Yeeeaaah. This took wayyy too long. Sorry about that, folks. Hopefully the long wait'll be worth it for you readers.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed, read, faved, watched, etc back with the old story. That meant alot.

And before you guys hog out on the Prologue, I have one last thing to say. Danny Phantom does NOT belong to me. I just came up with the storyline.

With that said and done: please enjoy!

Between the Lines of Life

© Phantomhowl '10

- Prologue -

Life and death: two simple words with many words to describe them. Opposites they are. One is hated, the other loved. Almost every complex creature living on this earth understands the meanings of these words to a degree, whether with a loved family member dieing or a newborn child coming into the world. No matter who you are, or where you life, these two words are everywhere, and cannot be escaped from.

But what if there is something we're missing in our so-called 'understanding'? What if there's a small detail that's always been right under our noses, but we are just too oblivious to notice it? What if that detail could solve many unanswerable questions…but be equally harmful at the same time? Could we discover this, and if so, will it be in time to save our human race?

As intelligent as the human race is, there's always something we may never discover, never see, and never learn. However, there are those rare few who experience things that can only haunt the minds of human beings. These few know the truth about which fables and tales are true or false. They know that keeping their mouth shut about what they see is the best thing for them to do, while the known, yet unknown entities are all around them twenty-four seven.

Who are these few and how can we recognize one when we see them? The world may never know…

» » || « «

The night was chilled, as it was fall. The leaves of deciduous trees were painted with brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds with their fading green color mixed here and there. A nippy wind wove it's way around any obstacle, every once in a while trying to penetrate through the building walls in vain to get at the smart beings who were inside.

In one particular house, just close enough and far away enough to be considered comfortable country living, was a cozy little family of three: a mother, a father, and their only son. Everyone was sleeping, except for the five-year-old son. The boy lay on his back, gazing at the ceiling wide-awake. So far all his attempts to fall asleep had failed, and his young brain was racing with thoughts. This was making the boy rather upset. However, something was keeping him awake because something wasn't quite right tonight.

Finally deciding that just lying there wasn't helping him a bit, he got out of his bed and made his way to the hallway. The moonlight that filtered through his window was cast upon his raven black hair, giving his hair a curious sort of glow before he left the light, going into the slightly darker hallway. He made his way to the kitchen where the moonlight found him again as he reached for his cup of water. Holding the cup between his two hands he successfully got it down without spilling its contents, bringing it up to his mouth to drink.

After he got his fill of water for the time being, putting his cup back, he went back to his bedroom. He climbed back in his bed, and looked outside through the window that was next to his bed. The full moon caught his attention almost immediately. The glittering stars were ignored, as the celestial glow of the moon seemed to hypnotize the young boy. Look at me, young one, it seemed to say to him, look at me and all your worries will be no more. That was all he needed to hear; that was all he wanted right now.

So wrapped up in the moon was he that he failed to notice a figure with a super-natural aurora and blood-red glowing eyes filled with blood-lust appear in the hallway just in front of his bedroom doorway. The figure then disappeared with a malignant smirk. The child was too young; he wouldn't get in the way tonight. This would be the night that he could do what he's always wanted to do. This night was the night of his revenge.

The boy suddenly jolted back to reality when a scream of pain rang through the house. Bad moon, he thought half in fear half in displeasure, then thinking, Mommy! He got down for his bed as quickly as he could without falling, hurrying to his parent's room. When he got there, fear instantly froze him to his spot. Mommy…

His mother lay on the floor before him, most likely dead, as blood was flowing quickly through a large gash running from her neck to her stomach. The father was awake, looking at his wife with eyes shadowed in grief, confusion, and pain. Then he caught sight of his son, going over to him and attempting to direct him away from the horrid scene.

Unfortunately the boy wouldn't budge willingly, and when the supernatural murderer turned its gaze to him, he wouldn't budge at all. The father was becoming panicked, but had no idea what to do. The boy had tuned out everything else as his eyes darted up to meet the glowing ones as it spoke.

"Little boy, come with me. This is no place for someone like you to live in. They'll never understand your ability…they'll never know your potential." it said, calmly and with an odd soothing tone. This soothing tone was slightly disturbing to the boy.

Why me have to go with you? he hissed, And why you hurt mommy?

"You must come with me because this is not the place you belong, my boy."

