Chapter 8: A Lonely Phantom
Moods had shifted in record time. From gloomy to giddy in two minutes flat. Valerie plowed down the door to her apartment with unbridled joy. The news she viewed on TV was now null and void. Like a forgotten and crumpled contract. This was probably one of the best things that ever happened to her. There was a chance for her to avenge Danny's death. Get back at that trifling lame-o ghost boy once and for all. The only thing Valerie couldn't figure out was why Vlad didn't just order her to waste him. Surely what Phantom had stolen from him couldn't be that important. But she decided not to dwell on it too much. People such as Vlad were always so mysterious in their own ways. Damon saw his daughter acting in this awkward manner and became a trifle suspicious.
"What's gotten into you?" Damon chuckled. Lifted at the sight of seeing Valerie out of her glum state. One that she had been in for what seemed like forever.
"Dad! You'll never believe what just happened!" Valerie giggled as she bounded toward him.
"I'm guessing it must have been pretty good. It just changed you from sour to sweet in less than an hour." Damon responded. Usually when Valerie was in a rut it took her week son end to dig her way out of it.
"Well I was walking down the street minding my own business. Venting my anger and what not. Then out of nowhere guess who I saw!" Valerie started. Almost failing to talk in a way that someone could understand her.
"Who?" Damon asked. Completely clueless.
"Vlad Masters!" Valerie proclaimed.
"Vlad Masters. What's he doing all the way out here? I thought for sure he would be occupied with a few things." Damon questioned himself and Valerie. Normally you didn't see many billionaires cruising down small town streets.
"He did. He came all the way down here just ask me for help. Personally! How cool is that right! He wanted me to capture the ghost boy for him! He trusts me more than any esteemed ghost hunter money can buy!" Valerie started. She was brimming with pride and confidence. Vlad could have asked anyone to do this for him. Absolutely anybody and he picked her. She glanced back to her dad to see if he was ready to take the big one.
"And as an added bonus he gave Fenton Works to me! It's all mine!" Valerie finished. Now she waited for her dad's response. Something that she would expect to be as ecstatic as her. Brimming with enthusiasm. But that wasn't the reaction Damon was making evident. It seemed more like troubled. His face showing deep thought.
"Dad? Are you alright?" Valerie asked.
"I'm not sure about this Valerie. You know how I feel about you and ghost hunting." Damon answered as he turned to Valerie who was now a bit discouraged.
"But I have to do this! I can't turn this offer down!" Valerie shouted. Eagerly wanting to get her point across. Her voice started to get more whiny.
"Yes you can Valerie. You have a mind. Just use it so say no." Damon stubbornly told her.
"Dad you don't understand! I have to do this! I can't let that ghost kid get away with what he did!" Valerie demanded. Her face red as her blood pressure rose.
"Valerie what is so special about this ghost that you can't let it go! What could he have possibly done to make you this determined?"
"What did he do! He ki-" Valerie halted her voice midway. She was giving away too much information to her dad. If he found out that Phantom was deadly then he might never consider letting her do this. Damon looked back at her waiting impatiently. She stayed silent.
"Well?" Damon huffed. Wondering where the fire in Valerie's eyes went off to.
"Nothing…it's nothing. I guess I just never gave up on ghost hunting." Valerie pouted. Making it seem that her confidence was deteriorating. Although it wasn't. She wanted Damon to think that she was discouraged.
"I know it's hard to give up some things sweetie. Maybe you'll find something some normal hobbies to do." Damon said as his mood lit up. Trying to make Valerie fell better. But she kept acting as she traveled to her room.
The next day after school Valerie snuck off to FentonWorks. Disobeying her father's orders to stay far away from it. There was no way Valerie could let an opportunity go to waste. She couldn't let Danny down. Every moral she had went against it. Watching her back she crept inside the dormant house. Empty and cold was what it felt. And kind of creepy. As though the spirits of the Fentons were still looming around. Living on their daily lives. Her footsteps bounced off the walls as she headed downstairs toward the lab. She closely surveyed the lab. It was left unruly with a few beakers and mechanical parts lying askew on the tables and floor. Jack never seemed like the one to keep things tidy or in order. Valerie sifted through the numerous drawers. Dust floated through the air as she opened them one by one. Inside there lay wires, papers and even more mechanical parts. She thought of ways to somehow salvage these things and create new weapons.
