Chapter 1: Searching

Phantom. The name repeated itself in her ears as she thought clearly on the situation. The ghost boy had disappeared weeks ago, which was somewhat strange to her. She was starting to miss Phantom's witty banter during their quick fights. But the most peculiar thing to her was the random behavior of her Danny. After Phantom's disappearance, her Danny started to 'reconnect' with her. He had begged her for some quality time together and would hate when she had to leave the room just to get a silly thing like a phone call.

Her mind spun with information. What had happened to Phantom? And where Danny and Phantom connected somehow?

That was impossible, she laughed. Her son knew to stay away from ghosts. Even her daughter knew. But somehow would Danny ignore that rule and meet one? She huffed and drummed her fingers against the table.

The last encounter she and Phantom had, suddenly replayed in her head and she allowed the memory to over take her.


Maddie was once again hiding behind a bush as she glanced up at Phantom. He was perched on top of a tree, his neon green eyes gazing into the midnight sky. Her eyes roamed his features slowly, studying him as much as possible.

She had been roaming the streets for hours before finding an ecto signature on her husband's device. She had veered to it and parked 500 feet away for precaution. Crouching underneath plants, she had found Phantom and stood there for minutes, deciding on what to do. She had brought an ectoweapon for any emergency and threw the idea of shooting him in her head.

Her fingers clasped against the weapon's holder before putting it aside. Just staring up at Phantom peacefully, brought something warm in her heart.

Phantom continued to stare off until finally he gave a yawn and laid back on the tree. His leg hung limply on the side of the branch and an arm laid gracefully on his stomach. His green orbs closed slowly before his whole body was consumed in sleep. Soft snoring was later heard giving Maddie a new definition of this 'hero'.

'Ghosts shouldn't be able to sleep, nonetheless get tired,' She thought before narrowing her eyes in small suspicion. 'Is he making this real or is he trying to fool everyone?'

Not getting an answer, she continued to study him and mentally began to take notes. 'Sleeps, he gets tired, almost human like.'

She wasn't sure how long she was watching him but she knew at the angle of the moon that it was past midnight. She got to her knees and carefully crawled out of her hiding spot before rushing away into the dark.

She wasn't sure what to do with this newfound information but she knew she couldn't let go of it. Somehow it was going to be of good use to her and with information like that, she could be able to bring Phantom down. But something edged in her heart, something that told her not to do something like that to a boy his age.

'But Phantom isn't human. He shouldn't be able to feel,' She replied to the voice. 'He's somehow trying to make us people feel sorrow for him. He's a ghost.'

But the feeling went quiet and she continued her way back to her van. Unlocking the vehicle, she stepped inside and did a double check on the time. Surely enough it was 1:03 a.m.

'Jack's going to kill me for being late,' She groaned softly before starting up the car and driving back home.


That had been the last time she had laid an eye on Phantom. She was growing frustrated at his disappearance every day.

His disappearance hadn't been ignored by the public however. After 3 weeks with no clue on Phantom's location, the town had held a small funeral which mostly every single person in the town attended. The graveyard was so over packed with citizens that they had put Phantom's burial in a different location in which everyone could attend. The burial was held in a empty forest, which had been burned down recently from a forest fire. It was however perfect for everyone.

She remembered her children that day. They had shown up in their funeral clothes like everyone else and were desperately trying their best to reach the front. Everyone had a chance to touch his 'coffin' and mumble a couple words before leaving. It took hours, but finally they had reached the front of the line.

Jazz had said a couple words, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes and left seconds later, her make up spilled all over her face. Danny had also said something but she noticed it wasn't very 'sad'. As if he was happy over his disappearance. And before he had turned away, she could have sworn that he had smiled cruelly at the coffin.

It had bothered her mind that day before she let it go and went to focus back on Phantom. She tried every clue that was given to her to find his location. She had tried the boomerang which only went around in a circle before falling to her feet. The Fenton Finder wasn't any help either, since it couldn't find anything more than 1 mile away.

