The Second Act for Lysette was anything but enjoyable for her. Had she been performing the role of Christine under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have bothered her. But she was performing it because Melinda had had another unfortunate accident. All she could see in her mind over and over again was poor Melinda being pushed and smashed into the chandelier. But as difficult as it was for her she still managed to give an outstanding performance and her voice was at its best. And throughout the Second Act she wore her choker just like she had the night before. She could tell that Steve was also having some difficulty getting through the last part of the show but it never showed in his performance either. But she could see it in his eyes obscured by the mask. It was nice to know that Melinda was thought of in such high standing with everyone. Lysette could only hope that someday the same thing would hold true for her. But that night she did learn what it was like to truly help another fellow performer get through a difficult thing. She helped Steve and he in turn returned the gesture. And when they took their bows at the end of the night, the tears they shed were not for their performance but rather for a fellow actress who wasn't there. That night at the end of the show, Lysette dedicated her performance to her fellow soprano and friend Melinda Cuthbert.

After the show Lysette, along with the other performers wanted to go see Melinda in the hospital. But they were told that as of now her condition prevented them from doing so and they should wait till morning. Normally the cast would get together and go to the café or restaurant down the street to celebrate their performance….but not this time. For in this instance, there was nothing to celebrate except the fact that Melinda was not killed. And so, a somber atmosphere filled the theatre as people changed out of their costumes and headed home. And a lot of them including Lysette wondered just what the morning would bring?

As Lysette prepared for bed, she sat in a chair in front of a mirror in her room. She took a brush and ran it through her long brown hair. After completing her brushing, she set down the brush and went to take off her choker. "I…I don't know if I can do this again." She whispered.

You must my angel.

"Rose? How can you say that?Melinda was hurt tonight! She…she was in a coma!"

You said you wanted to sing the role didn't you?

"Well…yes but not like this. I don't want to sing because someone was hurt."

I have helped you and encouraged that beautiful voice of yours and all you can tell me now is that you don't want to?You are a disappointing protégé to me.

"Pro…protégé?"

Did you not think I was doing this to help you?You will never get the recognition you deserve until you are allowed to show it. And that will not happen in the back of a chorus.

"But…to hurt someone…"

Do you really think there have not been many terrible deeds committed in the name of music?It is those who have sacrificed that have been the greatest achievers. Much blood has been plastered on the pages of music, my dear. If you wish to be one of those, to be immortalized then you must follow these footsteps as well.

"But…that goes against everything that I've been taught, Rose." She paused as she only heard silence. "Rose?" She looked deep into the mirror as she took off her choker. "I want you to help me, Rose. I really do. I want to be like you. Please don't leave me." She then closed her eyes and put her hands together in prayer. "Please watch over Melinda and help her to get better. Send love and light to heal her pain." She then rose from her chair and turned off the light before climbing into bed. Due to her exhaustion, she was fast asleep within minutes.

A masked figure once again appeared by her bed. "I shall never leave you my angel." It whispered as it brushed its hands near her face.. "You have come back to me after all this time and I will not lose you again. Soon we shall leave this place and I shall take you back to where you belong. And there we can be together forever….Christine." The figure then slowly disappeared leaving Lysette alone to her dreams along with a single red rose next to her pillow.

The morning found Lysette heading to the hospital where Melinda had been taken. Her night had been filled with dreams about a figure cloaked in darkness and more images of another place. And then she had awoke to find a rose on her pillow. What did it mean? Was it something sent from Rose? Was it some kind of symbol that she was there? Of course that had to be the answer. And that is why she thought nothing else about it as she went to see Melinda with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. After finding out where her room was, Lysette wasted no time in heading to it. As she stepped off the elevator and headed down the hallway she then saw a familiar face. "Fox?"

"Hello Lyssa."

"What…what are you doing here?" She asked as she stepped toward him.

"I saw on the news what had happened to Melinda last night."

"You did?"

"Yeah. And since she is a part of my case, I came down here to talk to her."

"Then she's awake?"

Mulder sighed. "No, she isn't. But I figured I would just wait until she came out of it."

"I can tell you what you need to know, Fox."

"You can?"

