Downward Spiral by SupremeDramaOverlord

Chapter 17 - A Million Dollars for Your Thoughts?

In the past few months, getting bullied around by high school jocks became surprisingly boring. Since the beginning of the school year, I became Dash Baxter's favorite punching bag. I used to dread these moments, but now they became one of the least stressful events of the day. Dash was a wimp compared the ghosts I always have to fight.

Bored out of my mind, I allowed Dash and his friends to punch and shove me around while they spewed pathetic taunts. When they had their fun, they shoved me in a locker with the all time classic, "See ya, Fenturd!"

Unimpressive was the word that came to mind.

When the sound of footsteps faded away, I phased through the locker and out into the hallway where Sam and Tucker waited for me. Sam scowled menacingly at the backs of the bullies and Tucker was busy tinkering with the device in his hands.

It had only been a little over a month since I escaped Vlad's mansion in the Rocky Mountains and I hadn't seen a trace of the older halfa since returning home. I was more than willing to throw away the clothes he had made me wear and Vlad's stupid bracelet shared a similar fate. Once I smashed it with a hammer and crushed the pieces with a blender, I threw away the remains in the garbage dispenser.

Things had gone back to normal, or at least I tried to pretend it did. I never really told anyone what happened in the Rockies, not Sam, not Tucker, and not Jazz. All they knew was that Vlad kidnapped me and I escaped. End of story. Tucker, thankfully, didn't press me for details and was willing to let that be that. But judging by the weak glares Sam continued to give me, she was still mad that I wouldn't tell them anything - wouldn't tell her anything. However, today it seemed she wouldn't gripe about it, and I half listened as Tucker talked about some cheat codes he found for Doomed.

I wouldn't have been able to focus on the conversation even if I tried. My surroundings demanded all my attention. Every street corner, every alleyway, every person we passed could've been a threat. At any moment Vlad or one of his murderous goons could show up and attack. I hated it. Knowing a fight was coming but never when.I tried to distract myself, tried to go back to the way things always were. Despite how annoyed my friends felt at the secrecy, we still had fun. We watched horror movies at Sam's house, played video games late at night at Tucker's, spent a couple of nights stargazing on the roof at my house, and it was a rare occasion when I had the time to work on my homework with my friends.

For some reason or another, there wasn't as many ghosts rampaging the town and picking fights with me. In the past month I only had to deal with five ghosts and they were all pretty easy to capture and force back into the Ghost Zone. It was strange but I didn't dare complain. Hopefully they were just getting bored with me and my town. Or maybe they just didn't like getting crammed into a thermos and sucked through the portal. I shivered.

Shame burned through me as I remembered how I had asked Jazz to do it. To go down into that basement and put the ghosts back for me. She didn't think anything was strange with my request, not when I claimed I had too much homework to do and just needed a little help with small trivial things. It was the truth, I had more homework than I could keep up with but… I couldn't do it.

The first night my thermos was occupied since coming home, I tried. I tried so, so hard to walk down those stairs. All I had to do was insert the thermos into a slot and press one measly button and the ghosts would be sent back. That's all I had to do and the job would be done. Over.

My parents had been in town and the basement was empty. But as opened that door and the smell of chemicals drifted through the doorway, I stared unblinking down the dim stairwell into their lab, those hateful images flashing behind my eyes. The memory of oozing green blood, the sound of whimpers that pleaded for help, those wide eyes filled with so much terror. Those eyes haunted me every night.

Without closing the door, I had rushed to the bathroom and emptied my contents into a porcelain bowl. When Jazz came home from the library, I had casually asked her to do it while I studied for an upcoming test. She had thought nothing of it. She didn't know what happened down there, I never told her. Jazz never looked bothered by the basement and I would find myself often wondering what mom and dad had done with the ghost once they were done with it. I had a feeling that I didn't want to know. I would wonder if there had been anything I could have done, if I could have saved it. If by doing nothing… maybe it was my fault…

"Dude? Earth to Danny!"

I snapped my head towards Tucker who was frowning in annoyance. "Yeah? What were you saying?"

"You didn't hear a word I said." It wasn't a question.

"I'm sorry, Tuck," I scratched the back of my neck as I smiled apologetically. "What were saying?"

"Forget about it.

 I felt guilt worm through my gut. I used to tell my friends everything, everything. Even though Tucker hid it well, I knew he was just as angry as Sam was that I was keeping information. Keeping secrets.

But there were too many things that I wanted to forget… to many things I learned.

Sam gave me a stubborn look, "Whatever's on your mind, spit it out already!"

But I was more stubborn, "Nothing's on my mind, okay? I'm hungry, lets go to the Nasty Burger."

