New Year… New Peggy (Patreon)

Happy new year guys and thank you for your support! I’m in the middle of nowhere at the moment which makes it harder to get any internet around here but I got close enough to civilization today and here it’s a first person POV short story with our favorite red headed reporter.

New Year… New Peggy: a short story

December 31st, 11:44 PM – The Coco Bongo Rooftop

(Reference photo)

It was supposed to be a night of shining lights, champagne flutes, and stolen kisses under the glow of fireworks. Yet there I stood on the Coco Bongo rooftop, freezing in the winter air, arms folded over my chest. I suppose I could have gone inside to dance with the rest of the revelers, but something about the crowd, the noise, the press of bodies was pushing me out here. You’re alone, Peggy, a voice in my head reminded me. It’s New Year’s Eve, and you’re alone—again.

I glanced toward the city below, neon ribbons running through every street. A chunk of me wished for simpler times, or at least someone to share in the countdown. I hate feeling lonely.

As I gazed out, I noticed I’d unknowingly clutched my purse against my side. I swore I wouldn’t bring it—the Mask—out of my apartment. But curiosity, or maybe desperation, drove me to stuff it in my bag “just in case” earlier that afternoon. I didn’t want to lose it, but I couldn’t let it go, either. Not after hearing all the stories about what it did for Stanley Ipkiss, how it let him break free of his humdrum existence. And maybe, deep down, I wanted that for myself.

I pursed my lips, opening the purse slightly. Inside, I caught a glimpse of dull, worn wood. It practically glowed in the flaring lights of distant fireworks.

This is a bad idea… no, a horrible idea, I thought. Remember how dangerous it can be? Remember what Stanley said—

But my inner voice of reason was quickly drowned out by another flash of bright color streaking the sky—like a sign, telling me this is your chance, Peggy.

11:55 PM – The Countdown Begins

A loudspeaker from somewhere below started the countdown a few minutes early. “Five minutes ‘til midnight, folks!” The crowd roared in anticipation. Laughter and cheers rose in waves.

I rubbed my arms for warmth, leaning on the rooftop ledge. If I went inside now, there’d be no guarantee I’d find a dance partner. Even if I did, would they care enough to notice me? This city devours lonely souls. I shouldered my purse again and sighed.

Part of me felt a creeping, hollow ache in my chest. I’m tired of feeling second-best. Tired of waiting.

Maybe… maybe I could just see how it feels. No harm in that, right? Just for a moment.

That was the last thread of logic I had. Because in the next breath, I tugged the Mask from my purse.

11:57 PM – First Touch

My heart gave a traitorous leap when my fingertips brushed its carved surface. Even in the dim light, I could see etched lines and swirls along the worn wood. The edges glinted as though reflecting an inner fire, an aura pulsing with untapped possibility.

Time seemed to slow. A roar of excitement drifted from far below, and I could hear the clink of champagne glasses. Then it hit me: I don’t want to go into the new year feeling like this.

I looked at the shape of the Mask’s eyeholes. Why am I craving the unknown so badly? My heart hammered with the answer: Because I’m lonely, Peggy. And you want to feel… something.

Even if it’s dangerous…

One last wave of guilt rippled through me. Then I raised the Mask to my face, taking a steadying breath.

Accidental Transformation

The moment it touched my cheeks, I felt a warm, powerful suction clamp onto me, as though the Mask had been waiting for this exact moment. A flash of green light flared at the edges of my vision. I started to pull away, but the Mask tugged back, locking itself in place.

Physical Rush

• Scalp Tingling: It felt like my hair was being pulled from the roots, rearranging itself in a smooth, perfect style.

• Skin Changing: I watched, mesmerized, as a wave of jade hue rippled across my forehead, down my nose, spilling over my lips. My pores sizzled with energy. The color felt hot and alive, as if I were being dyed from the inside out.