Knowing that she wouldn't be able to find anything with her old tracking inventions, she pushed herself to find clues on what or who had forced Phantom to disappear.

She had started to exclude her family while she had searched for the ghost boy which wasn't ignored by her family. Jack had pushed her on what and why she was avoiding them, which she had answered with a calm 'I'm not in the mood today'. Jazz was being to get suspicious until she decided it was none of her business to intrude in.

Her eyes lowered to the lab table before she grumbled. If only she could have one clue on his whereabouts. Just one! So that she could make sure he was.. still in existence.

She knew that she shouldn't be all sentimental about ghosts but for Phantom it took a different toll. As if she had met him once before... as a different person. Phantom was more human than regular ghosts... but he shouldn't be. He was a ghost, which was unable to act 'alive' or especially have feelings.

But something was different about him somehow, that she was unable to put her finger on. She sighed and laid her head on the desk softly. Why was this so difficult? What had happened to Phantom?


Danny opened his eyes softly but soon again closed them as pain erupted on his side. Something was completely off. He tried his best to pull his head forwards, so he was able to take a glimpse of his surrounds but something around his neck told him otherwise. He settled back before breathing heavily.

'Recall what last happened,' He thought to himself. He closed his eyes and thought deeply.

I was taken. Okay... by who? His mind searched further into the past. He remembered a flash of red, white and black and he instantly knew who it was.

"Well look who decided to finally join me. I was wondering when you were going to wake up again," Vlad said sarcastically, as he tapped Danny on the side.

He frowned and leaned back on the table. Knowing Vlad with that smile meant he had full confidence in what he was doing. No flaws or incorrect moves. Just precision and accuracy. And since he was tied up somehow, the older hybrid had a full advantage.

"Why? So you beat me up and brag about it?" Danny witted back.

The man laughed. "Oh Daniel. You and that pesky mouth of yours. You know I could always remove it." He slowly put a finger on Danny's lips as he slid it to each end of his mouth. The teen shuddered softly but forced himself to remain calm. "But then where would be the fun in that? I need you to talk not make me wonder what you're saying in that small brain of yours."

His eyes narrowed. So the man was insulting him now? How low even for him!

"I bet you're wondering why I dragged you all the way over here. Well it's simple logic really. I still want you and your mother to join me," Vlad smiled. "But of course I can't do that willingly with you and your mother's similar stubbornness. So I've come up with a way to.. how to you put it... blackmail her into coming willingly to me. And you? You're keep your loud mouth quiet or I'll just remove it simply. It's your choice however."

Danny's eyes widened. He was going to blackmail his mother? How cruel was that? He could away let him go with it and break out of his grasp with his mom in hand... but this was a very sketched out plan. How would he be able to get themselves free? Then he recalled Vlad's warning. He would remove his mouth? How gross... but knowing Vlad... there'd be another way to forcefully make Danny quiet, without the painful thought of him ripping out his own organ.

"I'll give you time for you to chose. You're mother right now is investigating your 'disappearance' on your ghost self. Your mom doesn't know about your human self being one of my successful clones which is goody for me. And if you reveal yourself to your mother or expose me... I will destroy you," Vlad hissed slowly towards Danny's fearful face.

The teen nodded quickly before Vlad gave another flashing and departed back outside.

Danny slumped back into the table and gave a sigh. "My life's really messed up."


'Another week and no clue on Phantom's whereabouts,' Maddie thought desperately.

It was like a deadend on his search. No clue. No start. Nothing. It's as if he did disappear from the face of the planet. But what or who killed him?

Just as she woke up to a pointless day on Phantom's search, something flew into her mind that she hadn't thought til now. Vlad. Her mind questioned it. Vlad? Why Vlad? What would he have to add into this investigation? Did he know something she didn't? Or did he know Phantom's location?

She wasn't sure why it suddenly came into her brain but it felt like a clue she would follow. Hating deeply to see Vlad after that incident with him and her son during the 'vacation' they were suppose to take, she didn't want to ever see that man again. But unfortunately she had to see him again in the near future since he was now mayor of Amity Park. Such a 'good' mayor the town had to choose.

