• The sound of the night engulfed him. It was the sound of nothing. The silence stretched before him like an inky black see, the smallest sounds an explosion in the darkness. He looked over at her, curious as to why she was here, this night.

    It was his time, night time. It was not her time, but it was his. Her time was one of the day, by the sunlight and loud sounds of cars rushing past you, wind screaming in your ears, the sound of technology beating down upon you.

    His time, one of night, was filled with mystery and allure. Technology was turned off; the lights went out, the dark called you, tempting, tantalizing, the sound of silence strangely eerie.

    But she was different. Her time did not seem to satisfy her, did not give her the same thrills as his night. She longed for the darkness, counting down the hours in the day, where she could become one with his time. A creature of the night.

    He did not like the day, nor did he feel any compulsion to try to like it. All the mystery, the temptation, the imagination, was wiped away, like grime off a mirror. The world was a strange and wonderful place at night, shadows dancing and playing in the moonlight, the scent of excitement fresh on the air.

    It was this that she craved, this that she came here for. It did not scare her to be on her own, but he found her once upon a moonlit evening, begging him for release from the cold unfeeling light of day. He found her and though he pleaded with her not to tempt him, he took her away.

    Away from the city, away from the lights that shone like diamonds, away from the walls hard as stone, away from the bright and colorful people. Away from that which he detested and she lived. Away, away, away.

    He took her to the sea. To the place where trees grew naturally, their branches entwining around each other, free and wild. To the place where stars lit the sky, like the bright eyes of new born children. To the place where people lived.

    She was fascinated by it. Even went so far to say she would be with him just for it. After she said this, he went quite still and said no more. When she pressed the matter, he told her that they should be getting home now, as soon it would be dawn. Didn’t she have work tomorrow?

    She did, she admitted. But she would rather stay here, with him forever and ever. With him and the night which masked all humanities mistakes. That taught people that there was more beyond their computer hard drives.

    He chuckled at this, but said no more, and took her back to the city, where the lights shone like diamonds; the walls were hard as stone, back to the bright and colorful people.

    Will you come back?

    She was pleading.

    Tomorrow?

    Maybe.

    Same time, same place?

    Perhaps.

    Can you promise me it?

    No.

    Everyone just assumed she had been drinking with friends, judging by her tiredness. They laughed and asked her which bar she had been at.

    Bar...?

    Yes, where did you go?

    Somewhere...beautiful.

    Who did you go with? Was it a bunch of your friends?

    No.

    It was a man! Tell me who?

    Can’t.

    Why?

    I don’t know who.

    She realized that she did not even know her secret man of the night. Did not know his name, nor did he know hers. It puzzled her that she had not thought to ask and even more that she should be as reckless as to be with someone she knows nothing about. She comes to one conclusion.

    She must see him again.

    So she waits one night. Two nights. A week. A month. A year.

    One year later, she has almost forgotten about the mysterious man who stole her heart and ran away with her dreams in tow. She has a new job, she moved to another city. She has a boyfriend.

    But still in the back of her mind, he lingers.

    One night in mid September, when the leaves are beginning to fall to the ground and their air is just getting that chilly snap, she senses it.

    He is near.

    She opens her bedroom window. A silly thing to do she knows, but who knows? Maybe Wendy had the right idea trying to rope in her Peter.

    So as the house get’s colder and the clock ticks later, she waits in her dressing gown, on the couch, for her mysterious man of the night. And he comes. She feels a cold hand on her shoulder, the other on her cheek.

    I can use the door you know.

    His voice is laced with amusement. Something she barely heard last time. She smiles, not looking at him.

    I know, she says her hand reaching up to stroke the one on her cheek, But it’s so much more fun if you use the window.

    Not for me.

    For me it is.

    He chuckles, darkly in the back of his throat. She quickly steps up whips around to face him. Their eyes meet. His breath hitches. Hers becomes heavy.

    France? Belgium? Hawaii? Fiji?

    The question is nothing to her.

    Anywhere but here.


    -*-


    Dear Damien

    I’m sorry it has to be this way, but I’ve decided to move to Europe. I have to go to there for family. I’m just being honest when I say we’re never going to see each other again. But it has to be this way. This is the official breaking up point. Sorry.

    P.S Next time you have a night off, take a walk. Enjoy the night

    Damien scrunched the note in his pocket, pushing the memory of finding her apartment deserted yet all her things still in place, deeper into his pocket. He didn’t know why he had even paid the note attention. It was ten minutes till midnight and he was still stuck, mooning over his losses.

    Enjoy the night.

    The night around the city was just the same as anywhere else. The 24/7 operating Chinese Fast Food and Maccas, the occasional beggar on the street corner, the hookers...Paris, Munich, Berlin, Tokyo, New York, Manhattan. All the same. Polluted, overcrowded with only a few well renowned and prime tourist spots. He sighed and pulled out the note again.

    Enjoy the night.

    He frowned and crumpled the note again, into his pocket. He sat down on a nearby bench and stared up at the starless night sky. He wondered what the stars should look like at this time of the night.

    Feeling a little blue?

    Damien frowned, knowing the comment was aimed to amuse, since he was wearing a blue shirt. HER favorite of his.

    Does it look like I want company? No. So don’t sit down next to me. Why not? Because I WANT to be alone. No one should be alone at this time of the night. Not even a big boy like yourself. Please leave.

    The woman gets up, her tawny hair flowing down to her wait, her blood red nails running through the tresses, brushing them out. She half turns and smiles at him.

    If that’s what you want...

    No! Sorry, please stay, I shouldn’t have been so rude.

    She sits.

    Break up?

    The worst kind.

    What’d she do?

    Left me a note. She went to Europe.

    She whistles.

    Harsh.

    Yeah.

    They sit in silence. He sees a smile curl over her blood red lips and a tooth protrudes over the edge. He thinks she must have been teased at school for this.

    Hey.

    Yeah. Wanna see something amazing? Like what? Something life changing. Again, like what. Can’t tell. Why? Can’t tell you that either. Stop avoiding my questions! Not allowed to.

    Silence, once more.

    So...Where is this amazing life changing thing?

    She grins, a flash of white in the darkness.

    Come with me and I’ll show you.

    She holds out her hand. Grudgingly, his curiosity overriding sense, he takes hers with his own. Something sparks, crackles unheard by the other occupants of the small street.

    Damien grins.

    So...?

    So, what?

    Are we going or not?

    Baby, in some senses, we’re already there.

    She takes off at a run. They are gone before the clock strikes midnight.

    -*-


    Disclaimer: Yes I know, stole a quote from Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. I actually hadn't seen it until I finished this story and just added in 'cold unfeeling light' in for effect. But it just suits this story so well! Please review if you like! Constructive criticism welcome!