Phantom's Performance

Chapter 43

Disclaimer: The song "First Time In Forever, reprise" Will be in this chapter, but edited to fit the story better.

Baxter's Pov

The knock on the hotel door came at the most opportune moment, just as Charlie, Vaggie, and I were preparing to head to Y/n's manor. Charlie went to answer it, and I stood behind her, a practiced mask of casual curiosity on my face. The door creaked open, and there stood a demon with a look of startled surprise on his face.

"Hello! I'm Charlie Morningstar," she said with her usual bright smile. "And you are?"

"Baxter," I said, stepping into the hallway. "I'm here for... a fresh start. Redemption, if you will."

Charlie's eyes widened, her smile widening further. "Redemption? That's wonderful! We're always happy to welcome new guests with a desire to change. You know, you remind me a bit of an old friend of mine—Sir Pentious. He was quite the character, but he didn't last long. He was exterminated during that awful purge."

I chuckled softly, trying to keep my mood light despite the unsettling comparison. "I knew him. We weren't exactly friends, but I've heard of him. I suppose I do have a bit more going on upstairs than he did."

Charlie laughed lightly, and I caught a glimpse of genuine warmth in her eyes. But she kept calling me Sir Pentious. I had to correct her multiple times.

"That's not my name," I said with a faint smile. "It's Baxter. Did you even listen?"

"Oh! I'm so sorry," Charlie said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I'm just so used to thinking of him. I'll get it right, I promise!"

Charlie's enthusiasm was almost overwhelming, but I played along as she introduced me to the hotel's residents. There were so many of them, each with their own quirks and personalities. It was a lot to take in, but I kept my focus, knowing that my primary goal was to remain inconspicuous and carry out the mission Y/n and I had devised.

Eventually, Charlie brought me to Niffty, who greeted me with a burst of energy. "Hi, hi, hi!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on the spot. "I'm Niffty! You must be new around here. Oh my gosh, you're a bad boy, aren't you? I love bad boys!"

Her sudden affection was both flattering and awkward. "Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that," I said, trying to stay composed.

Niffty's excitement was almost too much to handle. She clung to my arm, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I just love bad boys! They're so much fun!"

I tried to maintain my focus, but the intensity of her attention made it difficult. I had to remind myself that I was here for a purpose. "Yeah, well, I'm here to turn things around," I said, gently detaching her from my arm. "Maybe not so bad anymore."

Niffty pouted but her eyes twinkled. "We'll see about that!"

Charlie continued the tour, and I met a few more demons. Then, we finally reached the area where Alastor was waiting. My heart skipped a beat. I knew I had to be extra careful around him. Alastor's gaze was sharp and perceptive, and I couldn't afford to slip up.

"Alastor," Charlie said, introducing me. "This is Baxter. He's here to redeem himself."

Alastor's smile was as charming as ever, but his eyes were scrutinizing. "Welcome, Baxter. Redemption, you say? A noble endeavor. And what, may I ask, has brought you to our little corner of Hell?"

I met his gaze with a calm expression. "I've come to make a change, to turn over a new leaf," I said, keeping my tone steady.

Alastor's smile didn't waver, but there was a glint of something in his eyes. "Change can be... quite refreshing," he said, his voice almost too smooth. "Though it's not always an easy path, is it?"