Dark Minutes
Remembering
"Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever stated I may be in, therein to be content."
~Helen Keller~
When I woke up the next morning, the sun was just starting to rise. Its rays reflected off the building next to our house. I rolled out of bed and walked to the window watching as the sun chased the darkness away. I wondered if opening up like I had would do the same. I surely hoped so, but nothing was as simple as a sunrise.
I wondered around my room trying to figure something out. It was hard since I had no idea exactly what I was trying to figure out. Was I trying to find a way to start or find a way out of it?
Suddenly I felt a cold sense of dread crawl its way up my throat. It was let out in a small blue mist, but it told me many things. One, there is a ghost somewhat nearby, and two, I couldn't fight it without tempting myself to actually kill the stupid thing. I wasn't sure if I could even continue being Phantom. Is it sad that that is one of my first thoughts?
"VLADDIE," I heard my father yell of excitement. It was strange because since I've returned, I haven't really heard him excited. Once I registered what he said, my mind went blank. He was partly responsible for my pain in the first place. If he had never created the Plasmius Maxiumus, if he had it guarded better…if he wasn't such an evil fruitloop.
A knock on the door knocked me out of the fury that built up inside me. My blades had extended out in my anger and had put small dents in my floor. Apparently sometime during the night the ice melted away from my lock. My mom walked in seeing me with my blades out. No doubt she had seen my eyes wanting to destroy something. I quickly looked away and let my blades retreat back into my arm. The cold feeling of metal running through my veins sent small shivers down my spine.
"Are you okay?" she quietly asked. She had seen firsthand me killing ghosts to escape. I would do anything to protect them.
"I don't know," I whispered back. It was the truth. I wasn't sure what was going on, or even if it was normal or…I have no idea. She slowly walked up to me and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Lancer sent your exam home with Jazz," she whispered in my ear. She now knows about my first fight, and what has been haunting me every day since this started. "I read it."
"Okay," I whispered back hugging her back. I didn't want her to leave now, no matter how much I felt like being alone.
"We got some pizza," she stated backing up a little to look at me. I could see pain in her eyes. She was hurt at what I had done…or was she hurt because she had no idea how to help me? "Come downstairs for a little bit. We can talk about…whatever you want."
"I'm not hungry," I whispered looking away from her. I haven't eaten in almost twenty four hours. My mom doesn't seem to hear me, and I wait for punishment from not speaking louder.
"What was that?" she questioned looking at me questioningly. I wait for the speech to speak up, but I remembered I was home. They only ask for me to repeat what I had said. I would not get hurt from it.
"I'm not hungry," I stated in a slightly louder voice. She winced at the rasp my voice still carried. It was slowly going away and wasn't as bad as it was when I had first come home, but it was still there.
"You still have to eat," she explained gently patting my side to remind me that I was still just skin and bones even though I was stronger than any of them. "You need to, please," she begged. I couldn't tell her no, plus eating something probably wouldn't hurt anything.
"Okay," I whispered following her out of the room. She kept looking back at me when we started heading down the stairs. I felt the chill in the air and remembered who had just come in. I looked up into the smug face of Plasmius. He may have scared me before this mess, but after what happened in the Pits, he was nothing. He would have never survived, but he would never know that.
"Daniel, it's so nice to see that you are safe and sound here at home," he stated in his smug tone. I wouldn't have minded if he didn't look like he was planning something. My anger at him from before resurfaced, and before I realized it, he was against the wall. My blades were crossed and against his neck. I had no idea what happened, and I can't remember even moving from my place behind Mom.
"If you plan anything to hurt them," I warned. My voice was still raspy, but Vlad looked terrified. "I won't hesitant to kill you to protect them. I've done enough. You have a play in my capture from the beginning."
