By Any Means
Disclaimers: Danny Phantom does not belong to me. Neither does the box ghost… (oh gawd, say it aint so!!)
AN/ Another chapter. Another update. Please enjoy the continuation. Remember always to review so I know what you think!
Song quote this time is "Thriller" by Michael Jackson.
Last Time on BAM:
The Casper High's Paranormal and Ghost Hunting Society welcomes its newest member.
Quote: "So do you like fight ghosts and stuff?"
Chapter Three: Vanderclute Manor
Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would dare to try
-Michael Jackson
The end of the school day couldn't have come any sooner. But unfortunately, Sam figured, her misery was far from over- now that Tucker had gotten his wish. A new team member. As if it weren't bad enough staying out all night with one ghost fanatic, now she'd be stuck with two. Two boys goggling over dust particles and white noise. The only thing could be possibly worse than the impending investigation tonight would be the coming Monday where Sam would have to face the mended Paulina.
"Come on, Sam. Give him a chance," said Tucker, practically skipping to keep up with Sam's quick stride. "He's really not that bad once you get to know him a little."
"Tucker, he's an anti-social comic book nerd. He probably thinks of your club as being a step closer to obtaining his super crime fighting powers. Didn't you hear him back there? Fighting ghosts. Even if ghost did exist how the hell do you fight them?"
"Ghost Hunters in Amity Park used to."
"Tucker... You know how I feel about Amity Park's so called Ghost Hunters."
"Aw. Now you're just being mean. Just because a guy reads a few comic books doesn't mean he's obsessed. For all you know, he might be a poet."
Sam scowled. "Will you get off it?"
"Not until you admit that I'm right," huffed Tucker with an air of indignation. "You do like him."
"Alright, alright. I do find him... mildly attractive," said Sam at great length before quickly adding. "...in an obnoxious self-centered way."
"See. Was that so hard?"
Sam consciously made the choice to not to answer. Instead she steered Tucker underneath the scrawny pear tree just on the outskirts of the school yard. Blowing some dark strands of hair from her face, she sent Tucker a warning look, "Speak a word of that to him and I'll knock both your heads together."
It was no idle threat, but Tucker couldn't keep the grin from his mug.
"You only like him cause he liked your shirt," said Sam bitterly.
"And you're only miffed at him cause he blew you off."
"A perfectly logical reaction!"
"Hey Riley! Over here, buddy!" Tucker interrupted, waving over someone behind her. Sam turned in time to see the black haired boy emerge from the crowd exiting the school doors. He quickly spotted Tucker, and waved back- though not as enthusiastically.
Riley was sporting the same ghost shirt the rest of the team and Tucker was beaming with pride.
Sam grumbled so only Tucker could hear, "Buddy?"
"Hey why not? He's a good guy, Sam. You'll see."
Riley made his way over, rather ungracefully. It was easier to see how he may have accidentally run into Paulina earlier that morning. He was about as intuitive as a bull frog, often stepping in front of people still walking or walking into people who had stopped. It was almost as painful as watching Tucker attempting to eat a salad.
But he had purposefully run to Paulina, Sam reminded herself. He cut through a crowd and knocked Paulina clear off her feet. Which was a much more difficult task than one would think. Just because she was a cheerleader, didn't mean that Paulina was delicate. She had a mean slap that would bring tears to even the toughest guy's eyes.
"Hey Tucker, Sam," greeted Riley brightly.
Sam regarded the boy's demeanor with certain surprise. Although he was far from having Kwan's optimistic grin, Riley suddenly seemed... happier. Had Tucker done that? Sam found it hard to believe that only a day had turned a sullen practically invisible classmate into a actual person. From sarcastic cynical teenager to mild mannered soft spoken friend. No, no it was not possible.
Something did this. Sam was sure of it. Something had made Riley suddenly want to be nice to them. But what?
"Okay, we're meeting in front of the manor at seven sharp. Make sure you bring a jacket, Riley. The manor is on river front property and has a tendency to get real nippy at night. Especially since the house was practically hallowed out after the last owners abandoned it," explained Tucker carefully. "Try to leave your house early so you can- um. Actually... where do you live, Riley?"
