Chapter 3: Truthful Lies

Mr. Fenton? Mr. Fenton? Mr. Fenton? That was all Danny could hear. The words echoed in his head like sirens. What was going on? Then all of a sudden he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. "Ouch!" he yelped in pain as he shot his head up. Below him he could see a puddle of drool. Some of it on his face. He used his shirt to wipe it off. His eyes drooped as he tried to take in his surroundings. Motivational posters? Pencil Sharpeners? A teacher? Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. He was in school. And just before him was the menacing face of his teacher Mr. Lancer. Danny jumped out of his seat like a spring and fell to the floor. Snickers and laughs could be heard in the background. He blushed.

"Have a nice nap Mr. Fenton?" Mr. Lancer asked irritated. You could see the patience wearing off his face. Adding to the age. Danny just looked back at him confused. Slowly the laughter died down. He had no idea what was going on.

"What day is it?" Danny asked in a dazed state. Mr. Lancer glared at him. Like the dumbest question in the entire world was asked. And it was. "What day is it? What day is it!" Mr. Lancer screamed.

"It's the day of the C.A.T Mr. Fenton! The test that will very well determine your future as you know it!" His fists were clenched at his sides. You could practically see the steam rising from his bald head. Danny looked back at him still confused. Was he asleep this whole time? Had he just imagined the whole thing? Using his hand Danny propped himself on the desk. Much to his dismay the swipe of his hand revealed a certain paper no one was meant to see.

"What is this?" Mr. Lancer asked accusingly as he motioned his hand to pick up the paper. Realizing what it was Danny panicked. As Lancer studied the paper his eyes went wide.

"It's seems I've captured a cheater." He said holding it up for all to see. On the paper were the very answers to the C.A.T. Plain for everyone to see.

"Mr. Lancer it's not what you think. I didn't put it there! I wasn't cheating!" Danny screamed to prove his case. He could feel the stares of his peers piercing through his body like a million needles.

"Stop yourself. Lying only makes it worse." A strange voice said from out of nowhere. Danny flashed his eyes around the room. No one else seemed to hear the voice but him. Then his eyes set on a floating body. It wore a black and white suit and had spooky green eyes. Is that me he thought to himself. His eyes beheld the most puzzling thing he had ever seen. His ghost half floated above him smiling. But how could that be Danny when he was standing right there?

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't blow it." Ghost Danny winked as a twisted smile crept onto his face. Just as quickly as he had come he disappeared. Like he was never there. Again he heard the voice say those awful words.

"Now your future is sealed." All of a sudden something grabbed Danny from behind and carried him outside of the building. He could feel as his body phased through the roof and the cool breeze of the wind blew past him. The ghost was taking him somewhere. They flew over the buildings until they reached the Nasty Burger. From above Danny could see his family and friends and even his teacher down there. All of them tied to the vats of Nasty sauce. It was happening again.

"Let go of me!" Danny shouted to the ghost that held him. He flailed his arms and legs to make the malevolent phantom let go. No sooner did Danny find himself on the ground. Danny felt a chill as the phantom fused back into him. The impact pushed him to the ground. His face roughly smacked the pavement. Shakily Danny tried to rise again. He managed to get a glimpse of the people in danger and the thought hit him. Another chance. Another opportunity! I have to save them. Mustering up the last of his strength Danny tried to run toward them. Each step he took was harder than the last and took more energy out of him. As if it was being drained from his very body.

"No. I can't do this again. I have to save them." Danny whispered to himself in agony. He looked up and saw the terrified faces of the victims. Some were filled with tears waiting to drop and some filled with questions. Danny couldn't stand to look at them. Faster and faster he ran toward them. But he didn't seem to be getting anywhere. No matter what he did the destination stayed far out of reach.

