Welcome to part 2 of The Enchanted Locket! I hope you enjoy!

It was morning. Any minute now…

The wind returned. It cradled me, and this time I was ready. I peeled my eyes open and stared wildly around, a look of awe on my face as the portal did its job. Finally, I was set down. I clasped a hand to my mouth, fighting back a scream. But not one of fear. My cheeks were raised, my smile radiant. Joy and longing filled my soul. I was here! In front of me was a grand, black piano. The room was empty, and its open space and neat rows of seats made it clear that this was a rehearsal room. I was here. I looked at the walls and my eyes fell gratefully on a clock. It was just before 8am. How all these worlds were in the same time zone, I did not know. Suddenly, a dark figure entered the room and I stiffened.

"Who are you?" she asked sharply, as she noticed me in the darkness. She spoke in a British accent. I would just have to keep mine, then.

"Lylah," I replied, keeping the name from before. But maybe I should have used my real name. I noticed that I was no longer tired nor hungry, and my back felt fine from laying on the ground the night before. It was the magic of the portal and I was glad for it.

The woman was dressed in a long, black dress and wore her black hair up in braids that fit her head like a band. Silver keys shone from a chain on her hip and she held a long, black staff with a pale yellow handle. She banged the staff on the ground, and the sound echoed through the silent air.

"Why are you in this theater?" she asked with a scorching gaze.

"I…" What should I say? "I was lost. My mum and dad sent me here to… I wanted…" I sucked in a breath. It would have been easier to tell the truth.

"You may only return to this theater with a ticket to our opera. Goodbye."

"No, I wanted… I wanted a job."

"We are not hiring."

"I can do tech."

"We have a man for that."

"I can sing."

"Opera?"

"No," I admitted.

"Can you dance?"

"No."

"Then I'm afraid I can not help you. Do you need further encouragement to exit this theater now?"

I glanced nervously at her staff.

"Wait, please, I know about Erik!" I gasped, holding in my breath.

The woman froze, and her cold eyes grew large. She took a step towards me.

"What do you know?" she hissed.

"I know where he is. I saw… My mother saw the show. It wasn't hard to put the two together after she told me what happened at the opera she saw here," I said quickly.

"Was she there two days ago?"

"It happened two days ago. The fall." I didn't dare say more in fear of spoiling the future.

"Yes." A crease appeared between her firm brows.

"She was under," I said, purposefully vague.

"The chandelier?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I am sorry that happened. Now if there is nothing further that I can do for you-"

"I wish to see him," I said suddenly.

"No." Her voice was sharper than Sweeny Todd's razors.

"I'm not afraid."

"I can't imagine why," she murmured.

"Please, Madame."

"Why?"

"I wish to give him something. Something that once was his."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you," I said, asking myself the same question.

"I can not help you then."

My jaw was set in frustration. Suddenly, I got an idea.

"Thank you for your time." I left, leaving Madame Giry to stare after me with a look of utmost disapproval.

As I made my way to the exit of the theater, I racked my brain. On Fleet Street, there was a period in time where Sweeny was killing and Lovett was baking. I was very lucky to end up there during this time, when nothing I did altered the show's plot. Now, I had to recall the plot. It was two days after the chandelier fell, so today must be the first day of rehearsals for the Phantom's new opera. But I didn't know that for sure. There may have been a time gap that the musical didn't address. I needed to find someone. Why had I left so soon? No, I really didn't have a plan at all. I re-entered the theater. This time, I was discreet. There were so many corridors, all dark, all silent. The slightest misstep would be a roar in this still jungle. I climbed a flight of stairs, pausing to hold my breath each time a step creaked. Dorm rooms were usually up.

And I was right. After a few minutes, I came to the dormitories. Why were the doors all closed if it was already eight by now? Why was the theater still dark? I sat down and waited.

There were voices coming from a room down the hall. I ran to it, and put my ear to it.

"Jennifer will not come," one of the girls inside was saying.

"Oh, do you really think so?" came the reply.

I left, and placed my ear to the next door. Finally, I heard a welcome conversation from inside.

"Come on, you should get some fresh air," I heard a girl say. "Don't shake your head, you were inside all day yesterday.

