So, I've decided to release my edited story from all those years ago: Date from Hell. I'll be updating this in two chapter intervals. It's completed, so once I hit a certain number of reviews (or every few weeks) I'll update. Enjoy~!

Background information: Well, after watching I Shouldn't Be Alive I was inspired by the episode Date from Hell, a (true) story of a couple becoming stranded in the woods after straying from their group. Somehow I got it in my mind that this would be a perfect Danny Phantom story. This is loosely based on that episode, and will include ghosts.

Date From Hell

Summary: There's been strange occurrences in Amity Park…as in there's been no ghost activity for weeks now. A new threat is on the horizon: just what are these shadows?

Pairing(s): Danny/Kwan (Phantom Fumble), possible Paulina/Dash and Sam/Tucker

Warnings: Slash (Yaoi, whatever you wanna call it). If you don't like the pairing, don't flame me. If you don't like how the story was written, please give constructive criticism. I'm going for horror, so it will be a little graphic…that's why this one is rated 'M'.

Disclaimer: (*Note: I'm only posting this ONCE. This applies to the WHOLE story.) I do NOT own Danny Phantom, nor do I own I Shouldn't Be Alive. I don't make money off this either; this story was written purely for fun.

Now that all of that is out of the way, shall we begin?

Chapter 1: Dreams of the Damned

"Don't stray too far Danny. You may not live to regret it."

"Come to us, Danny. We want you."

"It's dangerous. Don't listen."

"Quiet, child!"

"These ones…these shadows aren't something you're familiar with. They're too much for you."

"SHUT UP!"

"You can't protect them."

"You dare disobey me, girl? I'll show you pain…"

"Your 'fun' will end in despair…just as my life did." A child's cry echoed throughout the ghost boy's head. "You can't say I didn't warn you."

Danny shot upright in his bed, heart hammering in his chest. These dreams have been going on for weeks now…what does it mean? He looked at his clock and grimaced. Three O'clock on the dot…as usual. I wonder if it's really a message…or if it's just another ghost trying to fuck with me? He took a few deep breaths and sunk back into his bed, pulling his blanket up to his chin. Danny hesitantly looked around his room, the adrenaline still coursing through his body. He was expecting Skulker to be hiding in the shadows, or even the Box Ghost in his shoe box.

That's it…it must be some ghost trying to mess with me. But he still couldn't shake the feeling that this was some kind of omen…something was going to happen, and it wasn't going to end well. He rubbed his tired eyes, pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind. I'll tell Sam guys about it tomorrow…they might be able to give me some kind of insight. And so Danny drifted back into his unpleasant dreams, a horrible laugh echoing all the while.

**/\\**

"That is weird." Sam agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. "But…do you mind if we bring this conversation inside? It's kinda cold…" Indeed, it was the middle of October, and temperatures were already dropping considerably. Tucker nodded in agreement, shivering as a particularly icy breeze swept through. Danny gestured to the pair and stepped aside to let them into his house. After seating themselves at his kitchen table, and having a cup of hot cocoa, they resumed their conversation.

"So…you think it's a ghost?" Sam asked.

"Well, I think so…" Danny replied. "But I don't know if it's really a warning, or if it's just trying to play a trick on me."

"Considering it has the voice of a child, maybe it's just a prank?" Tucker offered. "I mean, ghosts of children are usually mischievous, right?"

"Yeah…but…" Danny trailed off uncertainly. "In my dreams, it's just a voice. I can't see it. But it warned me of…shadows and-"

"The fact that it refuses to show its face is proof that it's only a joke. I know you're worried." Sam said gently, after seeing his look of disbelief. "And that's because you care so much about us-the town…everything. But I think it's just causing you stress. Maybe you need to take a break?"

"…But-" Danny was interrupted by Tucker.

"And if it was a ghost, wouldn't you be able to sense it?" Tucker asked slowly. "I mean, you couldn't even sense it in the room after you had woken up. So…maybe it's just a dream?"

