Heya everyone. Here it is, the sequel to Phantom in a Box. Some of you die-hard music fans might recognize "phantom in a box, shadow in your head" as part of the lyrics to More Human Than Human. I just thought it kinda fit. Anyhoo, on to the story. Reviews are much appreciated.

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IN MY HEAD
Am I crazy? There are voices in my head…

The door of Nicky's tavern swung open and Sam was greeted by the now-familiar smells of sizzling burgers, stale cigarette smoke, and sweat; a combination that was not as unpleasant as one would think.

Samantha Jane made her way across the crowded floor to the table in the corner where her friends sat. She watched them, wondering at her luck. Her boys, as she called them, were a good lookin' bunch.

Reid Garwin was like a Nordic prince, complete with a cocky attitude and smug grin. Tyler Simms had a charmingly boyish smile and the bluest eyes rimmed with the longest lashes that Sam had ever seen on a man. Beside him, Caleb Danvers was just…Caleb. Caleb was a complete package: good looks and a great personality, all bound up in a fantastic body. And then there was Pogue…

Pogue Parry was physically gorgeous and spiritually compelling. He carried himself in a casual manner, but just below the surface was a tightly controlled energy that pulsed with intensity.

Pogue raised his head and looked at her, curving his lips into a soft smile. Sam's eyebrow quirked as her thoughts immediately went to the sinful way those lips had carried on when he had dropped by her house earlier. One thing was for sure. The man put himself 100 into whatever he had his mind set on doing, whether it be racing his motorcycle, swimming, or seduction.

He's not so great, you know.

Sam stopped and looked around for whoever had spoken to her. When she saw that no one was around, she shook her head and pulled out a chair beside Pogue.

You are too good for them.

"Do you guys hear that?" Sam asked.

"Hear what?" Reid replied, not taking his eyes off a nearby dancer in a skintight tank top.

"It isn't another nearly dead person, is it?" Tyler asked, only half-joking.

Sam shook her head. "Never mind," she said with a wave.

They don't understand the power you have. They're too wrapped up in their little guild to give you any real thought.

Who are you? Sam asked in her head.

Someone who knows that you have a great destiny, the voice replied.

Sorry, babe, Sam thought, taking a drink of her soda. You sound a little too 'Amazing Zoltan' for me, and my destiny has nothing to do with you.

"Sam," Pogue said, drawing her attention.

"Hm?" Sam asked, snapping out of her thoughts. She noticed that the guys were now standing.

"I said we've got to go. We've got a late practice," Pogue said, leaning down and kissing her. "You want a ride home?" he asked with a wicked grin. He knew she hated riding on his bike.

Sam pretended to mull it over before crinkling her nose. "Nah, I think I'll hang out here for a while. Maybe some hot young thing will drop in and sweep me off my feet," she said, tilting her face up and placing a quick kiss on his lips.

He gave a smirk and nodded, tilting his head down so that his hair curtained his face. He rolled his eyes up to look at her and tucked his bottom lip between his teeth, flashing his eyes to black. Sam gasped as a spear of raw pleasure ripped through her. She flinched, the muscles in her thighs contracting. Pogue's eyes returned to their normal bottle green color and he laughed when Sam slapped his shoulder.

"You find some 'hot young thing' that can make you feel that, then I'll worry," he whispered, brushing his lips over her jaw and following Tyler from the tavern.

I could give you that, and more.

Get out of my head, Sam thought. She stood and made her way to the bar, ordering another soda and leaning against the stained mahogany.

Someone cranked up the jukebox and the dance floor was immediately littered with couples grinding to the music. Sam switched her hips to the music as she stood by the bar, sipping at her coke.

"Excuse me," a voice behind her said. Sam turned and returned the friendly smile of the man standing in front of her.

"Do you, um, do you want to dance?" he asked, pointing to the dance floor.

"No, thanks," Sam said. "I don't slow dance unless it's with my boyfriend."

The man's smile broadened and he quickly ran his eyes down her form. "Doesn't look that way to me," he said, his blue eyes merry. "And I mean that in a completely non-lecherous way," he hastily added. "I'm John," he said, sticking out his hand.

"Smith?" She asked, shaking his hand.

"How'd you know?" he asked with fake amazement. "So, how 'bout it? One dance?"

She Wants to Move by N.E.R.D. came on the jukebox and Sam smiled.

"You're in luck," she told him. "It just so happens that I can't help but dance to this song."