"Daniel," he stated, but I could feel his fear all the sudden and I was back in the Pits. The fear from the humans that were there, and the ones I had killed… "I have no idea what you are talking about…"
"Stop it," I yelled backing away. Flashbacks were coming now, and I couldn't stop them. I didn't tell my parents about them, but now they were worse than before. Is this what they mean when they say in order to heal that the pain has to get worse before it'll get better? The torture Walker put me though when I first got there. My confession…the lie I told to make the pain stop. I knew it was; my friends are still here. "I didn't…" Blackness covered my vision as I felt my legs give out from under me.
Maddie watched as her son collapsed. The last time she truly seen that look he was facing the army of guards that were between him and his freedom from Hell. She had no idea what had caused it, but Vlad seemed shaken. Jack was confused as to what to think. He had never really seen his son act violent since he had gotten home. He was shy and nervous about the people around him, but never had he seemed threatening. They knew that when Danny was in the Pits that something had changed in him, but they didn't think he could do anything now that he no longer had to worry about fighting for his life.
Jack and Maddie had moved Danny to the couch. They didn't want him to lock himself back in his room if he were to wake when no one was there. Maddie brushed some hair out of his eyes, and sadness swelled in her chest. He still had two toned hair and eyes. They needed to find a way to reverse it.
Vlad had threatened him in some unknown way, and by the looks of it, he didn't seem to understand it. Danny had lost it, and what he seen in the young halfa's eyes will forever haunt him. He knew Daniel had been gone for a while, and he had been planning a way to get to his mother using it. Daniel's threat was serious, and Vlad was sure that the hybrid wouldn't think twice before killing him now. He had some information from Skulker about where Daniel had been, but he thought he was just going overboard like most ghosts.
"Danny's changed," Maddie whispered looking over at Vlad. "He didn't like you before…and I think…he fought in those Pits to protect us. Walker used us against him, and he did anything in order to make sure that we were safe. That included…"
"He's not going to let that go either," Jazz stated still glaring at Vlad. He could've showed more compassion for her brother than he did. Danny was already screwed up enough. "You shouldn't have come," she whispered making sure that her parents were too busy making sure Danny was okay. "His threat has ground now."
"Everyone says that they'll kill someone at some point. I've made the threat myself," Vlad stated trying to stay ahead. Danny's outburst though proved to Vlad that he wasn't afraid to protect his family at any cost, even his life. He glanced back at the marks in the wall. His neck was between those two blades, and fear was the only thing he could comprehend. He didn't like it. He never realized that Danny would have gotten something so deadly.
"Believe me when I say that Danny won't let you hurt anyone else," Jazz whispered holding up the exam. "You don't believe he'll act upon his threat then you're dead wrong. You stand between him and his family; he'll fight to the death. I don't think he's afraid anymore."
"Dear girl, I don't plan on doing anything," Vlad whispered back glaring at her.
"You've threatened to kill Dad before, and I read this. Your device that cuts his powers off played a part in his torture," Jazz mentioned showing him that part of the exam. Vlad frowned.
"I wondered what happened to that," he mused thinking back. He hadn't really seen it in while and thought it was still in Colorado. "Oh well, no changing the past."
"No, but if you set Danny off like that again, there's no grantee that blood will not be spilt, and it won't be his," Jazz warned. "Go away, and leave him alone. He's still healing, and we don't need to add the death toll any higher."
"I know Daniel couldn't hurt a fly. That's why I enjoy playing this game," Vlad whispered back. He kept his cool, but deep down inside, he knew Danny wouldn't hold back. Danny changed like Maddie had said. He would kill Vlad if they were threatened. The stakes have now been raised. Vlad no longer believed that this would be friendly fire between the two anymore. Danny will be the one to take things too far now. He was treading on dangerous waters for all involved.
I woke up to feeling cold, and briefly wondered if I was still in my cell back in the Pits. My eyes shot open when that thought appeared, but I only seen my mother staring down at me. At least the headache that came with opening my eyes was worth seeing my mother looking down at me with worry instead of Walker and his knife. My arm suddenly stung from remembered pain of being almost skinned alive. I let out a groan of pain and rolled over. Then I realized my mistake. I wasn't on my bed and fell on the floor. I heard someone hold in a chuckle, but then I heard the unmistakable sound of a slap. I looked up to see my dad's cheek red with my mom glaring at him.
