Well, I'm just going to say it now - I've posted this before.

Yes, I'm breaking rules by doing that. No, I don't want to get flagged. This chapter is up in my Oneshots, and I didn't want to take it out or replace it, because that would kind of mess up the whole order of things. :) However, I will cut that one-shot version in half and leave it as a preview with a link to this current story.

If you haven't guessed it already, then question no more: full-fledged fic. Yeah. Honest-to-God, I'm doing it.

So, without further adieu, I give you "Break", the full-expansion on "Breaking In", chapter 38 of my "Oneshots";

I disclaim any ownership - this be fanfic, yo.

Break
Part 1: Breaking In
by CatalystOfTheSoul

I growled, plowing through another stack of papers, completely dissatisfied with the GIW's organization methods—or lack thereof. "Hurry up," the boy hissed, cautiously keeping guard outside. I mumbled an incoherent response, something that may have sounded something along the lines of "don't push me," if it hadn't been for the flashlight secured between my teeth.

Finally, I found a thick manila folder titled Ghost Experimentation/Decimation,and with a triumphant "humph!" I was leaving the room, snagging the boy and waving my prize in front of him. Daniel scowled, "Let's just go," he whispered, "This place is creepy enough, and I don't need you around adding to it."

I rolled my eyes and led the way down the hall, all the while keeping my ears pricked; waiting for the clanking footsteps of a night guard. The boy rushed ahead at corners, crouching down to inspect what lay ahead before giving me the all-clear signal. Both of us were forced to rely on human night vision, for taking the power out was one thing—but ecto-powered ghost detectors ran regardless of whether or not the security cameras are working.

The boy put on another burst of speed, coming up in front; crouching…he held back a hand. I froze, adrenaline coursing through my legs—the urge to fight any threats nearly overpowering my logic. Daniel backed quietly away, faced me, and, upon noticing the hard look that had adorned my face, shook his head. "It's Val's dad." He warned, "I'd take you down before you could lay a finger on him."

"I wasn't going to do anything," I replied, nearly silent voice barely reaching his young ears. Daniel brushed passed me and we slowly traced our steps down the hall, turned right, started down escape route B. I had made sure to plan several exits—Daniel and I spent forever memorizing the patterns of this twisting labyrinth. There was no way we'd blow it now by tripping the notice of a guard.

The mission had gotten far too important. Important enough to make me tag-team with my enemy. Important enough to actually make me worry. Important enough to…I shuddered. To put everything I'd ever accomplished into jeopardy. And it was all because ghosts decided they wanted recognition. Harmless enough, at first.

A group of Bene (the new name for benevolent spiritual entities) had entered the human world and actually—somehow!—appealed to the courts about their treatments as poltergeists. It turned into a giant mess. The GIW vs. the Bene. When humans went in favor of humans, Observants demanded they be placed on the judging panel. Half the world thought it was a hoax; the other, a twisted form of entertainment, and for those few caught in between, a nightmare. Humans were afraid of these 'monsters' entering their homes, and the Bene wanted 'rights' to entering the physical realm.

Long, tedious story short in which the best lawyers in the country and Ghost Zone couldn't come to an agreement, I was dragged into it. Mind, I'd kept well out of the conflict for a solid year. And Daniel had gone so far under the radar sightings of Danny Phantom were practically non-existent. But, alas, the Bene demanded they get judges who could accurately view both the human and ghost angle.

No one understood what they meant. Thank God I had a group of my own secretly watching over them from above, my vultures swarmed the courtroom before those idiots could explain about hybrids. Or…perhaps it wasn't such a good thing. The government took it as a deliberate attack by the Bene, and immediately declared hostility. Shots were fired, ghosts were captured, humans injured…

It was a mess. A massive train wreck in which I should not have gotten involved. And so, I didn't. …Daniel still grumbles about my complete lack of activity right then. Curse him as I may, he has a point. The GIW got there hands on a particularly…powerful cluster of incompetent idiots. The GIW realized they had something, and faster than anyone could make an appeal against or towards, they started experimentation.

Weapons were created, far more devastating to ecto-genetics then had ever been envisioned. Detectors, with such incredible accuracy I had the GIW tracking my human form from a mile away—and all I did was make my eyes glow for a brief moment! Ghosts, Bene or not, were getting disintegrated upon finding a GIW agent in this realm. Their remains (still crying out for the pain to stop) were then gathered and used to create and mold more weapons. Infectious diseases designed to get caught by a specter in the human realm got carried into the Ghost Zone—epidemics of higher proportions than the black plague broke out. The entire physical world lived—knowingly!—within a continuous time loop for weeks when Clockwork was working passed the infection.

