Yay for more things happening! This chapter is a bit longer than the running total for most of the others, but that's a good thing right? I should probably put out a warning that there is borderline torture in this chapter. Nothing out of any superhero movie, but not exactly "K" material either so here's the heads-up.
A million thanks going out to all of the reviews! I greatly appreciate the feedback! I have also gotten a few questions about what the future of this story may hold and I want to put out a warning of "ask and it shall be revealed" type of responses that will be of consequence. In other words, if you have any questions, I will answer them if I can- even if the answer contains spoilers.
I own nothing..bla bla bla… If I owned such things, the show would not have stopped running and many things would have gone down differently, but I digress. I hope you enjoy this new installment! Onto the story!
Danny connected them and allowed Vlad free reign of his thoughts; having done this before, Vlad expertly maneuvered his way around. The first memory offered was Danny's first followed by all those accompanying his beginnings as a prisoner, though the young-halfa had already shared this story. Continuing to press deeper into the boy's mind, Vlad paused at Danny's encounter with the ghosts in his lab regretting his absence yet again. Finally, the desired memories revealed themselves with the screaming demands of the humans began the scene as he plunged into it.
"Danny!" "Leave him alone!" "What are you doing?" "Don't you dare lay a hand on him!"
"Welcome back, little Phantom."
Danny fought the blinding panic that threatened to take him- he needed a clear head for this. Trying to slow his breathing, he met his enemy's red eyes. "I would be surprised, but you are an egotist. Of course you are the one to be so welcoming. I would, however, like to bring light to the fact that I would feel exponentially more 'welcomed' if I was not restrained."
The ghost clicked his tongue. "My apologies, little one, but- as it would seem- I cannot release you due to the undeniable fact that this is something you cannot -will not- outrun." As he spoke, he began to rummage in the cart to his left. "Now, tell me: how old are you now? 15 is it?"
No response.
"Now, now, don't play like that or I will create an explanation for your silence."
Still no answer.
The ghost sighed dramatically. "Oh, Daniel, must you always learn things the hard way?" Pulling out what looked like a medical scalpel, the man began to cut away at the boy's dark shirt until only strips remained of it. Dragging the weapon across Danny's stomach, the ghost made sure to leave no mark until it was time. A gloved hand pressed painfully hard on the young-half's chest as the man leaned over him and closer to his pale-white face.
"I give you a chance for reprieve, Daniel."
As expected, there was no sound in reply.
Sharp teeth could be seen as a vicious smile darkened the ghost's face. Leaning to the side of Danny's face, he spoke directly into his ear, "I am not going to regret this." He warned only moments before the knife sliced into the pale skin of the boy's arm. It continued to tear the skin as it was pulled downward, lifting just before it met his elbow. Blood dripped from the wound as it healed at a rapid pace.
"Can't have those pesky healing powers getting in the way, now can we?" the ghost mused. Turning again to the cart, he snatched what looked like a needle, the length of Danny's lower arm, off of the top. Wasting no time, the man shoved it into Danny's chest and into his core until only an inch was protruded. Arching his back, Danny screamed at the pain of heat clouding his cold core, preventing it from functioning.
"That solves that problem." The man chuckled only continuing when the boy's screams lessened, "Don't worry, boy, this will not affect your abilities nor your ghost-half. This is simply my temporary way of controlling them."
Danny panted heavily in response, whimpers escaping his clenched teeth.
Retrieving the scalpel, the ghost marred the boy below him until satisfied with his work. Blood dripped noisily onto the floor as Danny's voice gave out from its constant screaming. Delirious with pain, but unable to pass out, the boy lolled his head to the side opposite his torturer. Sharp fingers pressed into his cheeks as he was forced to turn back.
"I'm hurt, little Phantom. Don't you want to watch me paint?" More fingers were dragged down his stomach before they were lifted to the young-halfa's face. They were coated with blood. The hand holding his face squeezed his jaw until it succeeded in opening his mouth to allow the other hand entrance. Danny chocked and sputtered at the taste of blood on his tongue before the hand was removed, only to come back moments later with more blood. The ghost began to run his wet fingers down Danny's face in patterns.
Whether he was done or out of "paint" Danny didn't care aside from the fact that it ended.
A dark chuckle invaded his dulled thoughts as he turned to the cart again. Scraping and shifting noises could be heard as he rummaged through the drawers. When he found what he was looking for, he turned to the boy one the table keeping his discovery hidden.