The vat gave a warning quake. Giving a signal that it was ready to burst. The vibrations shook their bodies. Why couldn't Danny move any faster? Why won't he hurry? Danny could easily see he was running out of time. Tears started to flow from his eyes. He couldn't fail again. Not again. But no matter how he wished the vat wouldn't stop quaking. The sauce started seeping over the edge. It spurted every which way and every direction. More and more shaking ensued. Like an earthquake ready to go full force. Danny hurry! Danny please! Danny! Then 1…2…3…BOOM!

Danny furiously woke from his sleep as he raised his head. His neck gave a whip as it helped to pull the rest of his body. Sweat covered him from top to bottom. His breaths were heavy as he tried to pull in air. What a terrible dream. Every inch of his body shivered. It seemed so vivid. As if the tragedy were happening again. He failed again. Danny took a hand and held it up to his head. He felt sick and weak. He could see the sun trying to peek through his window. It was morning. He had actually survived his first night at Vlad's mansion. What a relief. Looking for comfort Danny eagerly searched for his picture. NO longer was it on the bed. Where was it? He couldn't have lost it could he? Danny placed his feet on the floor but quickly pulled them back.

"Ouch!" he yelped as he pulled his foot back. He knew it! He knew it! He knew Vlad had it out for him. Danny turned his eyes to the floor to see the trap he almost fell into. But it wasn't a trap at all. It was glass. And right beside it was the now smashed frame of his picture. He probably knocked it over while he was sleeping. While he was having his nightmare. He carefully brushed the glass away and picked it up. Danny looked at the picture and sighed. How it haunted him. But at the same time brought comfort. Trying to take his mind off of it Danny got dressed and went downstairs. His stomach was aching from the inadequate meal he had last night. He really hoped he didn't run into Vlad.

As Danny reached the hallway he was bombarded by millions of lights. Flash after flash after flash. He was blinded and couldn't see an inch in front of him. All he heard were voices yelling questions in his ears. All the noise caused a headache. Danny raised a hand up to block all the chaos.

"What does it feel like to be the only one left!" a low voice shouted.

"How has losing your family affected your life!" another voice asked.

"How do you feel about this devastating tragedy!" another one shrieked.

All the noise and confusion. Why wouldn't it stop? Who were all these people? Why were they asking him all of these questions?

"Back away from him! Can't you see the boy needs his space!" Vlad screamed as he pushed his way through the wave of reporters. He tried to shoo them away from the defenseless Danny. He knelt down and pulled Danny to his feet. Wiping the dust off his shirt and hair. Eagerly the reporters tried to take pictures of him. But Vlad protected him with the frail shield of his body. Danny stood behind him instinctively.

"Please everybody settle down. Daniel will be free to answer any questions in just a moment." Vlad reasoned.

"What are these people doing here?" Danny asked annoyed. Still being careful to stay behind Vlad.

"Reporters. Journalists. You name it. Mere animals if you ask me." Vlad told him.

"How did they all get in?" Danny questioned.

"All I did was open the door and these barbarians trampled me to search for you." Vlad responded angrily.

Before long the reporters finally quieted down and stopped clicking their cameras. They all moved into the dining room so they wouldn't be too far. You could hear them busing and fidgeting around. Some messing with camcorders and others testing their microphones. Vlad was right about them being animals.

"Now there is nothing to be afraid of. They're only here to ask a few questions." Vlad told Danny. He pushed him down the hallway into the dining room were the reporters were. After a few minutes Danny and Vlad found themselves on the couch. They had agreed Vlad would do all the talking. He would answer all questions. But maybe that wasn't a good idea.

"So Mr. Masters…" the reporter started.

"Oh please call me Vlad." He corrected.

"Yes. So Vlad how has it been becoming a caretaker of this young boy?" she asked. All microphones inched toward Vlad.

"Well I must say I really don't know. Daniel has only been here for a day and we haven't had much contact." He said.

"Do you think it was the right choice to take him in?" a different reporter questioned.

"Of course I do! Daniel may be a little shaky now but him and I have shared a very close bond over the years. I'm practically family." Vlad lied through his teeth. Giving his cheesy smile.

