Chapter 28: Ghost Around

NOTE: I know I've said this before but thank you guys for all the reviews! They really do help keep me inspired when I hit writing blocks, and I read each one at least twice! Now on to the story, hope you enjoy!


Many miles of thick forest spread like a green ocean, separating Amity Park from its neighboring city, Elmerton.

The vast sea of land was calm, serene, and isolated from any human contact; save for one area.

All animals had long since fled the tiny clearing as the air was filled with static and thunderclaps of green and white. Small streaks of lightening threatened to set fire to nearby trees as they left the outstretched hands of a lone teenaged boy.

He straightened his posture, shaking his hands and hissing out a breath between his teeth. The more powerful attacks took longer to charge, and hurt as they exited his palms.

They were also draining, and Danny could feel himself waning as the hours dragged by. Scowling down at a hand, Danny watched the ectoplasm manifest, growing as he fed more energy into it. Sparks of white danced up his fingers and across his wrist as he held his hand out, not watching where he aimed as he let go. The ball of buzzing green shot out, striking a tree several yards away with a hiss.

Finally, Danny lifted his eyes upward, taking in the day and his surroundings. He idly wondered why he'd never thought of coming to the forest to train before. If he went far enough in, no one would ever find him as he practiced.

And that's what he was doing, wasn't it. Practice makes perfect, they say.

'Not avoiding anything; nope.' a little voice spoke up in a snide tone.

Danny squashed the thought, frowning.

So what if he wanted to get far away from his home and his family and the city? He wasn't sitting under a tree crying or something; he was training! So it didn't really count as running away, right?

"It's not like it even happened." Danny mumbled aloud.

It didn't happen. His parents never hurt him. Never discovered his body or his secret. They were still his regular parents. They still loved him.

But none of those thoughts felt real. He couldn't understand it. He knew what was real, but it was as if a part of himself wouldn't accept it. A piece of his mind was still convinced that it'd happened, and no rational thinking or angry ecto blasts fired in the woods could cool down the raging rampage that still warred in a dark recess of his head.

Danny was at a loss with himself. He groaned, frustrated and tired, and pulled out his cellphone from a jeans pocket. Glancing down at the time, Danny figured that he should start heading back, before Jazz or his dad came home to check on him. No need to earn himself more unwanted attention by being mysteriously absent.

'Hopefully with Mom hurt they won't bother much with me.' he thought as his feet left the ground.

He slowly rose above the tree tops, not bothering with invisibility as his mind numbed once more, falling into a lulled quiet as he looked toward the distant skyline.


The sun was beginning its downward climb as a small car pulled up outside of the Manson family home.

Before it fully stopped, the back door was opening and Tucker was rushing out of the vehicle. He ignored his mother's call from behind him as he bounded up to the ornate door. He threw it open, staring into the dark interior with a sudden tremor of fear.

Concern quickly drowned out all thoughts of horror movie scenarios, however, and Tucker dove into the shadows as his parents jogged to catch up to him.

"Tucker, sweetie, slow down!" Angela said, to no avail.

The boy was bounding up the stairs two at a time, running straight for Sam's room. Just inside the open doorway he halted, his parents almost crashing into him.

Sam lay across her large bed, wrapped in a plush black robe, wet hair clinging to her face as her red eyes slowly turned to look at everyone.

"Tucker?" her voice was nearly a whisper.

Tucker walked fully into the room, relieved beyond belief that Sam was okay. But sadness pierced his heart like pins at the sight of her. All this time, she had been alone in this big house, probably thinking the absolute worst had happened to her parents. Tucker would never stop kicking himself for not coming over sooner.

Sam sat up, pulling her robe tighter about herself as the cold air chilled her wet skin. She glanced briefly at the adults, her eyes falling from them as Tucker stood by her bedside. Her face twisted into an expression of grief before she fought back control, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"Tucker," she began, voice wobbling as fresh tears threatened to build. "My parents…they-"

"They're alive!" Tucker interrupted, not able to bear another broken word from the girl.

