Ghost Part Six

I awoke with a start, my spooked heart pumping at a unnatural pace and my face damp with cold sweat. Anxious blood coursed through my veins and my eyes were wide with untamed shock. Nervous fear was dripping from my features and unspoken emotion was oozing out of my cold pours, breaking free and meeting the air around my canopy bed. It took me a few seconds to finally relax and I flopped my body back down on the bed, a sob of frustration and depression waiting to shake me silly as my tensed muscles took in the left over warmth found on the white sheets.

Why? Its such a simple question but it always refuses to give me a response, a reasonable answer to at least give me some sort of assistance. It won't even lend me a finger to get out of this mud puddle of confusion I was so rudely pushed in. Its such a startling intellection, rather appalling but also hindering all at the same time. That dream, what did it mean? Why did it occur? Theres that question again, that demonic ponder.

That dream smelt out my fears, followed the scent of my deepest worries like a determined bloodhound. It could sniff out my hatred on the subject and pinpointed my weakness. How clever that intangible, imaginary canine was...

How I just want this to quit, give up in this mental game. Time after time it haunts me, I can't even think straight anymore! I need help... I can't do this alone anymore. But I'm a psychiatrist myself and I can't even figure this out. I would need someone who knows me well, someone who might possibly even know me better than I do myself. But where am I supposed to find someone like that? I don't know anyone -

Wait, I do...

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I sat in a well decorated office, many awards and certificates covered the walls and several knickknacks were on top of the long desk in front of me. The whole look of the room was making my brain mentally claustrophobic, each decoration crawling closer and humming a heinous tune just to annoy my already stressing mind. I just wanted to get of there, burst out of the door and breathe fresh gulps of air, inhale clear oxygen and forget this mess, put it behind me so I could live again. But I can't, I need help. I need to put a stop to this nightmare, this continuous dream of guilt and horrid phenomena. And that's what brought me to this office, to put this state of woe to rest, to end it so I can get on with my life.

I heard the door open and felt the change of atmosphere as Jasmine Fenton walked in, her own confident vibes of intelligence and devoted sparks of knowledge overcoming the empty. I breathed out a nervous exhale and cleared my mind of any unwanted thoughts as she made her way to the desk, her auburn hair trailing behind her as it flirted with the wind. She wore a Teal shirt with a white jacket and jet black pants, a look that describes Jazz's outlook on life. Mostly mature but with a touch of casual to it.

She sat down and looked at me, her turquoise eyes reading me as if I were a book, open text displaying everything she needed to know. "So, Sam... I got your call and it sounded pretty urgent. Whats seems to be the problem?" she questioned after a few seconds getting straight to the point. How awkward this all felt to me; how ironic and strange it was. I for once wasn't the one sitting at the desk and asking the questions. I was the client, the troubled being who needed the aid of professional words.

I swallowed a massive lump in my throat and opened my mouth to speak. I wasn't surprised when no words came out to greet her question. This was all too alien to me, the thick block of embarrassment was still in the way and needed to be pushed aside.

I looked at the floor and then back up, a sudden burst of enthusiasm breaking free within me. I need this, I can't let embarrassment get in the way. This block needs to be moved, I trust Jazz...

"Jazz, something happened to me. Something I can't figure out. Its really been bugging me" I said slowly, my tongue tossing each syllable cautiously and carefully, not wanting anything psychotic sounding to slip.

"What kind of event, Sam? Was it with something, or someone?" Jazz asked, a glisten of some sort of masked fact hidden behind her pupils. Something about that look unlocked a critical concept. Did she know?

"Ummm..." I honestly didn't know how to give her a reasonable answer. The confidence that was previously running through my blood was fading. I was beginning to regret this talk...

"I guess someone" I finally answered, a ring of reluctance tracing my words with a hushed tone. But Jazz caught on, she found the dread in my words. How she can sniff out everything about anything. What a powerful gift to have, especially when you're a psychiatrist. A slight hint of envy passed my mind but then disappeared as she questioned me again.

"So, someone did something to you?"

I slowly nodded my head, my ebony strands moving along with the simple motion. Jazz leaned forward a little, that same shine never leaving her eyes.

"What did this person do, Sam?" she said to me, using a tone one uses to express curious wonder on a certain subject. I couldn't help but lower my head and let the regret once again capture me like a large net.

