Sam and Tucker were on my doorstep at eight, just like they'd said they'd be.
Sighing, I opened the door wide enough for them to enter.
"Danny, we didn't mean-"
"Save it, Sam." I snapped.
She seemed taken aback.
"Are you guys coming?" I asked, heading for the basement.
They followed me down the stairs.
Unfortunately, my parents were there.
"Hey mom, dad." I said.
My dad raised his head enough to glare at me.
"Still mad?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Young man, you'd better watch your tone." My mom warned.
I sighed and I went for what I knew would send them packing.
"I just came down here to tell you guys that I saw a ghost outside, flying down the street." I lied.
"What?" My dad yelled, excitedly.
As I figured, that two of them grabbed their newest invention and raced out of the basement, leaving me and my friends alone.
I changed into ghost and grabbed a pair of Fenton phones for Tucker and Sam.
"Here." I said, handing them the phones.
I grabbed a pair for myself.
"So what's the plan?" Tucker asked, shoving his Fenton phones into his ears.
"There is no plan, Tucker." I replied. "I'm flying by the seat of my pants."
They looked at each other.
"This shouldn't come as such a surprise guys. After all you sprang it on me this morning." I said.
Silence fell between the three of us.
I turned my back to them and floated over to the Fenton Portal.
I smacked the open button with my fist and sighed.
Turning back around, I stretched my arms.
"You guys should probably get into the Spector Speeder." I said.
"Danny?" Sam asked.
"What?"
"Are you sure you're ok?" She asked, her face showing nothing but concern.
I knew that it wasn't kind, but I decided to freak the both of them out.
"When did I say I was? Now let's go." I replied.
Without a second thought or glance, I plunged head first through the ghost portal and into the Ghost Zone.
I waited until the Spector Speeder cam in behind me before I started heading for the hole.
"Just tell me where to turn." I instructed.
"Turn right." He said.
I followed his instructions.
"How close are we?" Sam whispered to Tucker.
I ignored them and tried to avoid the other ghosts flying around.
I didn't know all of the ghosts in the ghost zone, but the ones I did were giving me death glares.
I was still too angry to be scared.
"Keep going straight." He said.
"No duh." I replied sarcastically.
Tucker and Sam fell silent.
I felt a twinge of guilt but I did my best to ignore it.
They'd never know what it was like to be half-ghost.
They'd never know what it was like to be me.
I carried the weight of the world on my shoulders. If ghosts invaded, who was expected to take care of the problem?
Me.
Sam and Tucker didn't get that. They didn't understand the kind of pressure I was under.
"Turn left. We're almost there." It was Sam's voice this time.
"Ok." I replied softly.
I actually saw the hole before Tucker and Sam did.
"Danny?" Tucker asked.
"I see it." I replied.
"No, I have a question." He said. "How are you planning on fixing this hole?"
"I don't have a clue, Tucker. It was your bright idea to come in here." I snapped.
"Look, just because you don't have a plan-"
"Why don't you come up with one?" I snarled, whirling around.
I could feel my fists tightening up, a tell-tale sign of an energy beam forming.
Tucker swallowed. "N-never mind. You'll think of something."
I turned back around, feeling angrier by the second.
With a grunt, I let out the energy blast.
I destroyed a bag of toys, not really caring what I broke.
"Danny, calm down." Sam said.
I ripped the Fenton phones from my ears, breathing heavily.
I didn't get it. Why was I getting angrier? It wasn't like my friends or my family were purposely trying to piss me off.
Why couldn't I just be normal, for once?
Turning around, I could see that Sam was still talking to me.
I put a hand behind my ear, mocking her.
Sam crossed her arms and Tucker glared at me.
I continued on toward the hole, sliding the Fenton phones into my ears.
"-give him the right." Tucker said, sighing.
"I know." Sam replied.
"You gotta admit though, it is his fault." Tucker said.
Oh, so he thought this hole was my fault did he?
Fine. He could believe whatever he wanted.
I didn't need to prove anything. The Spector Speeder was idling behind me.
"Stay here." I told them, and ventured out closer to the hole.
I stared at the hole, then slowly put my arm through it.
I'd heard tales of a portal that would suck you through if you got too close to it.
Ever since then, I've tried to be careful around portals I didn't recognize.
It took a few seconds, but a burning sensation tore through my arm.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed, yanking my arm back.
"Danny, are you ok?" Sam asked, her voice sounding panicked.
I swallowed.
"I think so…" I replied, thunderstruck.
I examined my arm for any signs of damage.
"I don't know how ghosts are getting through there." I said turning around to face them. "It burned my arm when I stuck it through."
"Are you all right?" Tucker asked.
I was still pretty ticked at him for saying that this was my fault. If he really thought that, the least he could do was say it to my face.
"Yeah." I replied and turned back to study the hole.
The edges kept trying to join back together again, but something was keeping it open.
Some sort of magic.
"This hole was made on purpose." I said. "But there's not a portal on the other side."
"What do you think is on the other end?" Sam asked.
"I'm not sure." I replied, scratching my head. "I don't know what I can do, guys."
They didn't respond.
"Guys, I don't know if I can fix this." I said, turning around to examine the hole.
"And why would you ever want to?" Someone behind me said.
I turned around to face Skulker.
