The strange feeling in the pit of her stomach had started that morning. Christine had tried to tell herself that it was just because she lived alone and was too paranoid, but as the day continued she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
It was now getting late, and Christine was returning to her apartment after a busy day of college classes and running errands. She had just closed the door on her car, when she felt a few raindrops on her cheek.
"Fitting end to a day like today," Christine mumbled to herself, as she quickened her pace to outrun the coming storm.
About a minute later, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her. But when she whipped around to see who was following her, the parking lot was completely empty except for her.
Even more unnerved than she was before, Christine began running to the door of her apartment building. She had nearly reached the front door when the rain began coming down in sheets. She quickly turned the handle and went inside, frustrated that the rain had thoroughly soaked her, though she was only out in the worst of it for about 5 seconds.
"Well, would you look at what the cat dragged in." A familiar voice called out to her from down the hallway, causing her to smile. It was her good friend and neighbor, Raoul.
"I hope you didn't have any grand plans of going out tonight. Even being out in that rain for 5 seconds will soak your clothes." To prove her point, Christine grabbed a corner of her shirt and wrung it out on the floor, causing a small puddle of water to form. This caused Raoul to laugh.
"You know," he started, "some might consider a night of these conditions… romantic." He inched towards Christine, eyes never breaking contact with hers.
She gulped. She had never been good in these sorts of situations, and she knew that this time would be no different.
"Um… yes I suppose some might consider a night like this to be somewhat romantic. I mean, I've never particularly thought so, since I've always been more of one to enjoy a sunny day, and who likes to get wet outside of a shower anyways?" Christine had become aware of Raoul's proximity to her, and avoided his piercing gaze.
It wasn't that she disliked Raoul, he was one of her best friends. When she first moved into her apartment here, he was the first one to introduce himself to her. From there, their friendship had grown steadily. But it had just been within these past couple of weeks that Christine had become of his, um, feelings towards her. Christine had never had a boy feel this way about her before, so the prospect terrified and excited her at the same time.
Raoul chuckled. "I suppose, if you look at it that way. Here, let me carry your bag for you. It's the least I could do." He reached his hand out for Christine's purse, which she gladly surrendered to him.
They walked in silence down the hall until they reached the elevator, as Christine's apartment was on the second floor. The elevator arrived quickly, much to Christine's delight. She could hardly bear the awkward silence between them.
Once arriving at the second floor, it was another long walk to the other end of the hallway, where Christine's and Raoul's apartments were, side by side.
Raoul handed Christine her purse back as they stopped in front of her door. "Thank you, Raoul." Christine said, blushing ever so slightly.
"It was my pleasure, Christine." Raoul bent down to kiss her hand, and as his lips met her skin, a small smile appeared on her face. He lingered on her hand for a few seconds, then released her and retreated to his apartment, shutting the door behind him.
Christine's smile grew larger, as she entered her apartment and shut the door behind her. Maybe she did have a real chance with Raoul after all!
She set her purse down on the table, and immediately flopped on her couch, worn out from her busy day. She wasn't sitting for more than 10 seconds when her phone began ringing. She sighed, and dug it out of her pocket. Unknown caller.
That feeling in the pit of her stomach was back again. Everything in her told her not to answer this phone call, and yet somehow, she couldn't resist. She pressed the green 'Accept' button and lifted the cell to her ear. "Hello?' She answered cautiously.
"Hello, Christine." A man's voice answered on the other end of the phone conversation. His voice was so smooth, almost hypnotic.
"H-hello? Who is this? And how do you know my name?" She could feel panic rising inside her.
"Turn around, Christine." He answered. She clung to the phone even tighter, and slowly turned her body so that she was facing her patio door.
She nearly dropped her phone and shrieked when she saw a man, dressed all in black, standing on the other side of the door. In his hand was a cell phone, pressed against his ear.
Christine began trembling. She wouldn't consider herself to be a scaredy-cat, but she wouldn't consider herself to be that brave, either. Oh, how she wished Raoul would appear beside her!
He spoke again. "Come to the door, Christine. Come to me, my angel." His voice was so soothing, as if he were a father trying to calm a child that couldn't sleep. Her mind beat against what she was about to do, and yet she was helpless against his power.
She put one foot in front of the other, and slowly walked towards the patio door. Lightning illuminated the sky, and rain still came down in sheets. She stopped just in front of the door. Now there was just a thin pane of glass separating her and this stranger in black.
"Open the door, Christine. Come to your angel of music." He spoke again, and she was yet again helpless to fight against what he told her. She reached down to unlock the door, but hesitated, her fingers hovering just above the lock.
"Do not be afraid of me. Come to me."
She unlocked the door, and he slowly opened it and stepped a foot inside her apartment. Now she could view this stranger in the full light.
He was tall, about 5 inches taller than her. He wore all black, but it didn't look like the usual uniform of a creepy man that shows up at your house late at night. Instead, he was dressed in a well-tailored suit, with a cape around his shoulders and white gloves on his hands. But the most striking thing about his appearance was the mask that only covered half of his face. If he were trying to disguise his identity, why only cover half of his face?
Every fiber of Christine's being told her to get away from this man, to run away and hope to never see him again. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was entranced with this man, and did not realize that their eyes were locked until he looked away.
He did not speak again, just gently took her hand. She took note of how graceful his movements were, like he was treating her as if she were made of glass and could break at any second.
"Come with me, my angel of music. Come with me." He spoke again, and pulled her towards the door. She took one step, then another, until she was outside with him. She noticed that the rain had stopped, and the storm was no more.
The mysterious man led her towards the second-floor fire escape. He moved with great precision, and while he was leading them both, he turned around often to be sure that Christine could keep up with his quick pace.
They reached the top of the fire escape, and he started down the ladder. He made it down a few rungs before he urged Christine to follow him.
"Down here, Christine. Do not be afraid. I will be with you the entire way." He had a certain way about him that made her feel as if the whole world had been righted. How could she not follow this man?
She tentatively placed a foot on a rung. Once she was sure that she was steady, the other foot followed. She was almost to the bottom, with the man in black already on the ground, when her foot missed a rung, and she nearly fell.
The man in black saw right away what had happened, and moved quickly to be sure that she wouldn't fall. He steadied her by putting a hand on her hip. She gasped at the touch, and leaned into it, righting herself. He kept his steady hand planted on her hip until she was safely on the ground. She turned, and could see a black car waiting for the both of them on the curb.
He once again took her hand, and lead her towards the car. He opened the door for her, when the power of his hypnotic voice worked no more on her. Christine snapped to her senses, and realized what was happening.
"No… no, this can't be happening!" She turned away from the car and started to run away, but she only got two steps away before the man put his arms around her from behind, stilling her squirming.
"It's okay, Christine. Don't fight me. Everything will be okay." He did his best to shush her.
She struggled for about a minute, when suddenly her eyes became very heavy. She could no longer keep them open.
"Let… me… go…" she barely got out in a whisper before she fell asleep in the stranger's arms.
Now that she was asleep and couldn't fight him anymore, the man could continue without a struggle. He gently picked her up, and laid her in the backseat of his car.
"You'll see, Christine. Even an angel can learn to love a monster."