Chapter 7: Enlisting Help
Part One: Vengeful Masters
Vlad held Danny's body in his hands. Unsure of what to do. The cold feeling was unbearable but he couldn't bear to put the boy down. Should he go off for help at the risk of leaving Danny here? If by some miracle he would wake up. Nobody would be there for him. He might not have been dead for a long time. He had once heard about humans having one hour to live after an accident of major proportion. Did that apply after they had passed or before. Even so how could Vlad find help in one hour? There was no one else around for miles. It probably wasn't the best idea to live isolated in the woods. Was there anything he could do?
Vlad sifted through the rubble like a search dog. There had to be something there he could use to contact somebody. Every moment was crucial to their survival. He could only move so fast. His muscles and joints still creaky from the recent events. He was swiped over with relief when he finally located a cell phone. Perfectly placed upon a splintered table. Thank heavens it was still operating. Vlad's mind was a bit scrambled at the time as he tried to remember the emergency phone number. He probably suffered a head injury from when he was tossed against that wall. Most likely leaving a noticeable bump. Shakily his fingers dialed the buttons on the phone. Imagine his gratitude when he actually got a signal and it started to ring. Then a man picked up.
"Hello, 911. What's your emergency?" the man asked. His voice sounding calm yet at the same time urgent. Very professional in its manner.
"This is Vlad Masters. I'm in need of assistance." Vlad struggled. Mind still boggled and voice reduced to a mere whisper. Unable to think clearly. He had no time to get his head straight.
"What's the emergency?" the man repeated. Already working on trying to trace the call. In this business you had to act fast and ask only the absolutely necessary questions.
"My mansion…in Wisconsin. It's been destroyed. I have a young boy here with me…named Daniel Fenton in need of immediate medical attention and…" Vlad sputtered. Losing most of his breath from his oxygen deprived lungs. He wanted to get as much information out to them as he could. Thinking he wouldn't get a chance later. But everything was so clouded. Even part of his memory was temporarily gone.
"Where is your location?"
"The Masters Mansion. For some reason I can't recall the address. I need help this instant! I can't hold-" Vlad trailed off as he regressed back into a state of unconsciousness. Dropping to the ground with a thud. The phone clashing to the floor and breaking on contact. So weak did he feel. Not having the ability to stand anymore.
'Hello! Hello! Hello!" the man yelled through the receiver. The signal became lost and he heard only static. Quickly he found the origin of the call and had sent out ambulances and police cars to investigate.
Vlad felt the darkness closing in around him. All things going out of sight. He managed to stumble back to the spot where Danny's body lay. Hopefully somebody would find them soon. Until that time he would stay with Danny. Just like any good person would. But nothing could make Vlad forget that this was entirely his fault. He promised Danny that everything would be okay. That after this he would be just fine. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Everything had gone wrong and he was to blame. No amount of regret could ever make up for what fate had dealt to Danny.
"He's waking up. Mr. Masters, are you okay?" A gruff voice uttered. It traveled to Vlad's ears and alerted him. He wasn't fully aware of what was going on. The fact that he heard friendly voices calmed him. A mask was firmly placed over his face. Providing enough oxygen for him to breath with ease. Someone had found him. Thank heavens.
"What? What's going on?" Vlad whispered. Puzzled as he unsteadily rose. Looking upon all the strange faces that surrounded him. Vision cloudy but good enough for sight. All the faces sighed.
"Why, you're in an ambulance. We got your 911 call and came as fast as we could. You've suffered through quite a deal." A red haired man told him. A grin on his face. Now everyone could stop worrying. Memory started to flood into Vlad's brain. Only one thing came to mind.
"Daniel! Where is Daniel! Is he alright!" Vlad panicked. Shaking the table beneath him. Pulling the masks away from him and dashing out of the ambulance doors. Outside he saw all the personnel looking around. Poking their noses where they didn't belong. Perhaps Danny was saved. Maybe they revived him from his dormant state. Despite the pain he felt Vlad jumped from person to person. Seeking the information that he needed. Hopefully it was the information he preferred to hear.