Danny stared at him in scorn. Family? What did he mean by family? And there wasn't any bond between them. They were mortal enemies. Sure anyone could call Vlad family. If by family you mean your evil arch nemesis guardian. This to Danny didn't fit into his definition of family. Nothing did anymore.

"Do you think it will be hard to raise him? A teenage boy." Another reported asked.

"Not at all. I know that right now more than anything Daniel needs a strong figure in his life. Someone to guide him through this terrible tragedy. And I am just the person to provide it." Vlad answered. Telling yet another lie.

"Tell us were you closely connected to any of the Fenton family?" the reporter asked.

"How could I forget my dearest Maddie? What a wonderful women she was. All the way through college and even to her death. If only I could hear her voice again. So sweet and forgiving. Which is why I have promised to grant her death wish…" Vlad finished.

Everyone's ears perked up. Even Danny's. He never knew his mom had a death wish. And if she did why would she tell Vlad and not dad or anybody else. Even her own son. This made Danny grow angry inside. He felt jealousy for Vlad. This creep knew more about mom than he did. Oh how his wrath grew.

"Maddie did have a wish if anything should happen to her. And that one wish was to take care of her children. Even though there is only one left I shall shower him with the affection as she would have." Vlad closed. He gave a smile while everybody was moved by his speech.

"Just one more question… for Danny…" the reporter started. Blatantly disregarding Danny's vow of silence. But Danny listened nonetheless. All eyes were on him and he thought that he might as well get some air time. There was nothing better to do. Soon all eyes turned to him.

"Will you be referred to as Daniel Masters from now on?" the reporter finished.

What! Danny couldn't believe what he had just heard. Flurries of anger built up inside of him. Daniel Masters! How dare they? It was just as if they swiped the name Fenton off of him and threw it away. Like it meant nothing. It was the name he was given at birth by the very ones he loved. And they wanted to change it. The suspense was building around him. His fists clenched to his sides.

"NO! I'll never be a Masters! I hate this place, I hate this house, and I hate you! I'm Fenton! Danny Fenton and don't ever forget it!" Danny roared at all of them. To those insensitive jerks. Without a second thought he ran to his room. The only place where he felt semi-safe. He couldn't stand being near those people.

"Daniel, wait!" Vlad yelled to him. He got up and started to chase after him. Honestly he wished that that question was never asked. They would have been better off without it.

As soon as Danny got to his room he knelt down and picked up the picture. He didn't mind the glass that was piercing him. He tried to look into the eyes of his mom. It was hard to see with all the rage clouding his vision.

"I'll be a Fenton forever! Nothing will ever change that. Nothing." Daniel whispered. He quickly got a few of his heavier bags and placed them in front of the door. He just wanted to be alone for a while. No interruptions and no stupid questions. Just him, his family and his friends. Just like it used to be. Soon his silence was interrupted by Vlad trying to get through the door. Danny raced to it and tried to keep them out.

"Daniel! Cease this foolishness please." Vlad sternly said through the door. He again pushed on the door.

"No! Just leave me alone!" Danny screamed as he tried to push the door closed. He couldn't match Vlad's strength.

"I only want to talk." Vlad reasoned. He was winning the fight as the door inched further and further. He could hear Danny struggling on the other side.

A few minutes had gone by and Vlad gave up. He wasn't going to fight Daniel. Especially over something like this. Something he should've expected. Defeated he returned downstairs where he lead the reporters out. There were already enough things going on right now. Danny just stayed in his room for hours. Not making a sound. Danny didn't have the energy to beat up anything. All was quiet as the eye of the storm passed. Another outbreak would occur soon. Both Danny and Vlad were sure of it.

Danny Masters…Danny Fenton…Danny Phantom…

Phew! A long chapter and hopefully enjoyable to you the reader. Sorry for the long wait but I was thinking about how to write this chapter and I couldn't get on the computer much. So…enjoy!

And remember constructive criticism