In ghost lore, there is a place that you can only reach if you fade away; fade away from existence. It's a deep, dark, void of deep, dark, inky blackness. You cannot come back and you are always alone.

To be honest, it's a really depressing place. Or so I've heard. I'm such a lucky person I get to visit there myself.

My body is weakening, slowly, surely, as my ghost half fades away. My human body does not get exception to this disease that's infecting my body. This strange disease that only affects halfas. That is, it only affects me and Vlad, and Vlad seems to be immune to it. So basically it's just me.

Sam and Tucker have been so worried and the ghosts have been coming around trying out various cures. I suppose the upside to all this is that the ghosts aren't annoying the town, so my illness hasn't been an issue. I'm just hoping that once I'm gone they go away for good.

Oh, I've lost you, haven't I? Oops.

Friday, April 3rd; Casper High School, Amity Park

"Hey, Danny!" Sam says lightly, poking my elbow. "Wanna go somewhere tonight?"

"You mean, somewhere where you don't have to run around following me?" I laugh. "Sure. But why tonight, specifically?"

"Idiot. You forgot your own birthday," she replies.

"I actually did," I say, and face-palm."Man, I'm more of an idiot than my dad."

"It makes it even worse because it's your 16th birthday. Wow, Danny," Sam smirks sarcastically.

"Can we get off of this subject?" I ask. "Okay, so where do you want to go?"

"I was thinking I'd have someone make something for us and we'd just sit on the hill. Is that all right?"

"Sure. Oh, there's the bell- I'll see you later!"


That night, after it gets dark, Sam and I go out on the hill. We talk for a little while, but for some reason I'm having a hard time focusing on what she's saying. She begins to look a little worried. When she gets out the cake she brought, I blow out the candles and we have a slice, but the whole time I'm getting more and more light-headed. I just can't seem to focus at all. Soon it's nine o'clock and Sam's new curfew. We stand to go back to our houses.

Or, at least, we try to.

Sam has no problems but I simply cannot stand up and walk down the hill. I'm wobbly and weak, like I've got a fever. It's strange. I don't feel sick. So I try to go ghost and fly out, but when I do, I almost pass out from a sickly hot feeling spreading through me. My stomach hurts and I'm achy.

That's when Sam really starts to get worried. She tells me to return back to human form and I comply, only to find that the sick feeling has come with me. She then supports me as we walk down the hill.

Sweat runs down my face and I can barely stay upright. I don't know what's going on. In fact, as we approach my house I'm losing touch with my surroundings and beginning to see blackness in my peripheral vision. It's the deep, dark blackness of an endless void.

All I know is I need to sleep. I can't stay upright.

It's in my living room that I pass out.

When I wake up, I'm in my bed and Clockwork is leaning over me. His red eyes are filled with concern.

I think they are, anyway.

"So, Daniel," he says softly. "You're awake."

"Clockwork," I say. Or I whisper in a rasping tone. My throat is really dry.

"Can you tell me exactly how you felt yesterday before passing out?" he asks.

"Um... I was really tired and light-headed," I say. "I couldn't really focus on anything. And when I went ghost, I felt feverish and nauseous. As I was walking I got more and more loopy, and I began to see black in my peripheral vision. And then I fell asleep."

"That's not good," he mutters. Turning to me he then says, "What was the darkness like? Did you feel cold? Did you think it seemed big, or endless?"

"Yeah, actually," I reply. "It felt like a void."

"Aw, crap," he mutters. "That's REALLY not good. And was it only in your peripheral vision?"

"Yes, sir," I reply. "Only in the corners of my eyes."

"Oh, thank the Master of the Universe," he says. "We have time. Listen to me, Daniel. You have to stay in your bed and not move, not for any reason whatsoever. Your movement is now restricted to feeding yourself, do you understand?"

"I understand your words, but not why I can't do anything. What if the other ghosts who aren't allies come and ravage the town?"

"You want to know the truth, Daniel?" Clockwork asks seriously.

"Yes, I do!" I reply.

"Are you sure you're ready? It's pretty serious," he warns.

"Of course I am. Would you just tell me already and let me find out what's wrong with me?" I ask. "You know, don't you? I can feel that you aren't telling me something."

"You're sick," he replies.

"Weeell, really?" I say. "I had NO idea."

"You're sick with a disease that only halfas like yourself can get, Daniel," he says. "I haven't seen it in hundreds of years."

"Would you just tell me what it is already?!" I practically whisper-scream, since my voice doesn't go any louder.

"Daniel," he begins. "Your ghost half is fading away into the void."