"No. It's not just a dream." Danny said stubbornly. "It's…" He let out a sigh when he noticed their worried stares. "Nevermind. Just forget about it."

"Well, if you're really worried about it, maybe it's time for us to take a trip to the library?" Sam suggested. "I've heard of "shadow people", but we haven't really had to deal with them. It won't hurt to learn about them…" She pursed her lips.

"…Yeah." An idea popped in Danny's head. "Sam, you go to the library and read about the shadows. Tucker, you research any recent ghost activity involving shadows here…and I'll visit the ghost world. They have to know something about them." He looked between the two excitedly. "Well, get on it!" With that, he phased into his phantom form and sank through the floor, flying into the ghost zone.

"This isn't what I had in mind…" Sam huffed indignantly, and Tucker couldn't hold back a soft chuckle.

**/\\**

Danny flew aimlessly through the ghost realm, avoiding any stray objects that happened to fly his way. Weird…no activity at all…Come to think of it, the town hasn't been that busy either. I wonder if the shadows have anything to do with it…?

A flash of blue caught his eye and he just barely managed to avoid a sound wave. He didn't have to guess who it was that caused it: after all, who else used music as a weapon?

"Ember." He called, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not here for a fight."

"Hmm, is that so?" She asked, smiling seductively. "Are you here for a good time?" She laughed. "'Cause if that's the case…you'd be better off finding some whore in your world." She sent another blast at the half-ghost boy, which he easily evaded.

"This is serious. I need-" Another sound wave boomed by. "-To ask you about the-" He did a quick corkscrew before tackling her into a floating rock, pining her to it. "Shadows." He finished.

At the mention of the word, Ember seemed to pale, even as a ghost, and stopped trying to free herself from his grip. "S-Shadows?" She stammered, her eyes darting around the area. "So the rumors are true then? They're Shadow People in your town?" He noticed a trace of hysteria in her voice.

"…No. At least, I don't think so. Why? What are they?" He noticed that she sighed in relief, though she was still shaking.

"If they're the shadows I think you're talking about," She began, "Then they're the worst thing that could ever happen to you and your little town."

"What are they? What makes them so dangerous?" He asked, feeling fear creep up inside of him. "And what rumors?" He added.

"You haven't noticed the lack of activity in your neighborhood?" She asked dryly. It was true; it had been a few months since Danny had to protect the city from ghosts, even minor ones like the Box Ghost.

"Yes…so, the shadows are responsible for that?"

She nodded briefly. "And I was going to check it out myself…I'm glad you saved me the trouble." She rolled her eyes and pushed him off of her. "Alright, alright. I'll tell you what I've heard of them…" They both sat down on the floating bolder he had just slammed her into, and Danny waited patiently for her to begin.

"Let me tell you that these Shadows aren't anything like Johnny 13's Shadow…these ones are far more deadly." She paused, expecting some question to shoot out from the Ghost-Boys mouth. When none did, she continued. "From what I've heard, Shadows are the physical manifestation of the strong emotions: love, hate, anger and despair made by occultists or demons."

He gave her a skeptical look. "That's all? They're emotions?"

She glared at him. "You little idiot. You don't see how they're dangerous, do you? Do you realize what they can do to a person or ghost?"

"Do you?" He shot back.

"I've heard, at the very least. And I'm not dumb enough to find out if it's true or not."

He sighed and quickly amended his comment. "Okay, I'm sorry. I don't know…so, can you tell me what makes them so dangerous?"

She gave him a pointed glare before continuing. "You see, as ghosts we have to use objects to harm anything." She gestured to her guitar. "We can't harm a human physically without these, though we can scare them shitless." She laughed and he waited, albeit impatiently for her to finish. "But Shadows don't."

"So…that's what makes them dangerous?" He asked cautiously, not wanting to upset her again.