"I can get there," answered Riley.
Only Sam seemed to notice how he had evaded the question.
"If your parents want you home at a certain time, I'm sure me or Sam could walk you back."
"No, it's okay. I can stay."
No "my parents say it's okay" or "I don't have a curfew". Sam realized that she didn't know Riley very well yet. But his vagueness and tendency to skip around questions, made her nervous. What if his parents got mad at them for taking Riley out to a haunted location? Or worse, they called the police when he turned up missing?
It was okay when it was just the two of them hanging around old buildings late at night. Sure her parents bitched about it, but they trusted the Foley's. And Tucker had proved to be an admirable and likable lad when interrogated by Sam's parents. They trusted her with him.
But now that they had other members, Sam figured it might be time to talk to Tucker about getting new members to sign some sort of permission form... or waiver.
It was a little late for Riley.
Riley instinctively ducked just as a fist flew over top his head. Dash only cackled in response, returning to his trek off the school grounds.
"Look, Kwan. The two lose-kateers just became the three lose-kateers," said Dash in passing, elbowing his tall Asian friend to their direction.
Sam was about to snap back when she spotted Kwan giving Riley a small wave that Riley returned sheepishly. If Dash had wanted to cream Riley he would have stayed. Obviously it was Kwan's presence that kept him from doing so. As soon as the two jocks had passed, Sam rounded on Riley.
"You and Kwan are friends?"
"Wh-what?" Riley flushed. "No. Well not really. He's my science partner... Is that bad?"
"Yeah, Sam. Is it?" snapped Tucker, irritated that Sam had yet again tried to find fault in their newest team member.
"Uh, no. I guess not."
"He's an okay guy. When Dash isn't around," said Riley absentmindedly.
And in his faraway look, Sam felt her guilt surge back again with fresh vengeance. He really was just a lonely kid. The only person who ever took the time to notice Riley, had to via obligation. And then was subsequently forced to disassociate themselves with Riley to maintain their social status. It had to be hard- having that sort of lousy luck.
"I'm sorry, Riley," said Sam gently.
Riley sent her a peculiar look that she skillfully dodged with a smirk and back hand wave, "See you all later tonight."
She left Riley and Tucker behind her, for once actually unsure on how an investigation might turn out.
Riley watched her go before leaning towards Tucker to whisper, "Does she-"
"Why, yes indeed, she is available," interceded Tucker with a friendly slap on Riley's back.
Riley went scarlet, "That's not what I was going to ask."
"But it's what you wanted to ask."
Riley was silent for a several seconds before adding, "Great, Tucker. Now I forgot what I was going to ask."
Sam glared down the raindrops that had begun pelting on the hood of her new Circus Gothica sweatshirt.
It figured.
She shoved her bare hands deep into her sweatshirt's kangaroo pocket and quickened her pace towards the far side of town. The rain was starting to pick up when she spotted Tucker only a ways ahead of her. Per usual, he was gliding his way uphill on his electronic scooter.
She cuffed her hands over her mouth and called out to him. He slowed his scooter to a dull putter so that Sam could catch up.
"It's raining."
"Need a ride?" Tucker offered without skipping a beat.
She grabbed hold of his offered hand, and pulled herself on behind him. She kept her arms tightly locked around his waist- having already made the mistake once of thinking Tucker's scooter was simply "a scooter". He curled his wrist down hard on the accelerator hard, racing the raindrops up the hill.
Sam buried her face in Tucker's shoulder to keep the frigid rain out of her face. She was hardly in the position to see Tucker's face go red, although she figured it had. Tucker didn't really offer her rides on the scooter as much as he used to when they were younger. Although she missed it, Sam knew full well how uncomfortable it made him.
He was wearing his father's letter jacket that smelt lightly of peppermint. The smell dulled her anxieties so that she almost forgot that she was about to spend all night in an old abandoned house, without heating.
