Spy Guy: Yeah...this chapter sucks. Just...bear with me. Kinda depressing, cause I've been feeling depressed. So...here...read it. :D PLease?
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or marshmellow salad.
"Let us out of here!" Sam screamed, throwing her body against the wooden door. Tucker sighed as he nursed his hands, bruised from pounding on the surface for so long. They were in a small bedroom, the walls adorned in purple velvet tapestries, the bed covered in violet quilts of the same fabric,
"Let me try again, Sam." Tucker said, getting to his feet.
"No." Sam sobbed, crashing against the door once more. "You're too hurt."
"Then we have to find another way out." The boy replied, gently pulling Sam away. "You getting yourself hurt isn't going to help. You know Danny won't leave you behind…and that'll slow us down."
"We're four stories above the ground, Tucker." The girl cried. "There's no way we'll ever be able to jump out the window."
"Sam…" Tucker continued. "There are tapestries all over the walls. They're made of thick velvet. If we tied them together…we might be able to get out."
"But how would we get back in?" Sam asked accusingly, pounding her fist on the wood once more. "Danny would still be trapped."
Tucker sighed, sitting back on the bed once more. His feet dangled below him as his brain searched for an answer. His hand rested on the quilt beside him, drawing back when he felt something hard. The boy jerked himself from his musings, and pulled the blanket back, revealing a black leather note book. He took it in his hands, opening the cover. A small slip fell out. Looking at it, the boy saw writing on the surface.
"This book was discovered in the ruins of the castle. It has been placed in this room for your enjoyment. Please be gentle, as it is an artifact. Thank you.
Trey Anima"
"Sam…" Tucker whispered. "This is a diary. Look." He opened to a page, and slowly read the small text.
"A man came today bringing news of the war's ending. Soon the soldiers still alive will return home. I am eagerly awaiting the return of Prince Drake and hope that his illness has not gotten the better of him. It's very cold in the mountains, and the conditions the soldiers must endure are horrid. I hope he has not been captured. He is the prince after all and could fetch a pretty penny in the slave trade. I doubt he would allow that to happen. I know he's special and so does he. But if subdued that would be even worse."
"Who is this?" Sam asked, walking to the bed.
"The name in the front says it was written by a maid named Samara." Tucker continued. "Did Danny ever mention her?"
"I'm not sure." Sam replied. "But the name does sound familiar. Keep reading."
Tucker flipped through the pages, stopping at another.
"Drake as fallen ill again. His uncle says that they are side effects of the war. He's never been this bad. There are things that happened that he will not tell me about. Like how he got that strange brand on his arm. I think he was imprisoned by the enemy and they kept him a cell somewhere. Drake's never been the healthiest in the first place, but still…I hope he gets better soon."
"This all seems familiar…" Sam whispered. "Weird."
"How is this going to help?" Tucker asked. "Wait…look."
The girl looked closer at the page her friend was looking at. On it was a sketch of three people, smiling.
"That one looks like Danny." Sam whispered, pointing to the one in the middle.
"Sam, don't you see?" Tucker asked. "They look like us. All three of us. You know…maybe Danny's not the only person who's been reincarnated."
"I thought you didn't believe in reincarnation." Sam smiled.
" Maybe I do…" Tucker smiled, turning to another page.
"How's Molly?" Danny asked, trying to stay calm as he wiped away his tears.
"She's fine." Ms. Alex replied over the phone. "The school's finally been rebuilt. She went back today. Things are starting to go back to normal."
"I'm glad to hear that. The boy smiled weakly. "Hey, Ms. Alex?"
"What?" The librarian asked.
"I know…you don't want to hear this, but…I want you to give the music box to Molly. Alright? Tell her that it's a gift for doing so good in school."
"Danny…" Ms. Alex began, but Danny cut her off.
"No. I'm not going to easily get out of this. Give it to her and don't tell her what happened to me. Alright?"
The boy tensed up as he heard heavy footsteps outside in the hall.
"Ms. Alex…they're coming…they're going to…please don't tell her…please!"
"I won't Danny." The librarian said quickly. "Are you sure there's no way out?"
"I've tried. I've tried so many times…" The boy sobbed. "I'm scared. They're never going to let me out. Why can't they leave me alone!"
"Danny, calm down…talk to them." Ms. Alex begged.
"No! They won't listen!" Danny shouted. "They never listened before! Why start now!"
He gave a loud whimper as the lock began to creak, and the door burst open.
"X587." A man dressed in white smiled.
"Ms. Alex…please! I don't—Hey!"
Danny clung madly to the cell phone as another agent tried to rip it from his grasp. All the while, he screamed, shouting to Ms. Alex, begging her to do something.
But there was nothing she could do. More agents grabbed his arms, forcing the struggling teen to his feet.
