Ghost Dash
SI Dash Baxter AU Danny Phantom
A/N: Mature themes, explicit content and swearing warning.
Disclaimer: don't own any of the characters that are plucked from any existing franchises.
Chapter 1
Do you believe in ghosts?
I was always a spiritually inclined person. Ill-defined as that may seem to you readers, I never much cared about structuring my belief system. My thoughts on it were: if humanity as a whole doesn't now, then who am I to say how it is - amirite? Weak sauce perhaps. But still, I chose to believe in certain things, because that is how I wanted to stimulate myself to act in a certain way.
For instance I believed that my name was borrowed from my ancesters, and that I had to take good care of it so that I could pass it on to the next generation without shame. So I comport myself to uphold a certain standard.
As such, I was at first pretty pissed when I was forcefully injected into the shitstain that was Dash Baxter in the Danny Phantom universe. Having all his memories, both sordid and wholesome, I mused on what I had to work with.
On the one hand, Dash wasn't smart. And since I'm working with the same brain, that means I'm not particularly clever. He wasn't dumb, just mediocre at best in his ability to learn math or new languages, or solving complex problems in a set amount of time etc. A mitigating factor on the intelligence front is that I myself now have knowledge and know-how that the original dumbass teen version didn't have. On the plus side, he had excellent kinesthetic learning ability and a naturally athletically gifted body to go with it. This is also proven as he is the star quarterback of the Casper High Ravens.
Looking in the mirror up in my room, I notice he is handsome too. Blond, blue-eyed and cut. Nice. Being good-looking and athletic was what Dash most valued about himself, which is why he did football. To give himself those good feelings of being valuable and appreciated. When it came to academics however, he sucked and had no interest. Which gave him anxiety and low self-worth. So whenever he felt bad, he instinctively put others in situations where their self-worth was pushed to an all-time low. He bullied them so bad, that his own low self-worth would not seem that low anymore - for a short moment. Not only that, but bullying was fun if you didn't have a lot of empathy. You feel strong, in control and the reactions you get from the dweebs were sometimes genuinely hilarious. Quick example, yesterday at lunch Dash threw his half-eaten pastry straight into the face of a dweeb Danny Fenton who was in the middle of doing dweeb things. He saw it coming and still couldn't dodge it - like a deer in the headlights. the impact was glorious - even I could appreciate it. Most times it wasn't. Sometimes Dash was just plain cruel. Because he was bored, because he needed an outlet etc.
Sorting through the memories of all the nasty cruel and petty shit I did to Fenton on an almost daily basis, I realised I'll never be friends with the Phantom, but I did owe him an apology either way. Finals at Casper High were over and summer was around the corner. I knew Dash had failed about three courses, English, math and biology and had to sit through remedial lessons in summer school.
Getting Dash's or I guess my clothes on, I make a note to get new clothes and to kick out all those stinking teddy bears. Geez, so girly for a jock - how embarrasing. I head downstairs and pet Pookie the chihuahua, give him the dogfood , grab an apple and bag of crisps and put it in my backpack, and stuff my lunch money left on the counter by my mom in my jeans.
Out the door I grab my mountain bike and get to school, having done the roads so many times in Dash's memory I could get there blindfolded.
I park my bike and hail my buddy Kwan, whose waiting in group with Paulina, Valerie, Star and some other redcoat jocks. Kwan was Dash's best buddy since kindergarten and we'd allways had the same interests. With some regret, I realise that was inevitably going to change.
Walking over to the group I take my time to appreciate Paulina's ass in ratio with her tiny waist. Excellent junk in her trunk, a solid eight and a half overall. Dash were friends with her because we both had the notion that we were on the same level attraction wise and it wasn't embarrising to be seen with one-another. Because people do judge you by the company you keep. Most dweebs didn't understand that. You are and become the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. Attractiveness is associated with succes, Just like face tattoos are associated with failure and crime. Not an exact science of course, but the proof is in the pudding. Too bad that this posse had some shit personalities. But, since I was Dash, I had no right to lecture people right now. I had to start acting different myself first. A dozen feet before I reached them I gave the other booties present a once over too. Valerie was a close second, with Star's small hips and tight glutes a more than respectable third place.
