[IMGleft]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/kjb127716/Mask1.png[/IMGleft][IMGright]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/kjb127716/Mask2.png[/IMGright]The life of the city buzzed in the background while Beethoven played from a desk radio. A melody of car horns, screeching tires, shouts, screams and the keystrokes of the piano. The city was alive with chaos, romance, greed, and crime while the darkened room was silent and still. A surreal refuge that was untouchable to reality.

It's bland cream colored walls reflected the neon lightshow just outside the window that spanned across the wall of a penthouse apartment. The glass fenced balcony overlooked the main square of the buzzing hell-hole. A small two person iron table sat outside with a single chair facing the world just beyond. A small garden lined the right side of the railing harboring blossoms from exotic lands. Inside sat a scarlet velvet couch in the main living area, facing The Japanese Bridge painting by Monet. The picture was nestled in an extravegant bronze metal worked frame and hanging above what a faux fireplace. However these two items were the only color in the room. A untouched kitchen lingered in the background. There were no pots or pans. No silverware or plating. The stove was spotless, while the countertops held no kitchen props. A small hall curved around leading to a bedroom, bathroom and guestroom.

The bedroom held more color than the living area, thanks to the large bed on the right wall that the apartment came with. But again, it looked untouched. The neatly tucked turqouis bedspread had gold sequins stitched in following an interlocked diamond pattern, while the pillows looked to be perfectly fluffed and not a single thread of hair lay upon the satin cases. The cream coloured walls were again, unadorned and led to another large window that spanned the far wall and facing another building whose lights flicked on and off. The chocolate dyed curtains were closed secluding the room from the rest of the world. On the left side, however, sat an antique looking dresser. Several decorated Venitian masks sat on faux head models. They're unique designs added color and flair to the blandness of the rest of the room.

Still... Quiet. There was no clocks to determine time. No ticking of the seconds to determine how fast life was passing by. Just the mingling peaceful melodies of crescendos and chaos.

[IMGleft]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/kjb127716/Gun2.png[/IMGleft]The front door slowly squeaked open as light from the hallway pierced the darkness. The radio went silent as the CD track finished and went to start up again. A pair of black high heels slowly walked across the hardwood floors. As the door closed and engulfed the room in darkness once again, the CD started back up greeting the newcomer. The clacks of heels echoed in the dark, passing by the couch without a second thought and dropping a customized Colt .38 with a 7" barrel onto the accepting cushions. The heels echoed down the hallway, and stopped at the dresser setting down a golden mask. The darkness silhouetted the slim figure as she pulled the curtains to the side. City light flooded the room like a dimmed stage. A backless ebony evening gown shimmered in the given light as silvery blonde curls bounced free from the cherrywood chopsticks that had been keeping them restrained for so long. The soft rays illuminated a once angelic face that had been scarred.

[IMGright]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/kjb127716/Mask3.png[/IMGright]The marred ivory skin started from her right eyebrow and twisted down (in a crescent shape) down around under her right eye. Her shadowed ice blue eyes slowly opened as Beethoven echoed in the hallway. Another perfect act.

She slowly turned back to the masks. The souless delicate faces stared back at her in the night. Their features shimmering in the moving lights, as they awaited their next performance.

It was pure bliss when you stood there, witnessing the climax of the plot as the protagonist reveals her true nature that lies within a mask. Adrenaline heating your body and making you come alive. There was always a pause for dramatic affect just before the beginning symphony of panic, terror and desperation of escape. The soft melodies silenced as the star of the act rang out a cry, slicing through the heated air and striking the antagonist. It's then that time seems to slow down. The crimson decorating the stage as the perfect game comes slowly to a halt. Ending with silence. Silence that followed by the lights dimming, and darkness sinking in as the curtains draw to a close.

Her reward? The audience giving a standing ovation as the sirens wail in the distance and people gasped and cheered in shock. A simple bow... before disappearing off stage.

A smile twisted the corners of her mouth upwards as she ran a finger down the edge of one of the masks. One day, she'd find the perfect ending to her play. Something that would be the talk of the town for years to come. But for now... her role was finished.

She turned away from the masks and slowly walked back out to the living area, the soft clacks of her heels fell into rythm of the piano. She gracefully lowered herself onto the velvet couch and stared up at the Monet painting that hung above prop fireplace. The lids of her eyes lowered as her eyes unfocused themselves. It was almost as if her soul left her body, her hand idely draped over the .38.

===

Over in the Czech Republic...

As the door swung open and clicked closed, a machine flicked on and whirred before a female voice filled the room. "Evening Rafnier. Don't be shocked... and don't bother looking around the house for intruders. This is a motion triggered recording, so put your gun away. Another task was successfully completed..." the soft churning of a tape recorder filled pauses rather than the intoxicating silence, "The money will be wired to your usual account. The Client would also like to pass along gratitude," She paused, "However, the gratitude in which they would like me to express it in is professionally inappropriate. Money will suffice." She paused once again, a soft sigh escaping her lips; "I'm sure I don't have to tell you to destroy this when finished. So... Until then, Farewell." The tape recorder snapped off. The hushed silence slowly wrapped the room, as it felt like the woman's voice still lingered.