It had been the worst month of Danny's life. Once his parents made the connection between Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom, there was no stopping the myriad of tests, experiments, and exorcisms performed on the teen.
He'd couldn't even transform anymore, Danny was so weak he couldn't remember how many days it had been since he'd been allowed to walk around, let alone since he'd been able to use any of his ghost powers to try and escape. Not that he could walk if he tried. Jack, most of all, had become obsessed with freeing his son from the ghost boy's "possession", not believing Danny's explanations or pleas.
Danny lay on the metal slab he'd been chained to for what he counted to be at least the last week and began to doze off from pure exhaustion, when he heard footsteps.
Not again, he never comes down more than once a day. I can't take any more, I-
Danny felt a cold, hard hand press down over the lower half of his face. Startled, his eyes flashed open, only to see none other than Skulker standing above him.
"If it isn't the halfa, I'm surprised someone other than myself was able to catch you."
Danny could only look up at the ghost hunter with panicked eyes, confusing the metal ghost. It wasn't like the boy to be afraid, that's what made him fun prey, he was always so defiant.
"These chains…" Skulker began, realizing even if he wanted to take the half ghost boy, Fenton's ghost proof technology wouldn't allow it. He'd likely be vaporized if he even tried.
Danny, realizing the figure towering over him was not once again his father, fumbled over his own words, struggling to force coherent sounds out of his strained vocal cords.
"P-Please Skulker" He was quickly cut off
"You're hardly in any position to ask me for any favors, after all the times you've spoiled my hunts."
It was true, the half ghost hero had made Skulkers life much harder, but even still, what lay before him wasn't the unbeatable Phantom hero, but instead an injured, pale, scrawny, scarred, burned, tortured helpless boy. Skulker ascended, no doubt planning to wreak havoc on Amity Park, when he felt a weak hand grab at him, looking down to see tears in the boy's eyes.
"Please" Danny begged
Skulker sighed. "I'll see what I can do for you, whelp. No promises." It wasn't in his nature to let a mere human child be tortured, purposely at least.
Besides, if Vlad found out what he'd seen and that he hadn't reported it to him, the billionaire would have his head. "Damn halfas" he mumbled as he flew off, Wisconsin bound.