C h a p t e r O n e
T e l l m e

"Conversation should be

pleasant without scurrility,

witty without affectation,

free without indecency,

learned without conceitedness,

novel without falsehood."

William Shakespeare

The Old House, as it was called, had been there for over a century. When it was built there was nothing else around it besides nature, but as the Industrial Revolution struck the United States, cities grew unbelievably quick; soon, the Old House was squished between two modern houses with their mailboxes matching the shade of red of their rooftops.

The Old House was entirely made of wood painted grey, though, due to time and lack of care, the colour was either worn off or covered by mulch. The windows were in even worse condition; some of the broken glass could be found on the ground by the windows, for no one had bothered to clean up and the wind wasn't strong enough in that area to carry a piece of glass. Where would usually be a garden, there was only dirt.

No one knew for sure the purpose of the Old House, for no one had ever lived there before. Only recently the neighbourhood noticed that the apparently dead house had smoke coming out of its chimney, weird shadows moving by the windows and even an occasional explosion that would light the entire house. Some said that if you got close enough during one of those times you could hear some crying, though that had never been proven.

Very often kids would peek into the Old House, trying to see who was living there. No one had ever been spotted and the house had been labelled as haunted.

Even though most of the neighbourhood was afraid of the house, Dashiell Parr did not believe in haunted houses, much less in ghosts.

Dash had changed a lot in only a few years. Being able to practice sports had given him the chance to unwind and control the hyperactivity created by his powers. Dash got a lot less annoying to others, especially to his teachers and Violet, his sister. But that did not make him a different person; all his schemes for being popular, and making fun of anyone superior to him in some way, were still there. The only things he lacked were time and will to put them in action.

His looks were not much different from before. Dash had the same slicked back blonde hair and wide light blue eyes. His choice of clothing was usually jeans, a shirt and his running shoes custom made by Edna -- when Helen got tired of buying Dash a new shoe every month because his old one had no sole left.

Dash wasn't popular at all in his school, neither in a positive or negative way. He was simply unknown by most.

He was standing across the street from the Old House on a chilly November afternoon with his only two friends; Jake, a tall, skinny red haired boy with a smug look on his face, and Tyler, a short, podgy boy with thick glasses and a Spider-Man t-shirt.

They were the most unusual combination of friends, since none of their interests matched. Dash loved sports and action, Jake played the violin and had a strange obsession for tea, and Tyler was the average comic book geek. They were all so different but got along better than any of the popular kids at school, who would use any chance they had to stab in the back their so-called friends.

"I don't like this, Dash! Let's go home and… and…" Tyler reached for his inhaler in the pocket of his jeans and took two puffs. "And do something else." He finished, breathless.

"Nope, I've got to prove there's absolutely nothing in this stupid house." Dash answered, never taking his eyes off the building in front of him, as if staring at a ferocious enemy ready to attack.

Jake was sitting on the sidewalk as uninterested as always, trying to look superior and mature. He didn't want to be there – he didn't want to be anywhere besides home, in fact. The streets were filthy and his mother would be furious when he got home with his clothes ruined, but Jake had no other choice, he had to sit on that horrible sidewalk and wait for his immature friends to gather some good sense.

"Dash, sometimes I seriously doubt your age." He said, pausing to pretend he was thinking hard about something. "Are you fourteen or four? I never remember."

"Oh, I think you're just jealous because I'm going into that house and I'm proving something useful. While you just sit there and say you can do better than everyone." Dash shot back, frowning.

"You call destroying a legend something useful?" Jake's expression changed from smug to critic. "Besides, you're just doing this to prove your sister wrong. You big baby!"

"I am not a baby you jackass!" Dash protested, stepping towards Jake with his fists clenched.

"Stop it!" Tyler stood between his two friends, arms stretched out to keep them apart. "Fighting will make us vulnerable to the ghosts… and they might possess us!"

Dash crossed his arms and turned his back to Jake and Tyler. "I don't care if you two don't support me, I'll go anyway. This crappy story has gone way too far; it's about time I reveal the truth to people!"

"I know…" Tyler whispered, his cheeks bright red. "I know you don't even consider this possibility, though… if there is a slim chance ghosts do exist-"

Dash opened his mouth to protest again, but Tyler cut him off before he could say anything.

"What'll you do if a ghost shows up?" Tyler asked.

Dash had the answer right there, stuck in his throat, ready to come out. He couldn't say it, though, which was very frustrating to him. Hiding his powers from people with a costume was easy, while hiding the truth in everyday life was one of the most difficult things ever, as when they were the perfect excuse for something, or the perfect proof of how special he truly was. That was one of those moments.

