Hello again! My internet has failed me so I'm updating wherever I can find WiFi. I can't promise that the updates will be quick, but I'm making them longer so there's that. Now explanations are out of the way, I still don't own anything. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Hours after Vlad had left, Danny found himself bored of the television and out of things to draw; a hobby he had come across in his first few weeks here. Unable to get the humans out of his mind, he checked the clock. To his surprise, it was nearing lunch. Working quickly, he readied the four plates pausing before he made another for himself. Nothing was wrong with joining them for a meal, right?
He left the plates in the study to ensure the humans would like what he brought before he presented it to them. Entering the lab with little noise, he paused, curious as to what conversation he would be interrupting. When no noise was heard, he entered the lab. What he found widened his eyes and almost stopped his heart. Fear laced his eyes as his skin paled.
What he found was the humans' cage empty. Each human was restrained by those he feared more than he cared to admit, but failed to hide. He acted faster than his mind could follow, being pushed completely by adrenaline. He placed his hands behind his back as Vlad had taught him to do when trying to produce a fake calm as opposed to revealing how frightened he truly was.
Working quickly, he pressed the "panic" button on his watch as many times as he dared as the silence continued. Swallowing thickly, he steadied his breathing before speaking as calmly as he could force his voice to sound. "What do you want?"
Multiple octaves of laughter filled the room before He raised his hand to silence them. His deep voice rang through the room commanding attention. "Can you not guess?"
Those four words were all it took to send the young-halfa's mind into a blind panic. He fought inwardly to keep the outward calm, though he didn't bother lying to himself; they were not fooled in the least. "How did you find me?" The trembling words left his lips before he realized he was talking.
He sneered, "You thought you could hide; from me nonetheless? You forget; I know you, boy. I know your thoughts and your secrets. You can run, but you can never hide from me." Each word brought Him closer to the shaking boy until they were but inches apart.
Danny fought the urge to run, but it became stronger with each bit of space taken from their distance. "I never saw you as much of a hunter. Always assumed that it was his profession," he threw a nod at the mechanical specter restraining Weapon near the portal.
The ghost in question gave a mirthful chuckle promising payback, but he said nothing.
As the air grew quiet again, He decided he had waited enough. "I was hoping Plasmius would show, but it's no surprise he had abandoned you. What good are you to him anyway?"
Danny knew it was a lie told to dampen his trust in the older-halfa, but he felt his shoulders fall slightly. He had these same thoughts no matter what he claimed in his moments of confidence.
Without any more warning, the young-halfa was taken roughly by his upper arm and thrown to the ground where He began to beat on the boy, not giving room for a fight, until he was too weak to stand. Eyes darkening, Danny was unable to pass out with the amount of fear coursing through his veins as He lifted him by his black hair. Whimpering, Danny attempted to pull away only to have the grip tighten and lift him fully off the ground.
Fighting the hold, the boy was dragged across the room closer and closer to the portal he had avoided for all this time. As distance closed, he found himself kicking and struggling in the ghost's strong grip to no avail.
Panic coursed through his mind as he felt the waves of energy so abundant in the Ghost Zone pass through him. The hordes of specters awaiting him on the other side began a tremendous cheering as the phantom was paraded through. Familiar stretches of land passed by taking them closer to their destination; to Danny's prison.
Casting a quick glance behind him, hoping to see Vlad burst through the portal, Danny met eyes with the four humans being forced behind him. They could easily see the raw terror in the halfa's eyes before he was forced to face forward towards the entrance to his cage.
All semblance of thought was thrown to the side as Danny began to tear and pull at the grasp on his hair. He kicked his legs and twisted; anything to get away, but despite his efforts, he didn't gain the slightest bit of freedom. Sooner than he dreaded, he was forced through the oh-so-familiar doorway and into the large, dark room with one set of shackles on the far wall designed just for him. Now, however, there was a set of two cages sharing the side wall.
No hesitation was offered as Danny was shoved into the wall and painfully flipped to his back. While he was dazed from smacking his head, he felt the weight of the cuffs on his wrists and ankles. This time, however, there were additional clasps around his waist, chest, and neck, leaving him virtually immobile.
The humans were thrown into one of the two cages and locked up retaining the restraints Vlad had given them in the beginning of their entrapment.
With their prisoners locked up, the specter stayed only moments more to antagonize the halfa. When they felt he was degraded enough for the time being, they left with promises of what was to come.
The door shut and they were left alone in the silent darkness.
"Danny?" Hacker called, becoming worried at the lack of noises from the chains that had been so loud before.
There was no voice, but a small clink came from his direction as if he looked towards the voice.
Hacker's sign was louder than intended, "I'm glad you're okay."
A scoff was returned, but still no words.