"So, little Phantom, I know you cannot see my work, but you must believe it suits you."
Danny steeled a hard glare despite his wavering sight.
"You don't trust me?" It was more of a statement than a question.
There was no reply, but the boy's glare never broke.
A mirrored glare began to form in the ghost's eyes. "I should warn you now, boy, this 'silence' act is outlasting my toleration. I suggest you put an end to it before I do."
Nothing.
"Speak! Or I will make you scream."
Danny stayed silent along with going a step farther to turn his head away.
With a cry of rage, the ghost replaced his grip on the boy's face and tore his head to the side. Pulling his head up as high as he could with the neck strap in the way- making Danny wince as his wounds protested -the ghost leaned in close enough to breath into Danny's face. "One. Last. Chance." He growled.
Meeting the enemy's eye, the young-halfa retained his glare. Moments of heavily silence passed before Danny's eyes glinted as a dark smile crept onto his face.
An inhuman growl left the ghost's clenched teeth when his attempt at scaring his prey failed. He had enough. Leaning back to stand up straighter, he pulled the boy's head up to compensate his reach. "I warned you." He said calmly.
In a split second, the ghost went from standing to leaning over the boy with a knife in his empty hand. Without being able to see what was happening, Danny could only guess that the strange prickling around his neck was intangibility. He could feel something shifting in his throat as if there was something foreign taping away. The prickling soon turned into little needles deep within his chest until it morphed into a searing heat forcing a heart-wrenching scream out of the boy.
"If I cannot hear that voice of yours then no one can!" The roar sounded above the screams as the heat continued its attack.
Lost in the drowning waves of pain sent out from the burning in the base his throat, the young-halfa didn't notice that his screams were tapering out with each passing wave. He didn't notice that the face of his enemy was split in half with a deranged smile at each crack of the boy's voice. He also failed to notice when the ghost finally pulled away, taking his hands away from his prisoner as well as removing the large needle from the child's core.
All Danny could focus on was the dying pain that was beginning to fade away as his core healed his wounds. Lacerations were mended, blood was replenished, and the fire in his throat dulled to an ache that throbbed with each breath. He had all but forgotten the culprit standing beside him until he made himself known through a deep chuckle that grew into a harsh laughter. Too weak to argue, struggle, or react; Danny just lay panting, waiting for the torture to be over.
The ghost ended his laughter, but spoke with humor in his hateful tone. "It is ironic, is it not, that I- the being with which you held your voice, who has caused an endless silence –will be the last to ever hear your screams?" He chuckled again. "I find the irony of it all terribly accurate. Perhaps, in the future, you will find the humor, though I highly doubt it." He continued speaking as he called his ghost-guards to collect the listless boy. "I do hope that you will remember this lesson for your future health. I wouldn't want to scar my pretty toy again."
Danny was lifted easily off of the table and held up between two ghosts- each taking an arm. He made no move to resist or prove he knew what was happening. Hanging limply in the ghost's arms, he felt a familiar grip find his jaw as he was forced to meet eyes with his enemy who leaned in to whisper into the boy's ear.
"Time to go home, little Phantom."
The memories became too fuzzy to make out for a short time as Vlad continued his digging. It wasn't until Danny's memories caught up to him reentering the prison that the vision became clear again.
Back in the prison, the ghost-guards had chained Danny to the wall and were now standing at attention in the doorway waiting for their leader.
A smirk darkening his features, the ghost leaned towards the young-halfa, lifted his chin with two fingers, and spoke lowly into his ear. "I'd ask that you keep our 'alone-time' a secret, but silence now becomes you, child. You will never speak another word, my little Phantom."
The reaction was instant; Danny's face broke of all emotion but a fear that laced his eyes. A vicious smile split the ghost's face at his prey's weakness and removed his fingers to let the boy's head drop to his chest once again. With nothing else to say, the ghoul floated to the door, closing it behind him.
Darkness and silence once again filled the room.
"Danny?" Leader asked. "Danny, answer me…" "Danny! I order you to say something!"
Danny moved his wrist that shifted the chains for a slight reply.
"Are you okay?" Thief tried.
The boy sighed.
Hacker then decided to try his hand. "Hey, Danny, can you imagine the look on his face when Vlad gets here? If there's a face left that is."
A light humor entered the young-halfa who emitted a chuckle that whispered around the room, but despite the efforts to lighten the mood, silence once again filled the air.
"Danny," Hacker began quietly, "Why… You should try to…you know…contact Vlad."