What are you looking at me weirdly for? I'm a hormonal teenager and the reason most people have friends of the opposite gender is because they see them as sexual options, but they get scared of being vulnerable and rejected so they want to test the waters first in a pseudo friendship. But, because most don't know what they are doing, they end up in the friendzone. Dash never had that problem, but wasn't a closer. He had the unfortunate ability to open up his big fat mouth and disgust the opposite gender with his awful personality and manners. And he still got the poon one single time, just a while back. Not with what you would call a high value girl, but still.
"What's up, Dash! You hyped for summer?" Kwan yelled as I drew near. I scowled, "I would've been if I didn't get summer school." Star snickered on my left, and I gave her a glare as she blew a raspberry my way.
Kwan winced, "Forgot about that buddy. But you still got a few weeks off, don't you?"
I shrugged and I steered the conversation to what everyones's plan was for summer. Kwon would be going on vacation to Germany for a whole two months, Paulina was going to Mexico to visit family, I forgot what Star said as soon as she said it, and Valerie would be working with her dad for a summer job at Axion Corp. Which was actually amazing. I'm reminded that Valerie, while beautiful and athletic was also pretty smart, considering her grades were usually in the A to B range.
Goddamn, I really need to shape up in terms of academic achievement. Not that that shit will actually be useful, since I'm definitely going for super powers while I'm here, but that shit wreaks havoc on my self esteem and my rep. The Dash can't abide low rep. Hah, made myself laugh there.
Speaking of super powers, where does Danny boy live again? Searching my memories, I'm actually stumped. Whatever, that's Later-Dash's problems.
"Yo Dash, you comin'?" homie Kwan hollered from a ways. Huh must've zoned out for a mo' there. An unfortunate habit from my former life seems to have followed me here. I wonder how much Dash's personality has had an influence on me? I shook myself from my thoughts. Best get to class and have a think with my ass in a seat. It's not like they were gonna teach much the last couple of days before summer right? I followed in step with Kwan behind the girls for strategic reasons and got our stuff from our lockers. Dash had emptied out most of his locker already but I waited with Kwan by his.
Star sauntered up and gleefully crowed "Look at Dinky, the Nerd Queen, she's drooling again.", while pointing down the hall. Curious to see what the Annoying One was pointing out, I saw what had to be Velma Dinkley in her orange and brown nerdy glory, shyly duck her head back into her locker.
Holy shit, are the Scoobies a thing here?! Searching through Dash's memories, I couldn't find any of the others of her famous entourage. This Velma had a few friends but was kind of social kryptonite because she tended to be involved in weirdness. Exactly the kind of weirdness I was hoping to get into actually.
Kwan chuckled "Her again? She got it bad for you bro." Star joined in his chuckle, but a bit more vindictive, as she turned to gauge my reaction with some expectation. An expectation I wouldn't fulfill this time. "Hn. Well I don't blame her for being a fan of the Dash. Let me reward her with a bit of attention." I beelined for the smart cookie, and as I heard Star sputter and Paulina ask what was going on, I had a smile. Kwan the homie started explaining, but I didn't hear as I neared my target.
Velma's back was still to me, though she probably realised someone was behind her, so I took the opportunity to check her out to see what I was dealing with. She was wearing horrible browns and orange in a baggy sweater, tube socks and skirt combo. In the blink of an eye, I had her deets. Good points were: shapely, thick and sturdy calves, height was fine - her legs were on the shorter side but fine; attractively wide hips, excellent slender ankles and her feet weren't huge. Bad points were more numerous. From what I could tell from behind, she had horrible fashion sense, the pores of the leg skin she was showing were too big - meaning she didn't know how to beautify and take care of herself, she had a flat ass, and even her baggy, orange turtleneck couldn't hide she was chunky. Looking into her locker, I raised an eyebrow as I saw pictures of the football team and quite a few focused on the Dash specifically.