It had to be stopped. I went to seek out Daniel—and found he'd been looking for me as well. It was in the underground home movie theater at Miss Manson's house that we began to devise a plan. It wasn't much, at first. Daniel simply knew he needed to take down the GIW. I knew that we had to disable their weaponry, and soon, because it was fast becoming efficient enough to hunt hybrids—just one tiny bit more of sensitivity in those things and I'd be discovered.

I'd never been so happy that Daniel had been so convenient as to befriend a hacker. Tucker, while studiously glaring daggers at me, managed to get half-way through GIW security systems. He was a safer hire than Technus and, perhaps, a tad less annoying. The boy was incredibly able to circumnavigate a number of firewalls, and even though he couldn't quite get everything, he was easily able to secure schematics, and a basic description of several projects the GIW were working on.

But, most importantly, he found out about the hard copy back ups. There was no way the GIW couldn't track down a computer downloading their software, but with files after files just waiting inside of a room…it was the perfect way to find what made these weapons, how to disable them, distribute antidotes…and eventually it would be the key to taking down this entire blast organization.

Daniel stopped dead in front of me and I nearly made a loud crash by tripping right into him. It was a fairly good thing the boy had gotten a grip on better coordination, as we barley made much of a scuffle. "Shh," the boy commanded, gesturing for me to back up, "Do you feel that?" I straightened, cocking my head to the side. The apparent lack of sound and light greatly intensified my 'sixth sense' abilities, and, indeed, there was something that seemed to be knocking at the back of my mind…something…unpleasant.

I curled my nose and took several steps back, but the sensation persisted. "Melted battercakes," I cursed, "What on Earth is that?" Daniel rudely stepped on my foot, motioning for my voice to lower. Angrily, I bit my lip, glancing around the dark. "Where are we on the map?"

Daniel shook his head, "We should be near the fourth gate by now," he whispered. I swallowed. In between the fourth and fifth gates was the 'sector five' of this horrible place. What we had all agreed must be where all the experiments were held. The boy ran a hand through his hair, a nervous shiver working its way up his back, "It hurts…"

I nodded. "Like you said earlier, let's just get out of this place," I motioned for him to continue. But before Daniel could do more than open his mouth to agree, a set of footsteps and flashlights began racing down the hall we were supposed to be turning onto next.

The boy and I took that as our cue to run, as quietly as we could, behind the previous corner. Thankfully, we'd hidden ourselves in time that those passing wouldn't see us. Unfortunately, whoever they were turned down the very same hall we had previously occupied. Meaning they were heading this way. Daniel, having already calculated that there would be no way we'd make it to the other end of the hall in time, hastily moved back ten feet and lay flat on his stomach. I followed suit, hating the only cloak I had to rely on was darkness.

What looked like a troop of soldiers (save for the fact that they were all adorned in white) hurried by, flashlights bobbing wildly in tune with their rapid footsteps. I held my breath, six…eight…ten, no, twelve pairs of men went by. The last two, moving in a step that didn't quite match in their company's march slowed to a stop, and the two of them shuffled to the side, flicking off their lights so as not to be noticed. I felt rather than saw Daniel and I exchange glances, for our eyes had been momentarily dazzled by the flashlights.

"Are we clear?" One of the masked figures asked nervously. Upon recognition of that voice, I nudged Daniel in warning to keep his mouth shut. As far as we knew the boy's old teacher was one of the enemy. Although, telling by the way he and his companion were acting, I doubted it. Still…they could be dangerous and the boy might readily blow our cover just to say hi. Times like that he mirrors his father so much I may not be able to tell the difference between the idiots. Especially in a dark hallway.

The second figured tottered at the edge of the corner, looking around. "They'll be gone for a bit. It's a good thing whoever took the power out did it so well—we have a good forty five minutes before they can get it back on." This time I honestly had to throw my arm over the boy and cover his mouth. Valerie, also, was on our 'unsure' list. Daniel, the little brat, licked my hand.

