There was no sign that Phantalmina would have left the office any other way or something.
"You can move forward from here," Justin said as they were at the door. "If there is something wrong, call me in. I'm allowed to enter if I'm invited."
"Yes." Elizabeth nodded and entered.
Inside the office she found Phantalmina at the desk, writing. The girl didn't raise her head or even said anything. Didn't seem to notice her entering. She only wrote like it was the only thing to do. And it worried Elizabeth.
"Hello?" Elizabeth carefully called.
"Go away," Phantalmina said sounding unpleased, but not mad,.. yet.
"Mina, what's wrong?"
"I don't want to talk and I don't want Justin in. I'm working."
"Working? With what?" The way Phantalminas hand kept writing and her unpleased tone could only mean one thing. "Are you…?"
Phantalmina slammed her hand hard on the table surface which made Elizabeth flinch. "Please, leave while I still have some sense left in me. I don't want this to turn worse."
"But,… others are worried. The food,.. and the big ones."
Before finishing her sentence, Phntalmina threw all the papers and a few other things off the desk. It scared Elizabeth and she was about to get out of the room. But then,... there was a sob.
The little girl was crying.
Elizabeth turned slowly and saw Phantalmina hiding her face down on the desk. As she moved back closer she saw her tremble. She was crying.
"Mina?" She moved closer back to the girl.
At first, Phantalmina didn't answer her but Elizabeth kept moving closer to comfort her. "Please, tell me what is wrong."
"S…*sob*... hates me." Phantalmina sobbed.
"Excuse me?"
"She hates me," she said again clearly this time.
"Who?"
"Ashley" Phantalmina answered with a cry in her throat. "I thought… I thought we were past all of it but…"
"Wait. How do you know she thinks like that?"
"He said it."
"He?" Who could say such lies to her? Is it…? "Do you mean the big meat-eater bat?"
"Yes."
"Mina, with all due respect, can you even trust him? He hasn't been kind to any of you, and he treats you disrespectfully."
"I checked it," Pahntalmina said. "And he was right. Ashley is angry, and all because of me."
"No, that can't be right," Elizabeth tried to tell her. "She and Justin always come to the door and ask of you."
"So Justin knows, about her being mad at me?"
"Not about that. They are both worried about you."
"What?" Phantalmina lifted her eyes to look at the mouse standing in front of her face.
"Everyone is worried about you," Elizabeth said to her. "All the bats, rats, mice, and cats are. Including me."
"You?"
"Yes," Elizabeth said. "This song you are making, these feelings and locking yourself away from the others. I don't know why, but someone so kind as you shouldn't do that when there are so many who want to help you. "
The girl's lips trembled as she held her cry. Just like back then, they were still worrying about her. Even though she had been all distant and mean to them.
"But… but… I have been so mean. They should be angry at me," she sobbed.
"Hey, hey," Elizabeth calmed her. "Please let us help you to fix it, alright?"
Phantamina nodded a little. Things should be fixed and it starts with her.
"Who else is outside in the hallway?" she asked.
"Only Justin," Elizabeth answered.
At that moment, Phantalmina got up and walked to the door. And stepped out to the hallway.
"Mina?" Justin noticed the door open and was surprised to see Phantalmina coming out. "You are…"
"I want to talk to Ashley," she said without slowing down her way to the stage.
"Oh. Okay," he could only reply and followed her to the stage with Elizabeth.
Everyone's head turned as they heard the familiar thumping steps of Phantalmina and many were about to ask her questions but she already beat them to it as she called the one she was looking for.
"Ashley!"
It didn't take long for the response as she flew down to meet the girl.
Ashley was surprised and a little hopeful as she saw Phantalmina. However, many questions came first to her mind before she could think of anything else. "Mina, you came out? Is everything alright? Are you..?"
"I need to ask you something, and I want you to answer it truthfully," Phantalmina said quickly, not leaving space to anyone talk back.
"Okay," Ashley replied.
Other creatures didn't speak. They didn't dare to interrupt her. Even though there was a hurry for something else.
"Are you angry with me? Do you wish to leave?" Phantalmina asked Ashley, sounding a little sad and worried.
Ashley was a little shocked. That was an unthinkable question.
"What? No." she tried to reply quickly. "No, I don't…"
But before she could say anything else, something attacked Phantalmina so quickly no one couldn't react on time. And there was no doubt who the attacker was.
"GOTH!"