Hey everyone, I'm back! Sorry it took so long, but my English teacher has jumped on my back lately. She's just been in a real pissy mood lately...Anyways, here is the next chapter. Sorry it's so short, but I wanted to add more to it, and was debating back and forth for a while. Finally, I just decided to put up this part, instead of keeping my readers waiting forever...again.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Last time I checked, my birth certificate didn't say "Butch Hartman"...
A Taste Of Revenge
Chapter 2
Catching up to Tucker proved to be no problem once they got to the beach, for he had stopped where the forest ended and the beach began. His friends didn't need to ask why his enthusiasm had suddenly evaporated, because the answer was in front of their eyes.
Sand the color of concrete reached out to greet them. The granules were large and angular, and Sam guessed that it probably felt like cement as well. Just beyond the sand was the lake, or what should've been a lake. Instead of the picturesque crystalline sanctuary the brochure had promised, it was a murky green color, and bubbled eerily.
"Something's not right." Jazz stated, putting a contemplative hand to her chin. Danny silently agreed with her as he was the first to venture onto the beach, and crouched to examine the sand.
"This is so unfair!" Tucker exclaimed, dropping to his knees. "I was so close to getting a date with a sunbathing beauty!" Keeping the air of melodrama, Tucker dropped his head into his hands.
Sam, however, rolled her eyes. "Please, Tuck, that wasn't going to happen period." She scoffed. With a glare from Tucker, Sam turned to face Jazz.
"I have to agree with Jazz. That campground is a virtual ghost town. Now this spooky lake, I wouldn't be surprised if this was some kind of evil plot by some ghost. Right Danny?" Sam ventured, waiting on the confirmation from her friend.
Danny, who had been off in his own world, was startled out of his reveries by the sound of his name.
"Huh?" He asked. A slight scowl crossed Sam's face as she put her hand on her hip in an annoyed fashion.
"I said, that something's up. Suspicious trip, abandoned campground, and a creepy lake. Not really good odds." Sam clarified.
Danny nodded his head in agreement. Hadn't he said that this trip was a bad idea from the start? Lost in his thoughts, he was only mildly aware of the others when they sat down next to him, each one trying to come up with an answer to there problem.
After several moments of silence, Tucker couldn't resist the urge to break it.
"I don't get it! Who would drag us out into the middle of Illinois?" Jazz could see the young Goth to her right resist the opportunity to smack the geek upside his head.
As if on cue, Danny's ghost sense was triggered.
"Well, it looks like we're going to find out." Danny muttered darkly, as he quickly stood. He concentrated on the spark that seconds later turned him into his ghostly alter ego.
Danny paused, observing his surroundings. A low rustle was the first to grab his attention, as well as the other teens. Cautiously, he levitated into the air, and made his way over to the bushes where the sound had originated from.
Danny kept a tentative gaze on the area, thoroughly expecting an ectoblast or net to fly out at him. However, nothing came. The brush remained silent.
Exhaling, Danny turned away, dismissing it as a woodland creature. However, as soon as he turned his back, a large green beast flew out of the woods. Caught off guard, the beast tackled Danny out of the air, and onto the sand.
"Danny!" His three comrades screamed, equally startled by the bizarre turn of events. The three made like they were going to help him somehow, but he quickly threw the ghost off of himself.
"I've got this!" He yelled to them, forming an ectoball in his hand. Releasing it, he was mildly pleased that it had at least pushed the creature away from his friends.
His joy, however, was short lived. The ghoul took an unnerving interest in the three teens on the sidelines. Growling in frustration, Danny charged another ectoball and flung it at the creature's head.
"Hey ugly!" Danny called, recapturing the beast's attention with his well aimed shot. "How about picking on someone your own size!" Danny would've laughed at the look Jazz gave him if this wasn't such a serious situation.
Knowing that he had the ghost's full attention now, Danny zoomed over the lake surface. He smiled confidently, hoping his spectral opponent wouldn't appreciate getting wet.
A sudden jab to his side alerted him that his pursuer had caught up. He soon found himself underwater, trying to correct his buoyancy. It was times like these that he was thankful for his half-ghost status. It allowed him to hold his breath for an inhumane amount of time. However, he knew he would need air soon.
From his vantage point, he got a good look at the ghost for the first time as it was trying to get its bearings. It must've stood about seven and a half feet tall. Appearance wise, the only way to describe it was some kind of wolf-bear-fish hybrid. It reminded him of something…
"Ahhh!" Danny yelped, ducking under one of the clawed fins that had raced at his head while he was distracted. With four inch claws! His mind screamed, barely avoiding the attack.
Danny flipped fluidly over his adversary, and kicked it squarely in the back. The ghost was sent sprawling through the green tinted lake water. He unclipped the thermos from his belt, and fumbled with its cap. Apparently the thermos didn't like water, for it refused to open. Unfortunately, this provided all the distraction the ghost needed.
Making its way through the murky water, the ghost sent its clawed fin blazing for the young ghost hunter's head. Danny caught the motion out of the corner of his eye not a moment too late.
Doing the only thing time allowed, he dived to the left as quickly as the water allowed him to. Three claws dug into his right shoulder, sending a searing sensation to his brain. Danny cried out in shock, only for it to be muffled by water.
Danny's left hand flew instinctively to his injured shoulder. He could already see the green ectoplasm speckled with red leak into his vision.
He saw the ghost advancing on him again, and fired an ectoplasmic ray at it, detouring it long enough to push the cap off the stupid thermos. Hitting the button, he watched in satisfaction as his ghostly enemy was sucked in.
Sighing inwardly, Danny re-clipped the thermos to his belt and flew out of the water. He inhaled deeply as he touched down on the sand, enjoying the sensation it brought to his body.
With a thought, he changed back to Danny Fenton, just as the others caught up to him. He winced slightly as the fabric on his shirt clung to his small wound, but effectively ignored it.
"Danny! Are you okay?" Sam asked, being the first to reach him. Danny flashed her one of his many smiles, easily melting away her worry.
"Of course. I did tell him to go pick on someone his own size." Danny joked, his blue eyes laughing. Jazz however, looked like she was getting ready to reprimand her younger brother.
"We should probably head back, it's already half past noon!" Tucker interjected before a sibling dispute broke out.
"Wow Tuck, how did you lose track of time? I thought you programmed your PDA to your stomach's schedule." Sam joked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Ha ha, very funny." Tucker replied. "We must've wandered in the woods longer than I thought. Whatever, this just means that Mrs. Fenton must have food ready by now!" With that said, he headed back into the woods, towards the campground.
"Who knows, maybe some other ghost hunters showed up while we were gone." Jazz offered, starting after Tucker.
Danny shrugged. "I doubt it. I still say this is a bad idea and that ghost proves it." Danny remarked sourly. Sam nodded her head in agreement. Having no other choice, the two began the trek back into the woods.
A/N: Well, I said it was short. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. School ends soon, so I'll get that monkey off my back... Well, please review!
