Chapter 10! Seriously, thank you, everyone, for your support! It means so much! Onto the chapter. Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.
She barely got any sleep for the next couple of nights. Between the sinking feeling in her stomach and the excitement of the upcoming convention, she was a mess. Her thoughts were completely jumbled and nothing seemed to help make her focus.
Finally, dawn broke and after beguiling, she decided to drag her butt out of bed. She got ready for the day even though she knew no one else was even close to getting up yet. She got washed, dressed, and then made her bed - something Danny and grandma told her was her responsibility - and stumbled down the stairs.
She was surprised to see Danny already sitting at the table, almost like he was waiting for her. "Hey," She greeted as she went to pull some cereal from the cabinet.
"Hey." He replied back. "Sit down, I think we need to talk."
Worry flashed across her face briefly, before she shook any doubt from her head. She did as requested, taking her seat.
"What's up?"
"Are you okay? Seriously, I saw you toss and turn when I had to use the bathroom. I'm starting to get concerned Danielle."
She shifted her gaze towards her lap. "I'm fine Dan-"
"Don't give me that Danielle!" For a moment she was in complete shock at the fierceness in his voice. He came to stand next to her chair, moving her own to face him. "Whatever is wrong, I'm here for you. If you need to talk, I'm here to listen, we all are."
He paused before continuing. "I know I don't really say this, but I kinda always thought you knew, which is really stupid of me, given all that you've been through, but Dani... we all love you. Your grandparents, Jazz, Tucker; I'm pretty damn sure Sam too, and me. You have become one of the most important people in my life in such a short amount of time Danielle, and you can always come to if something is wrong."
She couldn't help the waves of tears that dribbled from her eyes as she engulfed Danny in a warm embrace. She never had this, she always could see the love on Danny's face for her, but this was different.
It was voiced, and the words were something she very rarely heard. She knew the conversation she had with Sam was needed. They were hardly acquainted when she crashed into her life, but Danny's words were something she never knew that she needed. She finally had something she never knew she needed.
An unknown ache in her heart was starting to become filled...
and she was never gonna take it for granted.
"Alright everyone it's time to get ready!" Jack announced. "As the kids are putting it, suit up!"
With everyone dressed and trying to ignore Jack's lame slang, they made their way to the RV.
"Now even though the place isn't gigantic it is still big so please stay in groups at all times," said Maddie. "We are all old enough to act responsibly."
"Yes, Ma'am" Tucker shouted back.
When they arrived at the convention center Dani was in awe of how many people showed up for something like a ghost hunters' convention. "I didn't know ghost hunting was so popular," she said. "It didn't use to look like this just last year there were maybe two-hundred and fifty visitors and those were only people in town."
Tucker looked around, smiling. "It looks like there are two-hundred fifty people just outside waiting to get in. Luckily we have our VIP tickets." He boasted.
Walking up to the front gate, the five security guards opened up a separate line for the six of them. Whoever gave them the tickets wanted them to really know the meaning of 'VIP'. Entering the convention center, they saw booth after booth filled with technology, ghost fighting uniforms, and professional know-it-alls trying to share their knowledge of all things ghostly.
"Any volunteers? We're looking for volunteers for Negative Reinforcement of ESP."
"Antique Golden Box! Only opened once in the thirties!"
"Salt here! Get your salt here!"
"Analog TV with voice command!"
"Dr. Malcolm Crowe at your service!"
"Shoeless Joe Jackson here signing autographs!"
"Dolls for sale. Normal dolls, literally any and every doll!"
Everywhere the group went they heard booth after booth yell out their spiel. It was all overwhelming for Danielle, but it only increased the high energy that she had.
"This place is so cool. Thank you for taking me with." Danielle said to the group.
"Hey squirt your family, besides who would miss out on this. I mean look at all this tech." Tucker said, drooling.
"Let's not forget about all the fashion either being practical military or solid black. Oh, mama's happy." Sam said looking at Danny.
"Well let's see if we can't find you anything dark or practical," Danny said with a smile.
"Oh my gosh, Jack! is that who I think it is?" Maddie said in a squeaky voice. Jack scanned the room, looking for who his wife's attention was on.
"Dear possessed turkey it is!" Jack yelled. In perfect harmony, both Maddie and Jack pointed to a little booth with an elderly couple sitting ever so quietly. "It's Ed and Lorraine Warren!"
"Now before we run off in our separate directions we need a game plan," Jack said. "Danielle, Sam and Tucker, we have something for you three. Since you are all a part of this family it is only right we give you these." Reaching into his pocket Jack pulled out three watches that did not look cheap. "Here, one for each of you. Now before you tell us you already have a watch, I want you to know that these are special. If you press the third knob on the side two times it will send a signal that will let us speak to you. The only downside is they only work within a ten-mile radius so it's no cell phone."