Disgusted, I held my ground, digging fingernails into his exposed skin. The boy shifted his elbow very carefully to place pressure between my ribs. I flinched, the ghost of a hiss escaping my lips. "What was that?" The former teacher of Casper High wondered, spinning to face us, far more blinded then we were seeing as he was the one waving a flashlight around. The boy and I froze, slowing our breath down as well as we could humanly manage.

"Shh!" The teenage female whispered, glancing back in our direction. At this point, I thanked Daniel's decision to lie down. It would be much easier to spot two lumps pressing themselves up against the wall then two…piles…flat on the ground. "Don't you understand that if someone hears us we're finished?" She whispered harshly, turning her back to us in dismissal, "We have to get to the ghost experimentation rooms."

"We don't even know if he's going to help us…" Lancer sighed, "Or if he went into hiding." The teacher slumped by the wall, and I wasn't quite sure if he was shaking his head or not, but the tone of defeat was clear as he spoke, "As far as we know, he went into hiding just as soon as the Guys In White started this whole thing. I'm beginning to think this plan was a tad too impulsive…"

Valerie also sighed, seating herself right across from him. "We have to move as soon as our eyes adjust, you know…" She leaned back a little, and I found myself growing in frustration. We have to wait until they're ready to move? The clock was ticking! It's high time Daniel and I got out of here, regardless of what these two fools were up to. "But even if we don't find Phantom here, we can still find out what they're doing to the ghosts to get all of this technology…"

"Imitating ghost powers," The teacher's voice mirrored the one I used when I was disgusted with something—most commonly, the idiot barely breathing next to me…speaking of whom, his voice had hitched when they mentioned Phantom. I don't blame the boy. I missed my ghost half, too... "Ecto-experimentation on humans…Phantom would never stand for this. I don't care if they called him a poltergeist—he protected human rights…"

"And he completely vanished as soon as the GIW started taking over," Valerie finished, standing and holding out a hand to the teacher. "I'm telling you, if we find him anywhere, it'll be here." Perhaps not in the fashion you assume you're going to find him…I thought, watching as Lancer accepted her offered hand and stood. My mind made up, I noisily sneezed as well as I could in the position I was in.

The two jumped so high it should have been comical. Danny growled just faintly enough for me to hear and pushed himself to his feet. "Next time you try to keep my mouth shut I'm going to attack you, I'm not so stupid as to talk even if it were Jazz's voice I heard." He grumbled, twitching to face Valerie and Lancer, "And then you go off and be a hypocrite and sneeze, Frootloop. …Hey guys…didn't expect to find you here." Daniel added, crossing his arms argumentatively.

I graciously got to my feet, "If you weren't such a talkative little brat I wouldn't feel the need to do that…and licking my hand was just crude."

"Yet, effective." The boy grinned widely, gesturing to Lancer and Valerie, who promptly flinched upon recognition. "You guys gonna talk?"

"D—Danny?" The former teacher breathed in shock, mirroring Valerie's surprised stutter of "Mr. Masters?" I nodded to them formally, pushing the boy to the side for my own approach. Daniel, after nearly dropping the folder, stared back up at me with a look of murder in his eyes. I didn't even need light to know that; so it was my pleasure to ignore him. "What a surprise," I said silkily, "But this really isn't the time nor place for us to be speaking."

The new, rather odd pair, glanced shiftily at one another. Finally, Valerie stepped back and cleared her throat, "What...what are you doing here?" Her voice, as I assume was meant to sound brave, wavered ever so slightly; and I realized, ironically, that she was afraid we were enemies. I cocked my head to the side at that thought. How…interesting.

Danny passed by me, not even bothering to hesitate in giving Valerie a half-hug, "We're running out of time," He mumbled, "Vlad and I will explain on the way; but we have to get out of this place." Striking past the new additions, he led the way down the hall. "…It's this way to the experimentation labs, if you were wondering." He added as an afterthought, immediately causing both intruders to fall in step behind Daniel.

It was my reluctant displeasure to bring up the rear, "We heard your conversation…" I glowered, catching up so I could walk to the right of Lancer, "And I can guarantee you Phantom has not been captured by the GIW…you could say he helped to organize this mission…" I drawled, knowing exactly the questions that had been pressing on their minds and well aware that, while answering some, more had appeared.

"Where is Phantom?" Valerie asked, stress coating her tone, "And…how do we know you're not with the GIW?" Her suspicions, while well founded were better off ignored. I didn't trust her, and I had no reason to. I ground my teeth in displeasure, preparing a snappy response.