"No." Sam planted her feet in front of my path. She was only an inch taller but she lorded it over me. "Start talking, right now. Tell us what happened."

I folded my arms, officially tired of this ongoing argument. "There's nothing to tell, Sam. So drop it."

Her eyes narrowed as Tucker glanced nervously between us. "We're your friends, Danny! Friends don't keep secrets from each other!"

I held her unyielding stare and yelled right back at her, "Friends don't make each other do things they don't want to do!"

Tucker's mouth was open now and something like hurt was beginning to take hold of the anger shining in Sam's beautiful amethyst eyes. Sam was never afraid to yell at anyone. But until today, I've never once raised my voice at her. That funny feeling inside my gut twisted harder. My mouth went dry but I refused to back down, even for her.

"Something been bothering you, Danny. You haven't - haven't been yourself lately." Her tone quieted as her voice hitched. But that anger was still there, lurking beneath the surface. "You know, Jazz has been asking us about you." I didn't. "She was hoping you had talked to us about… whatever's been bothering you."

I didn't say anything at first. Tucker timidly stepped closer to us, as if we would turn and bite his head off.

"Jazz is worried about you, dude. We all are."

That's when I saw the uncertainty in his eyes. There was something else, that thing that squashed my guilt and instead built up my irritation. I didn't need or want anyone's pity. Especially theirs.

"Then stop being worried and just drop it. I'm fine."

Sam's lips tightened into a thin line as her fists clenched to her sides. "You're really not going to tell us." Again, not a question.

I shook my head as if dismissing the entire argument, "Are we going to the Nasty Burger, or what?" I stepped around her continued down the sidewalk. But when I didn't hear them behind me, I paused and turned to see the cold expression on Sam's face.

"Go by yourself. After all, it seems that's how you want things to be." She bit her words out and stalked off in the opposite direction, "Come on, Tuck."

I stared in shock as Sam stormed away. Tucker seemed to hesitate before mumbling a quiet apology and trailing after the goth.

I stood there for a long time. A part of me wanted to run after them and apologize for everything. But the other part, the part that was hurt…

Turning on my heel, I shoved my hands in my pockets. I bit down on my tongue and the familiar taste of metallic filled my mouth. I walked into an alley and after making sure no one was watching, I latched onto that cold, raw power. A tingle vibrated through my body and I jumped into the air. I kept going till I soared high above the tops of the buildings, I tried to focus on the feeling of weightlessness instead of the pain, anger, and regret aching inside my chest.

Flying high over everything seemed to bring me a sense of freedom. Just like the trees and buildings, I could leave my troubles far, far below. Up here there was nothing but air and sky. When I wasn't scanning the scenery below me and only focused on what was around me, I could let the sky swallow me whole. It was peaceful, to be surrounded by nothing but the colors of the lightest blue and wisps of clouds. I enjoyed the feeling of the wind combing through my snowy hair. Even the chilling sensations that came with my ghost form couldn't hold back the welcoming warmth of the sun. It was an effective way to clear my mind of everything. It was calming.

Out of habit, I mindlessly flew in the direction of the park. It was my favorite place to fly. Deep in the park, there was hardly anyone walking on the many trails that curved through the trees. It wasn't until I got to the small lake did I lower closer to the ground. It was a gorgeous sight to see. The reflections where the sun met the water glittered and shinned. It was brighter than a thousand diamonds. Leisurely I stretched out a hand as I flew over the water, my fingers skimming the sparkling surface.

Today would have been perfect to walk the wooded trails with Sam and Tucker. Whenever we did, we usually joked and teased each other without mercy. A few times we didn't leave till the sun went down and the stars glimmered in the sky.

I pulled my hand away. Tomorrow. I'd make it up to them tomorrow. After school I'd apologize, made sure they knew I was sorry for the way I spoke to them. I wouldn't tell them about what I went through in the mountains - What Vlad put me though. I wouldn't tell them about what happened in the lab with my parents either. I couldn't tell anyone about those eyes that silently pleaded for mercy, for help. For my help. Admitting it, saying it out loud… that would make it too real. I just wanted to forget that week of my life. Forget it ever happened.

I landed on a patch of grass. For a moment, I just stood and admired the lake before walking over to the lone dock. I stopped at the edge and looked down.

I gazed into the water and my reflection gazed back - the reflection with inhuman eyes and silvery hair that wisped at the edges. I stared. And as I stared, I began to hate. My chest burned and clenched with a bitterness for the face watching me through the water. The face my parents hunted like a wild animal, the face ghosts would come to for a fight, the face that always seemed to scare humans who looked at it, the face I hid like a dark, dirty secret.