Sam's throat closed around her voice, choking it as her eyes widened. She stared up at the boy before her, mind struggling to comprehend.

"What?" she finally managed.

"Your parents are at the hospital." Tucker explained. "They've been hurt pretty bad, but the doctors say they'll be okay. We came to take you-"

Tucker's words were halted by Sam's body colliding with his own. He very nearly was knocked off his feet by the force of it, Sam's arms wrapping tight around his neck as she hugged him.

Quickly she let go, now looking ready to start sprinting down the street. Angela left her husband's side and walked into the room, resting a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Come on, honey. Let's get you dressed and then we'll leave right away." she spoke gently, steering the teen over to her closet.

Tucker followed his dad back out, and the two waited in silence downstairs.

In under two minutes Sam was running down to join them, shirt and jeans thrown on haphazardly. She practically charged out the front door, hopping into the back of the Foley family car.

Tucker and the rest were close behind, Angela starting up the car and driving back the way they came.

Tucker looked at Sam, who sat tense in her seat, hands toying with her seatbelt as she stared out the window. He leaned slightly toward her, his voice low as he spoke.

"It'll be alright, Sam." he said, hesitating before he continued. "I'm sorry I didn't come over sooner. I just wasn't thinking, I guess…"

Sam pulled from her thoughts, turning and giving Tucker a half-smile.

"Don't be sorry. I know there's been…a lot going on today." she assured him, before returning her gaze to the window.

The four sat in weighted silence for the rest of the trip, all anxious to reach the hospital and finally see the Manson parents with their own eyes.


The house was barren and still as Jazz walked quietly through it. She internally winced at every creak and groan the stairs made, the noises scraping at the silence.

Danny's door was predictably closed and locked, and Jazz jiggled the handle in frustration. She knocked on the door several times, frowning at it.

"Danny, open up." she called. "Come on."

No answer, and Jazz sighed in annoyance. Why was Danny picking now of all times to be a brooding teenager?

"Danny, this isn't the time to be stubborn! Open the door, we're going to the hospital. Mom wants to see you, and your friends are there. Danny!"

Nothing. Jazz groaned loudly, giving the door another round of loud knocks before giving up.

"That does it." she said to herself, turning away from the impassive door and down into the main room once more.

From there she continued her descent, going into the lab. She searched about in the darkness, soon finding a long screwdriver sitting atop her father's table. Tool in hand, she stomped back upstairs, thinking over just how long a lecture Danny was in for.

It took a few minutes of swiveling the screwdriver in the small space between the door's lock and the frame, and Jazz huffed and tried not to curse under her breath. Oh yes, Danny was going to be in so much trouble when she got in there.

Finally catching the lock, Jazz was able to maneuver it just enough to shove the door open. It swung wide, revealing an empty room.

Jazz dropped the screwdriver, walking quickly into the room. Her eyes swept up and down the small messy space.

"Danny?" she called.

She ripped off the blanket, revealing the bare mattress beneath it. She shoved aside papers to better see underneath the bed. She opened the closet door and rummaged around in it, moving boxes and clothes. Danny was nowhere.

Feeling a wave of dread, Jazz gave the room one last look before exiting it, mindful to unlock the door before closing it. She stood uncertainly in the hallway for several seconds, debating over what to do. She really hated the idea of calling Dad just to tell him that Danny was once again missing, but she didn't know what else to do.

Slowly, she walked back downstairs, all fire taken out of her as fear moved in.

Back in the bedroom, its temperature dropped a few degrees as Danny entered, moving through the window and setting his feet down onto the carpet. He listened for a moment, and hearing nothing, was glad that it appeared everyone was still away.

His mood lightening, Danny ducked down to the floor, searching around for his discarded backpack. He vaguely remembered flinging it somewhere when he had arrived home the other day. It felt like too much time had passed between then and now, and he swept aside items and trash in his impatience.

Jazz paused, foot hovering on the last step, as the distinct sound of movement reached her ears. She turned and looked upstairs, her feet carrying her cautiously back the way she came.

