Me: *Plays fanfare* Chapter 4 is here!
Danny: Yeah baby!
Me: Thanks for all your reviews and stuff guys. The amount of hits for this fic doubles every day!
Danny: I have the list of reviews here, and apparently geek179 wants to ask me a question. They say: Why are you so damn peppy in the author's notes when you just learned that your parents hate you? Well my answer is this: I'm the Danny from the original series of DP. Nothing Hayden writes is actually happening to me. They're just fanfics after all. Which brings me to the disclaimer: Hayden doesn't own me.
Me: Did you all get the bit in the last chapter where Sam keeps saying 'know'? I put that in there to keep you guys' brains going!
Danny: It took me ages to get it.
Me: That's because you have a C average, Danny dear. To all the readers: this chapter will be the most suspenseful (is that a word?) one yet... I just hope nobody is to OOC. Sorry if they are, I just wanted it to happen this way. Also, a tiny bit more blood/ectoplasm in this chapter. It's rated T for a reason you know! Anyway, on with the replies!
The monkey girl: The evil cliffy of doom… that's a new one!
Thelittlemonster17: I am eagerly awaiting review number 5! Lol!
Geek179: I think Danny's already answered yours…
Phanfan925: Oooooo please do the challenge – you're the only person who's said yes so far!
AnimeAngel497: Well here's some more suspense coming your way XD
Jordylilly777: Here's you super-fast next-day update! I hope that was quick enough!
Summer the Phantom-Wolf: Thanks!
Lolxxx: Figure what out? I'm not clueless, am I?
Oh, and one more note: I don't really know the exact layout of the Fenton house, so let's just assume the kitchen is connected to the lab OK?
EXILE Chapter 4
(Danny's P.O.V)
"Finally, you're awake," Skulker said to me when I opened my eyes.
I looked around, panicking. I was obviously in some kind of lab- but not my parents'. There was a lot of equipment that wasn't in Fenton Works, but I recognised it from somewhere. I wasn't sure where, though. Skulker had strapped me to a table with the same material that was in his net, only thicker. I tried phasing through the table, but that was obviously ghost-proof as well, because I couldn't do it.
"Let me go Skulker!" I protested.
"No why would ever do that? I've finally caught you, Ghost-child, why would I ever let you escape?" Skulker replied matter-of-factly.
"Um…" I couldn't think of anything to say.
"Well if you don't have an answer, I think I'll just begin with the skinning now." Skulker picked up an extremely large and sharp looking knife from a table nearby and pointed it at my right arm. "I think I'll start here," he though out loud.
"What?" I tried to move away from the knife, but I was strapped down so tight I could barely bend my arm. The knife cut in to my skin, but not too deep. Ectoplasm trickled out of the wound slowly, dripping onto the table.
I cried out. Skulker took the knife away and said in mock-sympathy, "Awww is this hurting you child?" He cut my other arm the same depth as my right.
I cried out again, this time louder.
"Skulker, what are doing?" I heard someone say behind me. I tried to turn round to see, but I couldn't move my head.
Skulker looked up "Ember! I didn't see you come in." He pointed at me, "I've finally captured the Ghost-Boy."
Ember walked over to me. She was wearing hear usual outfit; black leggings, skull boots, a tank top that cut off just above the stomach and a black glove on her right arm. Her flaming blue hair was tied back into a high ponytail.
She did a double take when she saw the gashes on my arms. "Skulker, as much as I hate Danny, skinning him alive is just gross. Just wait until I leave before you carry on, OK?"
She turned to leave. "Wait!" I called out to her. Even though I was in pain, I couldn't resist asking her a question that had been stuck in my mind for a while.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you know that Skulker's actually like, five inches tall?"
Ember looked at Skulker. Neither of them said anything, then she looked back at me and said, "Yeah, I know."
I laughed.
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. "It's not funny, whelp," Skulker dug the knife in further.
"I'll leave you to it then," Ember left the room.
(Valerie's P.O.V)
"Outta my way Valerie!" Sam pushed past me on the way to school.
"Sam, what are doing? School is this way," I told her.
"Uh, I forgot something," she rushed away.
That's not the way to her house, I thought, she lives in the other direction.
I chased after her, making sure that she didn't see me. Eventually we arrived at a house I didn't recognise.
Sam walked up to the door and banged on the door urgently. Tucker Foley answered it after a few seconds.
