Phantom's Performance

Chapter 38

Alastor's Pov

The meeting room felt like it was closing in on itself as the temperature dropped sharply. I leaned back in my chair, my senses on high alert as I watched the escalating confrontation between Y/n and Charlie. The room crackled with tension, and I could feel the cold, oppressive energy of Y/n's rising anger.

Charlie's frustration was palpable. "You don't understand the gravity of what I'm doing, Y/n! I'm working to help sinners escape Hell and find redemption. That's a noble cause, not some whimsical fantasy!"

Y/n's face flushed with anger, her eyes flashing. "You think I'm just chasing a fantasy? My circus is about bringing joy to those who have nothing! It's not just about me—it's about providing some form of relief in this damnable place!"

Charlie's voice rose, cutting through the chill. "Relief? It's a temporary distraction! People need more than just a momentary escape. They need a chance to change their fate, and that's what I'm offering. You're too wrapped up in your own self-indulgence to see it."

Y/n's gaze hardened. "Self-indulgence? I've spent my whole life fulfilling expectations and cleaning up everyone's mess! I'm stuck being the perfect princess while you get to pursue your dreams without a second thought!"

Charlie's face turned red with indignation. "And you think you're the only one who's sacrificed? You've been too busy wallowing in self-pity to recognize the good I'm trying to do. My dream isn't just about me; it's about making a real difference!"

"Difference?" Y/n spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What difference does it make if all you're doing is pandering to your own sense of righteousness? I'm the one who's had to deal with the fallout, who's had to keep this place running while you play at being the savior!"

Charlie's eyes narrowed. "And you're so quick to criticize without seeing the bigger picture. You're just bitter because you're not getting the attention you think you deserve!"

Y/n's voice shook with raw emotion. "You don't care! You didn't even notice my soulmate mark!" Her words were a searing accusation, cutting through the air with a sharp edge.

The room went deathly silent. Charlie's face turned a deeper shade of red, her anger flaring. "Are you seriously bringing that up now? It's not about marks or attention. It's about helping people!"

"Helping people?" Y/n's voice rose to a fever pitch. "I've been the one left to pick up the pieces while you chase your noble fantasy. Father left everything to me after Mother disappeared, and I've had to deal with it all on my own!"

The air grew even colder, charged with Y/n's rising power. Her anger was almost palpable, a living entity that seemed to wrap around her like a shroud. I glanced at Lucifer, who looked on with a mix of shock and concern.

"You think you're the only one who's made sacrifices?" Charlie shouted back. "I'm fighting for something greater, something that can change Hell for the better. And you're just jealous because you're stuck in your own little world!"

"Jealous?" Y/n's voice was a thunderclap of finality. "I'm done with trying to be the perfect daughter while you get to live your fantasy!"

The room's atmosphere was electric with the intensity of their conflict. I could sense that Y/n was on the edge of something dangerous, her anger driving her to a breaking point.

"I'm done with all of this!" Y/n's voice was a raw declaration. "Everyone needs to stay away from me. I can't— I won't— deal with this anymore!"

Her anger was like a storm, and before anyone could react, Y/n vanished, leaving a void where she had been. The sudden emptiness was disorienting. I watched as the others scrambled to her office, only to find it completely empty. All traces of Y/n were gone, the room now devoid of her presence.