"You are okay, right?" Thief asked.
"Quiet." He said roughly.
"Hey! She was just trying to help! We all are! Just because you don't remember us doesn't mean we feel any differently about you! All we want-" Leader didn't make it any farther.
"Is me as your weapon." Danny finished. "A being you can use to ensure your survival. If you even desire a semblance of that you will keep quiet so I can focus. I can get us out of here, but not with your voices distracting me." His voice commanded silence and that is what he got.
Focusing, he called on what strength hadn't left him and used his telepathy to search for Vlad. Locating his signature, he pushed on until he could reach into the man's mind.
Vlad outwardly jumped, calling attention from several bystanders and business associates. Casting them a sly smile, he excused himself to the bathroom and morphed into Plasmius before phasing out of the building and onto the empty roof. He held a tight grip on his head as foreign thoughts began to explode in his mind. Emotions of fear, relief, and guilt passed so quickly, he almost missed them entirely if not for their enormity.
Daniel? He called, opening his mind up for the boy's easy access. To his surprise, the young-halfa burst into his thoughts with a jumble of images that set the man's worst fears into panic. Daniel, son you need to calm down!
There was a slight sensation of emotions being pulled back as the voice took control, Vlad, emergency. It said almost too panicked to be Danny.
Regardless, Vlad urged him on.
I was bringing food to the humans, but they had been restrained by ghosts. I couldn't fight them. I couldn't move. I... An obvious fight for control of emotions created a pause, I called you.
What? The man immediately pulled his watch into view and made note of the empty screen. Danny must have seen the thought.
That comes as a relief to be honest. I was afraid you weren't…that you wouldn't…
Daniel, don't. You know me better than that, as I know better of you. I would never leave you to those monsters. Vlad scowled openly.
Danny's hint of a smile showed through his thoughts, Thanks. The smile disappeared, As much as I want you here, you must wait. They are expecting you. They- Emptiness filled the older-halfa's mind as Danny was pulled away. His heart began to race in fear just as the boy returned. My apologies, he sounded slightly annoyed, these humans seem to have a problem with silence.
Vlad chuckled, Teens, both human and other can be tried by the art of silence.
Now that's just rude. Danny's thoughts were interrupted again, but he resisted the pull away from the connection creating an open airway for Vlad to hear Danny's surroundings.
"Danny, what are you doing?" A voice asked, it echoed. Vlad made a note that they were being kept in the boy's old cell, but something was different.
"How can you get us out?" Another voice, shriller than the last questioned the angering halfa.
Can they truly not understand your need to focus? Vlad asked outwardly.
A brief pause hit before more questions flew, "Was that Vlad?" "Is he here?" "Danny, what are you doing?"
"Enough!" The command rang clear through the telepathic connection as well as the cell, making Vlad's sight blur, though, the man would never claim it wasn't worth what he heard the boy announce. "Can you not understand that I need your silence to focus?" His voice lowered as if he feared being watched, "I cannot tell you what I am doing or it will ruin the only option left, but know this; it you cannot hold your tongues I will personally rid you of them before your freedom is offered. Do I make myself clear?"
Pride filled the older-halfa as silence was the boy's response. That's my boy.
Danny smirked, the connection clearing as he continued the conversation, I am clasped to a wall in the thick darkness of a wet cave with a looming fear of my future reining over my head. All this and I am accompanied by four brainless humans that feel the need to voice every thought in their virtually empty minds. If not for the first reason than rescue me from the latter before I Wail them out of existence. A dark humor was offered, but both gave up quick smiles.
What give you the impression they are waiting for me?
Aside from the generous fact that they haven't come for me yet, I assume the second bared cage in my prison is for you. Unlike that of the human's cage, the other has heavier bars and I can sense a ghost/human shield surrounding it.
Vlad refrained from answering, lost in his considerations. He knew Danny was listening so there was no need to ask aloud what came to mind, unfortunately, nothing beneficial did. Before he could speak of his troubles in finding a plan, Danny's mind began to seep off emotions that the boy was trying to hold back. A loud noise burst through their minds as light filled the prison cell. Unidentifiable figures entered the room to approach a trembling Danny.
Fear escaped the hold, taking Vlad's mind in its tidal wave. He could see the specters reach for Danny's chains to pull him to the floor. The boy held onto the connection for as long as his concentration would hold with the amount of emotion pouring from him. Vlad watched helplessly as he kicked and struggled in the ghost's firm grasp trying to get away from the doorway. Unable to get free, Danny's fear overcame his thoughts, calling desperately to Vlad one last time before sending the man's mind into darkness.
Left in his own emptiness, the older-halfa found his own fear peek out for but a moment before he shoved it away. No time for worrying when there was planning to do.