The last time I saw Freakshow was after he'd failed to become 'Ringmaster of all Reality' using the reality gauntlet. Also, he was a ghost, and Danny had delivered him to the GIW, before turning him back into a human. I wonder if he remembers that 'reality trip' or if his memories were erased like the rest of the world's.
Freakshow doesn't look much different than the last time I saw him. He has the same black trench coat and eye liner. He takes his mini bolder hat off his bald head, and gives me a mock bow. "Welcome home, Miss Manson," he says with a toothy grin. "You should feel honored to see me again."
Did he hurt my family? I try to take a step back, but something cold grabs my ankles. I almost fall, but that cold something keeps me upright. Glancing down, I see two glowing green hands reaching out from the sidewalk and holding my legs in place. Didn't Frakshow loose his ability to control ghosts? My stomach lurches, but I don't scream. I've been held captive too many times already. This is the third time today that my life has been threatened, but each time someone saved me.
In fact, the first person who saved me today is standing next to Freakshow. Ironic.
"We wouldn't want our guest of honor walking out on us," Freakshow says. He laughs. "Not that you'd be our guest of honor," he says, looking at the gray haired girl, "had my minion done her job properly."
The gray haired girl, half her expressionless face still covered with her thick hair, looks at Freakshow. "Perhaps your plan was flawed, Sir. The Phantom boy didn't try to save her. Maybe the Phantom boy's heart belongs to someone else." She play with her ring. "She's a damsel without a hero."
"I'm not a damsel!" I shout without thinking.
Freakshow laughs again. "I'm sorry. You're no damsel. If you were, there'd be a hero here trying you." He gestures to the otherwise empty street. "Apparently you're not worth the trouble."
The girl grabs the bottom of her knitted sweater. "But do you know where Phantom is? I need him," she monotones.
"Right here!" Danny's standing at the end of the block. His pale face looks determined.
No! Where's Jazz? If he turns into Phantom –
Freakshow laughs again. "Splendid. My minion returns."
"I'm not your minion!" Danny yells. "And what idiot let you out of jail anyway?"
Freakshow gestures to the gray haired girl. "That idiot did. And now she's going to be a good minion and capture you."
The gray haired girl nods and walks towards Danny.
Danny waves his hands dramatically. "Oh no. The human girl dressed in my grandmother's clothing is going to capture me. Whatever will I do?" Danny says. He sneers. "Controlling ghosts too hard for you, Freakshow? Regressed to humans?"
"Who said she's not a ghost?" Freakshow asks.
"She must be crazy weak," Danny says, "she didn't even set off my ghost breath." He strikes a familiar pose and white rings flicker into existence around his chest.
He promised me he wouldn't transform. "No!" I shout.
Before the rings finish passing over his torso he screams and clutches his stomach. I catch a glimpse of extoplasm and he drops to his knees. The transformation reverses and the rings flicker out of existence.
My stomach lurches. That must have hurt.
The gray haired girl stops walking. "Halfa." She takes another step and looks at me. "Danny Phantom is half a ghost. Why is he hurt? I need the halfa to be strong." She snaps her head to the side and looks at Danny. "Tell me, I need to know how a ghost managed to become half human."
Danny, still clutching his stomach, looks up at the girl. "Sorry, Ghost Girl," he says, "can't help you."
The gray haired girl raises her hands above her head and her ring glows red. The cold hands clutching my legs let go and Technus flies out from under the sidewalk. (Oh, that's who the hands belonged to.) He flies towards Danny.
Roaring, a green sports car with gold stripes speeds around the corner and screeches to a halt. The smell of burnt rubber fills the air. The front passenger window rolls down and a pink energy beam flies from the open window. It hits Technus and he falls to the ground. A hole is left in his chest.
A second beam flies from the window towards Freakshow.
The gray haired girl (or ghost) teleports in front of Freackshow. She stretches her arms out in front of her and creates a red force field. There's a loud crack as the pink beam hits it. The force field cracks. She yells as she's pushed back. Her thick, gray hair flies back, revealing red and bubbly scared skin pealing off s neon green skull. Her left eye is missing.
The car's front passenger door bursts open and Vlad, dressed in a suit, steps out of the car. "Daniel, get in the car," he demands.
I don't know why or how Vlad knew to come here. I bolt towards Vlad's car. The man may be an evil freak, but he did save me. His car has to be safer than on the streets with Freakshow and two angry ghosts.
"Daniel Fenton," Vlad shouts, "get in the car!"
I stop and look behind me. Danny is kneeling on the ground and staring wide eyed at Vlad. "Danny Please," I shout, "we have to get out of here."
Vlad jumps out of the car and starts runnig towards Danny.
"Stop him!" Freakshow yells.
The gray haired girl starts walking slowly towards Danny.
Vlad reaches Danny first. He kneels on the ground and grabs Danny's arm.
"Don't touch me!" Danny shouts.
The gray haired girl reached Danny and Vlad, but doesn't stop; she just walks right passed them and continues down the street.
"Anna!" Freakshow shouts, "Where are you going? I command you to get the ghost child."
The gray haired ghost girl keeps walking.
Freakshow shouts, "I will not be ignored by a ghost."
The girls doesn't stop walking. "We're too weak to fight the middle aged halfa," she says. She points down the street in front of her. "If we have the orange haired girl, we have something to bargain with." Her red ring glows. A the red wavy beam flies from it and pulls Technus back into the ring.
Frakshow looks at Vlad, and takes a half step back. "You're half ghost?" he asks, scowling.
"Guilty," Vlad says, grabbing Danny's arm. They vanish.
I look around, desperately trying to find them. A car door slams. Jolting around to look behind me, I see Vlad in the driver's seat of the sports car. I run towards the car, and grab the back door handle. I yank open the car door and leap onto a leather back seat. Danny is laying on his side, clutching his stomach. I slam the door closed. As Vlad takes off, I'm slammed against the seat.
I hate sitting on the skin of a dead animal, but I don't bring it up. Instead I buckle my seat belt. Vlad is going too fast to be following the speed limit. "Vlad," I ask, "how did you know to come? "
"Jazz called me last night," Vald answers, "when you weren't home I followed Danny's ectosignature." He pauses, then in a voice like a growl, asks, "Is it true?"
"Jazz!" Danny suddenly shouts, sitting up. "We have to go back."
"No," Vlad says.
Danny leans into the front of the car and tries to grab the steering wheel. The car swerves.
"Butter biscuits, Daniel!" Vlad shouts. "Let go of the steering wheel!"
"We have to go back," Danny says, his voice wavering.
"No," Vlad says.
"Please," Danny begs, "I locked Jazz in the trunk of her car."