As she was poking around the lab Valerie stumbled upon the Fenton Portal. Its doors were slightly rusted and left ajar. The light above it was cracked and burned out. Inside she could see it dormant. No hypnotizing swirling vortex of green could be seen. Just an vacant room of steel and wires. The portal didn't seem broken as much. It was more like someone had dismantled it. She could see several screws scattered on the floor. Vlad had probably dismantled it himself for reasons Valerie didn't know. But Valeriie was confident in her ability to fix it. She knew her way around tools.
An alarm went off in Valerie's backpack. She unzipped it and hastily pulled out her cell phone. She looked on the screen at the number and shuddered when she saw the words "Damon Gray" on it. In the lower corner of the screen she read that it was almost five o' clock. Originally she planned to only stay for a few minutes. But time passes so quickly when you get wrapped up in things. Without thinking to return the call she shoved the phone back in her backpack, ran up the stairs and rushed back home.
"Hey dad. Sorry I'm late. I got a little…sidetracked." Valerie explained as she stepped through the door.
""With what?" Damon questioned. A sly look in his eye. Like he knew what Valerie was up to.
"Oh you know…stuff at school, stuff with friends nothing big. I'll be sure to call you next time." Valerie stuttered trying to cover up what she had been doing. The sly look immediately vanished from her dad's face.
"I'll let it go this time. Just let me know if you're going to be late coming home next time." Damon smiled. Valerie let out a sigh of relief. Glad that her dad didn't figure out about her disobedience.
Ever since that day Valerie was able to sneak off to FentonWorks every day after school. Just as long as she checked in with her dad first she could work there for an hour. None of her friends ever suspected anything of her suspicious behavior of not joining them in any activity they were doing. Which never really seemed interesting. A tool kit was her aid in repairing the Fenton Portal. And was fortunate enough to get it working again. Most of her time was spent in the Ops Center which was in better condition than the lab. She was able to get the damaged weapons fixed as well. They would prove useful for when she had to face Phantom. Added to her reserved arsenal were the Fenton Extractor, the Fenton Fisher, the Fenton Ghost Catcher, the Fenton Weasel, the Fenton Crammer, the Fenton Peeler, the Fenton Ghost Bazooka, and the Specter Deflector. Even the Plasma Peach was added as a sort of "last resort" weapon. But she left behind the useless ones. Such as the Ghost Gabber and the Anti-Creep Stick. With all these new gadgets at her side she would be ready to face him.
A few days later…
Phantom had found his way back to Amity Park. Smug with himself for being able to find the way back on his own. He'd never flown that far before. But an even darker though floated around in his head as he saw the sign that read "Amity Park: A Nice Place To Live". Bringing an even more twisted smile across his face. Knowing that he was nearing his objective. Close to crossing off the first thing on his "list". Something he made up in his head of things he had to do if he ever wanted to be a powerful ghost. And that started here. In his thinking he didn't know that eyes were watching him. Hateful eyes.
"So. We have a new spook in town? Doesn't seem like much." Valerie whispered to herself as she looked through her binoculars. Hovering upon her jet sled. Eyeing the strange ghost with interest. Though she only saw him from the back she already categorized him as not much of a threat. Probably no stronger than the annoying Box Ghost. Carefully she pulled her gun out and steadily aimed for him. Wanting to hit him on the first shot so she could take him by surprise. Once she had a clear shot she let the stream of ecto energy zoom straight toward the ghost. Waiting for that satisfying shriek.
Phantom was lost in his thoughts and didn't realize the shot until he was hit. Phantom let out a faint shout as he was blasted. With his teeth gritted he diverted his eyes to the direction of the shot. Pitying the poor fool who dared to do such a thing. When he turned around his eyes beheld an all too familiar sight.
"I'd recognize that suit anywhere." Phantom chuckled as he stared at Valerie. A blank look plastered on his face. Valerie floated before him. Even though her mask was still on he could see the fire in her eyes. Still burning bright as ever.
"Maybe you don't know the way we do things around here. But we have a strict no spooks policy." Valerie informed. Holding the gun threateningly in her hands. Ready to fire again. Phantom could hear the charge of the gun and saw the flashing light emit from it's opening.
"Hey Val. Miss me?" Phantom asked as he smiled.
"How do you know my name ghost!" Valerie demanded of him.
"Don't you recognize me? The Ghost Kid? Inviso-Bill? Whatever name you prefer." Phantom said with disgust at the names he spoke. None of them seemed to do him justice.
"Geez. What happened to you? You look more menacing than usual." Valerie questioned. Sort of bewildered by this new appearance.
"Oh, like the new look? I decided to drop by just to get a second opinion on it." Phantom responded. Twirling around so Valerie could see his new look in full.
