Christine was transported to different worlds when he played. Elegant landscapes drenched in pale colors or fiery, vibrant lands that she wished she could escape from. When he had finally finished his hour set of playing he let the last notes ring out for a moment, before standing and walking away without a word. Christine's eyes seemed to focus and she was shocked to find that she was in a restaurant at all. As her brown eyes scanned around the restaurant she saw that all the people sitting at the tables were having a similar realization.
It took her a few minutes to steady her dizzy head before she realized that Erik had disappeared. Christine stood up and began to walk towards the piano to find the man in which she wished to converse with. But when she reached it he was no where in sight. Furrowing her brow slightly, Christine walked over to a small hallway were the bathroom's were located, hoping that she would find him.
Christine froze as she heard a deep voice from around the corner. She walked towards it and found herself staring at Erik's back. A cell phone was placed at his ear and he seemed to be arguing with someone on the other line.
"I don't care how you do it, just make sure you do!" he said dangerously into the phone.
Christine's eyes widened slightly at the anger in his tone. She had never heard him speak so harshly, and the edge that his voice had was surprising to her. Before she could walk away or tell him of her presence he talked again.
"I don't have time for this!" he exclaimed before clicking the phone shut.
He was silent for a moment and rubbed his fingers in small circles at his temples before turning to walk back down the hall. Erik froze as he saw Christine standing awkwardly at the front of the hallway. She offered him a small smile, and Erik said nothing.
"Hey Erik," she said after a moment's silence, "Sorry to interrupt you. I just listened to you play and thought I'd find you to say hi. But if you don't have time then I…"
"No," he said softly, "I have plenty of time."
His tone was soft and sincere, back to its usual beautiful lilt that Christine had become intoxicated with. She momentarily forgot about his dangerous tone on the phone and felt like she could talk to him for hours at a time.
"Did you like it?" he asked, walking to stand in front of her.
Christine's eyes locked with his and she was silent, not able to form a legible sentence in her mind.
"Yes," she stuttered out finally, "Yes, of course! It was beautiful Erik, absolutely beautiful."
Erik let a small smile play across his unmasked side, "Thank you." He breathed, sincerely grateful, "It's a new composition."
"It was amazing," Christine said, nodding to emphasize her point.
"It's funny," he said, "I didn't think you'd come."
Christine furrowed her brow a little, "Why's that?"
"Well Christine, I…"
But Erik couldn't finish his thought because Christine's cell phone began to ring shrilly from her purse. He paused and stared at her bag for a minute as Christine made no move to get it, her eyes still fixed upon Erik.
"Are you going to get it?" he asked.
"Oh!" exclaimed Christine as if it was the first time she had heard it ring, "Yeah, I guess I should."
Christine fished through her bag flustered, finally finding her silver cell phone she opened it and placed it to her ear,
"Hello?" she asked.
"Christine? Thank god you answered the phone." A male voice said on the other end of the line.
"Raoul?" she asked.
Erik's attention suddenly peaked and his brow furrowed angrily.
"Christine," Raoul's voice said, "I need you to pick up some documents for me! I completely forgot about them and the man who they are with is leaving for Boston tonight."
Christine looked at Erik apologetically, "Must I Raoul? I'm kind of in the middle of…"
"You don't understand how important these documents are! I'd get them myself but you have a car and could get them so much faster. Please, I'll text you the address and you can drop them off at my apartment."
Christine rolled her eyes without thinking and then muttered an angry 'ok' before stuffing her phone back in her pocket without thinking. She paused for a moment with her eyes closed to collect her thoughts before looking at Erik.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I have to go."
Erik merely nodded, "Thank you for coming Christine, I must say you're the only audience member worth playing for."
Christine smiled at the strange compliment, "Thanks."
"I play again this Friday, and I would love it if you came again." He added.
"Of course! That would be great!" Christine was genuinely happy about being able to hear his music again.
"I'll look forward to it."
"Alright then," Christine said slowly beginning to back up in the opposite direction, "Thanks Erik. Sorry to keep you from whatever you have to do. I'll see you on Friday I guess."
"Yes Christine," Erik repeated, "I'll see you Friday."
Christine gave him a small smile before turning and walking down the hallway. When she knew that Erik was out of view before opening her cell phone again and clicking through her text messages. Raoul had the most recent one at the top, it read…
Thx Chris, You're the best.
Mr. Morrison
The Western Inn
Room – 7
Jeff stood in the darkened room, a woman wrapped within his arms, she spoke huskily into his ear and kissed him with raw passion but he barely noticed. His body went through the motions robotically but all his mind could focus on was the dark and unforgiving shadow that was waiting for him.
Jeff put his hands on the woman's face and gently parted her away from his lips before speaking,
"You're sure there's nothing you want to tell me? I've told you my story, I believe it's time we heard yours." He said softly, his eyes not leaving hers.
She let out a seductive laugh and grabbed the back of his head, pulling him into a forceful kiss. Jeff rolled his eyes as she moved down to lay baby kisses on his neck.