Danny paused at his open closet door, before shoving it closed with a loud click. As soon as he found his backpack, he was getting his thermos and heading into the Ghost Zone.

Danny let out a small noise of triumph as he spotted the worn bag lying half underneath his computer desk. He grabbed it up, pulling open the zipper and searching within. He let stray papers flutter out as he dug down to the bottom, feeling the metal against his fingers. He pulled the thermos out, dropping the backpack to the floor.

He looked down at the glinting chrome, thinking of the three tiny spirits trapped inside. His stomach took that moment to growl at him, and he turned toward the door just as Jazz opened it.

Both siblings froze, staring at one another. Jazz was the first to speak.

"Danny?" she said, looking her brother up and down as though he were a hallucination. "What are you doing here?"

"Uh, this is my room?" Danny replied in a petulant tone.

Jazz sputtered, unable to form her spinning thoughts into cohesive sentences. Danny took the opportunity to skirt around her. His own mind was barely operating, and he could only think of getting down to the lab.

He was in the living room before Jazz caught up and grabbed him by the arm. He stopped, his mind waking up in time to watch her do a double take down at his captured arm. He quickly jerked it from her grasp, glaring at her.

"What!" he asked, exasperated and wanting her to go away.

"We're heading to the hospital. Come on." Jazz stated firmly, pushing all confusing thoughts aside in favor of the task she was sent on.

Once she got them both back to their parents, then Jazz would ask Danny how on earth he had evaded her search. Determined, Jazz once more grabbed Danny's arm. Leaving no room for argument, she pivoted on her heel and made for the door, dragging her reluctant brother along.

"Jazz-"

"No. You can't stay cooped up in here all day, Danny." Jazz said, not looking back at him. "Mom is hurt and hasn't seen you in almost two days, and your friends are worried, too."

At the mention of Tucker and Sam, Danny stopped pulling away from his sister. He sighed quietly behind her, but let himself be led outside into the afternoon light. Once she was sure he wouldn't run away, Jazz released her hold on Danny, bringing her hand up and cradling it close to her chest, trying to get the warmth back into it. Her fingers felt like they'd been wrapped around ice! And the air wasn't much better. Cold nipped at her from all around, and Jazz crossed her arms with a shudder.

Lost in their own thoughts, both teens walked the long trek to the hospital in complete silence. The sky had darkened into a rich shade of orange by the time they reached the main entrance.

The glass doors slid open for them, and Jazz mutely led the way down halls and through groups of people. Maddie's door stood open, and the two parents could be seen inside. Maddie lay in the bed, awake but drowsy, and Jack stood leaning against a wall.

Jazz entered the small dim room, smiling as her parents looked up.

"Where's Danny?" Maddie asked immediately.

Thought fled as Jazz stared at her. She whipped around toward her brother, only to be met with empty space.

"Danny?" Jazz walked out of the room, looking up and down the hallway, no younger brother in sight.


Tucker suddenly shivered, pulling his arms around himself to fend off the cold. He looked up to send a glare toward the hospital's ventilation system, but his eyes were stopped halfway as they landed on Danny. The other boy stood nearby, silent and looking at him, his expression unreadable.

"Danny!" Tucker yelled, flinging his arms out and crushing his friend in a hug.

He was so glad to see the other that he held on for an extra few seconds, despite his body screaming at the bitter cold seeping into it. Stepping back, he rubbed his arms as he grinned at Danny, happy to see that he didn't look hurt.

"Dude, we've all been so worried! Where have you been this whole time?" Tucker asked, walking further from where his parents sat.

Danny followed, and the two stood several feet from the tired adults.

"Sam's with her mom and dad." Tucker continued, his voice lowering. He nodded toward the closed door.

"Are they alright?" Danny asked after a moment's silence.

"Yeah, they'll be fine. Her dad's not in good shape, but he'll live." Tucker replied, thinking back to the brief glimpse he'd gotten of the man.

Lying prone on the bed, unconscious, his legs exposed as they were hooked up to wires and metal rods, piercing into flesh-

Tucker shook his head to rid himself of the images; he'd nearly fainted when he peeked in. And he was not going to pass out now!