• Clothes Shifting: A peculiar shimmer raced over my arms, my torso, my legs. Fabric stretched and warped under invisible hands. My blouse and plain skirt quickly morphed into something slinky, shimmering, a deep, electric blue that clung just right to every curve. Its neckline plunged in a bold V, baring more skin than I’d ever dare to in normal life. I felt my posture shift—back arched, hips angled, chin high.

A Sudden, Hungry Heat

If the physical changes were jolting, the emotional rush was so much more intense. A throbbing warmth ignited low in my belly and fanned outward, sparking along every nerve. Oh my… oh wow. A desperate longing swelled in me, like I’d been holding my breath for years and could finally breathe.

I’m so warm… So alive… So… turned on?

That last realization nearly made me gasp out loud. My pulse pounded in my ears. The glimmering lights of the city became more vibrant, more seductive, as if whispering: You can have anyone… do anything. My legs felt weak, but also powerful. Is this what Stanley felt? Possibly. But for me, there was a distinctly sensual edge—a throbbing ache of desire that overshadowed everything else.

I let out a breathless laugh, pressing a newly minted green hand to my chest, feeling that low-level quake from my heart. My thoughts churned with fantasies. I want to be kissed. I want hands on my body. I want to lose this lonely ache in the heat of another person.

Inside, Peggy was still me—but the mask persona amplified my needs, stoked them like a blazing furnace.

11:59 PM – Embracing the Moment

A swirl of confetti fluttered from a rooftop party next door, catching the wind and drifting over me. I spun in a slow circle, feeling the silky fabric of my dress flare. Fireworks started exploding in earnest—bursts of red, gold, green lighting up the sky. Isn’t that appropriate? The green glow mirrored my new skin. I’m like some goddess of mischief, I thought with a mischievous smile.

My silhouette cast a long, shapely shadow across the concrete. I admired my reflection in a nearby window. Normally, I’d be self-conscious, but not now. I eyed my face—smooth and green, with lips parted slightly in invitation, eyes shining with unbound confidence. The version of me staring back looked unstoppable and ravishingly, shamelessly hungry.

There must be someone, somewhere, who’d be perfect for me tonight…

Music echoed from below, and a wave of heated desire surged in me, almost overwhelming in its intensity. I want to feel another’s warmth. I want to share this insane energy building inside me. My gloved fingertips (though my hands weren’t in gloves; the transformation just made my palms feel sleek) traced my collarbone. God, this body is alive.

Midnight – The Crowd Cheers

A roar soared from inside and below as the final countdown hit zero. Happy New Year! The city exploded with color and sound. I threw my arms wide as if I could catch the fireworks in my hands. I tossed my head back, letting out a delighted, throaty laugh. The entire sky pulsed with light, mimicking the near-electric buzz in my veins.

Peggy’s Thoughts in the Heat of It

• So many possibilities… so many people… who will I pick first?

• Is this my ticket to break free from bland “Peggy Brandt” and become something unstoppable?

• I can do anything right now.

I felt unstoppable, unbreakable… unfulfilled, unless I found release for the swirling need inside me. My mind raced with images: slow dances in hidden corners, stolen kisses in shadowy alcoves, whispered confessions… maybe more. My entire existence seemed to revolve around a single truth: I didn’t want to be lonely anymore.

12:05 AM – Firework Frenzy

My glittering fantasies were suddenly interrupted by a high-pitched whine that made me pivot. One of the massive fireworks, launched from a platform on a neighboring rooftop, had been angled incorrectly. It screeched upward, missing its intended arc. Sparks rained in chaotic spirals.

I stepped closer to the ledge, a surge of adrenaline and curiosity flooding me. Huh, that looks… oh no.

Before I could react, the rocket veered alarmingly close. I watched it trace a wobbling line through the air—straight toward the very section of rooftop I occupied.

“Oh, come on!” I hissed, though a twisted part of me felt the comedic drama of it all.

The rocket whizzed past my shoulder, throwing sparks at my side. It struck a ventilation pipe, clanging with a deafening crack. Stunned, I stumbled back, heart pounding. The Mask persona was brave, but I wasn’t invincible.