Blue rings swept over the boy in the water and the face change. It was a subtle change, a small change. There was hardly any difference, really. Funnily enough, I didn't like this one any better. The eyes seemed human enough, even with the dark bags underneath. The otherworldly hair was gone, replaced with messy hair that no comb could tame. This face was no improvement. My parents ignored this face, kids at school bullied it, and this face failed to say the right things to my friends. It seemed that it didn't matter what face I wore. Neither of them could do anything right. Neither one could fix my life.

For the first time in my life, I wished that I was someone different. I wished I wasn't me. I wished I was someone who made their parents proud, who could make their sister and friends smile, someone who made good grades. I wished I was a teenager that didn't wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares, didn't keep a collection of bruises and injuries. I wanted to be someone who wasn't constantly looking over their shoulder, who lied through their teeth to loved ones.

It didn't change anything. I could wish and hate myself all I wanted. But it changed nothing.

I wasn't sure how long I stood there, lost in my own thoughts. The sound of my ringtone pulled me back to reality and I was glad that no one was there to see me jump out of my skin. I fumbled for my phone and had barely answered it when a voice began shouting from the other end.

"Danny?! Danny, are you there?!"

"Jazz, calm down, I'm here." I frowned at how panicked she sounded, "What's wrong?"

She didn't answer me immediately, "Where are you?"

"In the park. What's wrong?" I added emphasis on my question.

"You need to come home, right now!"

"What. Is. Wrong."

"Just come home. Right now! But don't use your powers, just walk home."

"Why? Is there someone there? Is-" A pit dropped in my stomach as Vlad's red eyes flashed fresh in my mind. "Is someone threatening you?"

I believed the honesty in her voice when she answered, "No, no it's not like. There's no ghosts or anything but, please just come home. And don't use your ghost form. Please."

I was already running toward the house, "I'm on my way, but why-"

"Please, just trust me on this, I'll explain everything when you get here."

"Okay," Scenario after bad scenario popped through my thoughts, "I won't be long."

I was about to hang up the phone when Jazz quickly cut in, "Don't hang up! Stay on the phone."

Jazz wouldn't tell me why she didn't want me to use my ghost form, she wouldn't even tell me what the emergency was. As I hurried home, I didn't pester her to answer me. I knew she was deeply upset about something. Instead of asking questions, I'd just told her what road I was on, what shop I passing, and from the tone in her voice, I knew it relieved her to know I was getting closer to the house. I never stopped running.

The sun had set by the time I made it home. She was waiting for me on the porch. Relief shone in her eyes and she nearly dragged me inside before slamming the door close. I scanned the room for danger, for blood red eyes, but we were alone.

"Okay," I panted between breaths, "What's," I huffed as a stitch pulled in my side, "Wrong?"

Without answering, Jazz bit her lip and lead me into the kitchen. The small TV on the counter was already on, showing a reporter in a wide parking lot. There were people unloading odd weapons from their vehicles. Though the style was different from my parents, I knew those were ghost weapons. But what surprised me the most was what the reporter was saying.

"The hunt is on for the ghost boy!"

My brows rose at Jazz, "What?"

She bit her lip harder as she glanced nervously from me to the TV.

"A mysterious benefactor has offered a million dollar bounty for the head of Amity Park's most famous ghost!" The picture that flashed on the screen was an image of me in my ghost form in mid-flight. "The generous benefactor has also hired the world's best known ghost hunters to track him down!" The reporter went on to interview some of the ghost hunters. The first group wore pristine white suits and called themselves the Guys in White, a government funded organization. The second looked like a bunch of hippies called the Groovy Gang. I stopped watching when the reporter walked over to two other ghost hunters right as they stepped outside their black 1967 Chevy Impala.

I shrugged and headed for the fridge, "Whoever hired them wasted a lot of money."

Jazz stared, incredulous, "Weren't you paying attention? Those ghost hunters are all hired to kill you."

I chomped a large bite out of my apple, "So?"

"You're not worried?"

"Why should I be?" I glanced at the TV just as the reported started talking to a group wearing what looked like vacuums on their backs. "I've had to deal with worse. I wonder if they'd give me the money if I turned myself in."

A deep frown settled over my sisters face, "You need to take this seriously, Danny. Someone's placed a million dollars on your head and hired the best known ghost hunters in the world to kill you!"

"Jazz," I paused to take another bite, "They're the world's best known. Did you even see the hippies?"

"This isn't a joke, Danny." She fixed me with stern eyes. "It's going to be dangerous with so many ghost hunters combing the city. Maybe…" Her voice lowered as she glanced towards the living room. I follow her gaze to the suitcase sitting by the door. I opened my mouth to take another bite as she continued, "Maybe I should cancel my flight. I should stay until this blows over."

"What?" I dropped the apple, "You can't be serious."

"I don't like the idea of leaving town with a bunch of ghost hunters looking for you." The smile she gave me didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'll reschedule when all the weirdos leave."

"No, don't do that!" I knew how much this trip meant to her. I've never seen her so excited when her acceptance letter arrived. Tomorrow morning she was leaving to take a tour of Harvard. This was her dream. She couldn't miss out on this because of me. "Jazz, I'll be fine. You've been looking forward to this for weeks."

Jazz didn't look convinced as her eyes traveled towards the TV, at the weapons the ghost hunters showed off. She didn't look at me as she spoke her next words quietly, "Mom and dad are out there. No one paid them, they just saw the news, grabbed their weapons and left."

I didn't say anything as I dropped my gaze to the floor. Of course they left. What else were they supposed to do? Sit back while someone else captured the prized ghost?

"I don't need a chaperone." I didn't mean for the bite in my tone.

"I didn't say that." She contemplated her next words, "You can take care of yourself, Danny. I know that. But… This is different."

"This is my life, Jazz. These situations are my normal. And I deal with them." I shot her a cocky smile, "I can't help it if everyone wants a piece of me."

A smile tugged at her lips but she shook her head, "Something could happen, I need to be here for you."

"You've always been there for me," and I meant it. "If you wait for them to leave you could be waiting for weeks, months even. You'll be back in a few days, I promise not to burn the house down while you're gone."

This time she grinned, "I find that hard to believe. But…" She glanced at her luggage again.

"Go on your trip, Jazz. Nothing is going to happen. Look, if it will make you feel better…" I hesitated for a moment, "While you're away, I won't use my ghost form."

That caught her attention. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "You won't be flying?"

"No flying."

She hummed, weighing her options. Jazz knew how much I loved flying. Knew that I'd sometimes fly during the night. What she didn't know was that it was because my nightmares would wake me. And flying was the only thing that made me feel okay. But for her… for her I'd stay grounded. Even when the nightmares came. "I'll keep a low profile. I won't use any of my powers."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

There was a moment of contemplative silence before, "You're sure you'll be alright? I don't mind staying."

"I'm sure. Go. I want you to go." I smiled, "You deserve this. Nothing bad is going to happen."

She smiled right back, "You better call me everyday."

I rolled my eyes playfully, "Don't worry, I will. I know you can't survive without hearing my amazing voice everyday."

She snorted and though she tried, Jazz couldn't wipe the grin off her face. "The house better be in one piece when I get back.

"No promises."

She opened her mouth to retort but the sound of the front door opening and closing caught our attention. I turned just in time to see mom and dad stride through the front door, their eyes covered by those dark goggles. Mom spotted us and beamed with a smile. My eyes slid over the ecto-gun holstered to her belt.

"There you two are! Have you seen the news?"

"Yes," Jazz sent me a quick glance.

"You wouldn't believe the competition out there!" My dad rooted around in the fridge, "But don't worry, the Fentons will come out on top!" He pulled back, his hand clamped around a package of fudge. "We'll catch that ghost kid first and when we do, we'll take him apart molecule by molecule."

I swallowed.

"Even after all the good he's done?" Jazz gave them both a hard look. "If it wasn't for him, ghosts would be tearing the town apart. He protects us."

I grinned at my sister, hoping she knew how grateful I felt.

Mom clicked her tongue with distaste. "He's a ghost, Jazz. He can act like a hero all he wants but he's evil. All ghosts are."

Something flashed in Jazz's opened her mouth to argue but dad clasped her on the shoulder. "Your mother's right kids, their all evil to the core. Leave the ghosts to us, princess."

She glared. "I'm leaving in the morning for my trip. This is a good time to spend some time with Danny."

I shot her look that screamed, stay out of it, busybody.

But dad grinned from ear to ear, "That's a great idea! You can help us catch the ghost boy! We can start training you to be a ghost hunter! You'll carry the family legacy!"

I cringed. "A - actually, dad, I have a lot of homework to catch up on." I hated the heavy disappoint written on his face.

Mom gave Jazz a hug and a kiss on the head, "Have a nice trip, honey."

She walked towards me and I tensed, the gun on her waist gleamed. Vlad's horrible words rang through my head. At what he implied, what he accused her of.

They won't hurt me. They won't hurt me. Vlad's a liar, they won't hurt me. They won't hurt me.