She looked at me and then kneeled down to help me up. Her hands were warm, and that was something I wanted so badly right now that it hurt. I pulled her into a hug suddenly startling her. I felt her arms go around me and held me in a protective manner. Maybe it was time I started letting them protect me until I figured everything out. I was still reliving things, but I don't think they realized that it was the flashbacks.
"Oh, Danny," Mom whispered gently rubbing my back. It was nice and comforting. I never wanted to leave, and I think she was starting to realize that. She didn't seem to mind either as she moved us back on the couch.
"Well, I guess I should make my leave now that we know Little Badger is safe," Vlad stated smiling at Maddie, shooting a quick glare at Jazz and Jack, and watching me carefully. I shot him a dirty look and he seemed to flinch. I remember cornering him, and I have never seen such a raw fear come from him. Was I really that scary when I felt like my family was threatened?
"The pizza's getting cold," Jazz smiled setting a plate on the table. I didn't realize that she had been there. What's going on? Why can't I seem to concentrate?
"Danny," Mom whispered gently running her fingers though my hair. I flinched slightly, but made no move to stop her. Just being around them helped because I knew that Walker didn't get them. He lost. Or did he? How do we know that?
"…that new story on the news," Jack stated. I didn't hear the first part since I was so deep in my thoughts. It was like trying to get rid of the boredom from my cell, only there was a lot I could do here to keep myself busying.
Suddenly Jazz looked at me with a smile.
"Hey, Danny, what's the weirdest thing you know how to do?" she smiled trying to lighten up the dark mood that had been around…since I disappeared.
"I can sing the alphabet backwards without messing up," I answered. Probably not the best answer, but it was strangely the first thing that came to mind. My parents looked at me strangely. My dad looked like he wanted to ask a question when my mom spoke up.
"Can you sing it now?" she asked seeming like she wanted something amusing to happen. I looked at her strangely before a smile appeared on my face. It wasn't forced and it felt like everything fell from my shoulders.
"How long did it take you to do that?" Jazz asked not knowing why I wanted to even learn. I looked at her before shrugging.
"I don't know," I answered. "I…I didn't have a way to tell time…It was in-between fights when I had nothing to do."
"Oh," Mom whispered still holding on to my hand. I smiled at her slightly.
"Jazz, why'd you ask?" I suddenly questioned looking at her. She blushed.
"I was reading one of my psychology books and…" she began and I pretty much ignored the rest of her speech of whatever it was saying. Apparently there was list of questions that would…let her see something. I quite didn't care at the moment as the smell of the pizza was actually getting to me. I hadn't had any in so long, and quite honestly, it sounded really good. I looked around and my mom seemed interested in what Jazz was saying while Dad was going though our movies. I slowly reached for one of the pieces and carefully ate. I didn't want to get in trouble, even though my mom was more than likely ready to force feed me.
A knock on the door got our attention, and I felt fear well up inside me. It sounded similar to my cell door. Only it was warm in the house compared to my cell. My mom stood up and walked over to it and opened it up only to see two cops standing there with some guy in a suit. I stood up too, alarmed; my pizza long forgotten.
"I'm Agent Collins from the FBI. I would like to speak with your family about your son's disappearance and mysterious return," he stated formally. My mom looked over at me. "We have reason to believe that you filed a fals…" he cut himself off when he locked eyes with me. He seemed to take a stuttering breath. "We would like to ask a couple questions." I knew he seen murder in my eyes, and I knew I looked like hell. My mom seemed to hesitate before opening the door for him to come in. The two officers stayed outside. I noticed that my dad was suddenly right next to me and I gave a little jump, but he didn't seem to notice. He was standing next to me like he was prepared to protect me in some kind of way. I didn't even notice he had moved.