"I did not see him yesterday. I do not wish to see him today." The second girl sounded close to tears. I knocked.

"Who is it?' the first girl asked, while the other one gasped loudly.

"My name is Lylah. I wish to see Meg Giry."

There was a pause.

"I am her," the first voice said hesitantly. She cracked the door open, revealing a pretty head of golden locks.

"I am Lylah."

"Why do you wish to see me?"

"I want to talk to you," I said.

"Come in, then."

My heart leapt and I entered the small but airy room. A sofa, a table, two beds. Scattered papers. On one of the beds sat a fair, young woman with reddish-brown hair. She looked as though she had ghosts living in her eyes. Her face was pale, and her eyebrows raised in fear.

"Here, sit," Meg told me, gesturing to the sofa.

"Thank you."

"Now, what is it?" she asked, sitting down next to me and turning to face me curiously.

"I have just seen your mother. She does not want me to be here."

"Why?"

"She thinks what I want is too dangerous. I beg you to please not tell her I am here."

"I won't until I hear you out."

"Thanks." I glanced at the other girl, who I knew to be Christine. She was staring at us, but did not attempt to join the conversation.

"I heard about the chandelier falling," I said. "Actually, my mother was at that performance.

Christine closed her eyes and Meg looked interested. I went on.

"My mother saw the Phantom as a boy. I know where he is. I wish to see him."

Meg let out a gasp and Christine gave a faint scream, leaping to her feet.

"No," she whispered. "No, do not see him. I beg you. I beg you!" She moved forward and reached out as if to seize my hands, then stumbled and fell onto the sofa next to Meg. Meg placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Madame Giry is right," Christine breathed. "You must not see him."

"Why do you want to?" Meg asked.

"I want to give him something," I replied.

"He will kill you," Christine murmured.

"I need to see him. If I don't, I will die."

"Why?" Meg pried.

"I'm going to his lair whether you like it or not."

"I won't stop you," Meg said.

"Why not?" I asked, startled.

"It isn't my place to. And I won't tell my mother either."

"Thank you," I said fervently.

"You're welcome."

"But I will stop you!" I had risen, and Christine grabbed my arm. "You don't know what he can do!"

"I do know. I have seen him before. Now let me go. I will be careful and I will return alive. I promise."

Cristine nodded and released my arm. I don't know why my assurances were any comfort to her, seeing as she didn't know me.

"Can I take you to his lair?" Meg offered.

"No!" Cristine cried.

"I won't go inside," Meg assured her.

"Yes, please," I said gratefully. "Bye, Christine."

Christine nodded at me; she wore a heavy mask of fear. Meg and I left the room and started downstairs.

"He lives across a lake," Meg explained. "But you said you had seen him before?"

"When he was a boy and at the traveling show," I told her.

"Where are you from?" she asked. "Your accent is sort of funny."

"I'm from London."

"Ah, not far from Paris, then."

"Ya."

My eyes grew wider the lower we traveled. Finally, a great wooden elevator came into view.

"This is it," Meg said. "I really shouldn't go farther."

I noticed her reluctant glance below. She would dare, someday.

"You must hold your hand like this," she went on, showing me a raised hand next to and facing my face, "or he will try to hang you." She looked down again. "I could go in with you."

"No, you promised Christine!" I said at once. I could not ruin the story.

"Fine." She sighed. "Well, then good luck."

"Thank you for everything," I smiled.

Meg smiled back and walked lightly out of view.

"All right," I whispered. I took the elevator down and found a canoe. I rowed. The lake glistened and seemed to whisper silent songs. I gasped. There were so many candles! There was a perfect lake behind me and a mystery in front. This was a dream. I raised my hand to my face and stepped into view. My eyes gleamed at the throne, little flames reflected in my pupils.

Suddenly, a rope was thrown around me-a lasso. I grabbed it with my raised hand and held on tightly. It was yanked hard, so I let go.

"Hello, Erik," I said, dropping my accent.

He stepped into view. He wasn't tall, but he had an air about him that lifted him imposingly. His white mask that covered half his face gleamed.

"I was not expecting a visitor." His smile scared me. I had met him now, I could leave. But no…

"I am glad you broke the chandelier."

