The Sanderson is an upstanding family in the little circle of their neighborhood. Alfred Sanderson, the head of the family - is an ex-pat who often leaves the household in pursuit of businesses overseas. He would often leave his wife and three of his children in their house and return only for the holidays. That changed three years ago when his wife died of chronic disease, leaving only his three sons to fend for themselves.
It was hard at first but they managed. Jacob Sanderson, the eldest brother, finished his doctorate while taking care of his siblings.
Liam Sanderson, the youngest sibling, was already a success before he finished college this year. He owns several franchise businesses downtown. The lad inherited his father's knack for numbers and served him well considering that the businesses he owned doubled their profits.
As for Thom Sanderson, well - he's the black sheep of the family. The guy never reached success as his siblings. He never finished college because he keeps changing his programs. But he loves music and decided to quit academics to pursue his true calling - the band "Atomic Bombz".
People who call him out for being such a failure. It used to hurt him but he does not care. It's not his job to fulfill these judgmental people's quota. And besides, his family loves him dearly. Just last week, Jacob bought him a weight set to build up his muscles. Thom would be a better-looking bassist with some muscles on the sides. Liam, on the other hand, likes to cuddle and play rough with Thom whenever he comes home. He is always that lovable runt ever since he was old enough to jump in Thom's arms.
And here he comes. Aside from Thom, he is the one that comes back home the earliest.
"Thom!" Liam gasped, his smiles wide producing the signature Sanderson dimples on his cheeks. He's already a little bit thicker than Thom but that doesn't stop him from jumping in Thom's dangly arms. Unlucky for the younger lad, Thom saw it coming. Liam landed on the sofa and before he could recollect himself, Thom laid the blank mask on his face.
Thom expected nothing to happen. It's just some weird mask - nothing bad could happen from that, right? His thoughts proved true when nothing happened. Liam was lying on the couch - breathing but unmoving. Thom thought it was another prank of his. He poked him in the armpits, one of his tickle spots, but he did not even flinch.
"Liam?"
No answer naught for Liam's shallow breaths.
Then the unthinkable happened. The max glowed despite having no signs of it being electronic. Then the edges of the mask foamed. It curdled like strawberry milk and made weirder with the formation of facial features above. The face is blurry but Thom grew to recognize it in time. The mask is turning into Liam's. No, that's wrong - Thom thought. He peered through the sides where the edges stopped foaming and saw that the original mask produced another one on the top.
Liam groaned and Thom took this as a cue to hide the mask.
"Wha- what happened?" Liam asked.
"You hit the hard spot of the sofa, you idiot. Your nose is all wrong now."
Liam looked frantic but was relieved when he realized that Thom is joking.
Now that their brotherhood jest is finished, Liam bid his older brother goodbye for he has to do adult business stuff with his laptop in his room. With him gone, Thom rushed down to his bedroom in the cellar and closed the door behind him.
Two masks are in his hands. One, the original. The fleshed featureless masked caused his brother to lose consciousness. The other, a façade of his younger brother. A fleshy face with its eyes and mouth closed. If he focused on it, Thom could feel the warmth and the slow thumps of his heartbeat through the cheeks.