"I'm just saying, Daniel, we would make a good team! We need to have matching uniforms." Sam was saying.

"I agree. But not on matching uniforms." I frowned.

"You're no fun." She pouted.

"You're annoying."

We were flying around Amity Park. I had been using my powers to figure out where Father was, but I wasn't having any luck. We were both in our ghost forms, and I noticed that I still had the gold hue. I guess Clockwork was right, I would always show that I am a God now. I paused. I could see the vibrations of everyone and everything, but I still couldn't locate Father.

"This is annoying." I scowled. "I have no luck in this."

"Maybe we should slow down." Sam responded.

"We can't. We don't know if they're in danger." I hovered in mid air. "Father said he was going to track Skulker's ecto signature. The problem is I don't have any equipment to do that with."

"I do." She grinned. "Follow me." She dipped down and flew down to her house. She phased through a window on the second floor. Her room was small, with a twin sized bed. The walls were blue, with light wood flooring. She pulled a gigantic box out from under her bed.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's a box of weapons I confiscate from my parents for being too dangerous for me." She responded.

I frowned. "O-okay. So, do you have something in here that'll help?"

"I think so. Dad calls it the booomerang. It's how I found you in the Ghost World. I had two." She pulled out a boomerang from the box. It was bent like an elbow, painted bright white with a green F on the side.

"I recognize it. It almost smacked me if I didn't catch it." I took it out of her hand. "How does it work?"

"You just say, find dad and it'll lock on his signature." She looked down at it.

"Sammy?" A voice knocked at the door. "Is that you?"

Sam looked at me in a panic. "Hide!" She hissed. She changed back into her human form, and I snickered. She glared at me.

I shrugged and turned invisible. It had the same effect.

The door opened. Sam's mother, Maddie, stepped in. "You know you should use the front door! I don't know why you insist on climbing through the window, or whatever it is you do." She walked over to Sam, and kissed her forehead, pushing her black hair from her face. "You need to use less eyeliner, people will think you're a Goth"

"Mom, I am Goth!" She rolled her eyes.

"It's a phase." Maddie sighed.

"It's not a phase. It's who I am." She crossed her arms.

"Uh huh." Maddie crossed her arms. "I'm sure it is."

"What do you want, Mom? I'm busy!"

"Oh! I forgot to tell you. Dinner's ready." She smiled happily.

"You had to come all the way into my room to tell me that?" She scowled.

"I just wanted to see if you were home!" She replied.

"I'm home. I'll be right down. Bye, Mom!"

"Fine." She scoffed. "I'll see you downstairs, Sammy."

"Okay bye!" Sam closed the door behind her.

I laughed. I had been sitting on her bed, looking at my cellphone. I could still see the screen, because to me, everything that was invisible was visible. "You're not a very good actor, Sam. Your mother could probably hear me laughing."

"Har har!" She rolled her eyes.

"Seriously, Sam. I still can't find anything. I've tried texting my Father's ghost associates and nothing works." I scowled.

"Your dad has ghost associates?" She asked. "Like who?"

"Like Knight." I shrugged. "Unfortunately, Knight says he's tied in in the castle, so he can't help at all."

"How do you talk to people in another dimension?" She asked.

"My father cracked interdimensional communication a long time ago." I replied calmly. "It's just like a cellphone, but it only reaches the Ghost World, and not the human one. Father gave it to me in case of an emergency."

"Who's Knight?" She asked, taking a seat beside me.

"Knight is the King and Queen's guard. He provides transport for the Royal Family. If anyone knew anything, it'd be him. I don't think they're in the Ghost World."

"So where are they?"

"I don't know! My father is the best when it comes to not wanting to be found if he doesn't want to be." I groaned.

"So what are we going to do?" She asked. "You have no other way of getting in touch with him?"