Maddie swallowed hard before putting on a new jumpsuit and heading downstairs for a quick meal. Thanking heaven that her family still wasn't up, excluding her husband who was in the basement probably working on a new invention, she carefully snuck to where he was and gave a small knock on the wall.

He jumped up in surprise and turned his head towards her direction. "Maddie!" He boomed, giving her a beckoning wave, "I'm working on a invention that suppose to-"

"Not now Jack," Maddie said politely. "I have to run to this quick thing. Okay? I'll be back in a couple hours."

"Okay honeybunches!" He smiled. "Oh could you do me a favor and run to the store afterwards? We need to restock up on fudge."

"Of course," With one last wave, she fled back up the stairs and out the door, the RV keys in hand.

It only took a couple of minutes to reach Vlad's mansion on the other side of town. It was a pretty quiet neighborhood considering not many wealthy folks living in these parts. Many liked to stay in town so that it was more convenient for them. She always wondered why the Mansons loved to live in town.

The RV parked in front of the large majestic building as she got out and stuff two guns in her pocket. Never be to sorry.

Maddie approached the large twice her size door as she gave a gentle knock on it. For some odd reason, the small knock turned into a loud one and it rang around the inside many times. She waved it off and quietly waiting for Vlad to show.

Just as she hoped, Vlad opened the door, a slight disturbed look in his features. It soon disappeared as he took a look at the dear woman who had been friends with him forever.

"Hello Maddie. I didn't expect you to come this early in the morning. Is something wrong?" Vlad said as he looked at her concernly.

She laughed. It ALMOST looked like he cared on what she was going to say. But knowing the lonesome billionaire, that was never the case.

Maddie gave the most fakest smile she ever gave. "Sorry to bother you but I've been having a weird thing bothering me for weeks and suddenly it appealed to me that I had forgotten to ask you if you knew anything."

"Anything about what?"

"Well you've known the disappearance of Phantom. Correct?"

Vlad nodded, "I have heard about it."

"I've been looking into why he's suddenly disappeared. He's way to powerful to be that defeated that quick and he wouldn't give up on his town. Not after what he's been doing for it for months. I was hoping you would know something," Maddie explained, making sure not to leave out anything important.

"Phantom's disappearance? I'm afraid I haven't heard anything about it. If I did, I would have contacted you Fentons immediately on that matter," Vlad said softly, rubbing his fingers. "Oh and speaking of Fentons, hows Daniel and Jasmine doing? Nothing unusual, I presume."

For some reason, something gnawed at Maddie to tell Vlad about Daniel's weird behavior. It wasn't like him to hate Phantom like that. Danny never hated anything unless he had a reason. And growing attached to her that much, was surely bothering her.

"I... I have been having some troubles with Danny. He's not acting like himself," Maddie mumbled as she looked towards the ground. "He's been growing to attached towards me, which I don't hate but just getting bothered by. And he's been showing some unusual hate towards Phantom."

Vlad frowned. The clone wasn't acting correctingly. Daniel was suppose to act EXACTLY as if he was the real Daniel. He growled mentally before looking back at Maddie.

"Hate towards Phantom? That is unusual. Daniel always looked up to Phantom like a model. Have you talked to him about it?" He asked.

She shook her head, "No, I haven't."

Remembering they were outside, he ushered the woman inside. She smiled gratefully and entered, careful to examine anything at she could ask Vlad about. But all that it showed was his obsession with the Packers. Green and gold lined up the walls and reached to the ends of the mansion, just showing how much he loved them.

"Take any seat if you would," Vlad smiled. She nodded and sat in a surprisingly soft and firm chair which was the color of dried blood. Vlad sat in an opposite chair as he tied his fingers together. "Why haven't you talked to him about Phantom?"

Maddie put a hand to her temple. "I've just been busy. I desperately want to know what happen to Phantom. It's not like him to disappear like that. He always tries to come back and do whats right. I.. sort of miss him. I know it's breaking my code on caring for a ghost but I can't help it. I need to find him or at least talk to him."