Lysette nodded. "I was there backstage and saw it."

Mulder motioned her to the waiting room. "Come on, let's go talk in here since it's empty." He took a seat in a chair and pointed to the one opposite him. "Please." He watched as Lysette took her seat. "Now, tell me what happened."

Lysette took a breath. "Well, I…I was backstage and…I saw Melinda pushed into the chandelier."

Mulder's eyes widened. "You saw her pushed?"

Lysette nodded. "There was no reason for her to jump out in front of the chandelier. And the chandelier is made to only swing to a certain part of the stage. But…as for the pushing there was no one on stage next to her who did it."

"Then how is it possible she was pushed then?"

"She…was pushed by someone but not someone that was there that could be seen." Lysette answered.

"What?"

"I know who pushed her, Fox." She looked deep into his eyes. "It was a ghost, Fox."

Mulder couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was almost the same scenario he had experienced when he fell off the catwalk. "How do you know, Lyssa?"

"Because I heard a voice say that there could only be one person to play the role of Christine." She whispered.

"A voice? What voice?" Mulder asked as he reached over and took her hand. "Is this the same voice you told me you heard on the night the stagehand was killed?"

Lysette then realized that she had just broken her promise to Rose about telling of her. "I…I don't know. It..it could have just been all in my head." She rose from her chair. "I really should go see Melinda now."

Mulder placed his hand on her shoulder. "Lyssa, it's ok. You can tell me whatever it is. I promise I won't make fun of you."

Lysette looked up into Mulder's eyes. "I…I can't I'm sorry."

Mulder reached down and took her hand again."You can't? Lyssa what is it? What's wrong?"

"I…I need to go see Melinda." Lysette answered as she broke away from his grasp and headed out of the waiting room. She didn't even look back as she quickly made her way to Melinda's room. She had almost betrayed the trust of her teacher and would have lost her support forever. And even though everyone said she was good, she felt she couldn't have gotten as far as she had without her and she needed her still.

She made her way into Melinda's room quietly and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the chair on the side of the bed and sat. She glanced over at Melinda who lay with her eyes closed. If it hadn't been for her chest moving up and down, one would have thought that she was dead. She took the flowers and placed them on a table and then reached over to take Melinda's hand. "Hi, Mel it's me. I would have come here last night but…they said you were in no condition. Last night…I just felt so awkward singing Christine because of what happened to you. It just didn't seem right." She paused. "And…part of me can't stop thinking that I may have had something to do with what happened to you. The last thing I would want is for anything to happen to you, Mel. I want to sing the role of Christine but not because of an accident." She sniffled. "And..if something happens to you I will never forgive myself. I just…I don't understand why all of this is happening to me. I asked for my chance to sing and I got it but…now my best friend is in a coma because of it. I know we've only known each other since we've been doing the show but…I feel like I've known you much longer, Mel. Please….please don't die." She then rested her head on the bed railing as she cried.

"Ly…Lyssa?" Replied a hoarse voice.

Lysette opened her eyes and glanced over at Melinda whose eyes were slightly open. "Oh my god…Mel?" A tear trickled down her cheek as she took Melinda's hand and kissed it. "I was afraid I would never see you again."

"You're in danger."

"What? Mel, what are you talking about?"

"He did this to me so that you could sing."

"He? Mel, what…what are you saying?"

"He only wants you to sing."

"Mel, I….I think you should get some rest." Lysette answered as she went to move away from the bed.

Melinda grabbed onto Lysette's arm. "You must listen to me, Christine before it's too late."

Lysette looked back at Melinda whose eyes had taken a blank stare and she watched as her face changed appearance. And that face staring back at her was one not unfamiliar to her though she didn't know why. "Meg?" She whispered as her face also took on a trance-like state.

"He wants you all for himself, Christine. He's come back for you."

"But….why?"

"He'll never let you go. He'll kill whoever gets in his way. Anyone who tries to get close to you is an enemy."

"Fox?"

"He is an enemy from the past that he has never forgotten and who is still a threat to him."

"He'll kill him?"

Melinda nodded. "And anyone else who dares to oppose him or your career."

"Where is he?"

"He is near you now. He is in your dreams and in your room at night.'

