Chapter 3- Afterlife:

Data:

I remember that I was alone. I was really lonely. I didn't seen any white light that would lead me to Heaven so I was pretty sure that I was in Hell…but it looked so familiar ;)

I gasped for air automatically as my eyes opened. Where am I? I looked around…no…I'm dead…is this Hell? I tried to breathe but when I took in air, I realized I didn't need to. I put a hand to my chest- no thumping, no moving. I am dead…I'm dead…

I felt more tears in my eyes. I'm dead, this is Hell…or am I a ghost? I looked down at my hand. No it's not transparent…it's blue. Am I a demon? Why am I blue? What happened? Oh…I committed suicide that's what happened. No more dealing with Kevin. No more Allison. I'm done. I'm free. Not like anyone misses me anyway.

I looked around more. Green-purple skies…no ground…floating doors…floating islands…I felt a slight fluttering, No freaking way…if this is Hell than Hell totally copy-righted The Ghost Zone…unless…my theory was right. There are other dimensions. I floated into the air in excitement,
"Woah," I muttered, "Flight…let's try this out then."

I tried to fly upwards but I wasn't going any higher. I frowned. I tried again- nothing. I tried flapping my arms up and down- that got me maybe an inch higher. I growled in annoyance and then fell flat on my butt.

Still, I couldn't help but feel a bit lonely. I didn't see any ghosts within sight, but that wasn't the only loneliness I felt. I felt lonely because…I wasn't in my own dimension anymore. Did that mean that I could never go back? I couldn't even visit my grave? I couldn't watch my funeral? I couldn't see if anyone even showed up to my funeral? I wouldn't be able to tell if I was remembered…

Then my thoughts wondered again. If I was a ghost, what did I look like? I tried to imagine what I would look like as a ghost- but everything I could picture wasn't good.

00000

I spent the next month, I was pretty sure it was a month anyway, training. I figured that it was past to put my past behind me- for the most part- and move on, if I could. I also figured that since I was in the Ghost Zone, I would need to know all about my powers. It took a while to get the hang of a few things. I got most of it down. I couldn't duplicate or anything of the sort. I could fire ecto-blasts, but they were pure black. I had control of invisibility, intangibility and flight. Though at times, it sort of went south. I wasn't sure if I had any more powers. I supposed that they did come in time though. I still didn't know what I looked like and I was sure that it bothered me more than anything else.

A month of training didn't come very easy. I spent most of it sulking more than I should have. I was sure that part of the reason I was so sad during the month was because it made me feel even lonelier. I didn't even have someone to prank- and pranking always made me feel better!

Still, now that I could fly around better, I went exploring. I knew where I was going- sort of. I did watch too much Danny Phantom so I knew my basic ways around the ghost zones. I wondered though…is Danny Phantom already a halfa? Or is this sometime in the past or something? Is this before Danny Phantom is Phantom? Are the ghosts I knew in the show ghosts yet? There was one way to find out.

I headed to the closest lair that I knew- Ghostwriter's. I had to admit that he was my favorite full ghost, besides Clockwork. I also figured that if anyone knew about anything it would be him. I would imagine that the both of us lived on a similar motto- Knowledge is power. He had a whole library of every single thing ever written. Think about everything I could find out!

I headed over there and I was relived that I did find it. It was a very nice building in fact and I was sure it was just full of knowledge. I floated up and politely knocked on the door. When it opened, I found Ghostwriter looking at me in confusion and surprise. I found it a bit weird that I knew who he was but he didn't know who I was. I somehow managed to smile,
"You are Ghostwriter. I'm…"

I thought for a moment. I can't really go by Jade since it's my real name and if I'm putting the past behind me, I can't use my real name and no one can know my real name.

"…Data," I finally said.

Data- because data means information and I am full of it. I crave data, knowledge. Ghostwriter nodded,

"I'm Ghostwriter…May I ask why you are here?"
"If I may…I wanted to look at your collection of books," I said a bit sheepishly. He seemed surprised,
"No one has ever really asked about my books…besides an old friend that is."

I looked at him curiously. An old friend? I wonder whom he is speaking about.

"If it's no trouble," I finally said and he shook his head,

"Oh no! No trouble at all," he muttered, "Please, do come in."

Ah, he's very polite. That's something you hardly see anymore. I nodded as he opened the door farther and let me in. When I walked in, I was amazed. The cartoon did not do this justice. This is simply…
"
Amazing," I whispered.

Ghostwriter seemed a bit flustered,

"Thank you?"
"You're welcome…"
"Ahh..Data," Ghostwriter said, "…I haven't seen you around here?"

"New," I answered simply, "I'm not a very old ghost and I just now decided to explore."
"New," he muttered, "How new? How did you know of me then?"
"A month," I answered softly, "…And I just know things."

He looked at me a bit sadly,
"My condolences," he said sincerely.

I couldn't but think that those words actually meant a lot more than I thought they would. Maybe because no one has ever said it to me. I nodded and then floated up towards the books. I was sure I knew where the ones I was looking for was and sure enough- I did find them rather easily. I picked up one and started to read. Ghostly Theories- that may have some answers.
"If I may," Ghostwriter said from a spot on the ground, "What interests you so much that you come and seek my books?"
"Knowledge," I said simply, "I crave for knowledge and your books…well they are full of knowledge and things that I would like to know."

I continued reading. I honestly did crave knowledge- so I wasn't lying to Ghostwriter. I wasn't even sure lying was in my vocabulary. I hated lying. I shook my head slightly to get the wondering thoughts out of my head and then continued reading.

I wasn't sure how long I went from book to book with only an occasional conversation with Ghostwriter, but I knew it was pretty long. I could tell because eventually, I started to yawn. Silly, I think I'm yawning more out of habit since I can't actually yawn. I was still tired though. Even odder, though one book that was by Clockwork stated that younger, newer ghosts did sleep occasionally. Yet as they get older, they sleep less and less by a certain time- they require no sleep at all.

I ignored the calls of slumber to continue reading.

0000

When I woke up, I was on a couch with a blanket over me. I looked at it confused.

"I remember falling asleep while reading this books as well," Ghostwriter said and I turned to him as he continued,

"Please don't make a habit of falling asleep in my library. Don't you have a lair?"
"No," I whispered, "I don't."

He sighed and ran hand through his hair,
"Until you can find your lair- and you will find it. You are welcome to stay here."

And thus the start of a beautiful friendship.