I spoke up.
"So, I hear you're a fan."
She actually squeaked and hopped into a ramrod stance before shutting her lockerdoor with a slam, and whirling around while pushing her back against the door that blocked the sight of her small shrine in my honor.
As she was panicking I checked her out some more. I immediately noticed she was stacked in the titty departement, their precise shape and size still obscured by her bulky sweater, but still a net positive. I imagined them like a giftparcel I couldn't wait to unwrap. Her fishbowl, thickrimmed glasses made her small eyes look miniscule and her skin was dry and although she had a nice mouth, she had some hairs on upperlip that stuck out. That along with irregular shaped, bushy eyebrows. Geez, talk about zero effort. She did have a cute nose though. A cherub face that could be called pretty, if she lost a stone and a half of weight, did some skincare, hair removel... Talk about a fixer upper.
Her heaving breath calmed and I waited expectantly. She gaped like a fish for a moment before her brain rebooted and, "Y-yeah, I'm a f-fan... Go Ravens!" she exclaimed with nervous and decidedly false cheer. I noticed she had braces and an angry red pimple on her freckled right cheek.
I smiled and cocked an eyebrow. She made me feel like teasing her, so I stepped my sneakers closer and leaned on the lockers next to her. She had a clean, citrus soapie smell. The bob-headed girl acted like I was a predator , too scared to even look my way, still as a painting. She stopped breathing even more when I leaned in closer to her ear and started a hushed monologue.
"That's great to hear. But I heard you have a favorite player...", I spoke softly, teasingly "That just happens to be me."
She meeped, and I could see her pulse quicken. I chuckle. "I appreciate your taste, truly, and while I would like to get into it further, the bell is about to ring." I touch her hand and she shook a bit, her eyes almost fluttering closed. "Meet me right here at 12:05 for lunch, yes?"
Her eyes snap open to meet my amused ones as she gaped like a fish for a moment, until her brainlag buffered one hundred and she bobbed her head like a dashboard doll. "I'm gonna need a verbal 'yes' on that one, babes."
"Yes!" she croakes. I smile, nodding "Great."
Turning and walking away to a morbidly curious posse just as the bell rings. Star is the first one who explodes in my face. "What the hell do you think you're doing, talking to that social kryptonite?"
I turned to her laughing. So much teen angst, damn. I saddled up to her and put my arm around her shoulder before jokingly stating "If you were jealous of the attention she was getting, all you had to do was ask, babe." She turned crimson and flubbered angrily.
Homie Kwan laughed out loud an even Paulina and Valerie snickered. I let go and dodged an irate smack from a blushing Star. I eyed her and noted her embarrased reactions. Paulina interrupted my musings and kept digging into my my actions with Dinkley. "You did look awfully cozy with her... you suddenly attracted to dweebs now?"
I popped an eyebrow and looked at the number one beauty of grade nine at Casper High sideways. I pursed my lips before replying. "Not that I have to justify anything to anyone, but I got plans for that girl."
"What plans?" Paulina casually asked. I shrugged, ignored her question and meanwhile gave homie Kwan a look, before he did the same. Kwan was perceptive like a good homie. I ignored the bickering around me and went to class. I don't really know why school doesn't just end after finals. Wasted time for everybody involved. But it did give my homie time to feel out what was up with my earlier stunt in relative privacy, as we were doing some bullshit group asignment. "So, are you finally going to give me the deets on your sudden interest in the resident nerd queen of weird."
I smirked at him. "Well it's simple really, if I'm going to have a girl thirsting after me anyway, I might as well make use of her; I'll upgrade her from a four to at least a seven and have her be completely devoted to me."
Kwan looked like someone had kicked him in the head, before he broke out into a huge grin "Oh, that's genius, bro!" but then he slowly lost it, "but wait, how in the hell are you going to make a four a seven? Like, cosmetic surgery or something?"