"You've got a lot of nerve showing your face around here. Especially after what you did." Valerie hissed. Base was becoming evident in her voice. Her rage becoming more obvious.
"So would that be a yes or a no?" Phantom joked. Still referring to his look. He loved to mess around with her.
"Stop changing the subject!" Valerie roared. Infuriated by Phantom's ignorance of the dire seriousness of the conversation.
"Come one! Are you people still bent out of shape about that Fenton kid? Since when did anybody care about him?" Phantom whined.
"What difference does it make! He was just a lonely kid! No family, no friends, no nothing! And you killed him." Valerie retorted.
"Didn't seem like he had much to live for. I was doing the kid a favor Val. Lighten up." Phantom joked again. He knew that Valerie disliked his use of that nickname. According to her, he had no right to use it.
"Killing somebody barely fits the description of a favor!"
"Maybe so. But if he were smarter he would have never abused my power in the first place. Cheating on a test? How dumb is that?"
"You're not making any sense." Valerie stated. She couldn't keep listening to the insane dribble flowing from his mouth.
"Could you do me a favor Val? Take a close look at me. Do I remind you of anyone? Anyone at all? That might answer your question." Phantom teased.
Valerie didn't see where Phantom was going with this. The only thing a ghost would remind her of was another ghost. So she decided to humor him and actually try to answer the question. Valerie lowered her gun and glanced at Phantom. At first she just skimmed over him to make it look like she was really thinking. Just as she reached his eyes something caught Valerie's attention. The eyes. Something about them seemed awkward and familiar. Deeper and deeper she gazed into the pools of red. They were filled with bitterness and hatred. But as she studied them longer the bitterness started to fade from them. As did the hatred. They faded and faded the shade of red in his eyes to a shade of blue. A calming sky blue filled with despair and innocence. Closer and closer she examined the mysterious eyes. Valerie moved back from Phantom. His eyes now blue and his face now a lively shade of peach. The flaming mane on top of his head turned into a bush of black hair and the sharp teeth returned to normal. Slowly the picture was coming to her. As soon as that smirk formed into a slight frown she could hear the faint words. Softly the mouth uttered. Valerie…
"Danny? Danny is that you in there!" Valerie shouted to Phantom. Recognizing the face and those blue eyes. It was him.
"Hey, you're not as dumb as you look!" Phantom cheered as he put on a fake smile.
"But it can't be…"
"But it can be. I'm Danny. Danny Fenton. Or at least I lived inside of him before I was brutally torn away from him. Surprised?"
"No. No! You're just lying to cover up for what you did!" Valerie hollered as the gun lifted back to her side. Too busy in her anger she didn't correctly aim the shot with which she intended to hit Phantom. He watched the burst of energy travel away in the sky.
"Ugh. Believe what you want. I'm just here to carry out some business. And you just bumped to the top of my priority list." Phantom said. The smirk returning to his face.
"Huh?" Valerie gasped.
"Tell Danny I said hi…"
It didn't take long for Valerie to comprehend what Phantom had in mind for her. She could see the pools of thirst full vengeance in his red eyes. And she knew that he wasn't joking. Hastily she clicked her shoes together and activated her sled. Rising herself off the ground and ascending into the crisp evening sky. Leaving him far behind. Phantom watched her fly off. Like a cowardly child. Waiting for the right moment to begin pursuit. Giving Valerie a head start. After all it wasn't going to be much of a match.
"Ready or not. Here I come." Phantom said as he started to chase her. He traveled at a speed he never achieved before. Catching up to Valerie sooner than he expected. She had gained a good few yards ahead of him. Actually they weren't good at all. They would only prolong her defeat. Valerie nervously glanced over her shoulder at the malevolent ghost chasing her. He could see the blood lust in his eyes that was never present there before. Thinking only about her safety she quickly fired several more shots at him. Hoping that by some miracle one would hit him, even though she wasn't really aiming. Easily he dodged every one of them.
"Is that the best you can do Val? Come one! Give me a challenge here!" Phantom cackled. Bitterly disappointed and amused at how Valerie was fighting. In return he fired a few beams of energy from his hands. They jetted out of his hands like bullets and Valerie struggled to dodge them. Unfortunately the last one squarely hit her Ecto Gun and shattered it into pieces. She watched in horror as the pieces dropped to the ground below her. Leaving her open for attack. Phantom blasted again this time grazing the side of her sled. One of the rockets puttered causing it to spin out of control. Valerie struggled to keep her balance on the faulty thing. Not before Phantom took out the other rocket too and rendered the vehicle useless. Valerie shakily hopped off of it and plummeted to the ground. Before she could hit the ground Phantom ambushed her from behind. Carrying her through the air and leaving her helpless. Therefore slamming her into a nearby building.
