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Reviews: Psycho but fun, Serenity the Fallen, DxS Phreak, silvermoonphantom, BlueMyst19, DannysGhostWriter, HAlFa34 (I want that cookie you promised), Illustriously Unsound, toolazytologin (All right, who is this? LOL), Sweeteen19.

A quick note: Okay, I know the first few chapters have been almost identical to the actual story, but it's going to change some, okay? Sheesh, people. Give me a break, for crying out loud! I only said this like five times! I mean, I like constructive criticism, but telling me something I already knew… Come on, guys. Now, I had a request to update before someone left for the summer, so I will try to update as many times as I can as soon as I can, all right? All right.


Chapter 4: Exchanging a Life for a Life

Sam walked slowly down the main hall in the castle, a dark cloak wrapped around her shoulders. Candles floated in the air, giving off an eery glow to the castle walls. Paintings, tapestries, statues and furniture decorated the hallway as if to make it more homey. The young woman seriously doubted it was working.

"Tucker?" she called out when she saw something move in a corridor leading to a spiraling staircase.

She swallowed then walked up the steps slowly, gripping her cloak tighter about her. This place seemed to have an almost unearthly chill about it, a chill that gripped her heart and made her fearful of what she would find. She found herself in a dungeon and gazed about her for a moment, dearly hoping that Tucker wasn't in here.

"Sam!"

She whirled around then ran to one of the cells, kneeling at the small opening at the bottom. "Tucker!" She grasped her friend's hand through the bars. "What happened?"

"The ghost. Sam, look out!"

But his warning came too late. Something grasped Sam's shoulder, and she whirled around, preparing to fight whoever it was. She stopped, looking around her. "Sh-show yourself!"

A figure materialized in the shadows, angry emerald eyes glowing beneath a mane of white hair. She gasped, covering her mouth. His face held handsome features—a strong jaw line and cheekbones—the only thing that kept him from being handsome was the fact that he was a ghost. The figure stepped forward, making Sam lean back against the prison door that separated herself and the only family she had now.

"You are not welcome here," the ghost growled. His voice was deep and rich, a good thing to have to compliment his good looks. Unfortunately, it was used only in anger.

"I came for my friend. Please, let him go."

"No. He is my prisoner."

"But…" She hesitated. "Would you take me instead?"

"What?" both men said. Emerald eyes widened in surprise, lightening to an eery green color. "You would… take his place?"

"Have you completely lost your senses, Sam?" Tucker hissed. "Look around you! Look at him! He could kill you or lock you up here forever or—"

"No one asked you!" the ghost shouted, stepping into the moonlight. "I accept. I will send him back to the pathetic village he came from as long as you promise to stay here forever."

"No, Sam—"

"I'll be fine, Tucker," Sam said before standing and moving to the ghost. "I am forever your prisoner," she said.

"Very well." The ghost stepped over to the dungeon door. He didn't even bother to open the door, phasing the young inventor through the wood. "Box Ghost!" A ghost floated into the room carrying a box. The ghost holding Tucker shoved him at the one he had referred to as Box Ghost. "Take him to the village."

"Yes, sir." He moved to leave then saw Sam. "Beware!"

"Leave!" The young man ghost roared.

The Box Ghost flew away, carrying Tucker in his box. Sam ran to the window, watching as the ghost disappeared from view. She turned to face her captor who watched her silently. She would reveal no weakness in front of him. She would act as she often did in the village: silent, dark, and uncaring. How would she ever survive?


Sam followed after the ghost who was now walking on the ground as she did. She looked about her in wonder as Daniel led the way down the hall, holding a candle to light the darkness. Seeing as it glowed as eerily green as his eyes, it did little to actually pierce the shadow around them. They had spoken to each other only once to exchange names. It didn't seem he talked much; she wondered what he needed a prisoner for.

"I… hope you like it here," Daniel said with obvious effort. "You can go anywhere in the castle or on the grounds except for the west wing."

"What's in the west—" Sam began.

"It's forbidden!" Daniel growled, turning on her.

She stepped back, staring at his glowing hands. He seemed to regain control of himself, however, and continued walking down the hallway, leading her to a door. He opened it, and Sam stepped into the bedroom decorated entirely in black. While she didn't enjoy color, in public that is, or emotion, she felt as though her heart was being torn from her to be replaced by death. Everything was dark, depressing, and… dead.

"I won't be able to see," she said finally, turning back to Daniel.

He shoved the candle into her hands, noting her suppressed shudder at his ghostly coldness. It only seemed to add to the despair that wrapped tightly around his heart. What was he thinking? She would never love him.

"You will… join me for dinner," he said, after a tense pause. "That's not a request!" Then he slammed the door shut.

Sam gasped, raising a hand to the door as if to beg him to let her go. Suddenly, fear, hopelessness, and loneliness gripped her, and tears trailed down her cheeks as she ran to the window to look out at the dark, dreary place that would now be her home.


"Are you all right?"

Sam looked up from her place where she had sat by the window hours ago and gasped. "Y-you're a… You-you're a ghost!" She stood, slowly backing away toward her bed and dresser drawers.

"My name is Jazmine. I'm Daniel's older sister."

"Older sister? But—"

There was a knock on the door before it creaked open. A tea set floated in, and Jazmine floated over to bring the tray closer.

"This is insane," Sam said, then gasped as another ghost came out of the dresser.

"I am Desiree. What clothes does your heart desire?"

"Clothes?" Sam echoed, confusion evident in her lilac eyes.

"Yes, of course," Jazmine said, laughing slightly. "You can't go down to dinner wearing nothing!"

Sam shook her head, looking down. "I'm not going."

The door creaked open, revealing a fat man in an orange hazzmat suit. "Dinner is served."


Daniel paced before the fireplace, the flames casting an eery glow on his ghostly figure. "Where is she?"

"Getting ready?" Madison suggested. "Don't you think Samantha might be the young woman to break the spell?"

"Of course I've thought of that!" Daniel muttered, running a hand through his hair.

His mother sighed sadly. It had been so hard these years to watch her son struggle with this despair. The door creaked open and Jack poked his head in. "Um, Daniel-boy…"

"Where is she?" Daniel asked, immediately turning to look at his father.

"Well…" Jack sighed. "She's not coming."

"What!" Daniel roared.

He flew through the walls, blasting random objects as the furious ghost flew to his prisoner's room. He pounded on the door, ignoring the green blood flowing from a newly created wound. Jack and Madison flew after him, trying to reason him, but he shrugged them off.

"I thought I told you to come down to dinner!" Daniel roared.

"I'm not hungry!" Sam yelled back from behind the door.

"You get out here or… I'll come in there and drag you out myself!"

"Fine!"

Daniel growled then turned to his parents. "If she doesn't eat with me, she doesn't eat at all!" They nodded quickly, and the enraged young man flew off.


A/N: Wow, it's 1:21 am in the morning here when I finally finished this chapter. I should write chapters at night more often. I don't know why, but I always seem to receive my inspiration at night when I should be sleeping. Isn't that wonderful? Review 'cause you love me, and you know it makes me update sooner.