"And what would you give to at least see him?" Vlad asked curiously, knowing he could very well use this against her.

"Anything. Absolutely anything. I just need to make sure he's okay," Maddie whispered.

"Anything?"

"Anything."

Vlad smiled evilly as he could finally put his final plan in effect. He stood up and leaned over Maddie, in an attempt to somewhat calm her.

"What if I was to tell you that I knew Phantom's location?" He said into her ear.

Her eyes widened as she looked up at the billionaire, "You know where he is?"

"Maybe I do. But you need to promise something."

"What?"

"Meet me in my mansion tonight around 10pm. Don't tell anyone where you're going. If you do, I will have to resort to kicking you out and not allowing you to see him," Vlad frowned. "Promise?"

Maddie knew she would probably be risking alot for the troublesome ghost but right now she didn't care. She needed to see Phantom.

"Promise."

"Very well," Vlad smirked as he took Maddie's hand and set a gentle kiss on it, "I will see you tonight. Don't bring anyone or any weapons. You'll probably scare Phantom."

Swallowing hard, Maddie slowly fled the mansion and boarded the RV. The whole time the thought struck her that Phantom was seriously hurt or sick. Unable to get away from whatever was hurting him. Was it possible that Vlad caught him and put him somewhere on purpose? Or was Vlad trying to help him? Whatever the reason, Vlad had Phantom and she was hopefully going to see him tonight.

'Bring medicine in case he's hurt. Vlad won't go against that right?' She thought warily.


"Daniel."

Danny's eyes opened as he backed up, afraid of anything the billionaire was going to throw at him. Seeing nothing in his eyes about torture he lowered his defenses and gave a look of curiosity at him.

"Someone's going to visit tonight and I expect you to be on your best behavior," Vlad informed, smiling as cruel as possible.

"W-who is it?" Danny's voice cracked.

Vlad smiled. The strong, brave boy he had weeks ago had disappeared and was replaced with a weak, hungry and especially fearful one. He had broke him the second week and it was the dull, lifeless eyes he was always met with. It was sad though. The boy had grown so thin that you were able to see his bones and his tan had disappeared into a paper white skin color. Daniel didn't even put up a fight anymore. He would be lucky to get more than a roll, water and butter everyday if Vlad was generous enough.

"Your mother, Daniel. She will be visiting to see you. I don't want to hear anything come from your mouth unless I tell you too. You will only answer things that don't expose what I have done to you. If you do, I WILL kill you and maybe your mother depending on how much you reveal. So you better not let anything go," He smiled as he rubbed the boy's hair. His hair had turned from silkly soft to brittle and rough, which Vlad had not cared in the least.

"I shall give you something that will force you to stay in ghost form. And while she's here, I'll give you a nice good meal for you to eat. Your usual meal and some extras like mashed potatoes and maybe some pizza. I recall how much you loved the italian meal," Danny nodded slowly. "Very well, rest up and I shall see you later, Daniel."

The man disappeared and left Danny to think about what was to come. His heart slowly filled the silence in the dark room as he gave a shuddering breath. For the weeks he had been stranded here, he had thought no one would ever try to save him or visit him. The only real company he had was Vlad, who he despised very much.

His fingers grasped onto the large broken blanket he had been given weeks ago. It was dirty, smelly and especially ripped in many places. The color had faded away into grayish cloth and it had been the only thing he was given to be warm. The cell he was currently in, was dark, colorless and depressing.

Vlad had not been totally monstrous to leave him cold and hungry. He had supplied a blanket and food, even though it wasn't much. But Danny still appreciated it enough to thank the man whenever and hope one day that he would be able to see the outside world again.

Weeks in this prison was enough to think about his whole life and what to be grateful for. His friends, family... and now he was starting to miss school and all the people that made fun of him... he just wanted to be somewhere else than here.

Danny let a small tear slip down his face as his body shut down once more.