"Sam?" I looked up and saw her face, her interested and serious features studying me hard like a concentrated hawk watching its prey. Although the glance she gave me wasn't hungry like, it was calm and patient.

I bit my lip and let the words drip out sloppily, my mind deciding that there was nothing to fight against anymore. "I guess you can say they're haunting me, Jazz..." As the words kissed her ears she nodded her head, as if she was taking notes about this in her mind.

"And how are they 'haunting' you exactly?" her voice sounded so distant now to me, my own thoughts drowning out her words. My brain was scolding me for telling that information, screaming at me to get out of there. Leave, Sam! They yelled, Get out of there, stop it!

I shook my head mentally, my mind was already made up. I needed this, its the only way out of this pestering mess. "Well I guess seeing them was really confusing to me and I can't get it out of my mind. I even had a dream about it last night, thats what sparked my concern"

"OK, how long has this been going on?"

"Two weeks" She nodded again, this time in a more excited fashion, like she had answered some unknown question, put the pieces together to a tough puzzle.

"I have one last question, Sam..." I stared at her, my heart beating inside of me like a sludge hammer. I already knew what her question was...

"Who's 'haunting' you?" I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, the suspense of the moment making them sting. I winced as the word came out of my mouth, regret staining it as it escaped my lips.

"Danny..."

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I can't get that talk out of my head... Every word, every noise every detail. Its all replaying over and over, brainwashing me into a ponderous state. Jazz had said some intelligent things, things I was trying to tell myself before but I never listened.

She told me that this was all a projection of my deepest fears, a guilt trip born to make me feel sorry again. She said I still had unfinished business when it came to that topic and that's what caused me to see Danny.

While I kept on thinking about it was simple. I still needed to rid myself of the guilt and pain. Jazz stated that the only way to do so was to go back to his room or visit his grave. I needed to confront the situation head on, I needed to solve the problem once and for all. She pointed of that I might see him again when I do this and to not be shocked if I do. "Its all in your mind," she told me, "its all your brain..."

So there I was, gathering my things to visit his grave. If the only way to rid the pain is to do this than so be it. I was desperate at that point.

I'm not sure if I was surprised or not to discover Jazz had her suspicions the whole time. She said she wanted me to come to her for help if I needed it. She was always that type of person. She always wanted you to be the one to come to her, in sake for your feelings and outlook on the subject. For her this was mandatory, there was no other was of going about it.

I grabbed my coat and keys from the mudroom and went into the garage. I'm going tonight for I can't eat or sleep. My body won't let me keep anything down, I needed to do what I was about to commit as soon as possible.

I hopped into my car and started it. The load grumbles of the awakening engine filled the garage and bounced off the blunt walls. I opened the garage with the switch in my car and pulled out into the brisk night world, the darkness black as ink.

I turned into the empty streets and drove towards Amity Park's biggest graveyard, a place were heroes and important people are buried. It was only natural that Danny was to be placed there, he after all was a town super hero.

I passed by the trees and other parts of the landscape as I sped by their location, their wonderful designs and appearance not even fazing me. I had seen them all before, it was nothing new to me. All that mattered at that moment in time was to get to that graveyard, to visit his tomb stone.

I finally got to the location and parked my car, locking it as I closed the door. I walked to the large gates and went up to the security guard, a nice man named Paul Howards. "Well, ello there, Miss Manson, lil' late fer a stroll through the grave, d'cha think?" he asked, his old accent showing through his English. I nodded and sighed before responding.

"Yeah, I can't sleep. I need to visit him"

"Well, o' course I'll let ye in," he grinned, "Go o'hed..." I smiled a small grin and walked into the grave yard, a new eerie feeling spooking my blood.

It was well decorated, natural vines and trees trimmed to look nice and clean. Not long after the entrance started the graves, one turning into two and so on. There were many of them, they extended on for what seemed like forever. Benches lined the rocky trail as it cut through the small hill, leading down to greet a mess of very important graves. It was this trail I walked upon, slowly humming a tune in my head to settle my nerves.

The moon showed bright in the midnight sky, bringing dim light to my surroundings. It wasn't long before I can across a fountain that was slowly producing water, making a small and soothing sound in the process. I continued on past the fountain and looked past me, seeing my destination.