"I'll figure something out, don't worry." he swallowed the truth, as always.

Jake and Tyler could have tried to stop Dash as he marched towards the Old House, but they didn't. Jake knew better not to pressure Dash anymore or he would get hurt, while Tyler was too scared of getting any closer to the house.

The tall, iron fence that separated the house from the street was mostly broken and Dash had no troubles to get to the front porch. He looked back, unsurprised to see his friends weren't there anymore.

Wussies, he thought.

Dash wasn't sure if he should knock of just brake in. He chose to enter right away and relieve that slightly annoying feeling of uncertainty.

"Hello?" he whispered as he walked in, not really expecting an answer.

The house was just as awful on the inside, only worse because of the smell. He was so distracted admiring the living room that he didn't notice a figure running from the kitchen and then up the stairs, all he did notice was a faint crack, which was enough to alarm him, though.

Dash stared at the stairs, wondering if he had only been imagining things or not. Standing there would not answer his question; Dash had no other choice but to search the house for any signs of residents, either dead or alive.

The kitchen, oddly enough, had cabinets, a table and even an old looking refrigerator. Dash reached for the handle and opened its door, but there was nothing inside and it didn't smell like it had ever had.

He went back into the living room and stood by the foot of the staircase. The second floor seemed bigger than the first, and much more dangerous because of the weak wood of the floor that could break any second.

Dash put his feet on the first step and felt it bend slightly. He had to walk that thing up fast and smooth, or maybe that stair would probably split in two. For 'The Dash' speed is not a problem, and in less than a second he was on the second floor.

There were five doors in front of him, all open, and another flight of stairs hanging from the ceiling that lead into the attic. Dash could see there was no one in that floor either. The four rooms were all empty, except for a dirty, thin mattress in the centre of the first room. The bathroom consisted of a sink and a bathtub, both covered in mulch.

There was only one place left for Dash to look: the attic.

He didn't believe in ghost stories whatsoever, but he did believe in humans who take pleasure out of killing other humans, and an attic was the perfect place for that sort of person to hide. The bright side was, Dash was no regular human who could be attacked and beaten so easily. He had powers, and would willingly use them against anyone who tried to harm him.

The attic was the darkest place of the entire house, only lit by a round window on the far side of the room. The wood was even weaker on that floor, so Dash had to be extra careful as he walked. That room, unlike all the others in the house, was cramped with an unimaginable number of boxes and bags full of all kinds of things.

Every box had a label stating what was inside. That would be a good sign if it weren't for the odd contents of the boxes.

"Gold… iron… computer screens… hardware… software… microchips… legs?!" Dash read as he walked further into the room. He stretched out his arm to open the 'legs' box, when he caught some movement on the corner of his eye.

Dash turned around, fists clenched and his right food tapping on the floor, ready to run.

"Show yourself!" Dash demanded, his voice slightly shaky, for he couldn't hide all of his anxiety.

A figure stood up behind a pile of boxes. For his height it was most certainly a man, though it was hard to tell due the long, dirty coat he was wearing. He had a hood covering his entire head and his bare hands and feet were bandaged.

"Get out." The man said with a muffled voice, as if it there was something covering his mouth. He started walking slowly towards Dash.

Dash gave one step backwards and felt his body touching the round window of the room. The man was getting closer every second. A voice in his head told him to run as fast as he could, while another said he should stay and face whoever that man was, for the sake of his reputation of never being scared.

"I won't leave. I came here to know who you are, and that's what I'm gonna do!" Dash said, unclenching his fists and relaxing his legs. He breathed deeply and calmed down.

The man stopped and tilted his hooded head to the side.

"Are you some kind of moron? Leave me alone." He said.

"No!" Dash lowered his tone. "I mean… no. I have to know."

"Why do you care? Go back home to your parents and live your life, pretend we have never met." The man stretched his arm toward Dash and pointed his bandaged index finger at him, which he closed into a fist as he spoke. "Or must I take you out by force?"

The man swung forth and Dash dodged just in time to avoid getting hit. The man, however, smacked his body against the window, which shattered instantaneously. Dash reached out his arm and grabbed the man by his coat, pulling him back onto the floor.

Dash let go of the man and gave a few steps back, not too sure whether that man was still trying to kill him or not.

"You… saved my life." The man mumbled, covering his hooded face with his hands.

"Y-Yes I did." Dash answered. "Maybe you should trust me more from now on and tell me about yourself. I really think I can help."