"I guess not." I scowled. I looked at the boomerang. I phased out the window. "Find Father!" I yelled and threw it. The ling blinked rapidly green, swung around in a big arc and came back at me. I ducked. "Son of a bitch!" I flew down and caught it before it hit the ground.

"I have an idea!" Sam took the boomerang from my hand. "Find Vladimir Masters!" She threw the boomerang. The light blinked rapid green, and then turned red and started blinking slower. It switched directions, and continued on.

"Come on!" I formed my spectral tail, and I soared after it at my top speed. I felt Sam grab my tail, which I was fine with. If it helped her not to get lost. The boomerang was fast, but once I caught up to it I slowed down.

"Since when do you have a tail?" She asked. "I've literally never seen you have one."

"I don't use it very much. I prefer not to take the time to form my legs after flying." I shrugged.

"Lazy ass!" She laughed.

"Uh huh." I smirked.

The boomerang continued on, out of town, until we were back in Elmerton. I started to get nervous. Was Father at the carnival again?

Suddenly, it stopped.

I came to a halt. The boomerang flashed green again, and dropped to the ground. I looked around. We were in an open field, not a building in sight. I formed my legs and landed on the ground. There was a puddle of ectoplasm under my feet. I narrowed my eyes. Father and Skulker were the meanest, strongest dudes I knew. Having Father under mind control was one thing, but both of them missing again?

"I don't like this." Sam whispered. "I'm feeling the heebie jeebies. Can we turn back?"

"If it was your father, would you?" I hissed back.

She didn't respond. I knew I had hit a soft spot. I looked around. The ground was slightly vibrating. I put my hand on the ground and felt the vibrations. There was something big going on here. It was either a very large animal, or a very large group of people.

Suddenly, I heard a scream. It was Skulker's.

I perked up instantly and followed the sound of the voice. I rounded the side of the field, where a large clump of tall grass was. Skulker was being chased by a gigantic ghost dog. I flew forward to blast it, but then I saw the dog lick him. I stopped. What the fuck?

I'm sure I must've had a confused expression on my face. Skulker turned, feeling my presence, and smiled. "Hey, Daniel!"

My jaw hung open. "Uncle?"

"Yeah, what's up?" He asked, as he was currently running from the dog.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Your father found this dog!" He said.

"My father…" I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Where is he?"

"Uhh, not sure." He laughed, and flew up to the dogs face, and rubbed his muzzle. "Aren't you a good dog Cujo? Yes you are!"

I looked over at Sam. She shrugged. "You know you guys are speaking ghost speak, right?"

"Oh." I frowned. "Sorry. Did you understand anything?"

"Some. Actions speak louder than words."

"Father!" I yelled loudly, startling Sam.

Father appeared from the tree. "Not now, Daniel!" He swatted his hands. His ear was bleeding slowly, a little puddle of ectoplasm running down his shoulder. "That dog is evil!"

In response, the dog growled at Father. Father shrank back into the tree.

"I was seriously worried about the pair of you and you two are playing with a dog?!" I hissed.

"It's the best hunt!" Skulker replied. "And we get to keep him."

"We are not keeping that mutt!" Father yelled. Cujo ran around Skulker and started barking at Father, who shrieked. "Bad Cujo! Go home!"

I buried my face in my hands. I could feel embarrassed about being so worried, but I felt overwhelming relief that they were okay.

"Where's Ember?" Sam asked.

"She's around." Skulker replied. "I think she's shopping. She wasn't impressed with Cujo."

"Getting better." I poked Sam's arm.

She blushed. "Well, I did have a great teacher."

"It probably helps that we speak it a lot, since I never could grasp a language I never heard being spoken." I replied. "It's probably why I don't speak Spanish."

"We could always go and keep Ember company." She suggested.

"Take me with you!" Father responded in English. "Save me, son!"

I snorted laughter. I flew up to Cujo. The dog didn't move beyond growling quietly, but he kept his eyes on me. I reached out and pet his muzzle. "Good Cujo, good dog." I said slowly.

