The Art of Deception

Chapter Ten

Epilogue


"Giving up tonight
I won't let go
Won't let go of you
Giving up tonight
I wanna show you
Wanna show you
Giving up tonight..."


"You want me to believe he got past you!" Walker questioned. He stood, slamming his down on his desk. Sam didn't even blink.

"Yes," Sam said simply.

"Sam," Vlad said calmly. "Daniel could not have gotten past you that easily unless you allowed him to."

"You doubt me?" Sam asked. "I never thought that you of all would doubt me."

"Tell us the truth, Sagira," Vlad said, his patience thinning. Sam tense slightly. He only ever used her real name when he was angry or losing his composure. But, she wasn't about to give in and say she did let him go just yet.

"I am telling you the truth," she said insisted.

"For your sake, I hope this is the truth," Vlad warned. "I told you to give up on him, Sagira, to let him go as a friend. You're enemies now. He's your rival, arch nemesis."

"I know," Sam assured him.


Meanwhile...

Danny had found his way out the portal and out of the lab before his parents could catch him. The lab, at least, was still intact so that meant they still hunted ghosts. Sighing with some relief, he reverted back into human form. He hadn't realized he hadn't been regular Danny Fenton for a very...

Wait. Was he still Danny Fenton? He was, right? But could he go by that name still? How's he gonna explain that his parents forgot him? How was he gonna get their memory back anyway? Could the ghosts really have erased him from ever existing? Is that even possible?

All these questions whirled round and round in his mind as he walked down the block. He didn't know where he was going fully consciously, but he knew he would end up somewhere some time.

Then other questions caught up to date. Could he go to school? Was he actually a tenth grader now? Would he go to Casper High again? How was he going to inscribe himself back in with no parents to help him? Everything seemed so difficult now. Even school without going to school was difficult to comprehend.

Danny looked up and stopped. He was in the middle of a regular street. Off ahead was a four-way intersection. At the corner store on the other side of the street talking to another woman was Mrs. Foley. Did she remember him? The woman she was talking to was perfectly recognizable as Tucker's Aunt Lisa. Danny looked at the other person standing there. She was a little girl of about seven or eight. She was playing a small, ball: the kind you get from the machines at stores for fifty or twenty-five cents. She was Tucker's youngest cousin Cassie: the devil whirlwind they used to call her. She could do anything and everything Tucker could when it came to technology despite her age. Did any of them remember him? He wondered...

Danny began to walk forward again. He wanted to go see what would happen if he just went to go talk to them for a little while. Maybe they would remember him. He didn't look all that different after so long.

Then he froze. Cassie ran into the street! Right in the path of a loud, roaring cargo truck!

Danny didn't hesitate at all, moving quickly and swiftly. He had an estimated ten seconds to get her out of the way. During that time of thought he'd gotten all the way to the corner of the street, ran at top-speed into the street to save Cassie. It was as if everything had been going in slow-motion for him. He'd been only a couple of yards from the corner when he heard Mrs. Foley shout out Cassie's name. Then the honk of the truck rang in his ears, like a shot signaling the start of a race. Without realizing it, he had found himself running towards Cassie and pulling her out of the truck's path.

Danny, having not had enough time however, had had to jump towards Cassie to get her out of the way. To make sure they didn't land in a way where either of them would get hurt, a hastily made flip was in great need. Danny put one arm out, 'tagged' the floor with his hand and landed strictly in a crouched position, Cassie in his arms. Screams and cheers and gasps had rung out everywhere from the spectators as they watched the impossible feat. Danny, not being able to stay on his feet, fell backwards into a sitting position and loosen his hold on Cassie. The young girl made a whimpering sound.

"Cassie?" Danny asked. "You okay?" The girl responded by nodding slightly. Tears sparkled in her eyes. Danny smiled and hugged her. "Good," he sighed and looked up as Mrs. Foley and Lisa came over to claim the child.

"Cassie!" Lisa exclaimed, making a grab for the child. She took Cassie into her arms and hugged her. Danny watched with a fond smile, making no effort to stand. Then Mrs. Foley looked at him and offered her hand. "Thank you," she said. Danny took her hand and stood.

"No problem," he replied. Mrs. Foley returned his fond smile.

"But how" she started, only to be interrupted by the concerned voice of a male truck driver.

"Is everyone okay?" the man in the blue uniform called. "I couldn't stop fast enough."

"Everyone's okay thanks to..." Mrs. Foley stopped. She looked at Danny. "I didn't catch your name."

Danny's heart fell. So they didn't remember him. Sam had been telling the truth about the ghosts erasing everyone's memories. "It's...not important," he said quietly. "I'll see you around maybe, Mrs. Foley. Bye." He began to walk away.

"Wait!" Mrs. Foley called, but stopped When Danny sped up and broke into a run around the corner and out of sight. "How did he know I was a Foley," she asked quietly to herself and tried to help console the crying child.

So this is what it means to start off fresh. No one knows you. Or rather, no one remembers you. It had its up-sides, and it's down-hills. But somehow, Danny vowed, somehow he was going to make someone, anyone, remember.

He wasn't about to give up just yet.


"I won't let go
Won't let go of you
Giving up tonight

Am I giving up?
Giving up

I don't wanna give this up
I won't..."


E/N: Most wanted to hear the bad news first. How do I put this? Uhm, this is the last chapter.

But! Before you pound me to a pulp, there is going to be a sequel! Do don't kill me yet else you won't have your sequel --sticks tongue out at you then dodges a pie thrown by my brother-- Hey! --chases after brother-- 'Til next time!

--Airamé Phantom