A/N: well after a long, and I do mean Long break, I've decided to finally get my ass in gear and get back to my writing. This is a shorty to lead into a new period within the story. New chapter coming very soon.
With the cool nights embrace still holding fast over the city, the streets remained barren and mournfully quiet as the gentle howling of the wind pushed its way over head. Its ghostly whisper was accompanied only by the rustling of lonely trees and the nearly silent steps of a cloaked figure, slowly descending down the street. The figure paused momentarily to catch its reflection staring back from a glassy puddle interrupting its path.
Christine sighed as she lowered herself next to the reflective surface. Two empty, glazed over blue eyes gazed dully back at her from skin so pale it nearly matched the silver disk shinning brightly behind her. Allowing her hand to obey on its own, Christine's fingers lightly stroked the waters glowing surface. At once the picture was gone and another sigh was heard.
"Who are you?" she asked in a hushed voice before raising herself from the damp street and continuing on her path at a much faster pace. The night would not last much longer.
Elsewhere, many levels below Garniers vast homage to music, another creature remained awake and restless.
Music pored forth from Erik's fingers like great waves of passion crashing against his skull and demanding to be released with blinding force. He didn't think, as concentration would only distract him, instead he closed his eyes and gave his hands over to instinct, allowing his fingers to rapidly strike out and give voice to the silent emotions swelling tightly in his chest. Melodies crescendoed into piercing chords of dissonance only to be followed by the most intense stretches of building lyrical melodies and then rushing forth to a conclusion that never found it's self.
Not once did Erik pause to scribble down his growing art. No, that would only ruin it. This was a moment captured only once, a continuing self portrait passing just as the time passed, never to be repeated and lost completely to the shadows of the room.
The hours quickly passed and morning was well on its way before the music ceased, allowing Erik to regain focus of his surroundings. But the room was not quiet, instead there was a light buzzing noise coming from his alarm system.
With a scowled, Erik stretched himself from the bench, grabbed his mask, hat, and cape, and irritably exited from his home.