A/N: Sorry for the long wait, guys. Loads to do. And sorry that this chapter is so short, originally it was combined with the beginning of chapter twelve, but I couldn't resist cutting it short to make a cliffhanger. dodges rotten fruit that is being thrown I know, I know! But I'll make it up to you. You all get extra Halloween candy and chapter twelve will be longer than this, I promise! So, onward we go!

GoingGhost: I didn't write it, but the same as in TUE.

Zirra Nova: Isn't that how all dangerous endevors go? And yes, email alerts on the way!

IwuvMyKenshyPoo: You might've mentioned it once or twice...

pottersparky: Yeah, I have a hard time writing Jack, he's too funny and, dare I say it, dumb, for a serious story. But I'll try harder.

I Break For Ghosts: Neither do I, but he needs one.

Spiffy McFloogan: Hey, glad you had time to review at all, thought you might be too busy writting those darn cliffies!

Inumaru12: Hey! I don't want him! What if he gets loose and starts singing again!

AvidReader123: I'm glad it fits.

crazyvi: Glad to be of assistance.

DannysGirlForever: Thanks for the complement!

the sleep warrior: Good luck with screrm auditions!

Riverfox237: Oh, I love Dark Danny--technically the whole movie "The Incredibles" is a rip-off of the old Fantastic Four comics. But oh well!

CrazyCosmoFan: Thanks very much.

xheartkreuzx: even "wow" worthy? I feel honored.

Mina-chan AMD: I'm pleased that you lilke the Valerie addition. And they're gonna need her help...

Chapter Eleven

"The Fright Knight's castle is just northwest of Walker's prison." Sam told Valerie, pointing it out on the scribbled map that she had helped Danny put together.

"That means we're almost there!" cheered Tucker. The others took heart at this and their faces brightened slightly. All six of them were sitting comfortably on the hover board; with the help of Tucker's PDA, Valerie had been able to expand its size a good deal. Jazz was sitting behind Tucker, next to her parents; Jack was closest to the back end.

Sam was sitting near the front, between Tucker and Valerie, her legs dangling off the side. Valerie cast her a concerned look and charted their destination into the autopilot before sitting down next to her.

"Everything alright, Sam?" she asked quietly. "You should cheer up, we're nearly there." Sam shrugged noncommittally and stared vacantly off into space, so Valerie tried again.

"Are you still worried about Danny?" she questioned wisely. Sam's eyes sparkled in the near-darkness.

"What if Vlad's done something to him?" answered Sam, talking more to herself than to Valerie. "Or worse, what if he wasn't lying when he…" she stopped short, realizing that she was talking out loud.

"Lying about what?" Valerie wondered, confused. Sam swallowed. Other than Tucker, no one knew that Danny had left because of Dark Danny. In fact, nobody other than Jazz and Tucker even knew about Dark Danny.

"Um…" she stuttered. They were all looking at her know. And, even if she didn't tell them, they were bound to find out sooner or later--if Vlad had somehow obtained the thermos.

All the same, Sam still felt like she was betraying Danny's trust. He been really torn up over the whole issue, that she knew. She would bet he wouldn't want them to hear about this. But, if their lives were hanging on it, which they possibly were, he would want her to warn them.

"What's the matter, Sam?" asked Maddie in a gentle voice. All the color started to drain out of the goth girl's face, but it wasn't Maddie she was watching in apparent horror.

Jack figured it out first and whipped around. A purple ghost ray shot straight at him and he ducked, instinctively. Plasmius cursed loudly as his shot missed Jack and instead hit his daughter. Jazz screamed as she flew off the hover board.

Tucker was the closest to her and he fell flat on his stomach and stuck his hand over the edge just quickly enough to grab the black sleeve of her sweater. He struggled, trying to pull her back up and simultaneously hold on so that he didn't fall himself.

There was a ripping sound and Jazz's sleeve started to unravel. Tucker released his hold on the hover board and grabbed her wrist with both hands. Unfortunately, he slipped over the edge too, and he and Jazz both started to fall.

"Jazz!" yelped Maddie.

"Tucker!" Sam shouted. Jack grabbed Maddie, who looked like she was going to jump after the two teens just as a second ghost ray hit the hover board.

A shower of white sparks spewed from it and a red light on the front starting flashing in warning.

"No, no, no!" wailed Valerie, pressing buttons frantically, trying, in vain, to keep the hover board airborne. All to no avail. The board lurched violently and threw them off and they all tumbled down, screaming, towards the depths of the ghost zone.

Plasmius shot past them, headed for the Fright Knight's castle. He could only hope the crash would kill Jack Fenton.

Sam was more terrified by what she had seen moments earlier than by this falling. It wasn't Plasmius floating there that had had her gaping in horror. Clutched in his hand was a dented white and green cylinder that looked oddly like a Fenton Thermos.

A/N: See, told you it was short. But never fear, the next chapter will hopefully be a good deal longer. (Although it may take a while to finish.) Sorry for the long wait, but please keep reviewing.