He put his hands down and turned his head to Dash. "Help? I don't need to be helped. I managed to do a lot by myself and it is not now that I'll let myself be 'helped' by someone else."

"Right, you don't have to let me help. But perhaps there's something else I could do. I mean, the whole neighbourhood thinks you're a ghost. If I could prove them you're a real person, you might even become a legend." Dash insisted.

He almost felt sorry for that man, alone in such a horrible place. He could be strange and aggressive, but that didn't make him less human. Doctors could help him get better, that was for sure. Besides, that was his chance of proving people there were no ghosts in the Old House.

"I don't think people would want me as a legend like this. I was great before, you know. I was a step away from being remembered forever by the entire world… but things change, people change." The man sighed. "I let the most obvious cliché happen and my chances went down hill."

"Maybe you could get your chances back." Dash said, kneeling down beside the man. "I mean, you're not dead yet, so that means you haven't been completely defeated."

"I guess… you're right." The man nodded. "Who are you?"

"If I tell you, do you promise you'll introduce yourself to me?" the man nodded. "I'm Dashiell Parr, but everyone calls me Dash."

"Oh…" The man fell silent for a moment and then stretched his hand to Dash. "You can call me… Bud." The way Bud paused to think of his name was odd to Dash, but he figure it had something to do with being alone for such a long time.

Dash was unsure of shaking Bud's hand. If it was bandaged like that, there should be a reason. But not doing it would certainly take Bud's confidence in him, so Dash shook the man's hand quickly.

"Say, Bud… why don't you take off your hood?" Dash suggested, changing subjects.

"Well, there isn't much to see… but if we're gonna be friends you have to know everything about me, correct?" He said, pulling down his hood and revealed his entirely bandaged head, expect for his eyes, which were a darker blue than Dash's.

"Why do you wear those bandages, anyway?" Dash asked, sitting down more comfortably beside Bud.

"Remember when I said I lost everything? That includes my freedom." He explained, looking down sadly.

"Does that make you, you know… a fugitive?" the boy insisted, biting his lip worriedly.

"For a crime I did not commit." He completed.

"What sort of crime?"

"I was, and am, a genius. I had the answer to one kind thing society had trouble dealing with. But they said I was too extreme, that my methods were too…" he continued, ignoring Dash's question. "Harsh." He finished.

"Maybe we could make people understand what your plan was all about and you could be free again!" Dash got up, his eyes glimmering at the thought of a challenge such as that. "And then we'd be famous for eternity!"

Bud shook his head. "It is not that simple, and I don't care anymore. I'd rather spend the rest of my life here… than among people. And you'd better not go around telling people who I am or even that I exist, I enjoy this anonymous life."

"But… I want to help somehow." Dash sat back down. "There must be something I can do for you."

"Your company would be more than enough for me. Would you do this for me?"

"Sure! I can come over after school everyday and we can talk!" Dash got up for the second time, but with more enthusiasm than before. "I'll bring you magazines and tape the news so you can know what's going on out there. And… and…" he paused to organize his many thoughts that were popping up in his head one after another. "I can bring you some things I don't use anymore, and help you clean up this place. I'll bring some curtains for privacy! Yes! And some sheets, and shampoo, and--"

"Dash, calm down!" Bud interrupted, getting up as well and wrapping one of his arms around Dash's shoulders. "I'm very grateful for all you intend to do for me, but keep them as a surprise! I mean, you don't have to tell me everything, do you? And ruin the surprise?" he winked.

"Oh, you're right! You're absolutely right." Dash cheerfully nodded. "I'll come back tomorrow, then. It's getting a little late."

"Fine with me." Bud said. Dash couldn't really see it, but the movements of his bandages made it seem as if the man were smiling.

Dash ran down the two flights of stairs and hurried to the door. He was passing trough the gates of the Old House and looked up, waving to his newest friend, who was standing by the round window of the attic.

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A/N: That was… hmm… interesting. Very predictable about whom "Bud" is, I know! But then again, that's not supposed to be the biggest revelation of the story, so no harm done. ;)

I hope this is not too bad. It's my first try at this fandom and I'm very insecure about characterization and such. D:

Also, I tried to go a little crazy with the plot. There are some clichés forming and I don't want to contribute to any of them; I wanted something a little more unique. :) And that includes the main character! There are so many stories for the other characters and yet so few for Dash. I felt sorry for the poor boy and decided to give him an extra-nice role. Besides, Dash is my favourite character of the movie. Enjoy writing this story should be easy, for that matter. :D

The next chapter will be done soon. So, for those who liked, don't worry! And for the ones who disliked… worry! :)