"Well, I don't know if we can give you answers," Mom whispered to him. I wouldn't have been able to hear her if it wasn't for my advanced hearing. My hybrid form was slightly annoying in that sense. I could hear amazingly well, and I wondered why I didn't notice it earlier. Unless I did and my messed mind forgot. I'm not sure.
"Daniel," he stated, and suddenly I felt my fear come back. At least he didn't sound like Walker, but he held that same authority and I didn't like it. Dad gently rested his large hand on my thin shoulder, and I felt a sense of comfort from it. It was refreshing, and amazing. I hadn't felt something like that in a long time. Why didn't I feel this as soon as I got home? Was it because I finally figured out a way to tell them part of the nightmare I had been living in?
"…were at?" the agent stated, and I didn't catch the first part. My mind froze as remembered torture flared though. I took a step back trying to figure out what he had said. Dad pulled me in a hug, and I felt like I was falling apart all over again, only I'm not getting anything out this time. Just panic from something new happening.
"…Ghost Zone," my mother stated to the officer, and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
"I know this town is haunted, but I don't believe that ghosts were responsible for a kidnapping," he stated, and I finally found my voice, however it wasn't what I was expecting.
"Of course you don't," I snapped. I had no idea where this was coming from, but something inside me screamed that they needed to know. That little girl may not have had a family, but Walker took away her chance, and…he took away all their chances. "All those humans that go missing and are never found. Their bodies, anything that shows that they might be alive, they disappear without a trace? They may have found their way into a portal that runs between here and the Ghost Zone. Or even worse ends up caught by W…" I stopped myself feeling slightly light headed. Flashes of the humans I had killed, and the fear in their eyes. Rose wasn't scared; she thought I was going to save her.
"Danny," the agent started only to be stopped when my blades suddenly appeared. I raised them up and he took a step back.
"How many missing girls from Amity were there when I disappeared? No older than six but no younger than four?" I questioned him. My hand was steady and my face calm. He looked confused and nervous about the sudden change in my behavior. The more I threw him off, the more I felt like he wasn't going to do something.
"We…I don't think we have a record of any of girl fitting that description," he stammered. I lower my blades and let them disappeared. "Not ones that we haven't already found."
"Then you have those who will never have the second thought. That's how he got away with it. He took those who had no family…" I whispered already knowing that. I hoped that someone would have missed her. I don't know why I was suddenly fixed on trying to get her name out there. "A little girl named Rose…she was from Amity. She knew me…"
"Danny?" Mom whispered. I'm sure Valerie told her what I said when we were fighting. I told her what I had done to the little girl. Of course, I thought one of us was going to die. "Was that…?"
"She was the first human I was put against," I whispered. I may have thought that my first fight, the one that changed everything and told me how it worked, was the worst. I had tricked myself into believing that ghosts couldn't really die after the fight. They would be able to someday remake their form. But humans…they were another story, and…sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had died in that first fight. The Pits would still be killing people. "She didn't fight back."
"What is he talking about?" Collins asked looking at me. My mom opened her mouth, but nothing could come out. Dad stepped in front of me.
"He's been though a lot, and for now, you only need to know that he's home," Dad explained. I felt a pang in my heart knowing he was trying to prevent me from having to remember what had happened. It was both a blessing and a curse.
"I have to put something in the file," Collins pushed watching me carefully. "I need the truth." My mom picked up a paper that was laying on the small table by the door and handed it to him.
"He can't be held responsible for anything that happened. He had no choice," she whispered as he looked over the paper. His eyes were suddenly glued, and he started reading. It was like he was entranced by my words and pain that I had put into the paper. He just stood there reading it, and I was confused. Why didn't he just leave with it? Why did my mom even let him read it?
"I don't understand," he suddenly stated looking up at me. "This isn't explaining much…it sounds like a horror story someone wrote."
"I had a journal," I whispered. "I tried to figure out how the Pits worked. I didn't understand at first either…I don't understand everything."