I laughed. Ooh~b.u.r.n. ! "Nice one. But no, she's deffo a fixer-upper, but she's got the good bare bones, man. I can work with that. It all depends on her follow through."
Kwan still looked sceptical. I can understand the sentiment, as I don't really have the experience in actually doing what I'm planning with Velma. Lord above, even the name is nerdy. But hey, I'll consider her a pet project. If it works great, if not - she'll still be better off than how she was. Hopefully.
At noon, I broke off from the clique as I headed out of the classroom at my own pace. 'Lo and behold, the nerd queen was waiting on me. She looked subdued, nervous. Which isn't surprising, she was supposed to be clever so she probably knew something was up. Especially given previous Dash' trackrecord.
"Hey girl, let's go grab some lunch."
She nodded and replied without much confidence "O-okay." After a beat, she added "Hey Dash, euhm, can I ask what the reaso-"
"We'll talk about it in private later Velma. Stop worrying, babe. This isn't some elaborate ploy to embaress you." I interrupted her without looking at her. "Let's take a seat on the bleachers with our lunch; it's nice out."
Taking our lunch was a silent affair; I made no effort to talk or further set her mind at ease - just didn't have the patience, nor the natural inclination. She was nothing to me. Yet. With some amusement I realize this must be nerve-wrackingly awkward for her. I broke every awkard bone in my body long ago. I just don't feel it most of the time.
Seated on the bleachers, we settle down face to face. Her shifty with her skirt , trying desperatly not to flash me accidentally. I mentally snicker. She was adorable when she was uncomfortable. "So... I understand you have a crush on me." Her head snapped up to mine with a sharp inhale. "You do." I press forward, keeping eye-contact.
She stumbled a bit, looking everywhere but at me looking like she wanted to run away. "Calm down. I like that you like me."
Her eyes snap to mine again. "You do?!" She gaped at me her small eyes stretching to plates. "Yeah." I respond, and I can see a big smile slowly blossoming. As if I had suddenly confirmed that fairy tales do come true and that I was her white knight in shining armor. But as two dozen seconds of silence tick by, her big brain rationale that let her excel academically reasserted it self over her hormonal system. "You said that you like that I like you. But you didn't say that you like me." She figured out as she frowned.
I smile plainly. "How can I like you if I've never had a conversation with you before today?" I take a sip of water, but we both ignore our food. "Look," I continue, "I'll put my cards on the table, I'm looking for a girlfriend and I think you have potential."
Her eyes widen again, so I hurry to continue. "Stop. Just listen. I'm looking for a girlfriend with whome I have some things in common, but mostly who can do the things I can't and I'm not good at. Tooting my own horn, I am an a hard-working, succesful athlete with tactical insight and a strong personality. But on the other hand I suck at everything else. So I need someone with a big brain by my side to give insight. That's where you come in." I finish, looking at her. She was still looking at me like I was some type of alien, but her flitting eyes told me she was circulating those brain juices full throttle. I let her catch up to the conversation.
"Okay... But you said you want to have things in common. What do you think that is?" she questioned carefully, as if she was afraid to scare me off.
I gave a lopsided grin and said jokingly "Well, we both like me, so there is that.", she blushes and smiles a bit, "and there is another thing..." I pause.
She looks at me curiously. Having her undivided attention, I continue "We both believe in the existence of ghosts."
She pales. "W-what do you mean?"
I can understand her reaction. "I know you've been bullied for this in the past and even been isolated by everyone else for this, so I understand you being careful." I pause again, thinking for a moment. This next bit is going to be fiction, but it is a risk I needed to take. "I don't know which ones you've come across, but I've ran into one here at school." I admitted to her.
Velma gasps but still tip-toeingly asked "Really? What ghost?"