Black gloved fingers reached to some chemicals as she mixed them slowly with ectoplasm. The mixture burst with color but settled down into a deep dark green. Pouring the mixture into another container, she capped it and tucked it away in her jumpsuit for later on.

It was almost time to depart to Vlad's. The clock read 9:30 as she sighed. She wasn't sure what to expect when she arrived but she needed to be ready. No weapons, he had told her. Her mind wandered.

Was Phantom that... hurt to be scared by a mere gun? What had happened to the boy that wasn't afraid to play with fire?

Her heart ached for some reason. She knew she shouldn't feel feelings for a ghost but Phantom was really different. It felt like a connection with her and her... son.

Her connection with her son now felt different. Not the same at all. It felt twisted and forced.

Maddie's body shuddered and zapped her out of her mind. Realizing she was somewhat late, she told Jack the same thing she had told him this morning and was off.

The RV's soft hum was the only thing reassuring her this wasn't a trap set up by Vlad and she was really going to see Phantom.

Minutes later, she arrived at the mansion and slowly exited out, making sure that the medicine was still in her secret compartment. Smiling, she walked up to the large door and gave a small knock.

The door immediately opened to a smiling Vlad, who looked like he had gotten out of a shower recently. His hair were still wet looking but dry enough not to ruin his suit. He beckoned her in, "Come in, Maddie."

She nodded and followed after the man, who was starting to lead her upstairs into the other rooms. The whole house was completely dim, giving it an almost creepy effect. But she continued to remember the path back out in case of a sudden emergency.

Vlad suddenly stopped in a room and grinned as he touched the doorknob.

Oh his plan was excellent. He had removed Daniel from his old room and put him in this clean one, for the sake of Maddie finding out what he had done to him. Daniel was cleaned up and given new clothes to compliment his healthiness even though he wasn't 'healthy'. But just for the sake of her visit, Vlad would be planning on giving him a full meal.

He pushed the door open and allowed Maddie to take a full glance on the ghost she had been looking for for weeks.

Her eyes widened as she slowly approached him, almost afraid of coming close to him.

Phantom was asleep, his whole body encased in a large fluffly blanket. His bones were well defined in his skin and his pale like complexion almost forced her to think that he really was a ghost. It was just one look at him and she almost wanted to choke on her own words.

Hearing a sound beside him, he opened his eyes softly and looked up at her, his smile tightening. "Hi Maddie."

His voice sounded so lifeless and... dead. What HAD happened to Phantom?

"Phantom? What happened to you?"

His eyes floated over to Vlad, who explained. "He's been suffering through some injuries in his last fight. Came running to me for help. I've been doing the best I could to help him," He lied.

"You didn't alert the Fentons, better yet me?" She said furiously.

"You would have been stumped as me. I didn't want the whole town knowing his condition and running up to him, asking and yelling questions to him that he would be unable to answer. So I just went along with the idea of him being 'dead'. It would have been better for him."

"How? You could have told me about this. I could have helped!" Her mind spun. This whole time, Phantom had been in Vlad's clutches, after she had searched everywhere for him.

"I know Maddie, but Phantom didn't want to alert you. He came to me for help. Only me."

She turned to Phantom, who was slowly taking in hard breaths. "Phantom... why didn't you let me help you?"

His eyes flickered open as he tried his best to reply, "I just couldn't ask you since you would always try to kill me. How could I trust you to... help me?"

"Phantom... I know I haven't been the best person but you could have at least told me. I would never hurt someone, especially a ghost, whos been already hurt," Maddie persisted. Phantom sighed and laid back on bed as he held his stomach, almost grumbling. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer but allowed Vlad allowed himself to step in. "He's probably hungry. Correct?" Phantom nodded. "I'll go whip him up a quick snack."

Vlad disappeared down the hall, a smile working up in his face.

Maddie sat beside Phantom, who was shuffling nervously in place. She raised an eyebrow. It was quite weird that a ghost was nervous about something. What could he possibly be nervous about? Was it cause maybe that he was scared of her?

