Phantom's Performance

Chapter 11

Y/n's Pov

The living room was unusually quiet, save for the low hum of the television and the occasional shuffle of feet. I sat with the Vee's—Velvette, Valentino, and Vox—on one of the plush sofas in Valentino's expansive living room. The room, typically vibrant and full of life, felt heavy with anticipation.

The television, usually tuned to music videos or flashy advertisements, was now set to a news channel broadcasting live coverage of the Extermination Day. The screen showed aerial shots of Hell's various districts, with reporters nervously narrating the unfolding chaos.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the Vee's seemed to be taking a rather unconventional approach. Valentino lounged on the couch with a cigarette, a bemused smile on his face. Velvette was perched on the arm of the sofa, her usual grace replaced by a playful demeanor. Vox was sprawled across a chair, his typically aloof expression replaced by an occasional smirk.

"Can you believe this?" Valentino said, chuckling as he took a drag from his cigarette. "They're acting like this is the end of the world. It's just another day in Hell!"

Velvette laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I know, right? They're acting like it's some big epic showdown, but it's probably just going to be another chaotic mess. At least we have popcorn."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Popcorn? Seriously?"

Vox chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm just waiting for the part where they cut to the dramatic slow-motion shots of demons running around and getting their way. It's like a bad action movie."

The room erupted into laughter, their lightheartedness a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere outside. It was a bit surreal, but I couldn't deny that their humor was a welcome distraction from the mounting tension.

"Hey, don't jinx it," I said with a grin. "We still don't know how this is going to play out."

Valentino waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, come on. We've seen this kind of thing before. It's always the same—chaos, destruction, and then we all just pick up the pieces and move on. I'm more interested in how many dramatic speeches we'll get out of this."

Velvette nodded in agreement; her playful demeanor unwavering. "I'm just waiting for the heroic last-minute save. You know when everything seems lost and then—bam! —someone swoops in and saves the day."

As the television continued to broadcast updates, the Vee's continued to make light of the situation. Their banter and jokes helped ease the tension, even if only temporarily.

The news anchor's voice interrupted our lightheartedness, reporting on the increasing activity in various districts. "Reports are coming in of skirmishes breaking out in Cannibal Town and the surrounding areas. The Extermination Day forces are making their presence known."

Valentino rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, please. They're probably just trying to make it sound more impressive than it is. It's like they're auditioning for a role in a disaster movie."

Velvette nudged me playfully. "See, if you're getting anxious, just remember that these guys have been through this before. It's all about keeping perspective."

I laughed, appreciating their attempt to lighten the mood. "I guess you're right. A little humor goes a long way."

As we settled in for the long wait, the Vee's continued their playful commentary, making jokes and light-hearted remarks about the coverage. Despite the seriousness of the situation, their humor was a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was always room for a bit of laughter.