Chapter Seven:


When Taylor woke the next day something was missing. Normally on a Saturday morning she would hear the news blaring through the walls, the chiming of forks and knives, and the low murmur of her father's voice through the floorboards. Today however, there was nothing at all. Just the low whispering of the wind and the churning of her stomach in the early morning. She wasn't hungry- but despite what she wanted to believe, she was nervous about this camping trip.

It wasn't like she wanted to be. After all, how many times in a century did teens get to venture off by themselves into the mountains? Especially in light of all of the recent disappearances surrounding them. A sharp pang of nausea hit her like a wave as she thought about them- but now wasn't the time to worry about disappearing citizens.

Where had her parents gone to?

She decided it was best to get ready before she found out. The camping trip was obviously on. She just hoped that her parents still had their sanity when she finally found them again. Who knew what kind of freaky magic they'd been subjected to? Of course- Danny wouldn't do anything that dangerous.

Right?

Wrong. She grimaced as she made her way into the shower. The hot water felt good on her aching body. Everything was tense. Negativity effected her muscles the way her parent's jobs effected them. Taylor imagined an older- washed out version of herself in a business suit and cringed.

That will never be me.

When she came out of the shower it was 10. She quickly dressed and went downstairs. Greeted with silence, Taylor found her own thoughts maddening. Her brother was obviously out. She wasn't too sure how Sam was going to react to that.

What the hell is going on? Where are they?

A small envelope in the foyer answered her question. Her mother and father never left her notes. This had to be bad.

Or good?

. . . "Oh. My. God." Her hands shook as she opened the letter. What had Danny done? Was he insane?

Dear Taylor:

Your father and I are going on Vacation to Cancoon! We'll be back when you are- Kisses and hugs! Love love love!

-Mommy

Her eyes widened with disbelief. Surely this was the work of Danny's apparent new knack for possessing human bodies. She didn't know whether to laugh out loud or to cry. When her parents snapped out of their delirium she was going to be slaughtered and buried for the bugs to eat.

"Oh great great great." she hissed.

"Yeah isn't it?" came a voice from behind her.

Taylor shrieked and dropped the envelope. Before she could stop herself- large pink rays shot out of her eyes to the source of the sound. Another shriek was hurt- a shatter as her Mother's vase broke on contact- and then heavy clouds of smoke.

When it cleared she could see Danny on the floor- covering his shaking black head with two arms. Taylor's breath was heavy as she looked down at him- and he looked up at her with wide eyes.

"Are you trying to murder me?"

She trembled as she spoke. "Not...today."

There was a deafening silence- and then they both began to laugh. She shook her head and helped him up. "Who told you to phase into my house without asking?" She was very amused- but slightly serious as well. She never liked when he did that.

"Well, your parents didn't seem to have a problem with it after I got done..convincing them." Danny replied with a mischievous look. His eyes were lost in thought before they fell upon her face. "And besides. How do you think I used to spend time with you before we were going out?"

The smile of amusement dropped from Taylor's face abruptly. "What?!"

Danny looked fearful quite suddenly. "I was kidding. Seriously."

Taylor didn't seem to hear him though- she was lost in anger. "That was you?!"

"Well- no. It wasn't..I mean you know why-" but before he could start, she had almost blasted him into oblivion again- turning the already shattered vase into powder. Danny's head shot towards the mess, then towards the fuming Taylor. "You really really need to keep your anger in check."

Her moods changed like the weather Danny could see- and he wasn't sure if he liked her having ghost powers on top of it. Her power seemed to grow with her anger which was never a good sign. He frowned deeply as these thoughts ran through his head. Taylor saw his discomfort and tried to calm down as a result. She hated to see him sad- but she often made him that way whether she wanted to admit it or not.

"I'm guessing you already have my things ready." she said accurately, her eyes rather cold instead of angry.

"Yeah. . ." he responded slowly, standing up.

"Then we should leave while we still can. . "

Danny was going to ask her what she meant but figured it was best if he just stayed silent the remainder of the day. Taylor was in one of her obvious dark moods and he didn't want to risk ruining their whole camping trip.

