Justin stayed looking at the locked office door hoping that this time things would be different with Phantalmina. No luck. The door stayed closed, and the faint ruffle of paper could be heard from the other side of the door. Thanks to the bans, he could feel her heart aching and desire to scream.

But then he heard something different. Sound of little feet walking close by, almost next to him. He checked his sides and it didn't take long for him to notice Elizabeth a couple of steps away from him. He did it so suddenly that she startled a little.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I…," she shuttered.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," he said.

There was a small awkward silence before Justin dared to speak again.

"Is everything alright with the others?"

"Oh, yes. I just..." she seemed a little unsure to answer. "I am here just to ask about the child."

"Phantalmina?"

"Yes. I..." she was still a little unsure for a moment, but then she dared to ask. "Is she alright? She only goes out and then comes here. She seems so… unhappy."

At first, Justin couldn't help but smile a little to see some of the rescued ones were also worried about her beside themself. But then, how to answer that? She is in there because she is mad at them? That he is trying to apologize?

"I wish I could answer that," Justin began. "She… she does so much for us and we didn't want to increase her burden, so we hide the fact that… 'that bat' had new demands so he wouldn't use her for his advanced."

"Oh," Elizabeth said. "So…. she locks herself away because you were trying to protect her? From the meat-eating bat?"

"Yes," he said. "That is the reason."

"I… see," she said. And after another silent moment, she continued. "Well, if I may say, I think I might understand her been a little upset for been left out. But all of this..." she nodded for the door. "This doesn't seem to be good at all."

"I agree," Justin said. "But she doesn't seem to want to talk to us. I just don't know how to help her."

"Have you tried?" Elizabeth asked.

"We can't," he said. "These bands bond us to not neglect her wishes. And right now, she doesn't want us in the office."

"Oh," she said. "What if… what if I could talk to her?"

Justin's eyes widened by her suggestion. Was he hearing this right? She asked,... wanted to go in there?

"You?" he tried to clarify. "Are you sure?"

"Well,... Someone at least should," she said while rubbing her hands. "If you and your friends aren't allowed, then... who else could?"

Justin looked at Elizabeth, he then turned to look at the door and then back at her. She did have a point. Someone should go in and talk to Phantalmina, at least to make sure everything was well. But he couldn't, neither could Ashley, Munkustrap, Dusk, or anyone else with the band. And those few friends who didn't have them were busy and getting old. He let out a sigh, he didn't want to send Elizabeth there alone, but there wasn't anyone else left.

"Alright," he said. "You can go and try. I just can't promise she will be well in there."

"Thank you." she smiled at him.

With that, Justin guided her to the hole that he and others would use to get in. It was close to right the doorway. And after a nod to him, Elizabeth went inside the office.

Inside Elizabeth saw many score papers on the floor in her way. She walked carefully for not to step on them and with it upsetting the girl.

"Hello?" she tried to call. The room was enough spacious for her not to notice where she could be.

"I thought I made it clear, you can't enter…!" came from behind the desk, and then Phantalmina came from there looking upset. But once she sees Elizabeth she was surprised and her expression turned calmer "I- I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"One of your… friends?" Elizabeth asked.

Phantalmina only frowned. "More like troublemakers."

"So, you are still mad at them?"

"YES! I am mad at them!"

Elizabeth tried hard not to flinch from her outburst. She was still upset, so frighting up won't help her. "Why?"

"Why!? I have been looking after everyone in this building from hunger and danger all this time, and they hide the knowledge that Goth was planning something from me. As if I couldn't handle it. Like my effort was for nothing. As if all that I did was nothing!"

"I'm sure that is not what they meant with that."

"But it felt like it." A little sob escaped from Phantalminas lip. "I- I know they didn't mean it, but this feeling..."

She leaned close to the desk but then fell sitting on the floor, letting her knees support her elbows as her hands held her face. Faint sobs leaving her. Elizabeth moved closer so she was right next to her shoe with a clear view to her.

"What do you mean? What's wrong?" she asked the girl.

"I can still feel the anger towards all this, that I want to yell at them and to that bat. I… I… I'm scared."

"You are? Why?"

"I don't know," she answered. After a couple of breaths to calm herself from crying she continued. "I feel like there is an urge to do something, something… bad. I'm scared that I might do something worse than the blood-bands."

Elizabeth looked concerned but also worried. What did she mean by that?

"I- I'm not sure I understand."

"I can't let them in. They can't see me like this, or something bad will happen." she looked up to the desk. "Not until I'm finished."

"Finished what?" Elizabeth asked.

Phantalmina let a heavy sigh. "I just need more time."

That Elizabeth could understand. Whatever this was she needed time to make it better. She is so young so it might take her even longer to come to that.

"I'm sure we can help you with that," Elizabeth said and pat her shoe. "If you want I could tell them that you just need to be on your own to calm down."

Phantalmina smiled for her kind word.

"Thank you," she said. "Could you also tell them to play 23 marked in blue?"

"23, blue?" Elizabeth wasn't sure what that meant, but maybe Justin knows. "Sure. I'll tell them that too."

The young girl made a small smile.

"Thank you."