With plenty of apprehensions and even more curiosity, Jenna closes the door behind her.
“Great choice darling! I’m glad that I can finally show you a very secret side of me. You see, I dabble in magic and have prepared quite a few surprises behind that door for you. It’s a walk-in closet!” The voice sounds like Rachel is springing a surprise present on Jenna.
Jenna puts the mask of her aunt on the huge bed and steps closer to the door and sees that next to it is a dial. There are labels at regular intervals. “Clothes”, “Accessories” “Masks”, “Enhancements”, “costumes”, “toys”, “summons” and “demonic”.
“You see this little closet is special. What is inside depends on where the dial points. I’ll explain each one when you use it, my darling,” her aunt's voice whispers conspiratorily. And yet, Jenna can hear it clearly.
The dial rests on “Clothes”. Jenna decides to go with it and opens the door. “Inside here you will find any and all the clothes you desire. Prim and proper dresses even your mother wouldn’t mind, cute shoes of all makes and colours, eye-catching skirts and more. And don’t worry about your size. These clothes will fit YOU, whatever you look like.” Her aunt’s explanation ended in a soft giggle.
Jenna believes her aunt’s words. She gets inside and looks around. There don’t seem to be that many clothes but as she starts browsing the pants, more appear as she pushes them along. “If you look for something specific just say the words! This is a rather straightforward function of the closet.”
Jenna tries it, asking for a summer dress. Immediately, the hangers move along, right where she watches and a large assortment of dresses appears. Different colours, printed and not, with subtle differences in cut and length. And they all look the right size, too.
“This is what others will see, should you be so careless to leave the closet unlocked. Of course, without the endless variety,” Her aunt warns her voice stern for the first time.
“So, the other positions on the dial are even more strange?” Jenna asks.
“I’m sorry, my darling, I know that you’ve just asked something, but this is a magical message. I can’t interact with you. Just try things out and if you feel unsafe, leave it be and ask me later!” the voice answers brightly.
“Fat chance that,” Jenna murmurs. No answer comes.
Jenna steps outside and closes the door. Now, a key materializes next to the lock. “This key locks the door, obviously. If you lose it, it reappears here. I suggest you only use it if you entertain guests from outside my humble abode.”
There is nothing humble about this place, but Jenna still smiles at the phrase. Feeling emboldened she turns the dial to “Masks”, opens the door and steps inside.
“Inside here you will find masks, as the label says. Don’t let the rubbery and cheap look fool you! Wearing one will transform your entire body. And while I haven’t figured out how to give them proper memories - an ongoing project my real self will love to talk to you about - they give you enough mannerisms to pass as whoever you turn into.”
She looks around and sees rows of masks in the same style as the mask of her aunt. Maybe it wasn’t her aunt outside, but someone wearing a mask of hers? But isn’t that even worse? Someone took her place and lived her life! And where would the real Rachel be then? Her mind is going in circles and only the voice of the recording brings her back to the here and now.
“Maybe you want to be a hot party girl? Or go shopping as a rich high school senior? Just because you have all the clothes you want, doesn’t mean you can’t have the fun of a proper shopping tour. Or maybe you want to feel what the other side is like and become a handsome man, ready to seduce a girl like yourself. And don't worry about anyone removing the mask. You need to want to turn back or say your full name three times to remove it.”
Jenna feels herself growing warm at these words. It sounds so terribly tempting to just give it a try, especially now that she knows that there is a fail-safe. The mask of her aunt worked so well. Maybe she should just put it on again? Or check out this amazing closet some more.