"Have you seen Danny!" Vlad demanded of a middle aged woman. Right now he just wanted to hear the right words. But her face turned somber at the question. Vlad's eyes filled with intensity. Please. Say those right words.
"We're really sorry. We couldn't do anything to help. He was…already long gone by the time we got here." The woman replied apologetically. Vlad's ears wanted to drain out the words. It couldn't be true. It can't be true. How could something this horrible possibly happen?
Behind the woman he could see a crowd huddled in a group. Obviously interested in whatever was going on. He eagerly pushed himself through the tightly knit people. Nobody bothered to budge and make it easier for him. When Vlad had finally reached the front he wished he hadn't. His eyes beheld a gruesome sight. Instilling him with horror beyond comprehension.
He saw as the rescue crews fitted Danny's body into an orange bag. Being careful not to do any damage. Vlad saw the pale face of his formerly living house guest. It showed no presence of warmth. Reminding him of the face he saw on the Phantom that was the cause of this. He stayed glued to the body bag even as they zipped it up. Lifting it off of the ground and hauling it away. In utter bafflement at what was going on. Not able to swallow the truth. No. It couldn't be true.
"Stop!" Vlad shouted. Jumping in front of the crew and stopping them. It had to be a lie. He wasn't going to let them make a mistake like this. "No! There must be more you can do!"
"We're sorry Mr. Masters but-"
"You don't understand! Daniel can't be dead! That's my son!" Vlad cried to them. Wishing he had the power and strength to take the bag away from them. One of the crew put a hand on his shoulder. Trying to calm him down.
"He is. There is nothing we can do."
And they left Vlad behind them. Taking Danny into the ambulance. Then later burying him in a coffin. To be sitting under mounds of dirt to wither away. There was no use denying it anymore. Danny was dead and he wasn't coming back. Tears swelled up in his eyes but refused to flow. Never did he feel a pain like this. Danny had somehow managed to carve a special place in his heart. Now to only leave it empty and cold. Somehow Vlad felt a bitter sense of betrayal. Now he was alone again. Now he wished that Danny never burned all those mementos. How would anybody remember him now?
Later after all was settled and cleaned up Vlad went to stay at his home in Colorado. A place where he had attempted to tear the Fenton family apart. Win Maddie's heart and Danny's respect. It vexed him to return to this place. It only left behind distasteful memories of things he had done in the past. What right did he have to do something like that? How could he let himself be consumed by jealousy of his friend Jack and try to take away everything he had? Now that he thought about he should have moved on. Let that ship sail and find another to board. Why had he been such a fool?
For a few days Vlad's thinking space was jammed with interviews. Ones that he really didn't want to do. What annoyed him the most was that question he really didn't want to answer kept popping up. What caused the explosion ultimately leading to Danny's death? This Phantom being the very ghost that inhabited Danny and protected the good people of Amity Park. But Vlad could never tell anyone the truth. That a vengeful Phantom blasted Danny's life away and annihilated any chance they had at a normal life. Not like anyone would believe him about such a tale. So he lied by saying that it must have been a gas leak or some other freak accident.
One thing still always racked at his nerves. The way that Danny died was so sudden and done is the most horrible way anyone could have imagined. What right did that Phantom have to kill that boy? One who could have probably moved on with his life if given the time? Maybe grow up to be a big shot like Vlad. All of those hopes cut short by one untimely death. It didn't seem right to just let go of this whole thing. Discard it like yesterday's news. This was something dire and serious that needed to be taken care of. He had to take revenge. Make the Phantom pay and regret everything that he had done. Even if revenge was never an acceptable reason for violence. Then again that was why the Phantom acted in his harsh ways. Besides Vlad needed his ghost half back. There was no way he could prosper without. Who could he call upon for a job such as this?
This is just part one of a two part chapter. Part two will be up tomorrow or the next day. And I suspect that everybody knows who Vlad is going to get help from. GHOSTBUSTERS! No not really...