When they stepped out of her house they were greeted to a cold and murky day. The sun was nowhere to be found, and rain slowly drizzled down in a mist from the heavens. Taylor casted her gaze upwards to where she saw a group of falcons circling in the sky. Her heart hammered faster against her chest; the birds oddly took shape of Vlad- his strong muscles becoming liquid like the movements of the birds, fluid like water. Her attention was captured so much in fact, that she barely took notice to the large RV parked right in front of her.

It was tall and white, though an odd green glow surrounded it from every angle. Large silver antennas stuck out from every direction. The windows were tinted today. Danny was obviously trying to keep them as safe as possible. Ironic really, considering they were more secure than all of the police forces in Amity Park. Two superheros. One advanced techno geek. A rich brainiac- and-

"HEY SIS!"

One messed up pothead brother.

Her brother's pale face peaked out from under the truck. Taylor raised an eyebrow and settled her hands on her hips. "What are you doing?"

"Danny told me that he needed windshield wiper fluid replaced. Only with this weird uh, ecto..stuff." her brother Mike finished, eying the bottom of the van curiously.

Danny grinned. She could feel his amusement seeping into his skin. Not only was she able to feel negative energy now- but positive energy. The negativity in the world was just so much stronger- but that was no shock.

"Thanks bro." Danny said, giving him a hand as he stumbled to his feet. Mike dusted off his pants and clasped his hands together. He reminded her of their mother when he did that. Taylor grimaced.

"I didn't know you were coming."

Mike pointed to the van. "Sam invited me!"

"It figures she would." Taylor muttered darkly.

There was an awkward silence in which Danny scratched his head. "Well we'd better get going. . . No time to sit and wait, you know?" he looked at Mike with a wink. Somehow Taylor got the feeling that the disappearance and sudden vacationing of her parents weren't the work of Danny alone.

Something about Danny's kindness towards her brother was forced. Taylor wondered just how hard he was really trying. Danny's insecurity towards his relationship with Sam unsettled Taylor. She wondered why he cared so much- and if it was just for friendship alone. Of course, it was silly to doubt Danny. He'd shown signs of only loving her. But as she got into her seat besides Sam who was eying Mike with love, she wondered just how much of a coincidence it was that Sam suddenly fell for her brother. Right in front of Danny.

This wasn't good.

The weather didn't change. Taylor could feel the negativity in the air. With the rate they were going they would be at the camp in a mere few hours. She wondered if this was a good idea- watching Danny clumsily drive the RV.

Sam's head was rested on her brother's shoulder. He himself was slumped against Tucker, who was too lost in his PSP to notice. Taylor smiled at the site softly. They all were too funny. Too cute.

Annoying too, but she loved them regardless.

Taylor watched Danny with wonder, taking in his appearance. His light blue eyes. His long black hair, the way his hands fumbled clumsily with the controls. That sharp look of concentration. She smiled.

He noticed.

"What?" he asked cautiously.

"Nothing. . ." Taylor responded quickly, turning her gaze away.

"No. . What's on your mind?"he continued. She could hear the flaming curiosity in his voice. Could he feel her emotions too?

"Like I said, nothing."

Her voice was cold. Danny thought it best to not pursue the conversation. They were already on bad terms and he didn't know why. He sensed her jealously- those waves dancing in her eyes as she clasped her hands together and turned her head away. What on this planet could Taylor be jealous of? Taylor- with her beauty and attitude. Taylor, one of the most powerful figures in the world.

But she didn't know it yet. And he didn't either.

"Oh God I'm so fucking hungry"they both heard suddenly. Mike was awake.

"Figures the first thing that comes out of your mouth is about food." Taylor teased with a smirk.

"Hey. I'm a growing man. I need mah foods."

"You mean a growing boy?" Sam corrected. She was awake too. Taylor would have laughed at that comment had she not been suspicious of her.

Tucker still didn't seem to care.

"STEAK"Taylor called.

His PSP dropped. "Steak?" He shot his head towards her. "What's this about steak?"

"I don't know." Taylor answered back.

" You know how he is about meat." Danny said with a grin.

"Even if it's wrong." Sam countered.

"Damn vegetarians." Taylor said teasingly.

"Animals are a fundamental part of-" but before she could finish, Danny cleared his throat loudly.