Danny looked at the door, then at Tucker's parents, and then resumed staring at Tucker. His silence and blank expression quickly began to unnerve Tucker, and he glanced back at his folks before pulling Danny further away.

"Where were you, y'know, during everything?" he whispered.

Danny blinked at him, confused.

"During what?" he asked.

"You know, the flipping nightmare!" Tucker stressed. "When that big ghost thing sent all those creatures loose."

Now it was Danny's turn to look at Tucker like he was acting strange.

"I have no clue what you're talking about." Danny said, shaking his head.

"Dude...where exactly were you?" Tucker asked again.

"I was out." Danny answered plainly. "Remember? At the party I said I was heading out. I wanted to get some fresh air. And speaking of, I-"

"Fresh air!" Tucker yelled, before stopping himself and looking around.

People glanced their way at the noise, but quickly ignored the two once more.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure it was a relaxing night for you. The blood red sky, the thousands of people screaming and running for their lives. What's not to love?" Tucker couldn't help the thick sarcasm coating his words. He barely kept his voice low and contained, wanting to shout and gesture wildly. The night had been an absolute hell, and here Danny was speaking as if it'd been a boring evening.

Danny was also becoming angry, frowning heavily at his friend.

"What the heck are you talking about? Look, all I know is the big Knight ghost came through the portal and wrecked things. My mom got hurt fighting him. Anything I'm missing?"

"Uh, yeah, how about the monsters he created out of freaken' cars and stuff and sent after all of us." Tucker said. "They're what hurt a lot of people. The big ghost mostly just flew around hitting people with his sword."

Danny had opened his mouth to reply, but at that final word he stopped. Tucker took notice of the sudden change, his eyes wide and his expression blank once more.

"Um, Danny? What is-"

"Who'd he attack with his sword?" Danny asked quietly.

"He got Mr Lancer and Paulina. Maybe others, but I don't know." Tucker shrugged. "It didn't actually stab them or anything, it just made them faint. They're okay, but they're still pretty spooked. I think getting stabbed with a ghost sword really freaked them out."

Sam took that moment to step out of the room, looking ragged and tired. She rubbed at her red eyes, searching around for Tucker. When her gaze landed on both boys, she gasped. Running over, she grabbed Danny by the arm, pulling him into a fierce hug.

"Danny! We've been so worried. Where have you been this whole time?"

"Out having a relaxing night, apparently." Tucker remarked, still not happy with his friend.

He just couldn't believe it. This entire time he and Sam had been convinced Danny was out helping people, and might've gotten hurt while doing so. And yet here he was insisting he'd had a nice quiet night of flying around or whatever. It really irked him.

"Relaxing night?" Sam repeated with a raised brow, looking toward Danny like he was a Martian.

"What!" Danny shouted, flinging his arms out. "I really didn't see any of these 'monsters' Tucker's talking about. So some windows got smashed and people got injured; sounds like the exact same thing as the Ember incident."

"You haven't watched the news, have you?" Sam said. "A lot of people were killed, Danny. The entire city was in chaos. Just where on earth did you go?"

"I went out of the city. You know, to practice." Danny decided on the lie quickly. He had been doing just that for most of the day, after all. "Where no one can see me."

Sam looked ready to comment further, but Danny beat her to it, holding up the thermos still in his grasp.

"Look, I'll be back in a few minutes, you guys." he said quietly. "Jazz dragged me out of the house and I'm starving."

Sam frowned unhappily down at the thermos, her own stomach clenching at the unpleasant reminder of Danny's food source. She reluctantly reached out a hand and placed it on her friend's shoulder.

"We'll come with you." she said. "It feels like we've all been separated a whole week instead of just one day."

"I would like to get out of this place for a bit." Tucker agreed. "I swear, the next time I step foot in a hospital, it'll be too soon."

Danny smiled at them both, glancing toward Tucker's parents to make sure they weren't being watched.

"Then follow me." he said over his shoulder, quickly walking around a corner.