"It doesn't make sense," Collins uttered glaring at me. "Explain what you do know."
"Humans," I muttered under my breath. He sent me a glare clearly annoyed. "You would not have survived."
"I'm an FBI agent," he informed. "I think I would have been fine."
"You wouldn't have survived against me," I informed him back. "If I didn't win, my family would die in the Pits. If I didn't make sure that I did what I was told, I would have been the one to kill…them. You do not understand, and you will never understand the pain I've been though. You don't believe I was kidnapped by ghosts," I shot angrily. The energies swirled around me. I didn't understand why I was suddenly like this. Was it because of me being more ghost than human? My emotions run strong and all the pain I've been holding in since the beginning is finally letting itself known? I don't understand.
I felt my blades come up and I aimed them for his head. My mother grabbed my arm and shoved them down.
"Stop it," she ordered looking at me with worry and panic. She knows what you have done, and she doesn't care, she just wants you to be safe. I slowly let my blade shrink. "I don't think now is a good time to bring up painful memories. Agent Collins, maybe we talk about this later. When Danny's not so hostile," she whispered keeping a close eye on me. No doubt she had seen the intent to kill in my eyes. Is it kill or survive anymore? Or is it that need to fight again? You enjoyed fighting; it was the ending you didn't like. We can fight again and not have to kill.
"Danny," Mom whispered getting me to look up at her. I felt power humming beneath my blades waiting for me to release it. "Please calm down. No one here is going to hurt you; you don't have to fight anymore. You can relax now."
"I can't," I mumbled quietly. She only picked my hands up carefully avoiding my blades.
"Please," she begged and I felt the power slowly start to return back into the blades. "You don't have to worry about it anymore." She gently brushed some of my hair out of my face. "I'll protect you here. You don't have to fight." My blades disappeared and I wrapped my arms around her.
"It…it hurts," I whispered as the guilty feeling came back. "Oh…it hurts so much." I felt my heart literally ache in my chest, and it was such a weird feeling and it hurt. So much did it hurt. I didn't want to let go of her. She was my strong hold right now. Why is it affecting me now? Is it because the condemned wouldn't never be remembered but by their killer? Why didn't anyone noticed before? Don't they check those things?
"I'm here," my mother whispered in my ear. I didn't even notice that my dad had let Collins out. I didn't even notice I was now sitting back on the couch with a blanket across my shoulders. The only thing I could focus on was my pain and my mother holding me. I suddenly wanted to scream, but I didn't have the energy. "…alright. I promise. Nothing's goin…" she whispered calmly into my ear trying to calm me down.
I was calm, but my pain was still running its course through my body. I felt it burn like fire as it traveled through my limbs. I felt another presence behind me and wrap around my battered and abused body. I vaguely thought of my dad. I had no idea where Jazz was, but she probably wasn't far. I slowly felt black tentacles of sleep creep around in my head. The world slowly started spinning, and right before I fell into the dreamland that would be full of nightmares I heard the most heartfelt thing.
"I love you, Danny, with all my heart," Mom whispered kissing the top of my head. I let a small smile appear as they suddenly chased away all the pain. Lights danced around at break neck speeds in my dreams. We were dancing around Amity Park this time though. We were no longer in the Pits, and I felt freedom and the need to fly over come my pain.
2am; where do I begin,
Crying off my face again.
The silent sound of loneliness
Wants to follow me to bed.
I'm a ghost of a girl that I want to be most.
I'm the shell of a girl that I used to know well.
Dancing slowly in an empty room,
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby.
Let you go and let the lonely in
To take my heart again.
Too afraid to go inside
For the pain of one more loveless night.
But the loneliness will stay with me
And hold me till I fall asleep.
I'm a ghost of a girl that I want to be most.
I'm the shell of a girl that I used to know well.
Dancing slowly in an empty room,
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby.
Let you go and let the lonely in
To take my heart again.
Broken pieces of
A barely breathing story
Where there once was love
Now there's only me and the lonely.