Sam asked Nicky to stick her stuff behind the bar and led the way to the middle of the dance floor. The next three songs were fast, so she stayed on the floor, dancing at a tasteful distance with her new acquaintance. Something in the Way She Moves by the Beatles came on and Sam smiled to John.

"This is where we part ways," she said. He walked with her back to the bar and sat, drinking their sodas in companionable silence. Sam's cell phone rang.

"Hello? Hey baby,' she said, holding the phone with her shoulder as she fished the ice out of her new glass of Dr. Pepper. "How was practice? Nothing, just finished dancing."

She looked over at John and laughed. "Well, he is a hot young thing," she said with a wink. John smiled sheepishly. Sam's cheeks pinkened at something Pogue said and she smiled. "No, no need to worry," she informed him.

She talked to Pogue for a few more minutes before hanging up. Sam paid Nicky and got her purse from him, turning to smile at John.

"It was nice to meet you," she said as she slung her tote-style purse over her shoulder.

"Yeah, you too…I don't think I actually caught your name," he said, looking surprised.

"It's Sam. So, I guess I'll see you around?"

John smiled. "Oh, I'm sure I'll bump into you."

Sam waved and left the tavern, pulling the keys from her purse as she exited. It wasn't really late, but the streets were empty. She walked down the sidewalk to her car, cursing as she always did the fact that she never found a spot closer to the place.

Her steps were silent as she hurried down the dark walk, but she soon heard footsteps echoing after her. Sam stopped and turned, but the street behind her remained empty.

She beeped her car unlocked and rushed to it, freezing as the locks clicked back into place. She used the remote to unlock her doors again, only to have them relock before she could open the door.

Panic started to build, but she clamped down on it. She heard the soft landing of feet behind her and the air stirred the hair at the back of her neck. She turned slowly, gripping her keys tightly and praying that Tyler in his SUV, or Caleb in his mustang, or even Pogue on that damn motorcycle would come by for her.

Her eyes lit on the figure leaning relaxed against the brick wall of the drugstore. Sam didn't even bother pretending that John had a reasonable explanation for following her out of Nicky's. She didn't know what he wanted, but she knew it wasn't good.

It's good for me, but probably not so much for you, he said in her head, in answer to her thoughts.

"Who are you?" Sam asked, afraid. She hated being scared, but she was unable to control it this time.

The man giggled, an annoyingly insane sound, and tilted his head to the side, examining her with his icy blue eyes.

"Chance—Chase," she corrected herself. "Dammit, why can't I ever remember that?" she muttered.

"Don't worry about it," Chase said. "You won't be forgetting again any time soon."

"You look like you're like, 28 years old," Sam said, raising her eyebrows.

"One of the side effects of using my powers," Chase said with a shrug. "Plus, that little tiff with Caleb didn't help. You know all about that, from what I hear. I also hear that you don't age when you use," he said, pushing away from the wall and stalking toward her.

Sam feinted to the left and whirled to the right, running down the street. She risked a glance over her shoulder and wished she hadn't.

Chase wasn't there.

She turned the corner, screaming and fighting as strong arms encircled her waist.

"Get off me!" Sam cried, hitting Chase's chest with all her strength. It had no effect; he simply smiled down at her.

"Shh shh shh…." he soothed. He jerked, tightening his hold on her as his expression turned dark and menacing. "Shut up," he barked.

He reached up and covered her mouth with his hand, turning his body and pinning her hard against the bricks. "Shut. Up," he repeated.

Down the street, a door opened and a couple stepped outside. Chase moved his hand and crushed his mouth on top of Sam's, hitching her against him and pulling one leg up to his hip.

"Mmm…somebody's enjoying their night," a male voice said, obviously misinterpreting Sam's grunts as she struggled against Chase.

"Grant!" a woman admonished, laughing.

A car started and passed them, turning the corner and leaving them alone again. Chase pulled away from her, his eyes black as his powers demanded release.

"Damn. No wonder Parry's so in to you," Chase said, nuzzling her neck. Sam closed her eyes and shied away. She thought briefly of using her powers, but knew the attempt would be futile, as unfocused as she was.

Chase gripped her chin and tipped her face up to his. "I promise, this won't be entirely unpleasant. Once you feel Power as strong as mine flow through your body, you'll be a lot more accepting."

"What are you talking about?" Sam whispered. A tear slipped down her cheek and she hated herself for it.

Chase gently brushed it away with his thumb and leaned down to her ear.

"I'm taking your body," he whispered.

Before Sam could scream again, he grabbed her shoulders and slammed her head against the wall, knocking her unconscious.