Now the trail turned into hard cement and words praising all sorts of people were written onto them, stating things he/she did in their lifetime. The path split and I followed the separate direction. Now the words listed and thanked heroes, people who risked their life to do anything for the protection of Amity Park.

I turned my site down onto the sidewalk and said the names quietly to myself, waiting for a special one to appear. I continued walking for another few seconds until I came across the name on the path.

"Danny Fenton/Phantom... Hero and defender of Amity Park. 1991 to 2005" I whispered slowly into the night, my quiet tone making perfect harmony with the steady cricket chirps which echoed of the graves of the cemetery. I sighed and walked off the path to a grave smothered with flowers and a box of notes next to it.

I stopped and stared at it, a building sense of sadness and depression begging to drop from my eyes. I just continued to gaze down at the tomb, my eyes watering slowly as I studied the bigger text carved onto the smooth white stone "A good brother, friend and helper. Supporter and Defender of Amity. We'll miss you" under it was the basic facts of the person, the person who left me so long ago. "Danny Fenton/Phantom. Perished at fourteen, 1991 to 2005". I held my breath as I repeated what I read over and over, the guilt and memories flashing back in front of my glassy eyes.

"It was so long ago, Danny..." I said quietly, a tear escaping my eyes and inching down my cheek. "It was 13 years ago you left us here... You left us all. I can't believe its been so long. Do you know how different it was without you?" I let out a saddened chuckle and shook my head.

"Its real different you know? How you're aren't here to bring a smile to my face... How you aren't here to do the things you do..." I sucked in a breathe and let a sob shake me. "I guess I just can't forget anything, I can't let myself erase any of the grief thats still in my heart" I pointed to my chest as if he were really there, watching me talk to him.

"Do you know how many times I sat and thought what it would be like if you were still here? Do you know how many times I have pondered on what it would be like if you were still around and here with me? If I had a dime for every time I have thought about it I would be rich. Well, richer" a let another saddened laugh escape my lips and smiled weakly.

"I know why I'm seeing you Danny... I know why I saw you in your room. I want you to be here, I want you to -" I coughed and more tears fell, all my locked up emotions escaping and making a shiny trail down my cheek.

"I still feel the guilt from so long ago that I put myself through so you were there. I know you're aren't real... I know that but its just that sometimes I really wish" I closed my eyes and sighed, the salty taste of tears filling my taste buds "sometimes I really wish you still here for real..." Another sob shook my body and I knelt before his grave, feeling the pointed end of grass on my knees. I extended my hand out and touched the hard exterior of his tombstone, sucking in my breath as I felt the cool of it.

I took my hand back and stared at my palms. I looked at them as if I had something strange in my hands, a unique item that one doesn't see everyday. I switched my gaze back to his grave my my lip shook with sadness.

"Danny... I'm so sorry for not moving on. I see now I have been so foolish. I know I have to move on but its – its so hard when you're not here to help me..."

"But, Sam... I am here" I turned around and my eyes widened as I looked at Danny Fenton, skin and all, staring at me with a compassionate expression.

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W/C: Who's evil? I'm evil! Why am I evil? Because I left ya all hanging again. Well, I totally cried when I wrote this chapter, it totally teared me apart but its supposed to do that so... yeah

Well, some may be confused so I will unclog your confusion.

1) In chapter four, it was two weeks after she saw Danny. Not right after she saw him. Some got that but some didn't catch on so I thought I'd point that out.

2) Yes, Danny really is here but nobody thinks that.

3) Andy has nothing to do with Danny. I got an email asking me if he plays any other roll in this fiction. I'm not sure if he will or not.

4) I have no clue on how long this fiction will be

5) All of this is a flashback. The flashback started in chapter five.

Well, I hope that helped some of you guys. I now have a job that I need EVERYONE to do.

I need you to all vote on what plot twist you want. I have all the choices below. Vote for ONE!

Choice A – Danny really isn't dead ( I have a idea on how to fit around that... )

Choice B – Jazz ends up seeing Danny also

Choice C – Tucker and Val take part in this story

Choice D – Andy plays a roll in this fiction.

Well, PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE! Thanks for all the reviews. I would love to respond to them all, but we have the new rule so we can't... So sorry. Well, this is me, signing off. See ya next chapter

-DFL