He narrowed his eyes, noticing the being was ignoring his second question. The fact that these beings didn't like to be questioned about such things repeatedly didn't scare him in the least right now, so he repeated his question. Why you hurt mommy? Tears had begun to well up in his eyes, knowing very well that his mother was not coming back. Not in any of these realms.

It's voice hardened, becoming scathing. "That is none of your concern, child."

In a blink on an eye the creature was behind the boy and his father, a choking and hacking noise from the father came in the next instant. Everything seemed to slow down. The last thump of his father's heart as the parent fell to the floor with a bang, the splatter of his father's blood on the floor, the wall, and himself, the Cheshire cat grin that spread across the murderer's face, though his back was to it. Then time sped back up to normal as the murderer grabbed him by his pajama shirt, lifting him up to eye level.

"Remember this day, child, remember it well," it crackled half-maniacally, "Because this is the day that your troubles begin, this is the day that your nightmare becomes reality. Remember this day…!"

The boy's vision faded to black soon after.

» » || « «

When he finally came to, light was just beginning to flood through the window above him. It was morning. He just lay there for a minute, the happenings of that night crashing upon him like a tsunami. His eyes began to fill with tears; small sobs flowing through the unusually quiet house. Then he thought of something. Maybe this was all just a dream, just a horrible nightmare. Thinking of this he slowly got out of his bed, wandering out into the hallway, and then froze. It was real. He was indeed living a nightmare, and there was no way out.

He lay down on the floor in front of where his dead father lay, crying his heart out. That…that monster, oh how he hated that monster. That monster was to blame for this. That monster was to blame for making him an orphan. Now he was on his own, and no one knew.

Finally getting up off the floor, the boy decided to leave. He wanted to get away from this place, no matter how much he wanted to stay where he had always felt safe. This had been his safe place. Until now.

The boy thought quickly, going into his room and grabbing his blanket, his stuffed kitten named Patches, and a pocket watch his parents gave him on his fifth birthday that he was not allowed to play with or touch until his sixth birthday. He put the pocket watch around his neck and left the room quickly, heading straight for the open front door. The boy paused for a moment, not remembering the door being open. Shrugging off the odd situation, he hurried outside, still in his pajamas, and left the property never to come back again.

The date: October 3, 1998.

» » || « «

It was the day after he ran away, and he was feeling no better. He was tired, hungry, thirsty, and was chilled from being out in the cold with nothing but his pajamas and his blanket to keep him warm. There was no doubt about him coming down with a cold within a day or two.

He simply had to find someone to help him. Oh, yes, there were vehicles that passed him, but none of them paid attention to the miserable five-year-old.

Then, a particular vehicle slowed to a stop next to where the child sat near the side of the road. The door on the driver's side opened, a red-haired woman with aqua blue eyes stepped out, walked around the front of the vehicle and right over to him. The woman knelt down in front of him, studying him with worry and concern. What in the world had happened to this poor child?

"Sweetie," she began gently, "Where are your parents?"

The boy hesitated, wary of talking to strangers. Don't worry, a little voice inside him said, you can trust the lady. She can help you. He gave into the voice, answering with a small sob to the edge of his voice. "They dead." The boy saw the woman stiffen in shock. "They w-were killed." He hugged his stuffed kitten tighter, which was a bit dirty by now.

"Where do you live?" she asked, the boy replying by pointing down the road to his left. "And what is your name?"

"Danny."

"Well, Danny, would you like to come with me? We'll have you cleaned and fed soon enough."

He thought for a moment. The boy did want to be fed and cleaned, and surely warmth would come with that too. It seemed like a good idea to him, and the little voice gave no protest either. He nodded his head in reply.

The woman gave a kind smile, holding out a hand to him, of which he took. "Come on, then." She led him to the vehicle and put him inside, buckling him and herself up. After closing her door she stepped on the gas pedal and drove away. Glancing briefly toward Danny, she determined to find out what exactly happened that put this child in such a sad position. I'd like to know what kind of heartless person would do such a thing, if what this child said were true. He's surely scarred for life, the poor thing.

» » || « «

It wasn't long before the kind woman pulled up into a driveway of what looked like a house, her house perhaps. She turned off the vehicle and unbuckled herself and Danny.

"Ok. We're here, Danny. Lets go inside now."

