Intermission: Specter Stealing
Vlad Masters' Office, April 21, 2006
(alternate universe)
Vlad straightened his jacket, and smoothed back his white hair. It would be impossible to say he wasn't nervous, though his suave exterior prevented anyone from saying he was. Also, the fact that he could incinerate any who said so with a wave of his hand helped, too.
This was a rather important meeting - it would determine whether or not he could buy a rival company. It was also the first since the world had found out he was half ghost and he had bought himself. "Buying myself," he said to himself, "was the best use of a hundred grand I can imagine. Though it would have been a bit better had I not had to do it. Half ghost or no, I'm human . . . just like that fool Jack's son . . . Daniel, I think his name was . . . shame the president of Gray Security owns him. He'd make a nice addition to my housekeeping staff."
His sympathies, needless to say, lay only with himself. Though, if the time came for the other boy to be freed, he'd willingly speak up about how 'right' it was.
"Skulker," he called, turning from the mirror. "Could you bring me my coffee?"
Quickly the small blob appeared, just barely floating high enough to hand his master the drink. "Yes, milord," it said coolly, as it nearly fell out of the air.
"I will not tolerate that tone, Skulker. I will lock you in with that adorable mutt if you don't submit soon."
As a very recently captured ghost, Skulker was still rather abstinent, despite his obvious lack of any decent power.
"Yes, milord," Skulker said, trying to dissipate any emotion that his tone may have. Then, suddenly, both the ghost and his master's eyes flashed red.
A grin was captured on Vlad's security camera from behind them. A grin that had been shown on news programs throughout the country. An equally familiar voice was heard. "Whoever thought of using ghosts as security guards with me on the loose was a bit touched in the head. Right, minions?" They made no reply. The Specter Stealer's demented smile broadened. "All right then. We have quite a journey a head of us. Madison is so far away from Amity Park, after all. What a reunion this will be!"
Freakshow and those now completely under his control vanished into the shadows at that point, and the videotape of the little incident exploded in its case.
The next day, the police were baffled at the disappearances. No one really cared, other than for the fact that there was a dangerous ghost on the loose, and the idea that Freakshow was behind it never entered their minds.
It was ironic, though, that the man who'd paid so much for his own freedom, ended up in the clutches of another anyway.