"How can we trust you, Valerie?" Daniel whispered from a few feet ahead, his tone coated in a strangled sort of misery. …He'd taken the words right out of my mouth. The boy really was beginning to get like me… I couldn't help the feral grin twitching across my lips. The girl, about to answer, was stopped when Danny froze, clenching his fists.

By-passing the humans, I moved ahead, placing a hand on his shoulder and, although I was about to inquire what was going on I found myself quite unable to do anything. Because I felt it. A wave of pain and fear erupted inside of my mind, all at once quaking and twisting into a burning mass that took hold of me, froze my entire body while causing it to reel through dark memories that weren't mine.

A black void penetrated swirling nightmares within nightmares that had consumed my mind—digging so deep and hoarding all thought that I was once able to claim as my own. It took what was mine—my loves and my dreams, my faults and my hate, my knowledge and my strength, my tact and my deceits, everything that made me me was being dragged away, turned over, re-created into a monster I did not recognize.

It felt as if I was simply a humble observer, trapped upon an island of sanity and forced to watch as, one by one, everything I knew I was burned. And within the ash arose a pain so deep, horrifying…and something, something that didn't belong was coming! An animalistic panic struck through my veins and I struggled, forcing my feet out of a clogged swamp, I had to stop what was coming! I had to! It was so wrong! It was everything I wasn't—and it wanted to destroy me!

I fought, kicked out; thrust my arms in all directions, but to no use. I was trapped…dying, alone, broken… A shriek penetrated through the distance, and my world stopped. I'm not quite sure how long I stayed, frozen along with it, until I realized that my fingers could move. It was then that I managed to open my eyes, look around. Sound, harsh whispers coated with fear, filled me.

"Vlad?" Valerie tried again, shaking me. My body writhed in response and I forced myself to blink. Valerie. Dark hallways. Lancer. The boy. Lights. Spinning. Focus. Lights? Oh…a flashlight. In my eye. Ow. Right, push it away. Blink. Focus. Breathe. The boy? Daniel? Where…frozen, same place where I had been, unattended. The darkness, the void, consuming his terrified frame.

I shouted. Disregard for safety…no, whisper! Save him! Pull him back! Gestures, frantic, ringing…Lancer, pull him "back!" Hoarse, barely a whisper, my voice? "Pull him back!" I croaked, pointing at Daniel. "Save…ack!" Coughing rocked me and my sight grew dizzy. Confusion wracked my brain. I glanced around, finding the torch alight upon Daniel, hands grasping his shirt, forcing him to step back.

He was next to me, I held his shoulder for my own support, "Daniel," I called; almost unable to hear myself speak. "Daniel, wake up. It's gone. Breathe. It's gone." He didn't respond. I closed my eyes, "Wake up," Now my voice was under control, a whisper, but strong. "It's gone. You're you. Wake up. It's gone." He coughed, his body suddenly taken with shivers, but alive.

Left longer to fight the…darkness? His knees gave out, but Valerie, Lancer, they were there to catch him. "What happened?" Valerie pressed, nearly failing at attempting to keep her vocal cords on a low tempo. I bit my lip, shook my head. I had to focus. Breathe. Help the boy, he looks freezing. No, don't think about…what was that? What happened? I don't care. I'm terrified. We need to escape this mad house. We have to run, now, find another exit—I'm not taking one more step down that hallway.

Daniel's eyes found mine in the light of the flashlight Lancer had foolishly flicked on. It was a moment of pure, silent agreement when he picked himself up, and, with me promptly following behind, began running, retracing our steps the other way, "We'll take gate three out," I said, listening as a more unsure couple of feet joined in behind us.

"We saw a guard back there last," Danny warned; it wasn't much of an argument to stay away, though. More like a plan for action. I nodded, and the boy continued, "We'll have to overwhelm him; shouldn't be too hard with Valerie and Lancer with us." A protest from behind went ignored. "And then we'll be jumping the fifth gate curve to get out, sound good?"

"Fairly," I said, and, hesitantly, added, "Do you have any idea what that…?" He was silent, and I knew that the boy would have as much idea as I did. He simply brought a hand down to the folder under his arm…and stumbled to a stop. "What?" I asked, pulling alongside haphazardly.

He stared at the folder, and Lancer's light (which was still on) proved what the boy had already realized. "We…must have dropped the papers." Danny opened the now-empty folder, a sort of agony twisting his face. "I…can't go back to that—that place."