"Do you think Riley found his way?" Sam asked, hoping to distract Tucker from the obvious fact a girl had him by the waist.
Tucker didn't answer right away. Sam almost thought he hadn't heard her before his wind subdued shout finally drifted back to her, "He's already there."
Sam looked to where her best friend pointed. Right on the Manor's front lawn underneath an obnoxiously green umbrella stood Riley. He appeared anxious, carrying a few bundles under his arms. At their approach, he rushed over quickly bringing the large umbrella to their aid.
"Alright there, Riley?" Tucker called out parking the scooter against the curb. "Hope you weren't waiting too long."
"Yeah, no. I just got here," said the boy handing each of them one of the bundles. "I brought you guys some blankets. You know... to be helpful."
Sam fingered her own provided bundle tenderly. With her sweatshirt now soaked through, the blanket was a very welcome surprise. Perhaps it was nice to have Riley with them after all.
The blanket was still warm from Riley's body heat. The thought, for some reason, caused Sam to blush.
"See?" Tucker playfully elbowed Sam, not offering any other explanation for it before deftly folding his scooter back into its more portable form. Stuffing the whole thing back into one of three bags, Tucker nodded towards the manor.
"Let's get inside before the storm picks up too much."
All three ghost hunters dashed across the muddy lawn to the large arching oak doors. Tucker procured a key from his jacket pocket for the ominous looking chain lock, and in they went.
The foyer was just as empty and hallow as the rest of the house. Tucker waited until his other two dripping friends were inside before shutting and fastening the lock behind them. It was pointless security, mostly to keep out punk teenagers. Tucker himself knew the previous owners. To shut up his constant inquiries about the manor, they gave him a duplicate of the key.
That was usually how he got access into most haunted places. Talking the owners into submission. Surprisingly, it was a highly effective method.
"Well," said Tucker waving out his arms as if to totally encompass their vast surroundings. "Welcome to Vanderclute manor. Home to the Vanderclute family for thirteen generations, built in 1629. Should be a great investigation. Potential for activity both intelligent and residual. And built alongside a river front- which is good for us because..."
"Running bodies of water increase the chances for paranormal activity," finished Riley, shaking the loose droplets from his now closed umbrella.
Tucker and Sam both stared at the newcomer as if he had suddenly grown a second head. Riley flushed under their questioning stares.
"My parents used to be ghost hunters."
"Here in Amity Park?"
Riley had started to nod before catching himself. "No. Not here. On the west coast."
"There are a lot of hot spots on the west coast?" asked the ever eager Tucker.
"Uh. No. They weren't very successful. A lot of dead ends. So they... quit."
Sam couldn't help but notice he seemed flustered, speaking about his parents. It wasn't as if he spoke of them without fondness, as Sam would for her own. No, he spoke of them awkwardly. As if he weren't used to addressing the subject.
"We used to have a lot of ghost hunters here in Amity Park back in the 70s and 80s. Then when the ghosts disappeared, so did they," explained Tucker as if the idea saddened him.
"That's because the whole thing was a hoax," said Sam.
"Oh come off it, Sam. Not another one of your conspiracy theory speeches."
"It was all for tourism, Tucker. There's no possible way that Amity Park had that many hauntings. They all came out of nowhere and left just as quickly. A span of decade- and not a peep since. Hardly coincidence."
"But that's just ridiculous, Sam," snapped back Tucker. "That would mean that the whole town was in on it. You forget my dad lived in Amity Park back then. He saw some of the ghosts with his own eyes! Are you implying that my dad is lying?"
"Maybe he wasn't aware..."
"Maur-oon."
Sam and Tucker paused in their familiar argument at Riley's soft spoken insert. Once again he had stunned them into silence.
"That was my dad's nickname in high school."
It seemed Tucker's voice jolted Riley back to his senses. For the second time that evening, he blushed brightly. "Sorry, I was... recognizing your jacket. I- uh, noticed it from my father's yearbook. Marching band, right?"
