Chapter Three: Sighted
It was the middle of summer break, so Tucker had managed to track down where the Circus Gothica would next perform and had gotten a ride from the Fentons, who were going in hopes of bringing their son back to his senses. Tucker had had to tell them the truth, seeing as if he hadn't they would still be calling for Phantom's public execution. Now they were just eager to smash the staff and get their boy back.
Naturally, they kept that tidbit to themselves, and only told the Guys in White that they wanted to be the ones to examine Phantom after all he'd done to their city, and that they suspected he knew where their son was – he may even be on that train, since he was last seen at the Circus Gothica with Sam before he disappeared.
And now he was in Vegas, where they could see the tent being set up. A quick look inside and they found no sign of Phantom or Sam, and one of the ghosts was muttering about "Master" and "date". Apparently they'd slipped out on a date and left everyone else to set up.
"Let's go look around, I guess. Only so many places two fourteen-year-olds can go." Tucker shrugged.
"Fifteen. Danny's fifteen now." Maddie reminded him, the three heading back to the RV.
.
"Oh, I don't know…" Sam looked at the dress she'd been offered. "It's a little…long. Can't I have something like what I'm wearing?"
"As you're my future bride, I won't have another man looking at your bare waist or legs." Phantom said firmly.
She sighed. "Great. But shoulders are okay?"
He smiled and kissed her. "I like your shoulders. If you'd like, though, I can get you a shawl."
"No, I'm good." She went into the dressing room. "I'm gonna try it on, okay?"
"I'll wait." He assured her, leaning against the wall as he fingered the staff.
He knew that the employees of the shop felt uncomfortable with him being there, but he WAS paying money so they had to accept his business – and they didn't dare tell him "no", knowing the power he wielded.
"Okay…how is it?" Sam stepped out in the dress.
Phantom smiled and beckoned her closer. She stepped closer and he kissed her. "It's beautiful, like you. Perfect." He gently stroked her cheek. "Pick up your other clothes and let's go pay for this."
She nodded, heading back into the dressing room to grab her things.
The clerk eyed them warily. "So, uh…"
Phantom looked at her. "Yes?"
"You and her are…engaged?" She looked a bit nervous.
Phantom nodded. "That's right."
She nodded. "I see…well, uhm…you look…good together."
"Thank you." Phantom offered Sam a hand as she came out, the other hand still firmly gripping the red staff.
They went to the register and the clerk hit a button. "Oh, it's your lucky day! The 50th person to buy that dress gets a 45% discount!" She said, trying not to look directly at the teenage ghost and instead opting to focus her gaze on his necklace. "Uh, that'll be $23.99."
"Alright." He set $50 on the counter and waited for her to process it and give them change, then pocketed it and led Sam out, Sam's older clothes in a bag.
"H-Have a nice day!" The clerk said, giving a nervous wave.
"I think you scared them." Sam said quietly.
"I didn't even do anything." Phantom rolled his eyes. "Humans scare too easily."
Sam chuckled a bit. "I guess that is true."
"You're different, though." He smiled and held her close. "You don't fear me."
She blushed. "W-Well, how could I? I have no reason to."
He nodded, kissing her deeply.
.
"What in the…?" Tucker held up a hand to stop Jack and Maddie and looked around the corner. Yep, that was Sam and Phantom. Phantom had the staff, as always, and they were…wow, that was a passionate kiss.
"What is it?" Maddie asked quietly.
"We found them. We have to be careful, though. He might attack if he sees us, so we'll have to slip into the tent and catch him when his guard is down." Tucker replied quietly, looking out at the couple. "Sam…that's Danny, y'know…"
Yes, she knows that's Danny. She also knows that to disobey Phantom would be, well, disastrous.
He's pretty well-known for being a violent sociopath by now, isn't he? Geez, poor Phantom's reputation.
And now the question: What will people do when he comes back to his senses and doesn't remember anything? ~ Zone