They had only taken one step inside when a loud voice boomed through the house. "Maddie! You're home! You won't believe what I discovered just now!"

"Jack! Quiet down; we have a visitor. Don't give him a bad first impression," the woman corrected the giant orange-suited man.

"But Maddie…" Jack started to protest, but got cut off.

"No buts." Maddie looked down and sure enough Danny was hiding behind her, peeking around her legs cautiously. She sighed. "It's ok, Danny. Jack won't hurt you." The boy moved out from behind her some, not entirely sure about how safe this mass of loud orange-suited man was. He wasn't the first to think that, that's for sure.

Jack gave her a quizzical look.

She sighed. "I'll explain. Danny, could you go sit over there on the sofa? I'll get to you in a bit, ok?"

Danny nodded then walked over to the sofa and sprawled out on it. Soft… It had been awhile sense he laid on something soft even if it was only a day or so ago. To him it felt like weeks. Several long, painful, dreadful weeks. He would be ok now, though. This kind woman would help him and maybe even the giant orange man would too. He smiled a bit. Yes, maybe things would be ok now.

While Danny was relaxing the two adults had took the conversation to the kitchen. Maddie had filled a glass with water and took a seat at the kitchen table. Jack was sitting across from her, waiting for an explanation.

"I was one my way home from the meeting and saw the boy sitting on the side of the road, depressed and dirty. Then I had this feeling that this boy needed some help and that I should stop. So I did. I asked him where his parents where and…Jack, he said that his parents were killed."

"How do you know that's true?" Jack asked, acting a bit uncharacteristically serious for once.

Maddie was surprised at her husband's reply, her surprise echoed in her voice. "I know it's true because he was so sincere. Why would you doubt the poor thing?"

"Because he's a ghost, that's why!" the orange-suited man interjected, all signs if his odd behavior now gone.

She raised an eyebrow. "Jack, I had the ghost sensor device with me in the RV the whole time and not once did it go off."

Jack blinked, looking dumbfounded. "Oh."

"If you'll excuse me I have to give Danny a bath and fix dinner, now."

Her husband instantly brightened up. "Ok! I'll be down in the lab. Come down latter, I still want to show you what I discovered!"

Maddie gave a small smile. "Of course, Jack."

With that he scampered off to the lab like an overgrown kid. She chuckled. Some things never change no matter how old you get.

Soon enough Danny had his bath and was glad to be rid of the dried blood that had been stuck to his raven black hair. He felt almost as energetic as he had before that happened. Almost. Everything was looking better, though, and that was enough to make him feel happy, at least for now.

Danny was wearing some old girl clothes that almost fit while his pajamas were being washed. He had literally stuck his tongue out at wearing it, but Maddie said that it was only temporary so he gave in, though reluctantly. Still sulking about it, Danny moseyed over to the sofa again, sitting down.

Suddenly the front door opened and closed. "Mom! I'm h-" the red-headed girl paused, starring at the strange little boy in her families' house. Danny starred right back, unsure of how to react. Then the girl asked a bit rudely, "Who're you?"

Maddie walked into the room with a slightly amused look. "Hi sweetie. This little boy was in need of help when I found him, so he's going to be here for awhile, ok?"

The girl thought this over for a moment. This wouldn't be too bad, and mom wouldn't bring a stranger in the house without a good reason. She smiled. "Ok, mom."

"Dinner will be ready in half an hour. If you need help with your homework, let me know." With that Maddie returned to the kitchen.

Danny and the girl looked at each other again. The girl smiled at him. "Hi! My name is Jazz, what's yours?"

"Danny."

"Nice to meet you, Danny! Want to do something when I'm done with my homework?"

He wasn't sure what homework meant but that didn't change his answer. Danny brightened up some. "Yeah!"

Maddie smiled to herself as she stirred the contents of the pot on the stove. She had no doubt the two would get along, but she never thought Danny would stay with them; it never even crossed her mind. Well, I'll go to the police station tomorrow with Danny and report the situation. I'm sure that'll get this whole situation straightened out, and that the poor thing will have a safe place to call home.

Just then a small explosion sounded from the lab, and Danny let out a surprised and amused squeal, Jazz snickering a bit. "I'm ok!" came her husband's booming voice from the lab. Maddie chuckled, muttering to herself, "I'm sure you are…"

And that is that. R & R, folks! I know you want to.