"Who sent you here?"

"Nobody. My mother knew you briefly, not that it matters."

"Where is Christine?"

"In her room. She's very tired. I'm not afraid of you."

"You have no reason not to be afraid," he snarled. "You do not know what I am capable of."

"Then I will leave and let you show the world."

"I think not. I think you shall remain here forever."

All I needed to do was stay alive. The portal would take me away in the morning, now. I just needed to be living. I stared at the Phantom. Easier said than done.

"What do you want with me?" I asked.

"What did you want with me?" Erik countered.

I could talk to him now. I could tell him that I knew his face, and it didn't bother me. I could assure him that the world was not all against him, and he would find someone soon. I could look at him without the mask, without the wig, and he could see that not everyone thought him a monster. I could sing. But I couldn't. That was Christine's job, not mine. I would ruin the ending. I couldn't mess with the careful threads of their story any more than I had to. I had to leave before I tread on any precious pages of the musical.

"I must go," I said. "I will not tell anyone what I have seen."

"No, you must stay."

I gasped as a rope flew around my neck. I had forgotten to put my hand back up. I was lifted, and hung.

"Please!" I croaked. "Please don't make me stay here until the morning." I hoped he would; then the portal would save me.

"I won't," the Phantom assured me. "I shall dispose of you long before then."

"I came here to give you something and to tell you that you are not alone in the world," I lied, in a desperate attempt to free my aching throat.

"You lie."

"I don't. Let me down and I will give it to you."

He walked over to me.

"You can give it to me now. I have not trapped your hands."

"But I need to use them to hold my neck in here."

To my surprise, he reached up and tugged the top of the rope. It fell.

"There, it is reusable," he said unkindly.

"Thank you," I gasped, catching my breath. He was staring at me. I reached up and unclasped my earring. I extended it to him.

"What is this?"

"It's the only thing I have to give you to help prove that I do not think you a monster."

"It is bribery so I will not hang you."

"No, it is a gift. If you hang me again now, I would still give it to you. I know that it's not me you hate, it's the world. I just happen to be part of it."

Erik heistated.

"Give me your necklace."

"I can't, it's not mine," I said truthfully.

"Who's is it, then?"

"It doesn't matter. I plan to return it very soon. If I don't, I will die."

The Phantom didn't question my odd explanation. He took the earring and rubbed it in his shaking fingers.

"Erik," I whispered.

He stiffened.

"You have seen too much. I can't permit you to leave."

"I swear I won't tell a soul."

"You won't," he agreed, swinging his lasso once more. I screamed as I was hung again, my feet dangling and my neck burning.

My eyes grew wide with fear as Erik disappeared from view.

I waited, hoping silently, not daring to close my eyes. I waited. What time was it now? It couldn't be that late. How would I survive until next morning? I was very dizzy. My eyes drooped…

"Go." It was the Phantom's voice. I did not know how much time had passed. My face pounded and my neck throbbed. He lifted a candle to the rope and I bit back a scream as I fell to my knees.

"Go," he said again. "And never speak of this again!"

I ran to the boat and rowed as fast as I could. I moved up, up, higher, until finally, I was far from the Phantom's lair. A rock moved off my chest and I breathed heavily, rubbing my neck.

Why had he let me go?

I leaned against the wall and squinted. A figure was approaching me. Who was it?

"You." My heart sank. It was Madame Giry speaking.

"Yeah," I replied, my British accent back in my tongue.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"I don't know," I muttered.

"Well I do. How dare you go down there after I forbade you! I could call the police on you right now! You could go to jail!"

"How do you know where I was?"

"Why do you think he let you go? You were very lucky. Very lucky." She looked away. "Go home."

"I can't go home until the morning."

"Why not?"

"I can't." I met her gaze, saying those words with such truthful intensity, that I knew she believed me.

"I have never seen such blatant disregard for the rules."

"I'm sorry." I meant it, and let her see that.

"The damage is done," Madame Giry replied simply.

"What do you mean? What damage?"

She ignored me. I hoped I didn't change the story. Just then, Meg came sprinting up to us.

"Mother," she said with a nod. "Lylah!"