"Let's thank god this old building doesn't have many security cameras." Tucker commented as the trio went down a few more hallways, each lined with less and less people.

Once they reached one that was abandoned, Danny began trying doors. Finding one that was unlocked, he ducked inside the dark room, followed closely by the other two.

"Grab onto me, and don't let go." he said, holding his arms out.

"Oh man." Tucker groaned, knowing what this meant.

They reluctantly wrapped their hands around each of Danny's arms, gripping tight as though he were about to rocket away. Both teens swallowed deep breaths of air as they felt the cold chill of intangibility slide up their bodies. It felt like what they imagined being submerged in arctic water might feel like. Pins and needles stabbed along their flesh, and they were barely aware of when their feet left the floor and they began flying out into the night sky.

"Open your eyes." Danny's voice was heard.

Tucker and Sam both slowly cracked their eyes open, only to regret the action. They were soaring hundreds of feet above the ground. The few working street lights looked like tiny stars, and a sea of black enclosed them from above and below.

Tucker let out a high-pitched shriek, his nails digging into Danny's arm. Sam didn't fare much better, closing her eyes once more to steady herself.

"Calm down." Danny laughed at his friends' fear. "I can catch you guys if you fall."

"Don't say that!" Tucker wailed, pulling closer to Danny and clinging to him like a life raft.

Danny grinned at him before spinning suddenly, looping through the air as the two on either side of him screamed. He couldn't stop the laughter that burst out of him. He should have done this sooner, it was way too entertaining!

"Danny!" Sam yelled over the wind, bravely letting go with one hand to hit him.

"Okay okay, I'm sorry." Danny replied with a smile.

Once more, their flight was calm and slow, and as minutes passed the teens settled down enough to take in the amazing sight.

"This is actually really cool." Sam said, looking around herself at the darkness. "It's like being deep under the ocean."

"Or in outer space." Danny added.

"Or in my nightmares!" Tucker shouted. "Where are we going, anyway?"

"Oh, nowhere in particular." Danny said. "I just wanted to fly you two around for a bit before we landed."

"Consider us flown. Please land, now." Tucker insisted.

Danny obliged, turning them all invisible as he dropped down into the park. They landed in a shadowed area beside a large tree, Tucker and Sam tearing away from Danny as soon as they felt dirt beneath their feet. They became visible as they disconnected from him, and Danny let himself be seen soon after. The two teens stood shivering and hugging themselves, trying to bring warmth back into their bodies.

Danny glanced about, making certain no one was around before falling back further into the shadows, uncapping the thermos. He looked up toward his friends, who were huddled together nearby, watching on. Sam wore an expression of clear ambivalence, and Danny half-expected her to turn around and walk off.

"Can we, uh, hurry it up please." Tucker broke the silence. "It's starting to get really cold out here."

Danny felt the pull of hunger, and mentally agreed with Tucker. Not wasting another moment, he pressed the release button, bathing the area in light for a brief moment.

A tiny amorphous blob of glowing green appeared near the ground, slowly lifting up as it took in its surroundings. Danny didn't give it a chance to escape, dropping the thermos and zapping the creature with both hands. It faltered, falling back upon the grass, and Danny followed it.

Tucker looked around, keeping an eye out for people and trying to ignore the sounds of Danny eating the small ghost.

Sam found that she couldn't look away. Her eyes were held, lingering on the dim glow of the green ectoplasm as it spread along Danny's mouth and hands, running in thin rivulets down his chin.

Part of her mind tried to look at it objectively. It was the same as watching an animal eating another in the nature documentaries she loved. It wasn't so different. Danny certainly looked like some kind of animal, crouching in the dark, eyes glowing, tearing at the small spirit in an almost feral way.

But the other half of her was scared. Genuinely and completely scared of her friend. For the first time since he had shown them his own dead body in his bedroom, Sam felt like she was looking at a stranger. Someone merely wearing Danny's skin. But not truly him; not on the inside.

And then it was over. Danny stood up, making an attempt at wiping away the green staining his mouth. His eyes remained glowing orbs, blacking out all his features as he picked up the thermos and joined the other two.