"Are you okay?" She asked finally.

He nodded, "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Has... Vlad been feeding you well?" Phantom swallowed hard. She knew ghosts didn't eat but Phantom.. he was different somehow.. maybe ghosts COULD eat. Maybe Phantom had told Vlad of his 'condition' which curiously allowed him to eat..

"Yeah he has... its just I refuse to eat sometimes... it hurts me sometimes."

"Hurts you? Well that doesn't seem pleasant. How has he been treating you?"

Phantom frowned. He was getting annoyed with his mother's questions. She did care for him, which was strange, but if she pushed him over the edge more, he could reveal Vlad's secret. And at the moment, he didn't want to get beaten.

"Fine... nothing out of the ordinary."

Something tore in her heart. It looked like he was FORCING these words out on his own. As if it would be bad for him if he did say something he wasn't suppose to. But what could it be? Was Vlad actually forcing him to do this?

Remembering the medicine she brought, she reached into her jumpsuit and slowly held it out to the ghost boy. The curiosity flashed in his eyes and he slowly eyed it.

"It's suppose to help you. I didn't have time to test it but... please. I'm trying my hardest to help you," Maddie explained, almost begging. The boy was really ill. He needed to be healthy soon or else drastic conquiences could happen to his body.

Danny swallowed hard, knowing if he accepted the strange vial, Vlad could find out and beat him. But he knew he needed it. And by the look in his mother's eye, she was almost pleading to him. A caring plead that he couldn't denie.

He wrapped his hands around the vial and smiled as he held it to his chest. "Thanks."

"Just drink it whenever you need to. It should make your vitals return to normal," She said as he patted the boy's hand. It was freezing, which would be ordinary for a ghost. Thank goodness that wasn't messed up.

"W-Why are you helping me? Don't you despise ghosts?" He asked softly.

She sighed, "I used to... until I saw you that night before you disappeared."

"W-What?" He stuttered.

"The night before you vanished, I saw you up in a tree, sleeping. It reminded me of how childish you still are. Even though your a ghost, you still are a being who died at a young age. Your family must of been devastated to lose a son like you."

Phantom laughed, "Not really. They don't really know I'm gone."

"Why not? Didn't they care for you?" Maddie said, her eyes widening.

"They did but they just... didn't know I was a ghost. I look almost exactly the same way I did when I was alive." He laughed slowly, "They don't even know I'm dead."

"What about your disappearance? Wouldn't they know about that?"

"Not really. Someone's in my place..."

"Who's that?"

"Nothing you should be concerned about my dear," Vlad noted as he approached with a large bowl of soup and a glass of water. He set the tray down on the counter as he gave a frown to the boy. "You're going to be punished."

His eyes widened as he leaned back on the headboard, his breath racing.

"Punished? What do you mean punish? What are you doing to him?" Maddie said, standing up.

"He's probably already given you clues on what I'm doing. I won't be surprised if she figures it out soon." Vlad shook his head, "Oh well. You should have kept your mouth shut boy."

Phantom was hyperventilating, his eyes dull and terrified. "No, please. I didn't tell her anything, I swear!"

"Really? So what was that about 'someone's in my place?' you said?" Phantom didn't answer. "See, you have told her already. Do you think I'm a fool?" Vlad growled as he slapped the boy across the face. Tears sprung in his eyes as bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

"Vlad! What are you doing to Phantom?" She exclaimed as she approached the boy.

He quickly rushed in the way of her and the ghost and smirked, "I'm giving a much needed punishment. He needs to learn how to respect privacy and not give away information that easily."

"But he's a child, Vlad! A ghost but a child nonetheless. How cruel are you!" She shrieked.

"Cruel enough to do this," Vlad said as he punched Maddie to unconsciousness. Her body fell back as she took one glance up at Vlad, who had a blacked out Phantom in his arms. "You shouldn't have come."

And with that her world flickered to darkness.


Reviews/follows/favorites greatly appreciated for a new author.

-Tortoro15