Wait... how are we supposed to hear them? I don't see any receivers on our uniforms." Danny asked.
Maddie smiled. "Don't worry sweetie, your father and I have thought ahead. Have you noticed that we all now have the Danny Phantom logo on our uniforms?" she asked.
"Yup." Danny replied. "Woohoo, corporate synergy!"
"Well besides looking incredibly stylish they also act as a communication device when pressed twice."
With that, everyone split into groups of two. Sam and Danny went to the clothing booths, Maddie and Jack went to see their heroes, and Tucker and the ever so happy Danielle went to explore the food vendors.
As they went, Dani stopped suddenly with a thought. "Hold on a minute Tuck, I gotta wash my hands before we eat."
Tucker gave Dani a quick nod before she headed off to the ladies room.
After a good wash, Dani headed back to the convention to devour some ghostly Mexican food. When she stepped out back to the convention, it hit her entire body like a truck. In a moment she was frozen: her eyes were sealed shut from fear, and in the next moment everything was cold. Cold down to her core. She couldn't breathe, that gift being taken away from her. She couldn't move, and the more she tried the tighter it got. She could hear something moving but it was faint, like a snake swimming through the air.
"Listen, child." She heard a sharp unforgiving voice. "Listen and you are free. Do you understand?" Dani struggled. How could she respond she couldn't even breathe? "Just nod, fool!" Making the motion with all of her might she was released. She took several shallow sharp breaths as she struggled to remain conscious.
"What... do you... want from me?" Danielle asked, her lungs still inflamed.
"My dear child, I want nothing from you but your cooperation. My master, on the other hand, wishes to have you as his guest."
"Well, you can tell him I politely decline!" Dani opened her green eyes to shoot a blast of energy at the creep but she couldn't see a thing. "What have you done to the lights?" Dani asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"That is the wrong question, my dear. Nor is it the right answer."
Feeling that pain in her stomach again, Danielle immediately dove to her right, landing on something hard and metallic. She felt at the side she landed on. It was sticky but not warm. She was just glad that thing didn't get a hold of her again.
"I'm going to find you creep, and when I do you will be sorry!" Dani yelled in desperation at the emptiness.
Hideous laughter filled the already chilling air. "I am not afraid of a little lab rat. To me, you are a disgrace to our kind. You are nothing, but I am not here for me."
She felt the pain once more and ran forward, tripping over the clutter of the room. After hitting the ground she felt heat radiate from her left leg. Reaching for the warmth she felt it... sticky and warm. She let out a slight hiss of pain.
"See my child, you can't be left out here by yourself... you have already damaged my master prize." The warmth soon became a fire as Dani put pressure on her leg with her right hand. She then slid her other hand against the wall, in a desperate hope to find something useful. After a bit, she felt it. A light switch. Finally some luck.
She flipped it on to see a dimly lit storage room filled with all sorts of garden and grounds keeping supplies... but no ghost. Taking a deep breath, Danielle covered her wound and leaned against the wall, weary from her encounter. She was looking for a door when out of the corner of her eye she saw that same dark blur she saw the other day. Looking back to the center of the room she saw the single light bulb that illuminated the room become dimmer. She could still hear the slight buzz of the electricity as the room became dark once more. Staring at the now barely lit light bulb, she saw two glowing yellow eyes take its place.
"Now!" The voice shook the room making the air somehow even colder. "You will come with me!"
Without warning the door burst open and the room was filled with the light of a thousand suns. A shriek emits from the shadow creature as it began to dissolve in the light. The Shadow dashed through the open door.
"Stay away from my daughter, asshole!"
Danielle opened her eyes to see Sam drop her bazooka and run right for her. Sam embraced her, lifting her feet slightly off the ground with a hug that could easily rival one from grandpa.
"Sam? Danielle?" They heard Danny yell from the distance.
"She's down here!" Sam yelled back. Hearing heavy breathing, Danielle got up as best she could. Looking at the door, they noticed Danny walking through the frame clutching his side, an ectoplasm trail following his every step.
"Danny, are you ok?" Danielle asked. Danny took another step before collapsing to the ground, barely clinging to life. His eyes closed as his vision started to become clouded. A small puddle of green liquid accumulated by his side.
"Danny!"
"Dad!"
The words echoed in his head as the world around him faded into darkness.
A/N Am I evil yet? No? Yes? Okay, I'mma go hide in the corner. It's my grandpa's birthday, so I decided to honor him by posting this a day early. He always watched my tv shows with me :) By the way. The cliffhanger was my husband's idea, so if you're mad, take it up with him. Lol.
So, question time, will Danny be okay? Will he remember Danielle calling him dad? AND WHO THE HECK IS THE BIG BAD GUY? Who knows? Well, me, but that's beside the point. See you next time! 3
Edited 1-24-18: Thank you to my beta reader silente faery! Until next time.