Chapter 4

I turned toward the wall, already thinking about what kind of ghost could be outside. As if on cue, something phased through the wall, turning tangible and crashing onto a table.

"Danny Phantom!" Star shrieked beside me. I think Kitty muttered something under her breath too, but Valerie was already beside me, mentally calculating if we should merely watch or strike him. He seemed vulnerable enough, shaking his head in confusion and tilting it towards Star.

"Uh, hi." His voice was raspy, and I had to strain to hear it over the commotion. "If there's any boxes around, could you move them away?" I get to study him, and his voice, for little more than a second before he blurs away again. Phantom's a teenager, no doubt. His snow-white bangs are messy, but you can still see the glow of his green eyes. I wanted to see him again, to memorize every detail of his face, every one of his habits, so I'd know just when it was time. Our instructions had been clear enough. Do whatever we had to do so we'd be able to bring him, except for murder. Frankly, I wasn't sure how you could murder a ghost, but apparently they all had to pass on some time or another. I was jolted out of my thoughts when Valerie shook my shoulder.

"Let's follow him!" She hissed. It was easy for us to slip away unnoticed, back out into the chilly air. The two of us raced to the back lawn, which is the only place he could've gone. My heart sinks as we reach our destination a moment too late, with Phantom already flying back into the night sky, twinkling like a star. Whatever ghost he'd been fighting had escaped as well. "Tough luck." Val groaned next to me. "I haven't been able to use my suit once since we got here!" She crossed her arms and lowered into the grass, relaxing as if we weren't on someone else's private property. I sat down next to her, the mist in the grass tickling my bare legs.

"That was quite an impression for our first party in Amity." I grinned at her.

"Yeah. Ghosts can't let up, can they?"

"Guess not." I rolled my eyes. Then, I got an idea. It was only 9:30. Why let such a perfect night go to waste?

"Hey, Val? You should head home. Our so called party is over anyway."

"And what about you?" She raised her eyebrows at me.

"Uh, I'll get a ride home with Kitty." I hated lying to my best friend, but I'd rather not have her tag along, which I knew she would if I told her I was going to a boy's house.

"You sure?" I could tell I was wearing her down, since she got up and brushed her dress off.

"I'll be fine." I waved her concerns away, getting up as well and starting to walk off. I turned back at her, grinning. "Oh, I almost forgot. I think this is a perfect chance to use your suit."

I tried to look at nonchalant as possible, ringing the doorbell of his house. Well, mansion was more like it.

"Can I help you?" A redhead with bright aqua eyes opened the door.

"Uh, hi." I shifted my feet. Danny hadn't said anything about an older sister. "I'm one of Danny's friends." Hopefully that was explanation enough for me showing up at her doorstep. To my relief, her eyes softened and she gave me a smile.

"You're Sam, right? Come on in." The girl stepped aside, leading me into a room that looked way to big to be a foyer. I'd seen millions of dollars worth of technology, but luxury was a whole different ballpark for me. My eyes must've widened, because she blushed. "Yeah, our house is pretty big." She led me up to the middle floor, where a lady with red hair just like her daughter's was doing something in the kitchen.

"Jazz, darling, there you are." She straightened up and turned toward us, expression changing as she noticed me. "And who's this?" Her voice was silky smooth, and she seemed a little too young for two children.

"I'm Sam, one of Danny's friends." Her eyes trailed over my dress and I swear she smirked.

"Well, I need Jasmine's help. Danny's room is upstairs." She turned away without sparing me a second glance. I walked up the spiraling staircase, looking at all the family photos on the walls. Danny's dad looked a little more his age than his mom. I got lost in all the pictures, the smiling faces and the sparkling eyes. I let out a yelp of surprise when something tapped my shoulder.

"Hey Sam." Danny grinned devilishly.

"Jesus Christ, you almost gave me a heart attack."

"Not my fault you were totally stalking my family."

"Not my fault you guys have photos plastered on every available space." I snapped at him, but I was grinning back.

"Fair enough." Danny shrugged. He motioned me to follow him back up the stairs, pointing at each room and naming it. HIs room was at the end of the hall, save for a dark door that I could hear someone's voice from. I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, that's just my dad. He's almost always in his office." Danny rolled his eyes before pushing the door open to his room. It was painted navy blue, almost black, and dotted with white. Just like the night sky.

"The walls are beautiful." I breathed.

"Yeah," Danny smiled sheepishly. "I wanna be an astronaunt."

"That's wicked." I nodded and sat on his canopy bed, which swayed slightly as Danny crashed onto it as well.

"Oh, and sorry if my mom was kind of..."

"Bitchy?" I smiled slightly.

"She tends to be."

"You're sister's pretty cool though."

"Unfortunately, she's usually off at college."

"That sucks."

"So, uh, why are you here?" I blushed slightly, having forgotten in the midst of the huge walls.

"Why are there so many ghosts around here?" I popped the question, thinking it was now or never.

"What?" Danny blinked.

"I mean, there has to be a reason they haunt Amity." I spoke faster.

"Oh. Right. Well, I don't exactly know." He chuckled. "But I've seen a bunch of them before, I could even name some." His eyes started twinkling.

"Like...?" I leaned in, wanting nothing more than to get lost in his words. And I did. I noticed the way his eyes brightened when he was talking about some of the nicer ones, how his lips curved when he was describing someone on the worse side. I started chiming in, wanting those eyes to look straight into mine. After all, I wouldn't be a ghost hunter if I didn't know ghosts. We wondered if ghosts ate and drank, if they breathed, if they still remembered how their lives were before. Even though I knew the answers to most of his questions, I still laughed and threw a question back. The minutes ticked by, as I learned more about him, and he dared to ask about things I never told anyone. I yawned, eyes drooping. "It's 11:30. I should get home."

"Yeah, that seems about right." Danny yawned in agreement, laying back on his bed. "You really should come over more often." He grinned at me. I was about to reply, when his cell started ringing. Danny pulled it out and nodded at me. "It's Ember. I bet she'll get a kick out of the fact you're over." He pressed accept, and turned the speaker on.

"Danny?" Ember's voice was shaky, and I could barely recognize it. It sounded like she'd been crying. "There's been an accident."


Ooh, cliffhanger! Anyway, I'll probably start updating Sunday nights now, just depends on when I finish. I made a plot decision like right now, without consulting my editor. So don't freak out if I end up re-writing it, but I just wanted to update now. I'd love it if you dropped me a review! c: