What You See Isn't Always What You Get

Chap.3

"Dad, did you know about this?" Jazz asked. Jack nodded, with certain regret.

"He was this guy I was…jealous of. I kept trying to knock him off his high horse, but he always got away."

"You mean you were like Dash Baxter?"

"I was. Then….one day…."

Danny froze as he saw the scene in front of him change into a street in the summertime. A red haired girl was rollerblading down the sidewalk towards the street, Terri following.

"C'mon, Terri! You're such a slowpoke!" The girl laughed. Terri chuckled, then frowned.

"Don't go so fast, Maddie. You're gonna fall."

"Don't worry about me. The only time I ever fell was when I fell in love with you." Maddie smiled. Terri blushed. Then he paled as he saw Maddie fall in the middle of the street. "Okay, so I'm wrong. A little help?" Maddie held out a hand.

"M….Maddie!" Terri called out. Maddie turned and paled as she saw the car speeding towards her. Terri ran as fast as he could, and pushed Maddie out of the way. Danny felt the impact of the car hitting Terri as he watched.

"T…T-Terri? Terri!" Maddie rushed out to the street from the sprawled position she was in after Terri pushed her out of the way. She shook the boy feverishly. "Terri, get up! Get up, Terri! This isn't funny!" Maddie was on the verge of crying. A police officer stepped out and turned over one of Terri's palms, trying to get a pulse. "Terri's just trying to scare me again. I just know it. He just can't be….he just can't!"

"Miss…I'm sorry, but…he's dead." The officer told Maddie. She shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

"No! Terri can't be dead! He just can't be! Terri, I know you're playing a joke on me again! I just know it! Get up, Terri! Terri!" Maddie had to be led away by her parents.

In the background, staring, horrified, was a translucent image of Terri. His clothes were stained red, and his face was pale. He shook his head, and reached his hands out towards Maddie. He obviously wasn't grasping his death too easily.

"Maddie? Maddie…."The image faded, and Danny was back in the mansion, a very angry Terri in front of him. His clothes were stained red and torn in several places.

"I told you to never come here, Daniel Fenton. Never come here again." He growled, and the house echoed with his voice. Danny took a deep breath. 'Sam's always telling me to stand up for myself. No better time to try it out than now.'

"No. I want to know why you can't just rest. Mom's happy."

Suddenly, the scene changed to a street, and it was night. Danny didn't realize how long he'd been in the mansion. Glancing about, Danny realized which street they were at.

"Remember this? You saw it." Terri took long strides towards Danny, and Danny couldn't seem to move. "Look, it's my business. And you have no right to question my motives for staying in this world."

"Terri, I just wanna talk!" Danny snapped. Terri's eyes narrowed.

"Sure. Everyone just wants to 'talk' to me. But they just want to exorcise me. I have to keep a promise I made a long time ago!"

"Promise? What promise? Who'd you make it to!" Danny asked. Terri growled in anger.

"None of your damn business!" And that's when Danny saw the car.