Christine sat in front of her piano, idly playing through a piece that she thought had been Beethoven. She knew the piece so well that use of music was not needed and she played from memory and thus let her mind wander.

The original intent of sitting before the piano and playing her music was to forget about her fight with Raoul. She couldn't wipe his face from her mind. Looking back at it all she wished that she could've taken back all of the hurtful things she had said about his parents. God, sometimes she just forgot how much he loved and wanted to impress them. The day after their falling out had been murder. Christine hadn't felt like doing anything except sitting in front of the television and watching soap operas all day.

Her fingers stopped playing over the keys when she heard the phone ring shrilly from the kitchen. Christine was up in an instant desperately hoping that it would be Raoul on the other end of the line.

"Hello?" she asked softly.

"Christine?"

Christine felt her heart sink a little as Meg's voice registered in her ears.

"Yes, this is she."

"I heard you and Raoul had a fight."

Christine sighed and walked over to the fridge to pour her a glass of milk. Meg never missed anything, with meant she couldn't keep any secrets from her.

"I guess you could say that…"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Christine sighed and took a long sip of her milk before answered. She said,

"No Meg, not really."

"You'll feel better if you do."

"I just…I…said some things I shouldn't.." she confessed

A small breath of understanding reached Christine's ears from the phone.

"Don't worry Christine, Whatever you said he'll get over it. You know he can be a little melodramatic about things…"

Christine nodded and let her eyes scan over the garden. It was encased in blackness, causing shadows to appear menacingly from every bush and shrub that was in it.

It was then that she saw it.

Christine's heart froze and she let out a small scream. Was that a man she had seen at her window?

"Christine?" came Meg's muffled voice from the phone line "Christine are you ok? What's going on?"

"Nothing Meg I just…I just thought I saw someone outside that's all."

Christine approached the window slowly and peered out into the darkness. Nothing but the shrubbery stared back at her.

"I'm sure you're just imagining things."

Christine nodded, "Yes, you're right. There's no one there."

"Well, I better go. I hope things work out with you and Raoul."

"Thank you," she breathed.

She heard a soft click on the other end of the line and cautiously put the phone down. Her ears strained for any peculiar noise that may give away the position of a person anywhere near her. Her mind began to trick her and make her expect something to jump out and grab her at any moment.

She finally resolved herself to leave the matter to rest.

Besides, she still had a few more hours to master that piano piece before bed.


"Come on Christine, I promise it will be fun. You need to get out of this house and stop worrying about when Raoul will call you!"

Meg stood in front of her, her arms crossed in from of her chest and a determined smile on her face.

"Meg, it's very nice what you're trying to do but I am really not in the mood to see a musical"

Meg rolled her eyes and grabbed Christine's arm.

"You are so difficult!" she exclaimed as she began to drag her out of the house.

Christine fought with her friend but ended up outside and into Meg's car. Christine glared at her friend as she shut her inside and locked the doors.

"I hate you for this," she muttered.

Meg smiled "I know you do. But it's for your own good now come on we will have a great time!"

The car stopped in front of the theatre and Meg fed the parking meter a few coins.

Christine opened the door and walked out into the chilly night air. She looked around at all of the bright lights of the city and then directed them towards the theatre. A rather long line of people were congregating outside of it and Christine couldn't help but feel reluctant to join the noisy multitude.

Meg glanced at her friend and offered her a reassuring smile. "Come on!" she exclaimed, grabbing Christine's arm again and dragging her towards the doors.

They walked through the crowded hallway and finally entered the crowded theatre. It was buzzing with activity but Christine did not stop to gaze around the room nor make any conversation with anyone, not even Meg. She kept her eyes firmly locked upon the seat in which her ticket said she was supposed to have and bee lined towards it.

The lights dimmed and the curtains opened to reveal a man dressed in a ridiculously colorful costume. As he opened his mouth to sing Christine winced, he was so focused on the projection of his voice that he was paying no attention to the tone or pitch.

It was going to be a long night.

Christine tried not to the notice the peculiar score, choice of words, and the leads unforgiving voices. But she couldn't help but feel relived when the curtains closed for intermission. The lights rose once again and Christine and Meg stood automatically.

As they walked out into the foyer Meg tried to make some positive comments about the show. Christine had to commend her for her efforts of raising her spirits. She knew that generally Meg didn't like musicals. Though he was a diehard ballerina, the whole singing and dancing thing never appealed to her. That alone made Christine respect her for dragging her there.

"I think I'll get a breath of fresh air." Remarked Christine suddenly as more people filed into the foyer. She had begun to feel dreadfully closed in and out of place and didn't want to have to endure the feeling for too long.

"I'll come with you,"

"No Meg, No. It's fine. I'll only be a moment."

Meg nodded reluctantly and watched as her friend exited the building. She didn't like the thought of Christine being outside in the darkness by herself she also desperately wanted Christine to enjoy herself and if she truly didn't want company then she dared not spoil that.

Christine pushed open the large doors and let the cool night air brush past her. A few people stood talking quietly at the sides of the building and Christine let a faint smile pass over her lips. It was so calm there. There were no bustling people and she did not have to shout to say anything.

Suddenly Christine felt an eerie shiver pass over her spine. She had the creepy feeling that she was being watched. Christine turned her head to where a couple was talking and saw that they had hardly even noticed that she was standing there. She shook her head slightly as if trying to shake the feeling from her but it did not waver. She turned her head the other way and noticed a dark shadow lurking by the alleyway.

In an instant it was gone.

"I believe we've met before,"

Christine jumped at the sudden voice from beside her. She turned and found herself face to face with a mask.

She smiled as she remembered the mysterious pianist from the restaurant.

"Yes, we have." She said softly "Are you enjoying the performance?"

The man creased his eyebrows in cynically. "I don't think anyone's capable, it is quite abysmal."

Christine let out a small breath of laughter "I couldn't agree more actually."

The man let a small smirk play across his lips.

"How have you been doing, Miss. Davis?"

"Oh please call me Christine. Miss. Davis sounds so…" Christine made a small face.

The man nodded "Very well. How have you been doing, Christine?"

Christine marveled at how her name sounded upon his lips. It sounded like the most sensual thing she had ever heard. She tried not to notice the soft lilt that he spoke her name with. She tried not to notice how his striking green eyes seemed to invade into her very soul. She tried so very hard, but she just couldn't ignore such things.

"I have been doing quite well actually."

"I'm glad to hear it."

Christine paused "I don't think I've ever heard your name…What is it?"

But before he could answer the door behind them swung open and it caused Christine to spin towards it. She turned to find herself face to face with Meg.

"Christine, The performance is starting. We have to get back to our seats."

Christine nodded.

"Meg, I'd like you to meet…"

She turned to face the masked man and was shocked to see that the street lay empty before her.

He was gone.

Christine craned her neck to look down the alleyway but no sign of him was there.

"Meet who Christine?" Meg asked in confusion.

"There was a man…Meg didn't you see him when you came out?"

Meg watched her peculiarly and shook her head. "No, there was no one there…"

Christine gazed at the empty street in front of her.

"Come on Christine let's go back inside" Meg said, her tone laced with concern.

Christine nodded dumbly and followed her friend back inside.