"It's obvious we all need food. Let's just calm down. I see a town ahead. Maybe there's something we can find."

The town was dark. That's all there was to it. And it wasn't because of the rain clouds either. Tall gray buildings stood crookedly on their developments. The old sidewalks ran into the road, which threatened to cave in at any moment. Cracks formed like spiderwebs across the dark pavement. A few old graveyards with rotting tombstones blended in to this grotesque concoction, making the place anything but friendly.

They found a place called Cady's Cafe. It was a small diner that looked very out of place compared to the rest of the town. Faded red curtains and a bright neon OPEN sign flickered menacingly into their vision as they stopped the RV.

"Well, this looks promising." Danny said oddly.

"Yeah real promising. I can just smell it." Taylor added sarcastically.

They kids clamored their way up the broken stairs. When they entered the Cafe, they could smell meat cooking in the kitchen. Inside was even grimier than the outside though, and Taylor took in her surroundings with distaste. The faded wooden walls were pealing, and the dirty brown carpet was in even worse shape than the large red booths that were cracking open. White pillows of fluff stuck out of them awkwardly.

A tall Waitress wearing a hairnet approached them with menus.

"Welcm' tuh Cay-dy's Cafay." she drawled, her eyes looking very dead indeed.

"Wuldya liktah takeah seat?"

Taylor nodded politely. At least the waitress was competent enough to greet them. But as they sat down in the huge booth, she felt claustrophobic. Especially since Danny was seated on the other side near Sam.

"Want I give you-a min?" the waitress asked.

"Yes, please." Sam answered gracefully. Taylor tried not to listen to her voice. Each syllable she spoke annoyed her. And she didn't even understand why. Now that Danny was next to Sam, she found no sign of chemistry or desire between them. And there couldn't be right?

She hoped.

The waitress came back with four steaming cups of coffee in large brown mugs. They clinked together on the small tray she carried, splashing and sloshing. Taylor took her cup gratefully. The weather was as cold as it was dreary.

They ordered their food. Taylor just wanted a small order of bacon. She wasn't as hungry as she was last night.

The murmur of her friends didn't capture her attention. A small television box was in the corner. A few cold looking men muttered to themselves at the bar, watching the pointy chinned man on the screen.

When the image of a pale young girl flashed on the screen, a sharp pain shot through Taylor's head. Taylor let out a strangled cry and gripped her head, jamming her eyes closed as the burning pain crippled her.

"What's wrong?" she heard a panicked Danny ask. A cool hand fell on her forehead, and she opened her watering eyes.

She's running. I can see it. Horrible red eyes following her...laughs- laughing red eyes. She's screaming- running. They're fast. What are they? They aren't human. . .

Taylor pointed a shaking hand at the television.

". . And the bizarre disappearance and later murder of a young girl Sarah Walsh. . " the newscaster drawled. . .

"Vlad" Taylor whispered fearfully.

Mike's face was plastered with fear. Tucker's eyes looked wide and confused. Sam looked over at Taylor, and she forgot her anger as she nodded her head in understanding. Sam knew what it was like to feel negativity. She apparently could her whole life. Danny reached over and grabbed Taylor's hands in his.

"Do you want to leave?"

"No. . . " Taylor murmured. "No. . . our food is here anyway." she added quickly, noticing the lucky appearance of their waitress with plates full of bacon, eggs, and pancakes.

Taylor didn't take a bite. She kept her eyes fixed away from the television. The negativity she got just from one picture sent her mind into a frenzy of questions. That girl was yet another odd disappearance. And somehow she knew Vlad had something to do with it. If there was anything she knew for a fact- Vlad didn't have a problem treating young girls as prey.

She was glad when Mike finally stood up to leave. Everyone was oddly quiet as they piled out of the Cafe. Taylor was glad to be rid of it. But the Sarah Walsh's eyes kept staring back at her from a world of pain. She could still see the fear and torment as she breathed her last breath.

"Only a few hours until we hit camp." Danny said happily.

And as they drove away from the rotting Cafe, Taylor had a feeling that she would be breathing her last breath soon enough.

A/N: I've been gone for awhile I know! But I'm back in business :-D Reviews please ;-)