"I got it," I cut off, looking to Valerie and Lancer. "Daniel's still shaky on his feet. Make sure he gets to safety—I'll be right behind you." There was a moment of uncertainty that passed before I brought out one of my most withering death glares for the two new comers, "I'm trusting you. Make me regret that, and you will never see the light of day again."

Valerie's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth in a sort of surprise, retort? It didn't matter to me; I was already rushing down the hall. At this point, I think I realized what I was doing. …Could I, physically, make it passed that point again? I flinched at the very thought. This was stupid, stupid! What am I…thinking?

We've worked too hard to get this… A piece of my mind hissed, and I had to agree. This had gone too far, I'd worked to hard, to lose it all now…well, for one the GIW would know someone was sneaking down here during the city-wide power out. And Lord knows how much more difficult life would become after that—we'd never get another opportunity like this if they decided to tighten security.

So, how do I retrieve the papers? There was a point in that hallway where it hit me like a wall…whatever it was. So…if I were to do some very careful maneuvering, I might be able to reach the papers…ugh, with my foot? That's pathetic…but, no one's going to see me so I guess…I'll just have to let my senses guide me.

Last time I hadn't paid enough attention—a fatal mistake as I'd walked right into it. Now…now? I…don't know. How am I to avoid…? There's a possibility I could run right into it…and even, no, no! Will I have to go back? Get help? We're running out of time! I can't… "Vlad!" A female voice hissed, barely noticeable footsteps coming up alongside me.

I glimpsed her young outline, lifting an unseen eyebrow. "You…came to help me." I stated; an odd sense of relief swallowed what tension had been building in my midsection. I couldn't help the feral grin that slid into place as she nodded. "My dear Valerie, you haven't changed much at all, have you?"

"Of course I have, Mr. Masters," She snorted, "If you didn't overhear my conversation with Lancer, I'm helping a ghost." Even in the darkness, the girl had such modesty to look away from me in a sort of shame, "I know it's not exactly how I'm supposed to act. I'm still a ghost hunter, like you knew I would be, but…" She laughed softly, "Things change."

"Enough to have you sneaking around the GIW headquarters with your former teacher?" I whispered, stopping as I noticed we were very near that…place. Like they'd been waiting for us, a sheaf of papers lay scattered about the floor only feet ahead. "I mean no offense Valerie, but such behavior is very…strange."

She continued walking and stooped to pick things up, "Yeah, well, you did some weird stuff tonight too." The girl gestured at the place she was standing, and I shuddered. "But, if you must know, Lancer and I are a part of this… group. He and I ran into one another on the street when the power went out at GIW headquarters; we had no time to really plan…just came here and improvised as well as we could. We knew we needed Phantom out because, well, he was—at least—something we could handle. And Phantom would want GIW out as well as we do; so…"

I sighed, rubbing the terrible headache that had alit my forehead, "What group? How did you form?" …Is it just me, or are we really close to the corner that led down to gate four? …I know I'm supposed to do something about a blind spot here, but…

Valerie shifted nervously, going after a few more pieces of stray paper. "We kind of formed in response to all that the GIW has been doing—the fact that no one really knows what's going on in here, the weird outbursts of 'spectral holes' opening up all over the place sometimes, their out-of-this world weaponry…that big hallucination."

"The time loop was no hallucination," I explained, holding back a feeling of dizzy vertigo—this place!, "The press can rant all they want about GIW possibly leaking stuff into the water supplies; I know for a fact that it was a spectral plague spread throughout the Ghost Zone." I scowled, my knees kind of felt…shaky, but I pressed on anyway, trying to force my mind off of the presence of something…unwanted. "The GIW don't know who they affect; and so we had to suffer as the Time Master recovered…"

"Uh…Time what?" Valerie asked, stepping past me and heading on our previous course. When she noticed I wasn't following, she stopped, turned, came back. I held a hand to my head, closing my eyes and breathing heavily. "Mr. Masters…? Are you okay?" My knees buckled all too quickly and I found myself slumped on the ground. "Mr. Masters!" Valerie whispered in panic.

It felt like there were little black spots jumping into my already-darkened vision, and I tried to shake them away. "I—I'm fine…" My body shivered, "It's just this place…ugh…" I leaned back, groaning as a wash of exhaustion clawed its way into my mind. "Valerie…"

"What?"