"No," she breathed, "I have nothing to tell you. I told you all I know."
Jeff closed his eyes in irritation for he knew that his master would not be happy. Suddenly he became very aware of a presence that he knew all too well and wished would disappear.
"Alexa," he said, causing her to stop and look up at him, "I'll be back in a moment. I have to go and…ready myself."
Jeff winced at his inability to form a proper lie, but his words seemed to thrill her, for she let out a delighted shriek.
"Alright, but hurry back…" she purred, walking over and lying herself on the small bed on the side of the room.
Jeff nodded slowly and walked to the door, he tried to push his conscience from his mind.
He closed the door quietly behind him and stared out in the cool night air. He paused for a moment and ran his hands through his hair trying to tidy it. Jeff paused for a moment and rested his hand against the door, his fingers tracing over the small gold 5 that resided on it.
Then he began to walk down the unattractive walkway, knowing his destination. He walked through the deserted lobby and out into the outdoors, his eyes scanning the desolate streets.
"Thank you for staying with 'The Western'!" the cheerful recorded voice said as he let the door swing shut.
Jeff began to walk down the streets. His arms clenched at his sides as if that alone could protect him from what was to come. Suddenly, he turned away from the streetlights and began to walk down a dark alley.
In an instant the voice was back inside his mind, he looked around frantically for any sign of the man in which he wished to find, but he couldn't find a living soul,
"Well done, she is in the room?"
Jeff nodded, not sure exactly where he was supposed to speak to, "She is, but I wouldn't bother with her, she doesn't know anything."
There was silence for a moment and Jeff shivered, turning around the look in the opposite direction, desperate to find the form of the man he knew was hovering around somewhere.
"That is quite disappointing…" the voice said, trailing off dangerously.
"Apparently he doesn't confide in her much, she has a knack of giving away secrets," he said.
"Does she now?" The voice asked and Jeff's eyes widened.
"Sir, I really think you should just let her go. She doesn't know anything about me, or us. What are you going to do to her?"
A menacing chuckle reverberated in his skull, causing Jeff's arms to spring up around his arms.
"That is something I will personally take care of. We have no use for her, and I daresay the world wouldn't even notice her absence."
"Sir, you can't mean you'd kill her!"
Jeff waited for a response in his mind but heard none. He turned around on the spot trying desperately to locate any sign of movement. It was then he realized that he was alone.
Jeff swore angrily under his breath before turning and sprinting out of the alleyway, desperate to get to Alexa before it was too late.
He tore down the street and through the lobby, climbing the stairs as quickly as he possibly could. He was running so fast and he was mentally counting down each door in his mind.
1
2
3
Right before he got to room number 4 he ran right into another person. A female scream caught him off guard as she fell backwards because of his speed and body strength. Jeff panicked and reached out to catch her.
"I'm sorry, I have to…" he was just about to keep running when he noticed who he held.
"Christine?" he asked suddenly.
Christine's eyes opened and she stood up, trying to steady herself and holding a brown envelope in her hand.
"Jeff? I'm so sorry I ran into you! I didn't see you coming. What are you…"
"Christine listen to me," Jeff said suddenly, grabbing her arms with his strong hands, "You have to get out of here now."
He looked up to room 5 and the door seemed to be untouched, his breathing was heavy from his running but his eyes were urgent.
"Just run down to the lobby and stay away from the alleyways. Go directly home, ok?"
"Jeff…" Christine said, a look of fear over her face, "What's going on? Why are you so panicked?"
"Just go alright?" he said, "Promise me you'll go."
Jeff searched her eyes frantically and he numbly nodded, wrapping her arm around his.
He merely nodded before leaving her behind and taking off again to two doors from where they were standing. Jeff was no fool. He knew that once his boss was on a high from a kill there was no telling what he may do, and what vulnerable women he may take advantage of.
Christine watched him go for a moment before taking off down the staircase herself.
Jeff tried to turn the door handle to let him into the room but his heart stopped when he realized it was locked. He shook it violently and began to hammer on the door. No one answered.
"Alexa!" he yelled, hitting the door with his full body weight, "Alexa open this door! Alexa!"
Jeff stopped for a moment breathing heavily. He tried numerous times to break down the door with no luck. Until finally the door slowly creaked open, as if there was no one behind it.
Jeff's heart raced, he swung open the door and looked around the dark room.
"Alexa?" he yelled into the darkness.
Jeff clasped his hands over his ears as an eerie haunting sound coursed through his body, he wasn't able to fully decipher was it was, but it seemed to be controlling his mind. With every moment that passed it grew stronger and slowly began to take him over, bit by bit.
Before he knew it he was on his knees, wincing at the ugly, terrible sound.
"You bastard…" he muttered his eyes clenched shut.
A soft chuckle was heard overtop the sound,
"My dear, heroic Jeff," the voice said playfully, "It appears you are too late…"
"No…" he said.
The laughter continued and didn't stop. It mounted and mounted, becoming more hysterical and loud with every pounding second.
Jeff screamed then, the sound too much for him to handle.
He would surely die from it.