I smile softly at her, figuring I know what she's thinking. She's protecting herself, hedging her bets. First looking to see what I knew if I were serious or if this was some kind of elaborate trap; as a nasty prank. She notices my look and blushes again, her freckles standing in stark contrast. Meanwhile I notice she had naturally long eyelashes. I focus again.
"The Box Ghost. you ever encounter him?", I questioned brazenly. Dash has never encountered Box Ghost before. This was just my knowledge of the show speaking. A show which didn't have Velma in it. If other things had changed, then did the Box Ghost even exist at all?
She smiled a bit in relief, but nodded, a lot more confident then before, she spoke sarcastically "I have, I met him backstage of the auditorium, stacking boxes."
I laughed, partly in delight that my bet paid off and partly because I was glad she was beginning to trust me more.
"There you go. So we have that much in common. Which might not seem like a lot, but to me, seeing the world as it really is, is super important and also the bare minimum to be my girl."
She smiled widely, "So does that mean we'll start dating then?" she asked with hope.
"No." I shot her down flat. She deflated like I socked her in the gut. "It means you're a prospect, darling." I amended.
"Prospect?"
"Yeah. I mean, you're almost exactly what I want except for a few major factors. Which is basically your looks, and the fact that you're a seen as a weirdo. Neither of which is acceptable." I relentlessly and bluntly state.
She stood up abruptly, "Well excuse me! I can't help that I don't look like a model, o-or that I became a crazy weirdo outcast for simply stating the truth and doing the right tihing! And how dare you talk to me like that! Just because you're hot, you think you're better than me? You retard, y-" She screamed her head off, gaining steam, until I stood up abruptly myself towering over her my eyes flashing in warning, cutting that bitch off.
"Shut up and sit down, bitch. Now.", I forcefully state, without rasing my volume too much. My evident physical superiority and commanding tone of voice serving my purposes to a T.
She sits down like a good bitch. Yet with a note of resistance remaining on her face. I continue where I left off, "Men don't choose what they are attracted to Velma, and as a whole, men aren't especially attracted to overweight women who don't know how to dress or take care of themselves. They might use them for a quick fuck, once and again, but never longterm. Just spitting facts here, darlin'. I don't mean to say it crassly, especially with a lady present." She cracked an unwilling smile at that, but stubbornly frowned, tearing up slightly.
"Aw c'mon, don't be upset. It's not like I'm saying things you didn't already know yourself. There is a reason you're avoiding looking in the mirror too often, why you don't bother to use make-up and there is no denying how people treat you. You know what you look like. But the difference between you and me is that I think you can be better looking than you are now!"
She has a complex look on her face. Eventually she stutters out, "You really think so?"
I nod self-assuredly. "Yup. What you need is a stringent work-out routine, a rigid diet, good habits, and a make-over to polish the rough edges. If you manage to get results before summer is over I will claim you as mine."
Her eyes go round again. "Yours?"
I nod smiling with teeth. "Mine."
She takes a moment to think. I keep looking at her. Eventually, she smiles back at me.
We exchange numbers and make plans to meet up at my place tomorrow evening while we eat. She'd lightened up a lot after we seemed to have bared ourselves somewhat. Although Velma was still a bit awkward socially, that's what isolation does to a person. Her natural inclination though, was geared towards being open and verbose and her surprising amount of sas was pleasant.
We parted ways with smiles. I avoided the third degree from the posse, Valerie having been clued in by the others to my social faux-pas lately. Just bearing with it and side-stepping giving any answers by joking and deflecting. Back in class doing stupid pointless shit, I remember I still had to apologize to Danny Fenton.
On my way down the hall eating an apple, I met Mr. Lancer who was all smiles as soon as he saw me. "Mr. Baxter! I still haven't congratulated you on your wonderful performance on the pitch this year. Our Ravens wouldn't have made it this far without you. You are truely a cherished talent of this school."
I blinked at that. "Thank you Mr. Lancer, I'll keep working hard."