I blinked slowly up at her, unable to focus. I licked my lips, tried and failed to speak, tried again, "Get…me…out of here." A bright light splashed me and I turned away, why was she turning on her flashlight? I didn't expect her to do something so foolish; all I needed was…was…

Dark. Wait. No, not again! Fight…it…No. The dark. Thing. It was…somewhere. Here, my mind? No…crouching, waiting…enticing me. Fall asleep. Lean to the left…no! Stop! Don't follow the command! That's…where…it…was…Valerie? What, wait, I can see it. That thing. That monster. Glaring. Anger. Hate. Obsession. It wanted to kill me. It—it…was…was…a mirror?

Plasmius grinned darkly, a clawed hand reaching out and grasping for my soul. No! That wasn't me! I knew who I was…I know my ghost half! What, wait…the darkness. Changing. Shifting. Melting. Re-creating. Maddie, wearing the same smile the other me was, her eyes digging into my heart…no! It—it isn't Maddie…Daniel?

Phantom frowned, "Vlad?" I blinked, "Vlad?" Valerie tried again, a flashlight too bright on my face. I think I may have mumbled her name, and if so, she was definitely responding, "I'm so sorry! I tried to pull you away and then, well…"

"Let me see him." The flashlight changed hands and an unfamiliar person knelt to inspect me, "What happened to you?" The gruff male voice asked, "And what are you and my daughter doing here? Don't you know that if you get caught—"

"Dad, give him some space," Valerie complained, "Can't you see he's out of it? I told you, we're trying to stop all the madness going on. Wasn't it you that said the Organization should take any opportunity they get to take action? We were taking action, dad…and it just turns out Mr. Masters has the same thought we do."

"I never told you to throw yourself into danger…" The man, Damon Grey?, took hold of my shoulder and, gently, helped me into a standing position. "I'm going to help you get out of here," his voice was coated in distaste, "But you have to promise never to do something like this again, Valerie."

A sigh. "Yes, dad…" Damon, with a heavy hand now gripping my right arm turned us around and began to move in the direction of…I dug my feet into the floor, Valerie, seeming to catch on that this was not a direction for me, jumped in front of us. "Dad, stop! We can't go this way."

"Valerie, there are guards crawling all over Sector Three," The man gruffly motioned her to step aside, and I think he said something else but my mind chose that moment to get distracted by whatever it was trying to slam into me. I closed my eyes, took a deep, heavy breath, and focused in on the voices arguing next to me.

"—can't go down there. I don't know what it is, dad, but look at him! Something's affecting him to the point where…" She paused, and I cracked open a lid in time to see her shift nervously and look down, "It's like how you were describing what happens to ghosts when they come near Sector Five."

Damon's grip tightened, and I shook my head, snapping out of whatever delirium was about to try and take me over again, "I can't walk down that," I told him honestly, "It…I—I can't." The security guard looked me up and down, his lip twitching in anger. I could tell there was a question he was about to ask, but, to my surprise, he simply gave a gentle smile of reassurance.

With that, my arm was hoisted over his shoulders, fingers kneaded into my abdomen and I felt my feet literally lift off the ground a centimeter. Damon Grey grunted with his effort, "Help me carry him, Val."

"Wh—what?" Her startled voice practically mirrored the panic suddenly striking up inside of me…but I was too close to it to make any motion against what was happening. Damon stepped forward, and I swear he said something forceful about absolutely not going down that way again, and…they had to hurry up, or…whatever it was…

I basically felt like all of my strength just got sucked out of my bones right then. Apparently, whatever it was wanted to try a new approach every time I got near it. Had to be, for this time instead of my body stiffening I became a complete and total deadweight, unable to do anything more than feel it as my body wished itself into a dark and eternal sleep…

My eyes closed, lulled by this sort of nauseating desire to curl up into a ball and rest for as long as I could possibly manage. This…wasn't so bad. Not like the last time, now was it? A tiny smile alighted my lips (that is, if I could actually move them); I was perfectly content to subject myself to a good, long, nap…

You'd think I would have watched enough movies to see this one coming. Chicken Dumplings! It was part of my livelihood to lull people into a false sense of security! So why on Earth was I so shocked when that thing suddenly reared its ugly head? Perhaps it was because I hadn't expected it to show up in that, particular, form.