The dog barked happily. Without warning, he shrunk down in size, becoming the size of a small puppy. He landed perfectly in my arms. I flew up to Father. "You still afraid of tiny Cujo, hmm?" The dog growled the closer he got to Father. I snickered.

"Daniel, I swear on all that is holy in this world if you bring that dog any closer I will slay you!" He snuggled closer to the tree.

"Fine, fine." I shrugged. I pet Cujo on his neck absentmindedly.

"Let me see him!" Sam asked.

I flew over to her, and Cujo licked her face. I let her hold him. "Still a fine hunt?" I asked Skulker.

"Always." Skulker floated over to us. He pet him behind the ears.

"Is it a good idea to be out in the open like this?" Sam asked. "I don't like this. I still have the heebie jeebies."

I frowned. "I didn't think about it till just now. What else could possibly go wrong?" I looked around, everyone was suddenly tense.

"Let's go join Ember, then! Nothing like blending in with the crowd." She suggested.

Skulker shrugged.

"Alright." Father jumped out of the tree. He was still wary of the dog.

"I'd love to go shopping for some more clothes. Some actual clothes, Father, not business casual." I said slowly.

"You mean poor people's clothes?" He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"To blend in! I don't blend in wearing Giorgio." I pleaded. "Pleeeease?"

Father scowled. "If it will make you happy, I guess we can do that." He crossed his arms. "But nothing better have holes in it."

"Holes? Why would something have a hole in it if it's new?"

"Please. I've seen your classmates." He waved his hand.

"Thanks, Father!" I clapped my hands excitedly.

"You owe me." He sighed. "I'll meet you guys there." He was gone in an instant.

I looked at Skulker. "What store?"

"Amity Park Mall." Sam replied. "It's the only mall in Amity."

"See you there." I took the dog from Sam and gave him to Skulker. I took Sam's hand and teleported both of us to the mall. We were out in the parking lot. I turned back to my human form. Sam did the same, straightening her skirt. "I'm buying you new clothes."

"You don't need to." She replied. "My clothes are fine."

"Sam, you wear the same thing every day. Let me spoil you just once."

She groaned. "Fine. But this is the only time."

I smiled and kissed her cheek. "Thank you."

She blushed. "Don't think you're off the hook, though. You own me."

"I'll add you to the list." I grinned. A light blush was on my cheeks also.

"You two are so cute!" A voice in front of us said. We both turned to look at her. An African-American girl around out age with long, curly black hair and green eyes came up to me. "I'm Valerie, but you can call me Val." She extended her hand to me.

I shook it. "Nice to see someone around this town has manners." I laughed. "Most people look at me like I'm nuts. I'm Daniel Masters."

"Yeah, I know who you are." Val blushed. "Everyone at school has been talking about you."

"Good things, I hope?" Father walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

"Well, of course, Mr. Masters!" Val responded, but she sounded flustered. "Just mostly about how he can't seem to stay out of the hospital."

"Well, yes, Daniel is a very sickly child." Father sighed. "Oh well, he's healthy now and that's what counts."

I glared at Father. He pretended not to notice and kept smiling at Val.

"Anyway, I'm going to run. Nice meeting you Daniel, and Mr. Masters! Bye, Sam." She waved as she walked off.

"Something about how she said your name has me on guard." I frowned.

Sam looked pissed. "Valerie is someone from the popular crowd. She's probably going to tell Paulina and Star all about us being together."

"What's so bad about that?" I asked.

"You don't get them like I do, Dan. They'll crush you like a bug for even associating with me." She sighed. "Forget it. It's not important."

"If you say so…" I trailed off.

"Ah, there you are, Ember!" Father suddenly spoke. He walked off to the left. I turned around. Ember was standing there with a multitude of bags, and some guy I had never seen before was hanging around her. He was about 5'6, with short cropped black hair, a muscular build and blue eyes. He looked to be around our age.

