I went to one of those sexy masquerade parties. I never want to go again.

I got an invite to a very exclusive masked ball in the city. It was one of those things where they don’t give you the address unless you’re approved. My company has branches all over the world and I do a lot of travelling and networking, so I think word of my face must have gotten around. I’m not bragging, I’ve just always been told I’m hot. I guess you could call me a Zoolander on the deeper end of the spectrum.<br><br>I called to confirm the RSVP, and the woman on the phone explained the rules. First, no phones, they would be confiscated at the door. Two, no clocks. If I had one on my phone or my wrist, they would make me take it off. Three, no names. I had to wear my mask at all times. If I took it off, I would be asked to leave. Four, no leaving the house. If I tried to go into a room where I wasn’t supposed to be, I would be asked to leave.<br><br>Why had I even agreed to this? Why the hell did I care? But something about the very secrecy of the event itself got me intrigued.<br><br>I told myself I’d never get another chance like this, so I agreed. She promised to send a car for me at 11pm on Saturday.<br><br>My jaw practically fell out of my face when I stepped out of my front door. The woman driving was wearing a very revealing red dress with a beaded ruby-red mask. It was the kind of getup that would look incredibly tackly anywhere else, but somehow it looked amazing on her. She smiled at me and handed me a mask. “Put it on,” she said. “We don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.”<br><br>She held out a black Tie mask. I took it and unfolded it, and before I put it on I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror attached to the visor. The mask hid nothing. It was nothing but two pieces of black fabric that almost looked like silk, tied by a ribbon at the back. The only concession was the two little jewels for eyes. I put it on, and suddenly I felt very naked.<br><br>We drove for a while. I didn’t recognise any of the areas we were passing through, and the streets were unfamiliar. I had no idea where we were going.<br><br>Eventually we drove down a small alley and stopped at a large wooden door. It looked ancient, like it belonged on some kind of temple in Greece or Egypt or something.<br><br>The woman stepped out of the car, beckoned me out the door and I followed her to the door. A butler was waiting, and he smiled as he took off my mask, examined it and handed it back. “Welcome,” he said, as he beckoned me inside.<br><br>It was a goddamn mansion. I saw people out of the corner of my eye, laughing and kissing and dancing. The music was very slow and, to be blunt, very sexy. I adjusted my mask and looked around. I saw a few people sitting on a couch, getting very intimate. A couple were having sex on a table near the floor, and a few people were watching. I saw a couple people whose faces I recognised, but they were all wearing masks.<br><br>I had to admit, it was pretty fun. I’d never been to this kind of party before. I’d always thought the idea of a masquerade was a bit too out there for me. I mean, I was Italian, and Carnival in Venice was...well, an experience, to say the least. But this was something entirely different.<br><br>I had a few drinks and mingled. I talked to a lot of people, but no one wanted to say their name. I met a few people who had been coming for a while. A few claimed they had friends who had been coming for decades. One guy told me he had been coming for the last ten years. He told me that the house moved almost every year, and that the address was only given to those who had...proven themselves. Proven themselves how, I have no idea.<br><br>I ended up having sex with a statuesque woman who was wearing a gold mask. We did it in one of the bathrooms. She took off her mask just before we did it, and honestly I was too drunk to care about the rules. I don’t know how she knew I was drunk, but she was just pulling me to the bathroom before I knew it.<br><br>Afterwards, she put her mask back on and kissed me. “See you again?” she asked.<br><br>I smiled. “Definitely.”<br><br>I mingled a bit more, but after an hour or two I was getting tired. The music was getting louder and louder, and I...I didn’t know, I just wasn’t into it anymore.<br><br>I spotted a door almost tucked away behind a tapestry. There was no one near it, so I took a chance. I was starting to feel a little sick and I didn’t want to throw up in front of all these people. I didn’t think I’d be kicked out just for that.<br><br>I pushed the door open. I thought I’d be going into some kind of back room or side corridor or something, but...it wasn’t. I was in some kind of courtyard. It was very modern, with plant after plant, and a little fountain towards the back, and a few little statues dotted around.<br><br>But...but it was just so quiet after the deafening music in the other room. It was like I was in a completely different house. I sat down on the fountain and looked around, and the moonlight illuminated all the little statues. They were all women, very intricately detailed, and they were all wearing masks.<br><br>So why did I get the feeling I had to get out of there?<br><br>I stood up, but as I did, I heard the sound of my name. Only once. It was soft, and I could barely hear it, but...but I heard it.<br><br>I turned, and there was a woman standing in one of the doorways. She was wearing a black mask, and it was exactly the same as mine. She beckoned me to her. I felt a little nervous.<br><br>“Who are you?” I asked. “Did we meet earlier?”<br><br>She beckoned me again. I ignored my gut and stepped towards her. As I got closer, I realised we were in some kind of bedroom. It was...wow, I don’t even know how to describe it. It was like something out of a fairy tale. It was like I was living in Disney.<br><br>I walked towards her. She smiled, and beckoned me closer.<br><br>Suddenly the door slammed shut behind me. I heard the sound of a lock clicking. I turned, but when I turned back the woman was...well, she wasn’t a woman.<br><br>It was a man, and he was wearing a mask. Black, with jewels for eyes. It was exactly the same as mine. He smiled and beckoned me closer.<br><br>I tried to run, but something caught my hand. It was the woman in the gold mask. She had it pulled up over her face, and she was smiling. I tried to pull away, but she held me firm.<br><br>And then...<br><br>And then I passed out.<br><br>When I woke up, I was back in my bed. I had a very bad headache, and I could barely remember anything of what had happened last night. Until I saw it.<br><br>My mask. It was on my bedside table, and the ribbon had been tied into a bow.<br><br>On the ribbon, someone had written a note. “See you next time.”<br><br>I stared at it for a long time, until I was sure I had dreamt the whole thing. But...but I wasn’t sure. And I really, really didn’t want to find out.<br><br>I picked up the mask and put it in the drawer of my bedside table, and I locked it. It can stay there.<br><br>I’m never going to another one of those parties again.