People below from the street screamed in terror as they saw the horrific sight. From the glimpse of the emblem they knew it was the Ghost Boy. All of them were confused as to why he was acting this way. Usually he aimed to protect the town. Now he was seeking to destroy it.
Valerie wasn't down yet. After gaining her composure she pulled out her Ecto Grenade launcher. This time she took the patience to aim despite her hurry. The grenades came out in a flurry and were on a direct path to Phantom. Merely serving as fire works across the sky as each one missed. Making Valerie become frustrated. Phantom was faster than usual and she rarely missed. She fired again and still missed every shot until she was out of ammo.
"Are you quite done?" Phantom teased at Valerie's failed attempts to stop him. Surely she couldn't have expected the fight to be this easy. With his last remark Phantom loomed over to her with his tongue viciously waving out of his mouth. Valerie had to think on her toes or risk being brutally injured.
"I'm not out yet." Valerie said as she flashed pounded her fists together. Causing her hands to glow pink. It seemed like a pretty weak threat but it was all she had. She patiently waited for Phantom to get closer. Clenching her fists tight. Nearer and nearer he came until BAM!
Valerie socked Phantom straight in the jaw. Sending him flying in the opposite direction. Giving her a few seconds. Quietly she sneaked across the other edge of the building. Her eyes darted across the town as she tried to locate FentonWorks. All of her other weapons remained there because they were too gaudy or heavy for her to carry around. Once she saw it she turned her eyes down to the ground. Her vision went dizzy as she saw the long drop from the rooftop. Surely she might break something. But it was her only choice. So before Phantom came back to his senses she took her now weak legs and jumped off the roof. Trying not to think of the harsh and cold ground that was just below her. Luckily enough she spied a flagpole and snatched it. Her arm jerked and she let out a yelp. Now the drop didn't seem so high. With skill she let go and safely landed on the pavement.
"Where do you think you're going?" Phantom yelled out to her. Seeing Valerie try to make her cowardly escape. He didn't want her to get away. Eagerly he again started chasing after the running Valerie who now half limped down the sidewalk. She ducked and weaved behind trees, cars, anything she found laying around. Fighting her way through the waves of panicking people. At the same time not letting them get caught in the crossfire. Imagine her relief when she saw the gigantic Ops Center of FentonWorks. As soon as she went inside she leapt into the lab, grabbed the closest Fenton invention she could and braced herself.
Phantom smiled at the way Valerie was leading her to FentonWorks. It was exactly where he needed to be. Then he came to a halt as he faced a decision. He could either finish off Valerie now or go straight to the Fenton Portal. Either way that would be one thing checked off his list. But what he intended to do in the Ghost Zone was more important. So he phased through the door and went down to the lab where he saw the famous Fenton Portal.
"There you are!" Phantom proclaimed as he approached it. Not before being entangled in the glowing resin covered wire of the Fenton Fisher. His patience dropped to a drastically low level.
"Not so fast Phantom! You're not going anywhere!" Valerie shouted as she had the end of the pole tightly bound in her hands. Phantom's face went blank. Taking this attempt to stop him as another joke. One that really got old fast. In a hurry he pounced toward the table and grabbed the Fenton Peeler. Ignoring her he plunged into the portal's vortex dragging the fisher behind him.
"You just wait! If I catch you here again you're dead! You hear me! Dead!" Valerie roared into the portal. Normally she would have gone after him. But without her jet sled there was no way she could navigate through there. All she could do was wait for him to return. Assuming he hadn't simply run away which she highly doubted. On the other hand it would give her some preparation time for their next encounter. Starting with a plan…
On the other side Phantom broke out of the wire with no effort. He drifted through the endless realm with the Fenton Peeler secure in his hands. Ready for anything he might see. On his second trip he wasn't the least bit concerned about what was happening to them. As far as he was concerned they could be sucked into some black hole or being eaten. They were all dead to him now. His search time was cut in half by his newfound speed. Easily he went from place to place lair to lair in search of the traitors.
"Hey. Who's the new freak in town?" a taunting voice asked from behind. Phantom would know that voice anywhere. He turned around to be greeted by the sour face of his former friend. Sam Manson. She gave out a small chuckle with her words. Immediately Jack, Maddie, Jazz, Tucker, and Lancer came into view out of nowhere. Surrounding Phantom with curious looks in their eyes. All of them now had greenish shaded skin and paler eyes.