And then the real trouble came: a second, larger mortar shot up at a weird angle, slammed into the railing behind me, and ricocheted my way.

12:06 AM – The Impact

• Sound and Light: The rocket screamed, a brilliant swirl of neon spitting from its tail.

• Collision: Everything exploded in a violent flash—fire, color, thunderous force.

The concussion wave hit my body like a cannon. For a heartbeat, I felt weightless, then my back collided with the concrete. Shockwaves rippled through me, and for a brief second, a scalding burn along my side made me gasp. A swirl of sizzling sparks trailed around me.

But the biggest jolt was in my face: a violent yank, like someone grabbing the Mask by force. The suction that bound it to my skin tore free, and I felt my features contort as the jade veneer cracked, color fizzled away.

Second Transformation: Mask Removal

• A Sudden Peel: My scalp burned, then cooled, as if someone was pulling a suction cup off my entire face.

• Color Drain: The green receded from my cheeks, leaving them pale and sweaty. My arms and legs flickered back to their normal tone.

• Clothes Revert: The sizzling midnight-blue dress shimmered away, returning to my rumpled everyday attire. My once-fabulous heels vanished, replaced by battered flats.

I coughed, choking on smoke and leftover confetti. My senses spun: one moment, I was a goddess, the next, a flustered reporter lying stunned on a rooftop. The intense sexual craving still lingered like an echo, but the unstoppable confidence was gone.

12:07 AM – Aftermath

I stayed down for a few seconds, letting the ringing in my ears subside. My mind reeled from the sudden plummet into normalcy. One moment, I was practically ready to tear someone’s clothes off in a random corner… the next, I’m painfully aware of how ridiculous that was.

I groaned and forced myself onto my elbows. The thick stench of burned chemicals filled the air. Bits of cardboard and ash lay scattered around me. My hair, once silky in my masked persona, now felt tangled. My body felt sore and hollow, deprived of that supernatural vigor.

A few feet away, I spotted the Mask. It lay on its back, lifeless as old driftwood. Tendrils of smoke wafted from it. Despite the swirling chaos around me, part of me yearned to grab it again, to relive that delicious wave of empowerment and lust. But look where it got you, Peggy, I reminded myself.

I inched closer, heart hammering.

• Part of me wanted it back: that surge, that freedom, that raw sexual appetite that made me fearless.

• Another part of me was terrified: what if next time the consequences are worse?

Fireworks still shattered overhead, a cacophony of bright color. The party below continued, oblivious to the minor mayhem up here. I could hear the crowds yelling and laughing. They hadn’t noticed my fiasco—my near-catastrophe.

I rested a hand on my chest. My heart throbbed painfully from a blend of leftover adrenaline, longing, and embarrassment. Despite everything, the memory of the transformation lingered, a heady swirl of half-remembered desire. That was me. That came from inside me. The Mask didn’t fabricate it—it only unlocked what was already there.

12:10 AM – Reflection

Slowly, gingerly, I hauled myself to my feet. My knees wobbled, and I felt a tender spot on my arm where the rocket’s sparks had grazed me. But the bigger bruise was on my pride. I realized, in that short time wearing the Mask, I’d gotten a glimpse of just how deep my loneliness ran—and how badly I wanted to fill that void, physically and emotionally.

I stared at the Mask on the ground. I should just toss it away— But my hand hovered over it. Instead of discarding it, I dropped it gingerly back into my purse. Not tonight, I decided. Maybe it deserved a safer hiding place than a public rooftop.

My mind buzzed with conflicting emotions. The raw desire still echoes in me. I still feel… incomplete.

With a final sigh, I hobbled to the rooftop stairwell. The last wave of fireworks lit up the sky in a brilliant crescendo, reflecting briefly in my eyes. Maybe next year, I thought, I won’t be alone. Maybe I’ll find the real thing—without needing a magical, dangerous wooden mask to make me feel wanted.

The End