Chapter 10

"I'll always be there"

The dark red sky was restless, the clouds around it swirling together in a vertex, and obstructing the view of any color whatsoever in the sky above. The area around the swirling black mass instantly was tinted a dark black, a shadow cast upon the whole twenty acres that was known as Amity Park. Buildings shuddered under the new power above them in absolute terror as its power dreadfully increased. Some buildings succumbed to its terrifying motion, others remained firm and tall, not daring to stand down until the very end.

One such building was Fenton Works, the building was weak with age and weather, not to mention how many times it was blasted into by rays and several other such devices. The sign that once glowed a phosphorus bright green, now only remained a dim army green, dust and rust scattered around it. The hinges rusted and broke on one side of the sign, instead of it remaining stationary in its original position, it hung lopsided, barely hanging onto the last hinge as it was. Assortments of metal and Fenton gizmos on top were decimated from one of the earlier battles. The buildings brick walls had been slammed into on every side, showing deep gaping holes in the deserted building and exposing the inside to all the elements. If the walls could talk, they could tell quite a tale, and tell how the building itself was barely hanging on to dear life. It had remained silent for the past few months, until a boy descended from the air to the front door, holding a young girl.

"What are we doing here? I thought you were taking me to Vlad." Sam asked, the sight of the place giving her stomach a twist.

"We are, just have to make a pit stop." The evil Danny replied quietly, floating into the dark and lonely house.

Each room they past seemed to trigger memories within their minds of happier times, their 13th Christmas where Danny gave Sam a charm bracelet in the living room, Danny, 5 years old, looking on in the kitchen as Jazz and Maddie tried to do the dishes, but ended up in a water fight instead, Jack hugging Danny and showing him his newest invention, the Fenton Portal.

Danny floated down the stairs to the basement and gazed along the dark room, his eyes dark and unhappy as he thought about what happened here 6 months ago. Sam was still clutched tightly in his arms and she was sure he wouldn't let go anytime soon. So she did the only thing she could thing of, struggling.

Danny seemed unprepared for her outburst and felt her slip out of his arms to the ground below. He heard her grunt as her body made contact with the floor. Dust was thrown into the air and Danny sneezed, giving Sam enough time to get to her feet and bolt for the door.

Danny, however, was faster and instantly the door glowed a red color and shut by itself. When Sam reached the knob and tried to turn it, it would not open. She tried several times before realizing that Danny had her trapped. She turned and scowled at the teenage boy's amused face.

"You can't keep me here!" She yelled to him, angrier than hornets nest.

" I don't plan to." Danny said lightly and floated there on his back in a careless fashion.

Sam's glare seemed to intensify. " I hate you."

Those three words caused Danny to stiffen, his heart felt like it had been torn out and thrown into a blender, twice. He turned his eyes on her, in disbelief.

"What?"

"Did you not hear me? Are you deaf? I said I hate you!" Sam yelled, tears starting to cloud her vision. " I hate how you did this to everyone! I hate how you have no remorse or care! I thought you were a good person! A friend! Then you go and kill!"

Danny's mind traveled a million miles a minute, Sam looked really angry and upset. She seemed so cool and collected the first time they fought, even the last time, but now it felt like she had lost it. His defenses took over his mind and he made his face look cold and emotionless.

" I had to." Danny answered, a growl in his voice.

"No you didn't! This was your choice Danny! It's always been up to you! You chose to betray us and turn evil!" Sam shouted at him, no longer caring what happened to her.

"You betrayed me!" Danny yelled, his anger starting to simmer. "Dad and mom almost killed me and you, Jazz and Tucker took their side! You left me no choice but to chose this! Besides Vlad did this, not me!"

"Liar!" Sam screamed. Streams of clear liquid careened down her face and fell to the floor. "Don't you dare say Vlad did this! You decided to turn evil! You just needed the right person! You gave this as an excuse to make yourself feel secure! When really you aren't Danny! Ever since the beginning of high school you have stumbled about, being ignored by everyone you touch! Being bullied and stuffed into your locker! In the end you wanted payback! You wanted to make everyone else suffer how you did!"

That hit a nerve, bad. Danny's anger now started to boil, sending out steam into his eyes which were glowing a brilliant red now, his teeth now clenched together and his posture ready to tear apart anything or anyone that came close. "That's not true!"

"Admit it Danny! Behind this bad boy façade you're as weak and defenseless as they come! You need to hide behind a big billionaire to make yourself feel special!" Sam hated to say all of this to Danny, but she was through babying him. She had tried so many ways to bring him about, but she knew the truth, as harsh and as hurtful as it was, would set him free. This was her last hope, her last resort. If this didn't work, then nothing would.

"STOP IT!" Danny exploded, covering his ears with his hands as she yelled at him.