Like I pressed a magic button, the smile turned gigawat. "Excellent! Just what I would expect from you Dash. Well, best be off then - or as the kids say: see you later my G! Lancer out!" He even did a posture what I imagine old folks thought was 'hip' before moving on.
Shaking off the simp slime, I mosey on down the hall looking for my quarry.
I find him at the end of classes. Calling out to him might of been a mistake, as that boy ran off like hell was on his heels. Damn, I guess the systematic bullying really left a mark. Sighing, I turn towards where I knew my bike to be. I could try again tomorrow or I could find someone who knew where the future phantom lived. Suddenly struck by the solution, I couldn't help but feel like an idiot. Fenton Works was a company based out of their own home. The adress was literally on the internet. God, this Dash brain can really bum you out. But at least I could take care of business today.
Yes, I thought of it as business. Hard to have feelings about it if you weren't the cunt that did the bullying in the first place. Danny was owed an apology with my face on it, but he wasn't owed much else.
I got home in 25 minutes and headed up to my room. I greeted Pookie with head rubs and a biscuit. The parents weren't home yet, and I was glad for it. That is a headache for another time. Having parents tell me what I should and shouldn't do was going to be a pain. Ugh, lets put a pin in that for a moment and rearrange this room. I'm not gonna sleep in a room full of god damned teddy bears.
Dash had a major weakness for cute things and after he got a stuffed teddy from a beautiful store clerk at Christmas... Well, he had made some interesting associations. It was actually the first christmas he could remember, really. He had an instant crush on the woman and so he dragged the teddy everywhere he went. The bear was there when he made his first friend - apparently it was great conversation starter for four year olds; and it was there during hard times when he was sad or scared. As he grew into teenhood, he of course learned to hide it. He knew it wasn't cool. But it still made him feel good and safe.
That was Dash, though; but that kid has left the building.
Grabbing a garbage bag from down stairs, I start putting in stuffed bears one after another.
Bear with red bow. Black and white bear. Tan Bear with the big smile. On and on, there must be over a hundred teddy bears. God damn it Dash.
Patchy bear with two buttons for eyes. Yellow bear with red pouches.
Taking a break, I take of my jacket. I was actually breaking a sweat. Was it getting hot in here? Pookie started barking downstairs, probably at some passersby's. I frowned in annoyance, not a fan of untrained dogs. God damn it, I'm gonna have to train a dog now too, ain't I? Whatever. Pookie, the annoying chihuahua will stop barking on his own eventually. Me shouting at him to shut up will only add to the noise.
I continue to work until sweat started dripping down my nose. "What the hell, why is it so fucking hot in here?"
Something wasn't right. I go to my bedroom door to take a look if there was actually something up with the dog. Grabbing the door handle I freeze. It won't turn. And from memory I know there isn't actually a lock on this door. Parents had made it that way on purpose. I back away from the door as fear from sudden realization creeps in. The chilling feeling creeping down my body like a bucket of egg yolk, from the crown of my head to the base of my spine and making my legs freeze and feel like jello all at once.
A girly giggle echoes around me as if we were in a room much bigger than what my other senses were telling me. Fuck. I needed to quit being a pussy about this. So I turned to anger in order to conquer my fear.
I slowly turn around as I ask aloud, "Who are you, and why the fuck are you doing this?" Hating how weak and helpless I sounded. This was way too soon. Fuck. Why did a hostile ghost need to show up now ?! On my first day for fuck sake, I lament.
The ghost didn't show herself, but did crank up the heat. I backed up as I could actually see the heat distorting the air around me and the wallpaint beginning to dry crack and even bubble in a few places. Fu~ck.
Feeling my heartrate skyrocket, I take a few even paced breaths to supress my mounting panic. Okay, before I start kicking in my own doors or jump out my first story window I should try to negotiate.
With a powerful and invisible ghost who effectively has my balls in a proverbial vice, and who is seemingly content to slow roast me instead of confronting me. Fuck.