The Box Ghost never was very threatening. Then again, this wasn't really the Box Ghost. He sneered at me from atop a scorched tree branch, glaring with deep red eyes, his grin widening. "You look so small," my own voice danced within my ears, coming from that mouth, taunting.

I spread my lips to respond, but no sound came out. Laughter echoed around the darkness. My laughter. "You have no say here," The Box Ghost leapt, beast-like down to the ground. He crouched, nearly on all fours, and licked his teeth hungrily. "You are nothing more than a mere cockroach; a tad harder to kill, but…"

Daggers replaced fingernails and the Box Ghost shifted toward me, maniac giggles escaping his throat inconsistently, "But I can still kill you." My feet refused to move out of the way when he lunged, and my shout went unheard, unable to make any sound at all as those sharp, blood covered points of steel dove at my neck.

It happened so fast—the thick, angry set of nails swerving to catch my chest, running a long and bloody set of scratches down the front—I almost didn't register that I wasn't dead. The Box Ghost hopped away, frowning deeply, "No fun. What did you do?" He glared pointedly at me, hissing, "Fine. There's more than one way to kill you."

Those eyes, red and hateful, were the only things that didn't change with the rest of its body. Again, Maddie was standing before me, a casual hand on her hip. She came close, a predatory smile on her face. "Hello, Vlad." It was still using my voice. My eyes tightened in response, and my soul froze, building a sort of fury at the thing.

Impersonate my love? Rob me of my voice? Take away the uses of my body? My defense? Coward! The other times I'd come across this thing, I was horrified; I didn't know what it was. Still don't. My eyes tightened, and I forced my fist to clench. The GIW made this thing. No matter what it says or does to me, I'm still a far better inventor than those idiots. And something they have created will not defeat me.

I'm not entirely aware if it realized that I wasn't going to stand around and let it taunt me anymore, nor did I rightly care. My teeth clenched, my leg muscles twitched, and I mentally threw myself at the thing as it morphed—right into the form I'd been half expecting to appear. It was my ghost form I was tackling, closing my fingers around my own throat.

"You—!" My ghost half glared, struggling, "You can't actually think you'll win?" I bit my lip, squinting. There was no way I could speak in response, but I couldn't help but wonder…this wasn't anything like whatever it was I'd experienced before. Here I was, attacking an image of myself that had decided to do things to taunt me, hurt me slowly.

Before, it was a blind force wreaking havoc on everything that I was. This thing…whatever it was, could it be…intelligent? Or am I…hallucinating? Trapped inside of a dream of my own creation? Either way, the GIW had created it. And here I am. Strangling it. My lips twitched in a feral grin. Just like I will the entire organization.

The thing writhing underneath me suddenly stopped, red eyes boring into me, and it too grinned. My form melted into Daniel's ghost half, and his hands gripped my arms painfully. "You…" It was the boy's voice. "…and I will kill each other, Frootloop." He laughed, unexpectedly, and vanished into a grey mist. I sat there, heaving fistfuls of dampened air as my surroundings changed.

My body was gruffly propped up against a wall. "I can't take you any further," A heavy voice grumbled. "You two will have to make it across the fence on your own. He should come around soon." I felt more than saw Valerie crouch and place a hand on my forehead.

"He screamed back there," Valerie whispered. "What…happened, dad?" I opened my eyes, blinking into the star lit darkness. The girl was looking up at her father, who had folded his arms and was staring pointedly at me. I tried to say something, but found that my throat ached horribly and refused to make a sound. I'd screamed?

Damon sniffed, turning away, "Just make sure my employers never get their hands on him, Valerie. I can't say much, but…" He sighed, "They've been itching for an excuse to get him in here. He and that kid you went to school with before it shut down…Danny, right?"

The security guard didn't wait for an answer, instead marching off all soldier-like inside. I cautiously swayed to my feet, sparing a questioning glance at Valerie. Tentatively, I held out a hand for the papers clutched between her fingers. She gave them over to me, eyes clearly asking if I was alright.

I simply walked towards the bushes, legs shaking. I was outside. Good. Disoriented? A little. Better than last time. How much time did we have left? The lack of artificial light, even out here, told me that the power was still out. But it didn't say a thing about what time it was, so I had virtually no clue how much longer we had before escape.

And the boy? I asked myself, frowning. If he's out he's already over the fence and hiding. If not, I'll wait for him there. Gesturing for Valerie to catch up, I pointed to the fence. "Ladies first." I croaked. She mutely jumped at the fence, climbing nimbly over and dropping to the other side.