"Not just that. They can take any shape they want, human or inanimate, and everything in between….you see, Danny, they can physically manifest themselves into any form they desire. Their only goal is to make humans or ghosts feel whatever they feel, and it usually ends in death for humans." She shuddered again.

"And what happens to the ghost?" He knew it wouldn't be a pretty answer. But I gotta know…

"They're either consumed or dragged to hell, depending on how strong the Shadow is."

"What do you mean by 'consumed'?" Again, he dreaded the answer.

"That's just it: consumed. Nothing is left of it…just an expansion to the Shadow, giving it whatever ability the ghost once had."

"And if the ghost is dragged to hell…?"

"It becomes a shadow or a slave to demons."

"Oh. And the human just dies?"

"Yep. They then become a ghost or a Shadow…or they just accept death and goes to wherever they belong. But most of the time they become a ghost because death is so quick, and they don't have time to adjust. And that's what they hope for…souls are a Shadow's nourishment."

"They feed off of ghosts?" He felt sick to his stomach. "I can see why you guys want to avoid them…"

"Well, now that you've confirmed their presence…" She trailed off and phased through the Ghost Boy. "I'll be on my way." She paused. "Try not to get yourself killed, Danny. We wouldn't want that, would we?" She smiled and blew a kiss before flying off.

He stayed there for a while more, staring after Ember. I don't think she's telling me everything…or doesn't know everything to the Shadows. Maybe Tucker and Sam found something out…? He felt a strange cold sweep over him and he couldn't hold in his shudder. He felt so…hopeless. It feels like I should just die. I want to die. What is this?

"Quit while you can."

Just as quickly as the feeling of despair had overwhelmed him, it disappeared without a trace. That was…strange. His heart was beating a mile a minute and he was shaking all over. It made me feel…sad. His eyes shot open as he remembered what Ember had said. Shadows are physical forms of emotions…was that a Shadow that attacked me? But…that's the voice that's been giving me the warnings…What does this all mean?

**/\\**

"Is that what you heard?" Paulina asked in awe.

"Yep." Kwan replied, grinning.

"…Interesting. And just in time for Halloween. But…they're three places…and only three of us. There's no way that I'm gonna go by myself, or go to all three places. That's just creepy."

"Well, I figured…and don't get mad…that we could invite Fenton and his friends." Kwan replied sheepishly.

"Why would we invite those losers?" Paulina asked nastily, as if they were talking about some contagious disease and not people.

"Yeah. Do you got a crush on that Manson girl?" Dash taunted, laughing.

"No. But…Fenton does have all that ghost gear, and with us going to those haunted places…" Kwan trailed off, hoping they'd catch on.

"Ah, I see. You think we're going to need it?" Paulina asked slyly. "You afraid?"

"Shut up!" Kwan fumed. "It doesn't hurt to be safe…"

"He does have a point." Dash agreed. "There are some dangerous ghosts here…"

Paulina sighed. "Well, how're we going to get them to agree? They don't exactly like us…"

"Haven't you noticed that they're always following Danny Phantom?" The other two nodded slowly. "They have some sort of interest in ghosts…this would be perfect for them! Especially considering there hasn't been any ghost activity lately…"

"I don't know if that's gonna work." Dash said. "I mean, like Paulina said-"

"I changed my mind. You're right Kwan; they're always near Danny Phantom. Maybe they'll draw him to us! Imagine him saving us!" She squealed with delight. "It's perfect. But…who's going to ask them to join us?"

"Leave that to me. I got it covered." Kwan replied coolly.

"Aren't we the smooth operator?" Paulina laughed. "Alright, fine. Give us a call when you get them to agree." With a nod Kwan left, leaving Dash and Paulina alone.

"You know the real reason why he wants Fenton's help, right?" Dash asked.

"Of course. But as his friends…we need to let him think we don't know. And when he's ready to tell us, then we'll be there to support him." She smiled and latched onto Dash's arm. "Let's go to the Nast Burger; I'm hungry.

How was that for a first chapter? I hope you like it…Reviews, anyone?