"You made Tibbers upset! So you're un-invited to our teaparty! Leave!" a voice like an angry six year old reverberated around my chamber, as if it was said from between the space in the walls.
What the hell is the toddler on about, commanding me? Still feeling my heart thumping I turn to anger again. "This is my room!" I shouted to... thin air. God, what has my life become. I stop myself from going on a verbal lashing spree. Toddlers with godlike powers were not to be fucked with. "Look, I'm sorry if I made Tibbers upset. I didn't mean to."
Okay, I was groveling a bit. But fuck, wouldn't you if you could avoid someone burning you alive and keep from burning your house down? Yeah, that's a no-brainer.
The girl giggled maliciously. "Tell him yourself!"
My stomach sinks into my shoes. Oh boy, that sounded of the no-good variety. The garbage bag that been filled with discarded teddy bears erupts in fire. From the bonfire's conflagration a hulking form emerged. It's monstrous. Every bit as tall as a real grizzly, it stood up on its haunches, its stuffing replaced with poisonous red hellfire bursting from its seams held together with two cute buttons and reflected in it scalding eyes. The two ember like eyes that were staring me down. Its head burning the ceiling as it lumbered towards me. Time slowed down as my rational thinking was overridden with my survival instinct. My brain had three options to choose from and it chose flight over freeze and fight.
It took two long strides to get me to my window, another three rapid heartbeats to open the double glass and another for a bearclaw from hell to sear its way through my flesh and push me out the open window ass over head, heels over tits. Isn't it strange how a fall can seem to last forever? I mean, as I'm falling I'm thinking stupid shit, like; 'my dad is going to kill me for setting the house on fire' and 'at least I wont have to go walk three blocks to dump the teddy bears at the orphanage'. I'm about to probably die getting mauled, burned alive or break my neck falling, and I'm thinking about getting disowned and seeing the thin silver lining of spared effort?! This Dash Brain man, I swear.
Me hitting the compost bin on my way down to the grass probably saved me from some severe fracture or sudden death, so I have that going for me. Adrenaline is what most likely lets me spring up and start running in my sweat drenched shirt to wherever the fuck is not here.
I don't know how long I was yeeting for, but my adrenaline wore off and my shoulder was killing me and I'm starting to get woozy. I don't know where I am, but I'm pretty sure I was fucked if I didn't get treatment. Focusing, I decided I needed to get patched up first. For that I ideally needed a phone. Patting my pockets, I indeed still have my phone and so I called for a cab to take me to the hospital after checking my location on the gps. Waiting for the cab, I belatedly realize that I have to call my parents too.
Chad Baxter was a military man responsible for teaching Dash discipline, which worked for physical endeavors, but didn't stick for the academics in which Dad Chad was also not particularly versed in. Hence the armed forces. He was off-duty for two months before he had to back to base. He works as a guard for a security company in dayshifts during his months at home, making good money. I don't know how I'm going to explain this whole mess. Was the house still there? Or was it burned to ashes? Was Pookie still alive? God, what if Mom - rather, Barbara Baxter - came home from work to a burned down house? Or a homicidal, pyromaniac ghost?
Sending voice recordings seemed to work fastest. Letting them know I was ok and that I was about to head to the hospital in a cab, and that a crazy home-invader had attacked me and not to go home just yet.
The cab rolled on by a few minutes later. A brownskinned dude with a goatee and his tatooed forarms beared.
"Hey, the names Rashid, are you Dash?" the man asked as he stopped in fornt of me. I was impressed with his seemingly lackadaisical attitude towards all the blood visible on my person, but hey, no hair off my back.
I leaned over to get a better visiual on the guy and I noticed he had a mohawk, thick eyebrows and kind eyes. Smiling through the pain, I answer "yeah, man. Could you get me to the hospital real quick? I'm torn up like hell."
"Wowzers my brotha, you got sliced and diced by a werewolf or somethin'?! What happened?
"A home invader happened. Shit, some crazy ass with a bear claw weapon. Set half my house on fire too. Can you get me a to the docs? I need a patch up, badly."
