the station in a cell, you could go out as him if you wish but a better idea would be to get a placeholder for your life.”

“I don’t understand, what’s a placeholder?”

“Simple enough, you choose an existing avatar or someone new and swap your identity with them. They take your image, you take theirs and everything that goes with it. You’ll know everything about them like Alex, but they will look and know everything about you as well.”

I gulp, “Everything?”

“Don’t worry, once turned into an avatar they are totally under the owners control. They will do anything you ask without question, including running your life while you’re having fun.”

“Wait, roll back a moment. All avatars are my slaves?” I ask. The officer nods. “So you’re an avatar as well? Does that mean you have to do everything I tell you?”

“Yes, without question.” He replies.

“Fuck me.” I exclaim. The officer blinks a couple of times and raises an eyebrow edging towards me, “No, No. FUCK NO!” He tips his head stopping in his tracks. Shit, I’ll have to be careful what I say I think to myself.

“So I could swap with you?”

He smiles “Yes and that would be an honour, but maybe it would be more useful to have a full time avatar working within the police force maybe?”

I nod, “Yes, I guess that would be handy.”

“Sir,” he says, “your firsts only purpose is to take your place; keep your spot warm while you’re enjoying yourself.” I nod again thoughtfully scratching my nose. “If you want I can get one of the guys at the station to bring O’Brian here for some community work.” He grins.

Thinking for a moment I reply, “You know I think I’ll go for someone new, I can always come back to Alex anytime right?” He nods. “Do you have any suggestions.” I asked.

He taps his chin, “You know it doesn’t really matter, you can swap anytime you like, I’ve seen previous owners jump a couple of times in a matter of an hour, but I think that was just to change a group of guys into avatars.”

“That’s a clever idea, I’ll have to remember that.” I grinned.

He looked out the window, “How about that guy?”

It looked like this guy wouldn’t take any shit from anyone. He was big and was giving some other guy the third degree about something. I watched as he looked over his sunglasses staring down the guy. He stabbed repeatedly a thick finger into the guys chest. “He looks like a good start.” I croaked under my breath.

I watched as the officer opened the door, shouting at the guy and beckoning him over. “Sir,” He said to the guy, “is that anyway to act?” The guy shrugged, and tried to protest but snapped his mouth closed when the officer raised his hand.

“Come in for a moment, there is someone that wants to talk with you.” He looks suspiciously at the officer as he removes his sunglasses and walks in. “This is, erm…” The officer pauses for a moment, “someone very important.” I held out my hand and we shake only this time I felt a familiar tingling sensation as I did with the delivery guy in the morning. I look into his face, a brief look of panic. He staggers slightly and I support him with my other hand as the tingling continues, and then it stops completely. The expression of panic disperses and I release my grip.

I jump as the officer speaks. “Wasn’t that difficult was it?” I shake my head.

“So he’s an avatar now?” I ask.

“Check the notebook.” He replies. I thumb through to the end and there’s a new name; Levi Caton and its silver in colour.

My gaze returns to Levi, he looks up darkly from under lowered eyebrows staring daggers at me. “He doesn’t look happy.” I murmur.

“I’m not surprised, he’s just had his free will ripped from him, and he knows that he has to follow your every order. He’ll get used to it.” He chuckles.

Levi’s eyes dart over to the officer, something tells me he knows deep down there is nothing he can do.

“So big guy,” with new confidence I gently slap his face, “you’re going to be me for the next year, I don’t want you to screw up my life or anything. You got that?” His lip curls but he gives a slow nod.

“Ok, now grasp the back of his neck.” Says the officer.

I follow his instructions, and I’m surprised by the sensation of what can only be described as a lightening bolt pass between us. My eyes screw up and my teeth clench. Slowly I open my eyes and through the tears I can see my own face although still dressed in the black shirt. I snap my hands away from my double and look down, the green vest is even tighter now, and I have thick meaty arms. I touched my face and feel the coarse stubble. Turning I look at my reflection in the mirror, just like Chapman and Alex I’m a perfect copy of Levi.

“Get out of my clothes” I growl under my breath, and he jumps stripping quickly. I leisurely remove the vest and sweat pants before pulling on the black shirt and other clothes. They’re damp and smell familiar, and it’s just a matter of minutes before I’m staring back at myself again. Raising a finger I stab at my doubles chest feeling all the malice well up inside looking at my old self, “You fucking know me right? Feel me? Yeah?” I shoot the same dark look, and he nods. “You will serve me, without question correct?” He nods frantically, and I grin back.

I go to leave with the officer and there is a voice, “You should take this with you sir.” It’s my double holding out the notebook. I take it without saying a word. Outside I glance back and see my double looking out of the window, perhaps he’s feeling helpless at seeing his own identity leaving. I point at him and he quickly disappears from view.

“Here’s my number in case you need anything.” Say’s the officer, I tap it into Levi’s phone and slip it back into my pocket. He bows his head and leaves.

Levi surrounds me, binding to me like a suit, I know his memories, attributes and persona and it’s all available to me. I ponder about his life and what to do next as I make my way back to my new home. As I’m walking the streets, I start to notice a few people turn and look at me, just dipping their head in a gentle bow. I guess there are more avatars in the area than just the police officer.

It’s not long before I arrive at Levi’s house, inside I have no problems finding the kitchen and grab myself a beer from the fridge. Dropping into Levi’s routine is easy and I find myself giving Shirley my new wife a peck on the cheek as she snuggles up next to me on the couch.

We’re watching TV when there is a slam of a door, without looking I know it’s Levi’s son Brooke; an angry 18 year old. “Don’t slam the doors” I shout.

Brooke pauses in the doorway and shoots me a look, “Fucking Jack!” He yells, “They’ve given him my midfield position on the team. Shit!” Kicking the door as he vanishes upstairs.

Sheila gives me a nudge, and I roll my eyes. “Go talk with him Levi.” She whispers in my ear. With a grunt I get up and go find Brooke.

His door is closed; I gently tap on the door. “Brooke, I want to talk with you.” There’s a grunt, and I open the door and walk in. It’s a typical teenagers room, Brooke’s used clothes are scattered around the floor, sports kit thrown in the corner. He’s tapping away on his laptop as he lays on his bed, he glances up briefly before returning to the screen.

“Wot?” He demands, still looking at the screen. I give a sigh.

“You’re a good kid, but throwing your weight around doesn’t help.” I say, he rolls his eyes and looks at me tipping his head.

“Well, I’m really pissed off. I worked hard for that position.”

“I know you did.” I reached over and place a meaty hand on Brooke’s shoulder, almost instantly his eyes glazed over for a moment and without needing to look I knew his name was being written in the notebook.

I let out a low groan, and transformed into Brooke and looked down at Levi’s larger clothes hanging off my new frame. I flashed his smile back at him and tipped my head, “Strip, I’m bored with your dad’s life already.” I licked my lip as I watched him remove his vest and shorts. Slowly I pulled off Levi’s clothes and threw them at Brooke, “Get dressed!” I growled.

A couple of minutes later I was dressed, and Brooke was standing in his fathers clothes. I reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, I felt him shiver and then standing before me was Levi. He blinked a couple of times and handed me the notebook then just looked at me, “Wot? Look, just piss off and be the good husband or summit.” I yelled, and then watched as he left.

With a grin and a surge of youthful energy I jumped on the bed and picked up the laptop. Searching through some bookmarks I found Brooke’s favourite porn sites; wriggling out of my shorts I hooked out my hard dick and started to jerk off, finishing off the night chatting with my new friends on Messenger.

end of pt3