"You bastards!" Danny snarled, kicking out at one. "Let me go! I didn't do anything!"
"Stop your struggle, X587." Agent 142 grinned. "You're not going anywhere this time."
"My name is Danny Fenton!" The boy shrieked. "I am not a number! I'm tired of you guys treating me like an animal!"
"Hold your tongue and we may be merciful." The man replied, wiping spittle off his shirt.
"Merciful?!" Danny spat. "I know what you've been doing to me! That chip was made for something. You've been taking me out of my home and working on it. Why? What does it do that is so important to your stupid organization!"
"That's enough." 142 replied darkly, snapping his fingers…
Danny's ears perked up…
Vlad used to snap his fingers. It was the command of battle. The order to fight…
The demand to kill…
There was a sickening thud as Danny forced one guard into the wall and delivered a powerful punch to another. Other agents ran to catch him, reaching out their arms, firing their weapons. Danny growled like a beast, pushing them back. He yelped as a blast hit him in the arm, but ignored it and continued fighting toward the door. His shoes hit the stone of the hallway…
And he was gone.
142 cursed loudly shouting out commands.
"Don't you dare let him get away! Guard all the exits! Shoot him down if you have to! This freak is not going to run free while I'm around! Someone! Find the owner!"
Trey sat in silence, holding something tight in his hand…
The dagger…
The clean black metal showed nothing of the evil deeds it had done in the past. The hilt was clean as well, showing none of the blood that had coated its owner's hands.
Something told him Drake was coming for it. To reclaim his weapon…
It was of very little surprise to him when the temperature of the room lowered, and glowing green eyes shone in the darkness.
He was ready.
"Drake…" Trey whispered. "Or should I call you Danny?"
"Danny…" The boy mumbled, approaching. "That's my name now."
"I feel my family's somewhat to blame for your fate, Danny." Trey continued. "If Drake wasn't a killer, you wouldn't be either. But you can't help it. He lives in you."
"Drake didn't kill people." The boy said, cautiously approaching. "It wasn't my fault I did either. If you were beaten, starved, and blackmailed, you'd kill people too. I'm crazy Trey…and I know it."
"So let them take you." The man replied. "I'm sure they can help."
"No…" Danny whispered. "I'm one of a kind…like an animal that no one's ever seen before…except there's no organization protecting me from getting hurt. If I die…no one's going to care."
"Why do you want the dagger?" Trey asked, getting to his feet.
"To redeem myself."
"Stealing a family heirloom of mine is not going to do that."
"I'm not going to explain it to you. Just give it to me." Danny demanded. Suddenly, something green shot out at him, pinning the boy to the ground. He hissed, scratching at a glowing net with his fingers.
"You bastard!" He snarled. "If I could get free…"
"You'd kill me?" Trey asked, getting up. "I thought you said you weren't a killer."
"You don't understand!" Danny growled, biting the net with his teeth. He yelped in pain, holding a hand to his jaw. The boy hissed again as a GIW agent reached a pincer-like device around his neck. Danny choked, gasping for breath, his fingers trying to pry the thing apart. More agents came, carefully pulling back the net. Danny growled, choking and coughing as he tugged against the men's hold. One moved close to him with a pair of hand cuffs. The boy managed to pull to the side, knocking the man to the floor. The one holding the pincer had the handle wrenched from his grasp. Danny forced it off, ignoring the torn flesh around his neck. Then he turned his green eyes to Trey.
"Give it to me!" He demanded. The man whimpered, holding the dagger out. Danny took the hilt in his hands. He gasped slightly as his eyes flickered gold for a moment.
He remembered.
Everything.
Every one of Danica's visits. Every time he and Samara had kissed. When he and Tyler had played. His sister had taught him…
Those months imprisoned…
Everything came back to him…
Then he felt someone grab his arm. Without even thinking, the boy spun around, the blade of the dagger connecting with flesh.
A GIW agent collapsed to the floor. Danny's eyes widened.
"No…" He whimpered.
"Get him!" A voice snarled.
But before anything could be done, the boy was gone, leaving blood in his wake…
He landed silently outside the room where he could hear his friends…they were crying to get out…desperate…Danny slowly strode forward, his guard up, the bloody knife held tight in his grasp. He phased through the door with ease, instantly wrapping his arms around Sam's body.
"Danny?" She asked with surprise. "Wha—"
"We have to get out of here…now." The boy said, trying to hold back his tears. "Both of you, take my hands."
Danny forced the knife through his belt and took Sam's hand, reaching out his other for Tucker.
"Dude…" Tucker whispered…"It's bloody."
Danny stared at it, his eyes growing distant.
"Tucker, we don't have time. They'll be here soon. Just take it." He continued.
Reluctantly the boy held onto his friend's hand, feeling the cold sensation of becoming invisible. Next thing he knew, the three were flying from the castle, into the sky. Danny landed next to the car, holding out Sam's keys and driver's license.
