Danny was peacefully snoozing in class, much to Mr. Lancer's chagrin, when a chill rudely awakened him.
"Five more minutes," He grumbled to himself, although knowing that there would be consequences if his statement were true. So, instead of going back to his dreams, Danny raised his hand. Mr. Lancer was partially surprised to see a hand raised. The class was watching a movie based on a book they had just finished reading, so Mr. Lancer didn't expect to have to interact with his students at all. He was hoping, actually. He hadn't been having the best day, which was the reason why he let Danny sleep. He understood. Mr. Lancer motioned for Danny to come to his desk as not to disturb the rest of the class.
"Can I go to the bathroom?" Danny asked, rubbing his eyes. Mr. Lancer sighed.
"Take the hall pass." he barely glanced up as he told Danny so, instead of going back to his book. Danny rushed out of the classroom. Mr. Lancer stood up from his desk and went to put Danny's things into his book bag so that he would not be late for his next class. He knew that Danny would not be back for a while. The old man did not, however, expect those things to still be sitting there after the final bell rang. As the balding teacher scooped the items into the green-stained bookbag, Mr. Lancer noticed Sam and Tucker watching the door, then simultaneously looking out of the window. Were they expecting something?
Danny speed-walked out of the classroom, barely remembering to grab the hall pass, even though he had only been reminded a moment ago. Danny set the laminated piece of paper on the white porcelain of the nearest sink and went into the bathroom stall. Amateur graffiti covered the walls, not only limited to matters of school appropriacy. Danny managed to get out a chuckle at a joke that could have been from none other than Tucker. Danny thought of his two friends still sitting in class with jealousy as a ring of white light enveloped his body and then split, one side traveling up to his now snow-white hair, the other going south and meeting the cold tile. Meanwhile, a boy named Mikey ran, almost screaming, out of the bathroom, thinking he had just witnessed the light from an alien abduction.
It was Maddie Fenton's lucky day. She and her husband, Jack, had finally arrived at a scene before a certain white-haired ghost kid. Although not for long. He arrived very soon after their RV skidded to a halt, but Madeline still had a lucky feeling about this day. It seemed that, for once, the ghost hadn't noticed their arrival. The so-called hero managed to ward off the almost formless poltergeist before the Fentons had even gotten out the bazooka. but Maddie managed to ready one invention before the phantom could fly back to wherever it had come from. She took aim and caught the specter by surprise. The (half) ghost had a horrified look on its face before it's expression melted into an elongated, blue-tinged form as he was pulled into a new Fenton thermos.
It was dark. that was all Danny could tell. Yet he couldn't feel anything physically. All he could feel was an empty abyss. Cold and dark. So, so dark. And suffocating. Danny felt as though he would never take another breath again. He felt as if all air had been depleted in his first breath. But he didn't even know if that was true, because he could feel no lungs amidst his mass. His ability to think with some degree of clearness was returned to him. He didn't know how long it had been since he'd had a moment of clarity. but then it disappeared again, flowing back into the depths of an imaginary ocean, whose water he could not hold. Then, another moment passed him by. It lasted longer this time, and he could vaguely make out voices somewhere outside the walls that seemed to make up his very being.
"What do you think we should do now, Maddie?"
"I'm not sure. They are so many realities that we cannot even hope to explore them all."
Jazz didn't know what she would do when her parents walked through the door, claiming that they had finally caught their biggest target. In desperation, Jazz asked if she could see the thermos that her parents claimed that "prize" lied within.
"Not today, Jazzy-pants," Jack said.
"We trust you, but this is too big to risk you dropping the thermos or accidentally pushing a button. After all, you've never held one before."
They had no idea just how wrong they were. Jazz had used a thermos before, although not in the way intended. Danny had been mad enough that time even after he was only in there for a few minutes. She had no idea what it would be like for him in the small space for an unknown amount of time. He had been so distraught and out of breath the last time that he'd told her nothing about the experience. She didn't know whether or not he'd told Sam or Tucker. That was it! Sam and Tucker. But they wouldn't be out of school for another hour or so, and she was on her own until then. Jazz tried all she could, but her parents had locked the door to the basement after Jack had found her at the door on his way back from the bathroom. Jazz sat on her bed and sent off a text to Sam, then one to Tucker. Finally, ten minutes later, her ringtone sounded. "Is Danny home yet?" Sam had asked. "You need to come over here, then I'll explain."
The moment faded, but a feeling of desperation stayed, so instilled in Danny's being was his fear that he forced his lapsing mind to think. He began to move from side to side, feeling his world tip. He finally was able to tip just far enough. Gravity enacted upon him and the thermos clattering to the floor. To Danny's luck, he had pushed a button. The vividity and tangibility of the world honestly shocked Danny. His lungs took in a shuddering breath. His newly reformed brain could barely process shouts that rang in his ears. His instincts took over and he ran straight to the ghost portal. But a blast hit his heel and he tripped forward face first onto the cold, hard metal floor. He didn't have time to scramble to his feet before he was cornered. It can't end like this, he thought as he looked up into the green glow of readily-armed weapons. He was not thinking clearly but had one idea. He put his arms over his head and let the white rings of pure light envelop him again. This time, all those in the presence of the light did not believe in aliens, or at least not as much as ghosts.
Sam and Tucker sprinted- well more like Sam sprinted while dragging Tucker behind her- straight to Fenton Works. Jazz was anxiously waiting at the door. She confirmed the sneaking suspicions that had formed in Sam's mind. As soon as Sam heard that Danny was in the basement, she sprinted towards the locked door and tried to wrench it open.
"Watch out." Came a surprisingly calm voice from behind her. She heard an all-too-familiar whine as Tucker powered up a just-in-case wrist ray and blasted the handle off of the door. They got there just in time. Sam could see Danny's parents standing over his ghost form, who had his arms over his head. The ghost hunters had their weapons at the ready but hadn't decided what to do yet. Then Danny changed back to his ebony-black hair, icy blue eyes, distinct red-and-white t-shirt, and sneakers.
"Danny!" Jazz yelled first. She sprinted down the stairs with Sam and Tucker at her heels. They ran across the green glowing lab and pushed the adult Fentons aside. Sam put a hand on Danny's shoulder. He was shaking terribly. A cloud of fading desperation hung around him in whisps. He raised his head and looked into Sam's eyes with his own tear-filled ones. But then Sam's expression hardened. She looked away and into the faces of the very people who had caused Danny's scarred state. Jazz helped Danny to his feet and held onto one side while Tucker helped Danny on the other. Sam gave the adults a disapproving look as she walked by.
"You make me SICK."