Somewhere, deep in his subconscious, he heard that voice again.

She is right.

Buzz off!

You're only digging yourself deeper! Stop this terrible cycle before its too late!

I don't need you! I don't need her! Get out of my head!

I'll always be here Danny. You can't get rid of me, no matter how hard you try. You have to do this Danny. "Its never too late to change."

The last part sounded like Sam's voice. He looked up and saw her standing there. She didn't look angry, sad or upset anymore. Infact the way she looked at him was almost hopeful.

They both stood there, staring into each other's eyes for what seemed like a half an hour, just when Sam thought she was getting through to him, the ceiling above them exploded, sending down small and large pieces of concrete.

Danny instinctively ran to Sam and wrapped his arms around her protectively as concrete rained on top of them. As sudden as it started, it stopped, and all that remained was a thick fog of debris that cloaked the room around them.

"Take your hands off her!" Yelled a voice from nearby. Danny recognized it, but couldn't tell who it was. He turned rapidly and saw a figure in the smoke. The only thing he could make out at first was his brightly glowing green eyes.

They were narrowed in an angry tone and as the fog slowly melted away, Danny could now see his opponent.

His enemy was himself…

"Oh crud." Muttered Tucker, his hands shaking as he readied his weapon in his hands.

Lancer was, for once, speechless as he stared at the multitude of ghosts in front of them all, along with the sand monster.

"That is a lot of ghosts." Dash mumbled, once again stating the obvious.

While everyone else stood open mouthed, Jazz and Maddie were the first to charge their weapons and attack. Lancer seemed to snap back to reality and then ordered everyone else to attack. Some people hesitated, but the majority ran into battle, their glowing weapons ready.

Maddie and Jazz attacked Skulker from behind and sent several bombs of ectoplasm at him, he was soon covered in a gooey mess from the bombs and groaned as he was stuck to the ground. But just as Maddie and Jazz smiled, the sand monster grabbed the two with arms it recently created and held them up to its face and growled at them.

Tucker saw this as he was fighting a black ghost with red eyes, who fed off misery. The woman ghost wrapped her arms around his shoulders and grinned. "They are going to die, and it will be your fault."

Tucker clenched his teeth and closed his eyes and fought off the urge to cry as he saw Maddie and Jazz being held defenseless. The creature squeezed them and both let out a small shriek. Tucker felt his bravery falter and start to fade. He was trembling in the ghost's arms and she glowed a bright green, feeding off while he was miserable.

A blast came from nowhere and hit her in the back. She cried out and disintegrated before his eyes, where she once floated, stood Mr. Lancer, a fierce look in his eyes,

"Foley! Help the Fenton girls! Hurry!" He barked and Tucker shut off his mind again, heading for the sand monster that now stood up against the ceiling of the sewer.

As he ran he saw one of fellow classmates fall and the ghost go in for the final blow. He was too far away and no one else seemed to notice as it grinned. Tucker averted his eyes and focused on Jazz and Maddie, who both looked extremely weak.

Tucker felt himself growl and stood at where he supposed its feet were. It was hard to tell since everyone was in ankle high of sewer water.

"Yo Sand Man!" He yelled. "Drop those girls! NOW!" he ordered, pulling out a ecto grenade. Red eyes growled down at the 5-foot boy and Tucker threw it into its mouth as it opened for a loud growl.

The sand creature's eyes widened and it stood up straight.

Then exploded in a drizzle of tiny grains.

" I wont do it!" Rebecca yelled, struggling once again through her bonds. "He can't make me!" She was now trembling, as ectoplasmic tears appeared in her sad eyes. They slid down her face and landed on the dusty floor.

But inside she knew she could do nothing, unlike the others, she was helpless. Vlad had her chained and kept her away from everything. After the months of being alone and of neglect, sometimes she even felt herself enjoy his company. She shuddered in distaste, thinking about that.

She was old, and she was happy while in the ghost zone. She could never really "move on" for the ill treatment of her death. She didn't think she ever would. She sure wanted to leave now. But it wasn't up to her. She just couldn't stand being treated like this anymore.

"Spirits..god…goddess…universe..whatever controls life and death, please…let me move on! I want to save these people, but I cannot while under Vlad's control. Please..I don't want to hurt anyone! Please, just…please." Rebecca sobbed, she remembered briefly her mothers words before she left her daughter in life. "I will always be there when you need me." Well she sure needed her mother now! Even after her death, she still couldn't find her mother. The ghost zone was strange and unorganized. The crying and terrible thoughts continued, then once again light entered the room. This time, by not the door opening, but the appearance of a glowing ball of light in the middle of the table before her.

She had hope that someone heard her, but her hopes faded when she saw the face of Vlad within the white sphere. She lowered her head as he spoke.

"It is almost time Rebecca, be ready, for a New World."