A Frozen Journey
Chapter 1
Danny
"Oh my gosh, Danny, you're finally awake! You scared the crap out of us." Sam?
"Yeah, Danny, way to freak us out." Tucker!
"You have some explaining to do young man! Why didn't you tell us you were that ghost boy?" That's definitely mom.
"Yeah! We coulda hooked you up with cool, stylish weapons to fight the ghosts with!" Don't even have to open my eyes to know who that is.
"It doesn't matter why he didn't tell you mom, but you know now. And we're all together now." Jazz was always the voice of reason.
My eyes finally open and my vision clears. Everyone's here, and no one cares that I'm a ghost.
I'd done it. I'd saved them! The remnants of the nasty burger were all around us. Mr. Lancer called out to us from across the room.
"Scarlet Letter, Daniel! You saved us! And you're... A ghost?"
"Let the man breath, jeez. Are you alright Danny?" Sam pushed her way through the circle, getting close... Very close. "I knew you'd save us Danny."
"Well, uh... Hahah. You're welc-"
Whatever I was saying was cut off by Sam, who had closed the small gap between us with a hesitant kiss.
"Yeah well... You're gonna have to take me on date somewhere other then the nasty burger in the future... What with it, you know... Exploded."
Sam blushed and turned away, embarrassed at their kiss.
"Okay Danny, we'll see you at home. I'm making bacon!" Mom grabs Dad, who was tinkering with something dangerous looking, and starts walking away. Jazz waves energetically, and follows their parents.
"I have to go to, see you later love birds." Tucker was gone now to. It was just me… and Sam.
"Sam… I love you." It was suddenly so easy for me to say, I couldn't believe it'd taken so long for me to admit.
"I love you to Danny." Blushes, followed by another shy kiss. "Oh, man I'd loved to stay but... You know. See you around Danny"
"What? Not you to, Sam. Why not stay here with me?"
"Come on Danny, you know why. Anyway, it really is getting late. By Danny!" she cheerfully stood and waved, leaving me alone once again.
"Don't go!" I shouted myself awake. A dream... Of course it was a dream. I hadn't saved anyone but myself that day. Only in my dreams could I forget that fact.
I lifted myself from my bed of ice, and rubbed my neck. I stood up, stretching lightly before throwing myself back on my bed.
Some policemen were walking through the nasty burger. Once I'd heard the rumors to rebuild, I'd given up my spot by their graves and haunted the nasty burger. I'd scared off all the workers and policemen who went through here until they stopped coming.
I thought about putting on a show for the policemen who had joined me, but despite having just woken up, I didn't have the energy. Sleeping in ghost form, invisible, on my ice bed (also invisible) drained a lot of energy, but it was worth it. Nobody had bothered me since the funeral. After a week or so it became second nature. I rarely ever went human. Even when human, I was ready to go immediately invisible if sighted. I couldn't take being around anyone.
I was only visible during the funeral. I owed them that much. It was the most difficult day of my life. But I didn't let myself cry. It was my own fault they died. It would be like smashing a vase then whining cuz you got cut by the glass. Or something like that. Metaphors were hard. Or was that a simile?
I stretched out once more on my ice bed. It was strangely comforting. Cold, yes, and hard. But it felt natural. Serene. Peaceful.
I was pretty sure I'd never go anywhere again until I died.
I doubt I'd have to wait much longer.
Vlad
I may be evil, but... Actually I'm not totally convinced I'm evil. I'm no boy scout, and I do evil things, but the real Vlad Masters really isn't evil. Just very selfish. My ghost side, Plasmius, howevers... Yeah, he's evil.
That aside, despite being partially evil, I still pitied little Daniel. I myself was completely distraught when I heard about Maddie. In another life I'd wanted Daniel as a son. Now, I just wanted to speak with him once. I wanted to know what really happened at the Nasty Burger. I wanted to know the truth.
It's been almost a month since Maddie died. Rumors spread that Danny had run away. I wouldn't blame him, of course.
He always was so weak.
Sighing, I strolled into the nasty burger, escorted by some policemen. I didn't really expect to find him there. Once I'd checked out the graveyard and his house, I had been convinced he'd taken off.
I wasn't at the nasty burger to find Daniel. I came because I, to, was grieving. I wanted to see for myself what had happened. I wanted some closure, and hoped to find it here at the Nasty Burger.
The place looked like a war zone. This was a bizarre piece of death and destruction glued into the middle of suburbia.
They hadn't been able to clean the place up because of some unexplainable phenomena. Probably Daniel. However, all 'unnatural' activity had stopped several days ago. No ghostly wails or possessed workmen anymore. They'd start cleaning and clearing all the rubble soon. Most likely Daniel had run off after getting bored of haunting the place.
I was funding the reconstruction myself. There will be a memorial here soon. I suppose I'd have to put Jack's name on there as well.