"Sure thing bro, hop in."
I apologized in advance for any blood I might get on his seats, but he waved me off. Rachid was a nice guy and a bit of a gossip. He liked stories, and I forgot about the pain for a bit. We werent far from the hospital now, recognizing the intersection.
Rachid broke me from my thoughts after a brief silence. "You know bro, you'd be surprised at what I have seen around this town over the years. Some seriously weird shit." Seeing my look he said "Yours ranks up there, but not the weirdest by far. In fact I got into a spot of trouble last year." Rachid says leadingly.
I decided to bite. "Oh?"
"Yea, like, I was driving back home end of shift after dark. Now I live out in an apartment on the edge of town, so when I drive on Mulhullan at night I'm by myself. So its extra spooky when I see something out of the ordinary, right?" he looks at me for confirmation.
"Right." I confirm nodding along while hoping he'd get to the meat a bit quicker.
"So, I see these burning potholes in the middle of the right lane road, right? Going as far as I can see. Since there is no traffic, I can afford to slow down and take a look, right? So I check, and guess what bro - its a fucking footprint." he says, and he takes his eyes off the road and gestures animatedly with one of his hands, "the burning potholes, are actually burning footprints dude!"
And I react appropriately in the same amazed tone, "No way! Really?"
He nodded. "For realsies, bro. I got a ton of those stories, man. Amity Park is a trippy place bro." Here he takes a pause and looks at me. "And I'm guessing your 'home-invader' was from the same variety, no?"
I look at him as he focuses on the road again driving into the hospital parking lot, trying to decide if I should be truthful. Could I get something out of it? I suppose it's not so strange that people have been seeing ghosts do paranormal shit for a few years. In Danny Phantom canon, ever since the Fentons' ghost portal has been active since they designed it in college, a gateway was created for ghosts to come over to our side of the fence. The Fenton's are still treated as a laughing stock in Amity Park though, which is why I wanted to be careful. Once the mob labels you as crazy, its a hard road to redemption. This guy was a bit of a gossip though...
But what the hell; a gossip meant that he could now useful things that I would need to know. Since this is decidedly not canon. The presence of Velma Dinkley from the Scooby-doo franchise and the pyromaniacal ghost-child with a flaming, self-concious and murderous teddy bear, were a bit of a hint.
"You could say that..." I said leadingly, looking at him sideways. "What if I told you that the hoe-invader was of the paranormal variety?"
Rachid smirked but his face held no humor. "Then it's like I thought when I first saw you bleeding by the roadside, bro. This is Amity Park, bro. Not much else of note happens here if not something spooky and/or horrifying, for real."
He pulled his SUV upfront the hospital emergency entrance. We exchange contact info to keep in touch and with leaden feet I shuffle through the automated, glass panel doors, pass the waiting seats and step up to the check-in.
Looking at the corpulent lady behind the aquarium caged desk, I overcome my weariness and talk. "Hello, my name is Dash Baxter, fifteen years old. I took a fall from the first floor and I'm bleeding from my shoulder from a claw mark - and have been for about 40 minutes."
The lady looked me up and down. I noticed the baggs under her eyes and the coffee stains on her nurse outfit. I gave her my I.D. when prompted. After she click-clacked away at her computer with practiced alacrity for a moment, she spoke. "You can have a seat and the doctor will be with you as soon as possible."
I frowned and looked at the empty waiting room. As soon as possible? Did she miss the part where I said I had been bleeding for a while now?
Irritable, hurting and tired, I sat down to wait. Looking down at my watch, I vow to give this stupid bitch four minutes. If I didn't get a doctor in that amount of time, I will call down hell on her fat ass.
A/N What's up mutha fuckas ! I've been on the site for over a decade and a half now, so nice to meet you all - if I haven't already. The names' Kenrovan *waivu, waivu*. Leave a review, do a follow or fav. - as you like.
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Kenrovan signing out.