At first there was no answer. Danny wanted more than anything to contact the older-halfa; so much so it hurt to admit to his shortcomings in the matter. After a time, however, the boy summoned the miniscule amount or power it took to send a thought to four humans. "Can't"
"Why not?" Leader asked.
"Power." Simple answer.
"Oh."
Before the humans could come up with what to say next, a commotion heightened outside the door. As the noise grew louder, it became obvious that whatever was happening was not in their best interest. The door burst open as multiple specters barged through tearing up to the restrained halfa who all but shook in his chains. He rushed up to the trembling boy, grabbing his neck just above the cuff and cutting off the boy's air supply.
"How did you contact him!?" the ghost demanded loudly over his prisoner's gasping. "How!?"
Danny gasped painfully, unable to answer, as the grip around his neck tightened.
The ghost closed the distance between the two until he could feel the faint air of the young-halfa's breath on his cheek. "Do not take me for a fool, boy. It isn't good for your health. I know you can communicate." As the words left his lips, his fist came into contact with the boy's stomach. "Now, I ask again: how did you contact him?"
Having been there in person, Vlad skipped over the information he had already seen. Flipping through the boy's latest memories of being strapped to the lab table and given unknown medicines, the older-halfa felt Danny pull back as if to take his hand away, breaking the connection. Vlad gently held the boy's hand in his own and pulled himself out without using any of Danny's power. As soon as their vision cleared, Vlad could see the tear streaks on the young-halfa's face, though his eyes were dry.
Despite knowing of his hatred for contact, Vlad threw caution to the wind and pulled the boy into his chest and wrapped his arms around him. Danny resisted for a moment before forcing himself to relax into the fatherly gesture. Soon, the boy felt more tears push at the backs of his eyes begging for release, but he refused them and sank even farther into the hug as if to shut out the world. Vlad held his arms very still around the hesitant child, ready to let go if he was denied, but when Danny fully relaxed, the man tightened his hold as a show of regret and promise.
The humans watched curiously from the edge of the room.
Time stood still. No one was willing to move; to ruin the moment, but as with all things; it had to end.
Danny was the first to move. Almost unwillingly, he pulled away from his mentor to look him directly in the eyes. "We need to hide." He projected the thought into the man's head gently so as not to intrude. There was an undeniable hint to fear laced in the boy's words; a fear that ignited a seething anger within the older-halfa.
Vlad nodded, speaking aloud for the human's benefit. "As much as I hate to admit it, my estates are no longer safe. I would, however, hope to find a location with lab equipment so I can take a look at what Dan has done to you. I cannot be pacified by your healing factor claiming you are alright."
Leader looked to her team for support. As if they had read her mind, they nodded her on encouragingly. Turning towards the two halfa's, she spoke with authority and assuredness. "I know where you will be safe."
Vlad scoffed, "I wouldn't expect a group or rebel humans to harbor half-ghost fugitives out of the goodness of their hearts."
"You said it yourself: you need a safe place to crash and you need a lab to help Danny. I can give you my word that no one will hurt you or ask you to fight with us. You may not be completely accepted by everyone, but most of us will. You can chill with us until you feel like leaving. No strings attached." Leader negotiated expertly.
Skepticism played across the older-halfa's face. Picking up on his indecision, Danny stood and slowly approached the girl. Standing directly in front of her, he held out his hand towards her. "Prove it." He called to her mind. From behind him, he could feel Vlad rising from his seat, obviously not happy about the turn of event, though not enough to do anything to stop the boy.
Curiously, Leader held out her hand. As soon as contact was made, Danny broke it like it had shocked him. Vlad was at his side in an instant.
"Daniel?"
Danny nodded, "I'm fine," he projected, "Humans are more difficult to read than ghosts. Too many emotions mixed into their thoughts. She is telling the truth."
Vlad eyes the humans yet again, searching their faces before addressing the young-halfa at his side. "What is your suggestion?"
"I think we should go with them. While I do not trust them, they have not taken any of the available time they've had to escape and they accompanied you to come get me. We do not have to stay for more than a few days depending on the damages I have accumulated, but it is safer than any other option we have open to us for the time being."
Sighing, the man looked into his young charge's eyes only to find complete trust in them. No matter what the boy preferred they do, he would always follow Vlad. Without breaking eye contact with Danny, the man spoke to the humans. "Until another option arises, we shall have to trust you." Danny nodded almost relieved as Vlad offered him a small smile.