"Vladimir! Thank God!" Ember said. "This dude keeps hanging around me, but I can't understand anything he's saying!"

The guy looked over at us. "Back away! This pregnant lady needs space! As a gentlemen, I will guard her and protect her!"

I face palmed. "Oh god."

"What's he saying?" Ember asked.

"He says he's trying to protect you." I responded, and frowned. I looked at the guy. "You're making her uncomfortable." I responded in English.

"No I'm not! I'm being a perfect gentlemen! Look, I'll grab her bags." He reached towards her bags, but Ember shrieked and pulled her bags away. She said a long like of profanity I didn't even know existed.

"Dude!" I walked over to Ember and pulled him away from her. "Stop!" I grabbed him by the collar.

"Daniel, stop!" Sam ran over. "That's Kwan! He goes to school with us!"

I growled. "He's making my Aunt uncomfortable."

"Your aunt?" Kwan asked. "She's so young!"

"So?" I asked. I still had him by the collar of his shirt.

"Please put me down." Kwan asked.

"Stay away from my Aunt! You're creeping her out!" I hissed.

"I was just trying to help, dude!"

"Daniel! He's harmless, put him down!" Sam yelled.

"My aunt is Mexican, she only speaks French and Spanish. Just for future reference, if she looks creeped out, leave her alone!" I almost growled.

"Got it!" Kwan wrestled himself free of my grip and ran.

"Daniel!" Sam looked pissed. "What is up with you? You're so angry all the time!"

Father frowned. "Could it be left over from the 'illness'? It would make a lot of sense."

I scowled. "I'm not angry!"

"You sound very angry, Daniel." Father put his hand on my shoulder. "We'll talk about this when we get home."

I crossed my arms. "Fine."

"What did you even buy, Ember?" Father asked.

"Little bit of everything!" She chirped happily. She started to show him the things she'd bought.

I turned to Sam. "Where do you want to shop?"

"If I didn't want to show you what to buy I'd leave your ass here. What is up with you?" She asked. "You don't seem like yourself."

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I don't know Sam. Things are complicated right now."

"Alright." She sighed. "Let's just shop to take our minds off of it."

Sam took my hand. Her touch was comforting. Her hand was ice cold, though. "You know, your hand is cold."

"Well, it is winter." She replied.

"That's not what I meant." I scowled.

"Your hand is warm." She grinned.

"Glad you're happy." I rolled my eyes.

We were walking through the mall, passing varying stores. Lots of people smiled at us, but I paid no attention to. "Ooh, can we go in here?" She stopped.

I looked up at the sign. It read the Skurk and Lurk. I shrugged. "Sure."

We walked in. On one side were a bunch of chairs. Sort of like a dining restaurant. On the other side, were a bunch of clothing racks with dark colored clothing. "This place looks like teenage angst."

"It is teenage angst." She replied. "But it's also a clothing store!"

"Is this where you want to shop for more clothes?" I asked.

"No, they're too overpriced. I just want to say hi to Spike." She grinned. She walked up to the counter, where a man was standing. He was very pale, almost vampire-like pale, and had spiked black hair. "Hey, Spike!"

"Hey, S. What's up?" Spike's voice drawled on.

"This is Dan. My boyfriend." She pointed towards me.

Spike turned to look at me. "Sup, D. Your bleak outlook on life makes the work darker."

"Is that a compliment?" I asked. "Because I have no idea what that means."

Sam snickered. "Anyway, I just wanted to tell you hi. We're going to get going."

"Stay dark, S." He waved. I waved back, but Sam grabbed my hand and shook her head.

I scowled. "Your friends are weird."

"Just my Goth ones." She hummed happily. It seemed like she was happiest out of school. It was really cute. "What were your friends like in Wisconsin?"

I paused. "They haven't talked to me since before my puberty." I frowned.

"Some friends." She scoffed.

I stayed silent. I didn't want to talk about it. Did they really forget me that fast?