Lysette put her hands to her face." Oh my god. How…how do I stop him, Meg?"

"Rose…" Melinda whispered. "Jewelry…"

"I….I don't understand." Lysette answered. She then noticed that Melinda's eyes had now closed and her face had gone back to its regular appearance. She blinked her eyes. "Melinda?" She patted her hand. "Mel?"

"Excuse me miss but I need to some blood work for Miss Cuthbert." A nurse replied from the doorway.

"She…she was just awake."

The nurse walked over to the monitor next to Melinda's bed and checked it. "I'm afraid you're wrong. According to the statistics here there has been no change in Miss Cuthbert's brain activity since she went into her coma."

"But…I saw…"

"I'm sorry." The nurse replied. "But she has shown no change."

Lysette rose from her chair and looked back at Melinda who now looked in the same position she had been in when she first entered the room. Had it really been all in her mind? But she was sure she had seen her open her eyes and speak, right? At this point, Lysette didn't know what to think anymore. She quickly made her way out of Melinda's room and caught her breath outside the door. As she stood there, another vision came to her.

A young girl with long blonde hair held a piece of food in her hand. "Look, what I found!"

"Meg! Where did you get that?" She put her hand to her mouth. "Did you get that from the opera café?"

Meg smiled. "Come on, Christine where is your sense of adventure?"

"But…you aren't supposed to go in there!"

"You're just jealous!" Meg answered as she took a bite of a pastry.

"How did you get in there?"

"There's a secret way from the passage below the opera house."

"Meg, you…you shouldn't go down there."

"Why not?" She gave her a mischievous grin. "Ooooh is Christine Daae afraid that the opera ghost might grab her?"

"Of…..of course not that's just a story."

"That's it, isn't it?" She asked with a smile. She started to dance around her. "Christine's afraid of the opera ghost!Christine's afraid of the opera ghost!"

"I am not!" Christine yelled back.

"Are too!Are too!" Meg yelled back. She then stopped as she saw a shadow on the wall. "It's…it's him!The Phantom of the Opera!"

The two girls looked at one another and then screamed before running off.

Lysette blinked her eyes as she took in a breath. "Melinda?" She whispered.

"How is she?" Came a voice from behind her.

Lysette jumped upon hearing the voice and turned around. "Fox, please don't do that!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just saw that you had come out from her room." Mulder noticed how pale her face was. "Lyssa? Is everything all right?"

"She's…she's still in a coma." Lysette whispered. "There's been…no change in her condition."

"Oh….I'm sorry to hear that." Mulder paused. "Well…maybe you'll feel better after our dinner tonight?"

"Dinner?"

"Yes, remember I asked you out yesterday?"

"Oh…of..of course." Lysette swallowed as she remembered Melinda's warning. "Fox, I…I can't go out with you tonight."

"What?Why?"

"I…I can't get close to you."

"Close to me?" Mulder sighed as he took her hand gently. "Lyssa, I just want to take you out for a nice dinner. I assure you I have no other intentions. Is it wrong for me to want to take a lovely lady like you out for a nice time? I can assume you normally don't have time for such things due to your performance schedule. So, I thought it would be a nice thing for you. Try and get you to relax, that's all. But…if you really don't want to go with me…"

Lysette was so confused right now. Had what Melinda told her in the room been true? But more importantly had it really actually happened or was it all in her mind? She had said that the threat would only hold true if she and Fox were more than friends, right? Then what would be the harm in going to dinner with him as just friends? And she had to be honest that she kind of needed to go out and forget about things. "All right, Fox I'll still go with you tonight."

Mulder's eyes brightened. "Re…really? Great!" He cleared his throat. "How about I still pick you up at the same time as we planned?"

Lysette smiled. "Sounds good. What should I wear?"

"Same as I said last time, something nice." Mulder answered. "I still intend to take you someplace fancy."

"Ok, I'll see you then." Lysette answered back. "Good-bye, Fox."

"Good-bye Lyssa." Mulder answered. As he watched her walk down the hall, he couldn't help but wonder just why all of a sudden she had become so leery of being around him? Why had she suddenly denied the voice she had heard? And what had happened in Melinda's room?