"Drive." He said, taking his spot in the back. The girl nodded slowly, motioning for Tucker to follow. In a cloud of dust they were gone, barreling down the road…and out of sight…
And all the while Danny sat in the back, holding the knife…
Crying…
"All our stuff's still there…" Tucker said. "How are we supposed to live?"
"We don't have any money Danny." Sam continued. "What are we supposed to do when we need gas? Or need to sleep? Or something happens to the car?"
Danny sat in silence, his eyes distant. Tucker turned in his seat to look at him.
"Come on, buddy. What happened? You can tell us."
"Yeah." Sam smiled, keeping her eyes on the road. "We're both your friends. We're here to help you."
Danny sighed deeply, setting the dagger aside.
"The GIW had me cornered…I was scared. So…I fought back."
"What else were you supposed to do?" Sam asked.
"But I thought about killing them…I might've killed one…" The boy whispered. "I admitted it to myself in there…I'm crazy. If the GIW would let me, I'd check myself into a mental ward right now."
There was a moment of silence.
"Danny, you have problems, but it's not your fault." Tucker replied. "If the GIW would've just left you alone, you wouldn't be here. It's hard trying to do good and getting punished for it."
"But you do it anyway." Sam grinned. "See? That sets you apart."
"But I killed someone else…" Danny said. "Who's next?"
"No one…" Tucker replied. "Because we're going to be there next time to stop you."
The car went on for miles, plodding across the road. Sam drove on endlessly, occasionally wiping the sleep from her eyes…
Then…the car stopped.
"Great." The girl cursed.
Danny opened his eyes, looking over the seat.
"We're out of gas aren't we?" He asked.
"Yes…" Sam sighed. "Now what?"
"I can push." The boy said, opening his door and climbing out. He placed each hand on the bumper and began to slowly walk forward. The wound in his arm burned, but he kept on, going at an average pace. Tucker and Sam got out as well, helping their friend along. As they sluggishly made their way along, an old pickup truck drove past them, pulling over on the dirt in front of them. Blocking their way.
"Crap." Tucker said. Danny's eyes grew wide and he hid behind his friends, fear coursing through him.
An old man, probably in his seventies, crawled from the car, still walking straight, even though he held a cane in one hand.
"What are a couple'a kids like you doing out so late?" He asked, strolling over. "There are strange people 'ere from the city. Not a safe place for young'uns. 'Specially pretty little ladies like you." He said, tipping a worn hat to Sam. She nodded.
"We're out of gas." Tucker smiled sheepishly. "And we're broke…could you take us to a gas station?"
"It's mighty late." The man said. "How 'bout I let you three stay at my house for the night, and in the morn, I'll drive to Al's towing. How's that sound?"
"We'd like that." Tucker replied, ignoring Sam's nervous look as she held Danny's hand.
"Good. Come along now. One of you'l have to ride in the back. Only two extra seats in the front."
"I will." Danny said, his voice coming out in a strangled squeak. "But I have to get something."
"Al'righ then. Need any help?"
"No." Danny replied, walking over to the car. He climbed into the back seat, and took the dagger in his hand. Then he gently pulled his leg brace away from his skin, and slipped the weapon inside. A hand strayed to his pocket where the flyer from the castle was.
Still there… Then he left, quickly climbing into the truck bed and lying on the hard surface. He settled down as the hum of the engine calmed his mind. Slowly his eyes drooped…and he felt at peace…
"Dante! Dante! Look…open my gift!"
Danny looked down at the face of a little black haired girl, holding a parcel wrapped in newspaper. He smiled, taking it from her, and giving her a gentle pat on the head.
"Thank you Crez." He said, slowly taking off the paper.
Underneath was a mahogany box, a cross branded into the surface. He opened it, gasping when he saw what was inside.
Slowly his fingers brought a beautiful rosary into the light, its chain made of onyx and pearl. The cross itself was solid gold, shining emeralds pressed into the surface.
"Crez…" He shivered. "It's beautiful. How…how could you afford this? I've seen this in the window of the corner store. How…Crez…it's beautiful."
Danny felt himself hug the girl tight, trying to ignore how frail she was.
"I've been working there after school." The little girl replied. "Mr. Becker gave me 50 cents a day. And I finally made enough. I wanted to get it for you."
"It's beautiful." Danny said.
"Hey…Dante…come over here."
The boy looked up, his eyes resting on those of an older man, whose own green eyes shone from beneath gray hair.
"Father…look what Crez got me."
"It's beautiful." The man said before coughing into his arm. "Crez…you're too young to be working."
"I wanted to get Dante something special." The girl frowned.
"Work is horrible." The man growled. "I hate it."
He then coughed again, taking in sharp breaths.
"Work makes young men old…"