Wordlessly, he held his arms out toward them once more. Tucker groaned again before grabbing hold. Sam looked at the ectoplasm painting Danny's hand as she wrapped her own around his arm.

Together, the three flew back to the hospital. Danny was careful to enter the same room they'd walked into earlier, letting Sam and Tucker go as they neared the floor. Both kids gasped as they became tangible once more, breathing in deep and feeling chilled to the bone once again.

"Okay, I officially hate that." Tucker said through chattering teeth.

"Go warm up, you guys." Danny said from his place still hovering in the air. "I'll meet back with you later."

"Wait, where are you going?" Sam asked.

"I'm gonna go clean up and change." he replied, pulling further away. "Then I think I'll fly around; see for myself what kind of damage the Knight caused."

"Well, maybe we-"

Sam's sentence fell as Danny vanished through the ceiling, leaving the remaining two in the dark room.

"Guess that's a no." Tucker commented, turning and heading for the door.

Sam followed, and they blinked in the bright lights of the hallway, walking slowly down it and toward the sounds of people.

"Did Danny seem…I don't know, kind of off to you?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, actually." Tucker agreed. "He kept looking at me funny, before you showed up. Like he was zombified, or something."

"I don't think he was just out in the forest all night, Tuck." Sam frowned. "I wonder why he won't tell us-"

"There you are!" a voice shouted, making them jump.

They were quickly set upon by two angry-looking adults and one worried teenager.

"And just where were you two all this time?" Angela demanded. "Do you know how long we've been looking for you?"

"S-sorry, Mom," Tucker said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess we sort of…lost track of time?"

His mother did not look placated by this answer. Jazz quickly stepped around her, gaining everyone's attention.

"Were you guys with Danny?" she asked.

"No, sorry." Sam answered.

"Haven't seen him." Tucker replied in unison.

Jazz's shoulders sagged at this, and she walked away, continuing her search for her wayward brother. Angela, meanwhile, looked even more irate.

"Children, I do not think this is the time nor the place to be running off alone together, do you hear me!" she said sternly.

She grabbed them by their shoulders and steered them to a cluster of chairs.

"Park it." she ordered, and both teens obeyed immediately. "You two are not gonna leave my sight for the rest of the night."

Sam and Tucker exchanged a quick look before slouching down in their seats, preparing themselves for a long lecture from Mrs Foley, and a long night of wondering just what was up with their friend.


Jazz had given up calling out Danny's name an hour ago as she traveled from hall to hall, looking into rooms, even quickly stepping into the mens' restrooms, hoping to find her brother. She had absolutely no idea why he would suddenly vanish, refusing to simply sit with his family for the night.

And that wasn't the least of Jazz's questions. Just how exactly he managed to hide from her before was another one. And several more that had been slowly building up in the back of Jazz's head for weeks now.

She crossed into a new unit of the hospital, unnoticed by its half-asleep denizens. Beeping machines created an oddly soothing cadence in the otherwise silent space. Jazz peeked discreetly into a few rooms, trying not to disturb the injured patients within.

She was so wrapped up in her worry that she nearly missed the familiar figure as it dashed into a room. Jazz stopped in her tracks, staring ahead at the closed door for several tense seconds, before coming to a decision.

Determined not to freak out, Jazz walked to the room, turning the handle tentatively. The door opened with barely a whisper, and Jazz stepped into the dark room. Various machines cast an eerie glow, illuminating the room's sole occupant.

Jazz walked up to the bed, looking down at the young woman who lay motionless under thick blankets. Shadows clung around her closed eyes, her mouth hanging half-open. Faded turquoise locks framed her round face, ginger hair sprouting out at the roots.

She was clearly not the person Jazz had seen enter this room, and she looked around in the small space, spotting no one.

It had to have been Johnny. Why he was malingering around in a hospital spying on her, Jazz didn't know. But she sure as heck was going to find out.

But first she had to find Danny, the girl reminded herself. And so with one last glance toward the woman, Jazz hurriedly left the room and all ruminations over Johnny behind.