"Oh," Tucker's clouded expression fading. "Your dad attended Casper High too? What's his name?"
"Oh uh... um. Ben... jamin."
"Hm. I don't recognize the name. I'll ask my dad-"
"No, that's okay," said Riley rather hastily. "He was a transfer student. I don't think he was even in the yearbook."
He laughed nervously, leaving both Sam and Tucker exchanging glances.
"Aaaaanyway," continued Tucker. "My dad saw ghosts on a regular basis back then. He was even really good friends with one of the famous Fenton Ghost Hunters. David. He was our age, you know."
"I thought his name was Derek."
"I'm pretty sure it was David," said Tucker indignantly. "David Fenton. He was best ghost hunter ever! And only a freshman! Him and Valerie Gray... they were real superheroes. I reckon between the two of them, they might have rounded up more than four hundred different ghosts, sometimes more than once!"
"What happened to him?" asked Riley.
Tucker smiled, knowing that Riley would be interested in one of his own admired idols. But the question did bring a bit of sobriety to his voice as he continued, "He died."
"Fighting a ghost?"
"No, although that would have been awesome," Tucker frowned at the two's disapproving faces. "Apart from the whole dying thing, of course. Actually, I don't really know how he died. I just know it made my dad pretty upset. He doesn't like to talk about it. The most I can tell is that it was... unexpected."
"Most death is, Tucker," retorted Sam coldly.
"I mean... Geez, you know!" He flailed his arms out about himself as if their flapping would shed anymore light into what he was explaining. "It came out of nowhere. Once he was here," He clapped his hands together causing both Sam and Riley to flinch. "And then next he gone. Just like that. Instantaneous."
The silence rang with the sting of Tucker's words. It was Riley who spoke next, his voice somber, "At least he didn't suffer."
"Yeah," interjected Tucker rather pathetically. "Still was a shame. I would have liked to meet him... Get his autograph."
At this Riley smiled, "Get his autograph?"
"Hell yeah. I'm his biggest fan. Did you know he once took down a ghost armed with only ball point pen?"
Riley rose an inquiring eyebrow, "How did he do that?"
"Nooo idea. But I would give anything to find out!"
"If you fan boys are quite done squealing all over a dead guy, could we get set up?" grumbled Sam discarding her wet sweatshirt and draping Riley's blanket over her bare shoulders and damp tank top. "I'd like to get home before dawn."
Sam barely caught the tinge of pink rising on Riley's cheeks. It was clear there was still a lot she still didn't know about the mysterious Mr. Grafton. But nothing that she didn't plan to find out.
To Be Continued...
Please Read and Review!
David Phantom! Going ghost!
Yeah. I'm a dork... So everyone stop and look at the name Grafton. Think about it. It's made up with two last names from the show... figure it out and you get a cookie for being a smarty pants!
I got rid of the next chapter because i felt like it gave too much away and it felt too out of place. I didn't like it there. So those of you who read it, you got a little spoiled. Those who didn't, don't worry about it. You'll get it later.
PREVIEW CLIP FOR NEXT CHAPTER!
"Would you like to take over this session, Riley?"
Riley glanced over to Tucker, "Oh uh. Sure."
Tucker set the recorder down on the floor between the two of them and sat. Riley clumsily followed suit. Sam decided to stay right where she was. She had with intention to ask the imaginary ghosts anything.
"Is there anyone with us tonight?" asked Riley casually while Tucker swept an ambient thermometer around the two of them. "Would anyone like to speak with us?"
"Give a bit more time between questions, Riley."
"Ah. Alright."
They sat in silence for a few moments before Riley took a breath and asked again, "Are you trapped here?"
Sam laid down on her back, lazily watching the chandelier very lightly sway with the chilly night air. It seemed like another predictably boring night. At least, she that's what she figured. She was just about to let fall her eyelids- to get a quick nap before she heard Tucker take a sharp intake of air.
"The temperature is dropping."
END CLIP!!
Makes sure you leave a review, please! I'd appreciate it! Next update should be up on September 26th. Stay tuned!