"Hi, Meg."

"Are you alright?" she asked, peering at me anxiously.

"Yes."

"Did he hang you?" Madame Giry asked firmly.

"He did," I replied.

Meg gasped, and Madame Giry's face hardened.

"I suspected as much," Madame Giry said.

"I'm sorry, Lylah," Meg said earnestly. "I told my mother where you had gone. But that was after two hours of not seeing you.

Two hours. Time had passed like a mosquito creeping up on a sleeping leg.

"Thank you," I replied.

"She sent him a letter," Meg whispered.

"Meg, I wish to speak to the girl alone for a moment," Madame Giry ordered. Meg glanced at me and left, her light steps echoing slightly in the hall.

"What did you see?" Madame Giry asked me.

"Not much. I think I was unconscious for most of the time," I told her.

"How is your neck?"

"It'll be ok." It really hurt, and so did my head, but that would be over once the portal came.

"Why did you go?"

"I felt guilty for my mother laughing at him many years ago. I wanted to make it up. It was haunting me." It was a good story, I thought.

"That is your mother's guilt. And not her alone."

"I know, but I had to see him. All I did was give him my earring and tell him as best I could that he isn't a monster to all the world."

"That was a very foolish thing to do."

"I know. But nothing could have stopped me."

Madame Giry sighed.

"Why can't you go home?" she asked.

"I can't say," I replied truthfully.

"Follow me."

I listened. We made our way back up to the dormitories, me following her swishing black dress.

Madame Giry stopped in front of a door and knocked.

"Who is it?" came the voice inside.

"Madame Giry."

"Oh, come in."

We entered. It was Meg and Christine's room.

"Can Lylah stay with you until the morning?" Madame Giry asked.

"Of course," Meg replied eagerly. Christine nodded.

"Good," Madame Giry said sternly. "Goodbye."

"Bye!" I called.

Once the door had closed, Meg began to ask me questions rapidly.

"Did he scare you? Did he take off his mask? How long were you hanging? Where was it exactly, and how did you get across the lake?"

"He wasn't scary, it was what he was willing to do that scared me. He hung me for a while and he didn't take off his mask," I replied. Meg opened her mouth again, so I added, "That's all."

"Did he mention me?" Christine asked quietly.

"He asked where you were, and I said you were resting."

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Of course," I said. "Well, you were resting. I mean, you are."

"They're fixing the chandelier," Meg explained. "We can't perform until it's fixed."

"I fear what's to come," Christine said, her face distant and lost in thought.

"Are you hungry?" Meg asked me.

"Yes," I replied.

"Fresh food would be nice."

"I know a great market not too far from here," Christine said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, father would take me there for…" she trailed off, gazing into the distance.

"Let's go," Meg said eagerly.

One hour later, we were seated back in their dorm room eating a fruit salad and fish. Meg had graciously paid, and the food filled me greatly. I won't recount our trip to the market, as it was quite dull, and the conversations were not that memorable.

"Lylah, where do you live?" Meg asked me between bites.

"Not that close, but it isn't as far as it seems."

"You're very mysterious," Meg said, her eyes sparkling.

"So are you," I replied, "with your long curls and twinkling eyes."

Meg laughed, and Christine smiled.

"We should play cards," Christine suggested.

Meg looked momentarily startled by her sudden suggestion, but immediately leapt up to get a deck.

"What card game?" I asked.

"Ever played Bezique?" Christine asked, taking the cards from Meg and shuffling them.

"No."

"We'll teach you!" Meg said enthusiastically. "It's really fun."

And it was. We played, talked, and laughed until night fell. I had never felt luckier in my life.

"We should go to bed," Christine said, glancing out the window at the blackening sky.

Meg and I agreed, and the girls consented to share a bed for the night, leaving me with Meg's.

"Goodnight," Christine whispered once we were all embraced in our covers.

"Goodnight," I replied, while Meg murmured,

"Night."

I closed my heavy eyes. I could only imagine their awed bewilderment when they woke and saw me vanished. I smiled, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Thank you for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated-thoughts, questions, suggestions, opinions. Check back for part three tomorrow! (It will be posted as a separate story again)