Dancing slowly in an empty room
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby
Let you go and let the lonely in
To take my heart again.
I woke up in my bed neatly tucked in. I hadn't moved in my sleep very much, and I felt amazing. It was so strange. Like a weight had been lifted. I stood up and looked out my window to see a few kids running and playing across the street, and I couldn't stop the smile. Was I free of the nightmare?
"Danny?" I heard my sister call through my door before walking in. She stood shocked for a moment before breaking into a huge grin.
"You're smiling," she grinned slightly bouncing. Suddenly she was wrapped around me, and I didn't let my instincts take over. Instead I hugged her back, and I felt her give a huge sigh of relief. "You still have a way to go, but you're getting there. I'm so proud of you, little brother."
"Thanks," I whispered back knowing that if it wasn't for them I would be nowhere near where I was today. The smile was still on my face, and I wondered if it was possible to ever get it off. Of course that thought ruined my smile and I forced it back. It wasn't quite as happy as it was earlier, but it was slowly getting back up there. I believe I started over thinking the smiling thing now. That brought back a real smile.
"…made breakfast, and you really should eat since you barely ate last night, and mom doesn't remember the last time you really ate. We've been so worried…" Jazz explained as she pushed me downstairs and to the kitchen where Mom was making eggs and bacon.
"Danny still has that appointment today?" Dad asked and I was suddenly on alert. I was just kind of there, but not really for most of the morning. I was enjoying their company and just being home. I don't even remember sitting down and eating.
"I have a what?" I stated quite stupidity, and Mom suddenly laughed loudly and then tried to hide it. I smiled a little more as I slowly starting eating again.
"You have a doctor's appointment, Honey. They are still running…" she stopped when I dropped my fork. I always hated the doctor's, and now I'm going back. Its bad enough they forced me to choke down five pills every morning. "Danny, they have to make sure that you're okay."
"I'm some weird hybrid thing between a ghost and a human. We have no idea what okay for me even is," I mumbled looking at her. She let a sigh escape her lips.
"We have to do something," she stated. "They are checking everything out and making sure that you are at least gaining weight. We've been trying to get that much done. They are going to run a few tests to make sure that you don't have…"
"I'm fine," I whispered looking at her. "At least physically anyway."
"Danny, you weigh less than anyone else in the school," Jazz put in. "No, you're not. You're not even gaining weight that fast." Probably because I've skipped a few meals since I don't get all that hungry as much. "…called and wondered if they could go to the park with you."
"Who?" I whispered not catching the first part. I really need to start paying attention because Jazz looked like she wanted to slap me.
"Your friends. The only two you got," she informed me in her sisterly way. She hasn't acted that way since I got back. She acted like she was walking on egg shells around me, but now she seemed to be falling back into her normal loving and annoying sister ways. I smiled slightly brighter. They weren't suffering anymore either. As I got better, they did as well. I could work with that.
"Ah," I stumbled as I dropped my fork on the floor. My intangibly suddenly went all weird. It was like the first month I had my powers. I just kind of sat there and looked at my hand that had disappeared. Suddenly it just reappeared, and I had no idea what had just happened.
"Danny, what's wrong?" Maddie asked going up to her son. Danny shook his head.
"I don't know," he answered looking up at her with a worried frown. "I have no idea."
Danny: Har...she is a little off...
Me: Heeeheeehehheehahahhahahaa
Danny: she has been acting like Harley Quinn...
Me: I got Arkham Asylum and then City...I'm addicted...
Danny: its kinda creepy...
Me: I've had this done and I didn't like it, but I didn't want to change anything...Why? I just wanted to...I'm really busy...
Danny: THAT HAS NOTHING TO WITH YOUR BATMAN PROBLEM!
Me: I'LL GET HELP WHEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.
Danny: You played for seven hours today...
Me: It's not a problem...
Danny: you haven't done your work yet...it's due tomorrow...
Me: Still not a problem...