Oh, she's just gone to meet Tucker. They usually walk to school together. But wait, where's Danny? And why was she rushing?
I narrowed my eyes. They seemed to be talking urgently. Tucker went inside for a second and came out holding something which looked like a thermos. I guessed that Tucker was having soup for lunch.
"Quick, let's go – we don't have much time!" I heard Sam say to Tucker.
What were they talking about? School didn't start for another half an hour yet. I watched them as they took off hurriedly towards Danny's house. I decided to follow them. They were obviously going to pick up Danny, but why were they rushing? I might have just been paranoid, but they were acting really strange.
It was hard to keep up with them, they were running so fast.
Jazz answered the door when we got to the Fenton household. Sam and Tucker explained something which I couldn't hear. Jazz's eyes widened and she nodded quickly, ushering them inside and slamming the door behind her.
Now I knew that something had to be wrong. Jazz was usually calm and cool – she always liked to think of herself as a 'responsible adult', even though she was only 16. For her to start panicking was extremely rare and unusual.
I walked up to the living room window just in time to see them rush towards the kitchen and down into the basement where the lab was.
I need to find out what's going on. Why is Jazz acting so strangely and why hasn't Danny shown up yet? I thought, you usually go to your best friend first, not their sister.
I crept to the side towards the door. I turned the knob slowly in case it was a squeaky one. The door edged open slightly. I pushed it further and poked my head round, checking that the coast was clear.
As quietly as I could, I tiptoed through the kitchen and waited. I was close enough to hear their conversation now.
"Tucker, you'll need to start the Spector Speeder up, I don't know how to work it," that was Sam's voice.
I heard somebody –presumably Tucker- start up an engine.
"Is there anything else I should get?" Jazz asked.
"Yeah, we need the map of the Ghost Zone," Sam shouted over the roar of the rockets.
The Ghost Zone? Why did they need a map of the Ghost Zone?
"It's in Danny's room," Tucker added.
"OK," Jazz said, "I'll go and get it."
I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs. I stepped back and hid under the kitchen table. She rushed past me up to Danny's room. She was obviously in too much of a hurry to notice me.
I stayed where I was until I saw her come back down again, holding a piece of paper in her hand. Jazz went back into the lab and I heard the sound of the door of the Spector Speeder shutting.
I snuck down the stairs and poked my head around the corner of the door. The Fenton portal was open and turned on.
Tucker, who I saw was driving the machine, drove it as fast as he could into the Ghost Zone, leaving me on my own in the Fenton house in silence.
I watched to portal close after them and then I stepped into the lab. I had absolutely no idea where they had gone in the Ghost Zone and why. And where was Danny? He obviously wasn't in his room, otherwise Sam and Tucker would have got him.
"Who's there?" I heard a man shout from the front room.
I whipped round, startled. Danny's parents were home! If they caught me in their lab I'd get in serious trouble. I glanced round around the room and realised that there were no other exits.
I was trapped, unless…
I looked at the portal. It was still on. I just needed to open the door, but there was a genetic lock that only the Fentons could activate. I needed a DNA sample from somewhere. Or a fingerprint. That was kind of a genetic thing.
Suddenly, I had an idea. I reached into my bag and took out my make-up purse. I opened it up and put some blush on the scanner. Then I stuck some medical tape over the top and pressed hard. The fingerprint that was last used to open the portal was now imprinted on the tape, so the portal opened as it read it.
I put my suit on and activated my hover board. The Ghost Zone was my only route of escape. Also, if I was lucky, I would be able to find Jazz, Tucker and Sam. I couldn't be two far behind them, could I?
Danny: Surprise, surprise, it's a cliffy…
Me: Hey! It's the only think that keeps people coming back :(
Danny: I guess… Hey, how did you work out that genetic-lock thing? What's with the make-up?
Me: I saw it on a Scooby Doo movie. They were trapped in a cage and Daphne used the same trick to get them all out. I don't think it actually works though, or we'll all be doing it. *To readers* I won't be able to update for a few days. I'm going to see some family and I won't be back until Tuesday. I'll take my notebook with me, so I'll type it up as soon as I get back, I promise. Also, a plot bunny attacked last night, that's 13 stories now. While you're waiting for me to update, could you guys at least try to do my challenge? Only one person has agreed so far… :(
Danny: See you soon guys! Thanks for reading!