"Who are you?" They all asked in unison with a hint of despise in their voices.
"Don't you guys recognize me? It's so annoying to be forgotten." Phantom sighed. He resented having to keep reminding people who he was. But one look at the emblem snuggly placed on his chest brought everything back.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked in disgust. A cold glare was directed. The others joining in. Luckily Phantom was now immune to their distasteful attitudes toward him.
"What's with you? Get a bad makeover?" Tucker teased. Scanning over his new and more ridiculous looking complexion. Particularly his new crimson eyes.
"I thought we told you we never wanted to see your face around here again." Jazz explained. Reminding Phantom of the rules established during his last visit.
"Funny. I seem to remember the same exact regulations being set." Mr. Lancer added in.
"Why don't you do yourself a favor and leave before you get hurt." Maddie asked. Not really concerned but just giving some advice. Phantom gave a faint laugh.
"Don't worry guys. I saw from my last trip here that you were all miserable. I felt obligated to help all of you. So I won't be here long… "
Everyone felt better inside that soon he would be leaving. Yet they were all curios as to how he was ever going to help them. There was no way to get them out of here and back to their original lives. They became suspicious of his actions as they saw a smile creep back onto his face.
"…and neither will you." Phantom cackled as he revealed the Fenton Peeler from behind his back. Pointing it threateningly at them. Carefully deciding who would be his first target. Whoever was the next to utter a demeaning word would get the first dose. They all eyed it with terror. Slowly backing away from the deranged ghost who could go off at any second. Even if it didn't seem like much anymore all of them valued their lives. No matter how miserable or unbearable.
"Danny…calm down…don't do anything you might regret…" Sam reasoned. Immediately shutting up when the peeler was directed at her.
"Oh don't worry Sam. I've thought this over more than once and I for sure won't. But you don't seem the right place to start…"
Phantom rotated through the group over to Maddie. The perfect starting point and his first victim. Her face covered with beads of sweat. Fear was evident in the way she looked.
"How about you?"
"Danny…" Maddie whispered with a tear in her eye.
Phantom pushed the button on top of the Peeler and was soon covered in a suit of steel. An eerie whirring sound emitted from the machine. Along with a radiant glow of green as a beam of light headed right toward Maddie. She was powerless to move in any way.
"Maddie no!" Jack cried as he bolted himself in front of the ray. They gazed in alarm as they saw Jack's body slowly lose its form and wither away into nothing. The only remains were a few blobs of ectoplasmic goop drifting through the air.
"Jack!" Maddie screamed at the demise of her husband. Only because she had been stupid enough not to move.
"Leave her alone!" Sam screamed as she charged at Danny. Making a lunge for the Peeler. To her dismay Phantom swiftly took a hold of her wrist.
"Nice try." Phantom falsely applauded as he treated Sam to the same fate as Jack's. Vaporizing all that was left of her.
At this point none of them knew what to do. Helplessly they had to watch as their family member or friend was killed. Although kill probably wouldn't be the right term. Before anyone had a chance to act they heard the deafening wail of Lancer who too had been vaporized. Leaving only Jazz, Tucker and Maddie. All of them fled.
Eagerly he chased them. Somehow he didn't feel like laughing. The silence racked on the trio's nerves. Waves of panic were spread as Jazz and Maddie heard the shriek of Tucker from behind. Making them pick up their pace. Neither of their speeds matched that of Phantom had before they knew it he had driven them into a corner. They were trapped.
"Mom! Mom! Where do we go!" Jazz panicked to Maddie. Flailing her hands in all directions.
"How about you just go peacefully." Phantom suggested. He was glad to see the last of his sister and hear the last of her whiny voice as she was obliterated. Maddie was now the only one left.
"Don't you just hate being last?" Phantom joked. About to finish what he had started. Maddie stood there frozen. Phantom gazed into her eyes which were full of pain and misunderstanding. Soon he realized that there were better ways of torture.
"I could just finish you of now but that'd be just what you want. Wouldn't it…" Phantom trailed off as the Peeler lowered back to his side.
"… And I can't think of anything worse than stranding you here. Alone." Phantom finished. Sorrow could be heard in his voice.
"Danny…what happened to you… my boy?" Maddie silently cried as Phantom flew off in the opposite direction. She sobbed and Phantom couldn't help but feel a tidbit of pity for her. But it was what she deserved. What all of them deserved. For rejecting their only son and friend who solely wished to right this wrongs.
Her boy…
You may think I'm cruel but I wanted to make a story behind why we didn't get to see the Fentons and friends in the TV movie. This is just my interpretation…