She reached out to hug me, but I jerked back. She paused, and I didn't need her goggles off to see her confusion. She won't hurt me. She loved me and I loved her.

But I still took that small step back.

"I'm fourteen, mom," I tried to act casual, I tried to pretend that I didn't want that hug. "Stop babying me."

She smiled faintly, and I knew that what I did hurt her. "Oh, alright, sweetie. You're father and I will be out all night and most of the morning. We'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

As they walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door, I called out, "Wait!"

They looked back expectantly.

"I love you."

Dad stood a little straighter while the smile on mom's face became genuine. "We love you too, Danny."

When they left I turned back to Jazz… and knew I was in trouble. I knew the look in her eyes all too well. "What was that about?"

"What do you mean?"

Her eyes narrowed, "You acted… strangely when mom tried to hug you."

"Did I?" She folded her arms and opened her mouth but I cut her off, "Stop psychoanalyzing me, Jazz!"

She didn't say anything for a while and I was about to head to my room when, "You've been looking worse."

I couldn't hold her gaze and decided the floor was more interesting. "I look fine."

"No you don't." She fidgeted before asking, "Do you want to talk about -" She stopped abruptly and I knew what she almost asked. Instead, she asked something else,"Are you having trouble sleeping?"

"No." I made for the stairs.

"I could go to the pharmacy and buy some melatonin-"

"I don't need it." I didn't look back as I muttered a good night.

The dark hallway was long and menacing. Shadows crawled towards me as I stumbled and ran for the door at the end. I didn't dare glance at the windows. I knew what I would find if I did, a forest filled with monstrous things staring right back at me. I resisted the urge to look behind me, to see if he was gaining on me. The mocking laugh echoing everywhere around me told me enough. I had to go faster!

But it seemed the faster I ran, the further door got. The shadows on the wall grew, tendrils of darkness slithered for a hold on me, and I looked back. I was wrong about who was stalking towards me, chasing me. The goggles they wore seemed to radiate with malice.

Then I tripped and fell hard to the ground.

The floor beneath me was metallic and my blood froze as I scrambled to my feet. The dead end tunnel was covered from floor to ceiling in metal, wire, and flashing lights. A faint glow was getting brighter and I turned around, to see a wide opening leading to my parents basement. I made to run, but my feet wouldn't move. I screamed for help till my voice became hoarse. The walls were getting brighter now, covering me in an evil red glow. It got brighter and brighter and brighter and brighter-

There was nothing but flashing light. Nothing but pain. And I knew at this moment I had died.

But then it was gone. And the light faded.

The light faded to darkness.

And I was underground. The massive lab was basked in shadows as the panic of where I was seeped in. The sky was miles away while I was under the earth. I'd never see that blue sky again.

Then I was walking. Slowly walking to the table in the center of the lab, in the center of that darkness. I recognized what lay on that table. And I recognized the thing in my hand.

The scalpel was clean, there wasn't a spot on it. But the hand I held it with… Every inch of my hand was covered in blood. Red and green blood. It was so wet and sticky.

Not entirely of my own will, I raised the scalpel over the figure on the table. And as I lowered it, as blade kissed flesh, a pair of eyes opened.

My eyes.

I gasped and lunged out of bed in a cold sweat. My stomach churned and I almost didn't make it to the toilet in time.

Okay, so to answer your first question, no I'm not dead. I'm sorry for this long update. These past few months I've been busy finishing up school and starting my internship. But now hopefully I'll have more time for writing. But be warned, after the next chapter, I'll be going off script. The story won't completely follow the TV show after that. I also want to thank you guys for your patience and words of encouragement! It helps me keep the story going. Now, on to the reviews!

Nastergal: You'll find out eventually ;)

Rush721: I hope this was worth the wait! I'm glad you're enjoying my dark twist.

Foxrox12: I'm glad that ending surprised you. It's really fun create plot twists!

Anon: Sorry for the long wait. I hope this chapter was worth it! And referring to your first speculation, knowing Vlad, he's probably both. You're right about Jazz. She was always one of my favorite characters from the show!

HalfaObsessed: Wow, you didn't choose that username for nothing, did ya? Though who am to talk. Anyway, the review you wrote blew me away! I loved reading you speculations about the characters and where you think the story might go. You were onto something with that "Knowledge is Power" theory. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you hacked into my computer and read my notes for the future chapters ;P I'm glad you're enjoying the story! If you got anymore speculations or theories, I love to hear them!

Olliepops16: Don't worry, I'm not planning on discontinuing the story anytime soon! I hope this was worth the wait.

EricaPhoenix16: Yeah, that was a cruel hope spot, this story is going to be full of them! *Evil Laughter*