I pushed the haphazard stack of papers underneath the wiring for her to grasp before following suit. Together, we retreated into the brush. "Danny should be coming out at that gate," I whispered, indicating a place about 100 yards of fencing and an open expanse of grass away, "And if he's already out he'll be there." I shifted in a direct line, making our destination a place perfectly in front of the gate Danny was supposed to leave at.

Valerie, bless her training for not asking too many questions in situations such as these, rushed on. I picked my way slowly behind, warily watching the gray building. Outside, it wasn't nearly has confusing as the twisting labyrinth within. I had to keep myself from stopping to inspect the hands on my watch; it wouldn't do to remind myself just how little time we had left.

When the girl and I come to the place I had initially pointed out, we spent little time deducing that Daniel was yet to leave the building. I settled myself to wait, stealing away the papers from Valerie a second time and trying to read them. It was too dark to make out any text, but it was clear to me that this shuffled stack of reports had been shuffled to a point beyond the GIW's normal quality of disorganization. Fantastic.

"Mr. Masters?" Valerie wondered, finally seeming to realize I wasn't in the mood to speak with her. "As much as I'd like to ask about what it is that you're holding…and that whole…fainting thing you did earlier. But…you might want to look up."

I did so, pushing all other thought aside as I saw Danny turn back to the doorway, frantically gesturing. Lancer raced out a second later, and together they were heaving the door shut; they arched around, racing across the expanse of grass as silently as they could almost directly towards us. I knew when Daniel caught my eye, for a mad smile split his all-too serious face for just a moment.

I held down a chuckle, pulling Valerie into a crouch with me so we could wait until they got to us. You idiot, I thought fondly, you've made it. "Perhaps he's not as bad as his father after all, Ms. Grey."

The lights came on.

The boy and Lancer froze in the sudden myriad of floodlights encompassing them. "I think I…spoke too soon…" My own shocked voice mumbled as a double line of white clad troops busted open the doors, racing to encompass the two humanoids. I could hear a muffled demand come from one of the ring leaders as he stepped towards the boy, weapon aiming at his chest.

Danny and Lancer's hands flew into the air in response, that universal symbol for peace. "What are you holding?" Rang out across the clearing, and Daniel slowly allowed his arms to drop so he could inspect the empty folder clutched between his fingers. The boy frowned, his shoulders dropping in a sort of defeat. I could almost hear the almost-sigh drifting out of his lips.

Danny's face twisted into that of pain, and he looked right at me. It…clicked. Ghost Experimentation/Decimation. I quickly shook my head, no! They were going to know we were fishing for files. They were going to know someone else had the actual papers. We can't let them—but—no! There was only one way to keep this information from them.

And he'd already realized that. Daniel blinked away tears, mouthing something that was eerily reminiscent of the word "Sorry," as the folder was engulfed in a bright, green, achingly beautiful spectral fire. Red, blaring alarms immediately screeched across the entire building, ecto-detectors ringing madly all around.

It took 5.43 seconds for the guards surrounding to deduce that Daniel must have been overshadowed. 3.69 seconds for them to switch their gun settings to spectral tranquilizers. …And less than one second to fire, simultaneously, at his chest.

The boy (and his former teacher, caught in the crossfire) dropped. I watched, numb, as they picked both forms up and carried them inside, only one guard slowed, peering into the darkness he couldn't see. Reluctantly, Damon Grey followed the procession of men back into that horrible labyrinth.

A moment of silence fell between Valerie and I. I was the first to break the monotony, glancing down at the files in the now too-bright reflected lighting. Valerie shifted, "…What was it my dad said about the GIW wanting to get their hands on Danny?" Her broken voice inquired.

I swallowed heavily, hands beginning to shake. "Never mind that…" I replied, setting aside the files so I could unbutton my shirt. I twisted my torso, a strangled form of panic sliding over all the coherencies my mind held. "I think I just found out what the GIW are up to."

Four long scratches still lazily oozing blood onto my pants, and the large black and blue bruise forming around my neck. Valerie stuttered out words that I guess she intended to be questions, as if my brain was actually trying to decipher her sentences. I, personally, couldn't find it in myself to speak.

But that could be due to the fact that I'd nearly strangled myself to death.

Chapter two "Breaking Out" next week!

~Catalyst