Sighing again, my sixth sense picked up the presence of a ghost. Is Daniel really still here?
Danny
Of course Vlad would come to gloat. No... He loved mom in his own twisted, crazy way. Just another person to feel guilty about hurting. I stood up, and watched as he went around the room, sighing and deep in thought.
The fruit loop did have some humanity. I could see his despair clear as day on his face as he kicked around piles of rubble.
I hoped he'd just leave. I didn't feel like a fight or talking. There was nothing he could do. I wasn't leaving until I keeled over for good.
My vision darkened. The rings, signaling my transformation, appeared. Was this Vlad's doing? Or was this…
Exhaustion. Everything blurred into a dark swirl. I didn't even feel hitting the ground.
I was flying in my dream. Flying to... I don't know where. I was following someone. Sam. She was leading me to her.
We went into a mansion, a mansion I recognized as Vlads. He had such bad taste.
We phased through all the walls right down to his basement, and stopped in front of the ghost portal. She kissed my cheek, waved, and flew through the portal. This is it... We're finally together...
I phased through the portal door, ready to see her again and—
Woke up.
I'm in a hospital. No! I tried to hang onto the dream, but it was fading. All I could remember was that to find Sam, I'd have to get to Vlads. I went intangible, and chords and tubes fell from off of me. I felt stronger then I had in weeks. I looked around and saw my clothes thrown carelessly on a chair. I yanked off the hospital gown, and I pulled my clothes back on, not caring how dirty they were. I had to figure out a way for Vlad to let me into his house.
But before that, bathroom break.
Vlad
While sitting in the hospital lounge, debating whether to interrogate the child or leave, I called CPS. The kid had to have some family willing to take him.
I had to stick around to sign some papers, but once I hand him over to the authorities my duty is done. Maddie. Will she be happy if I leave it like this? Should I go and at least find out what happened from the kid?
I go to his hospital room. He wasn't dying. Hybrids can go much longer then humans without eating. In just a day or two he'd be back to normal.
But for now... He looked pretty bad. They said his temperature was ridiculously low. Probably had something to do with all that strange ice I'd seen at the nasty burger after he went human and passed out.
I saw him get up, and decided to leave. I'd find the answers about Maddie's death one day. But I wouldn't get anything out of the kid in this state. He wasn't physically in that bad of condition. There was just something in his eyes that told me he wasn't talking any time soon.
Fine by me. Vlad Masters is nothing if not patient.
Danny
Exiting the bathroom, I realized it must have been Vlad Who took me to the hospital.
As I tried to leave the room, a man-my doctor-tried to explain to me why I'd collapsed, and the importance of taking care of yourself blah blah blah. He led me to some official looking people. Government. Not going anywhere with them.
Vlad was sitting with them at a table, signing some papers.
A woman called my name. I looked at her and was shocked-she had my moms same hair. The surprise broke my icy resolve-my face pulled into a grimace. This wasn't good. I had to convince her I wanted to go with Vlad, and lying to a woman who reminds me of my dead mom? This is going to suck.
"Hey there Danny. I'm sorry about whats happened to you." she did genuinely seem sorry. Which made all this harder. "Mr Masters brought you here-I understand you're family friends? Well I heard everything from him. I'm going to call your aunt soon. How does that sound sweetie?"
Now. I have to speak now. I sit in a chair beside her.
A false start-clear my throat. Freeze the ice over my sorrow.
There. I'm ready. My first words are true.
"I don't want to live with my aunt. I don't even know her."
"Well sweetie you can't live on your own. Don't you think you should be with family?" she looked like she was going to hold my hand. I sorta wanted her to. It would feel very nice.
Instead I put my hand in my lap.
"no... I want to live with someone I know. Someone I trust-someone my parents-" voice cracks-"trusted. I want to go with Vlad." now the lying. I tried not to avert my eyes.
The shock was evident on Vlads face. Then suspicion. Silence.
The woman cleared her throat.
"Danny, I have to send you to family. I'm sorry, but-"
Here it is. Do I really want to go with Vlad? Vlad. He was my enemy.
But is he still? I know him better then my aunt. And my parents were his best friends.
Evil, yes. But familiar. Who else would take me anyway? I mean, he always said he wanted me as a son. Who else could really understand being a halfa, then loosing everything you love?
Above all else though, Sam sent me that dream. She's trying to find me. Maybe she's forgiven me, maybe she still loves me...
"My dads will. He kept it in the lab. It says in the event of his, my moms, and my sisters death, I go to Vladdy's."
An exchange of looks. The authorities didn't see that coming.
"Well... If you can get it to us, we'll try to respect your fathers wishes." She looked over at Vlad, as if he should say something. He just furrowed his brows.
Vlad stood, and cleared his throat, but stays silent.
Vlad
...
A/N: Poor Vladdy is left speechless! Please comment to let me know how I'm doing. : )