Cirque Berserk

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12
Shadow Thieves

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"Okay! Okay! Since we have to tickets, and the admit 3 I bought before the circus arrived..." Star stuck her tongue out in thought. "Seven people can come with us, including you, me, Tucker and Sammy-wammy!"

"Don't let her hear you say that," Valerie absently said, flipping a page in her magazine. "Okay, so who are the other three you're inviting?"

"Oh, some of my college friends!" Star giggled airily. "I want you guys to met them! They're really cool and one of them has this cool afro—its, like, huge and this one time I lost my pencil in it—"

"Star," Valerie snapped a finger, trying to snap her out of the rant. "We have one day til Halloween and we haven't told Sam yet! I'm pretty sure she's free tomorrow but..." She hadn't seen Sam in the last few days. Sometimes, she thought she saw her during school hours but nowadays she couldn't be so sure. Most of the time, Sam left before them and every time they tried visiting her, she would either not be there or perhaps pretend not to be there.

Valerie didn't need to be a genius to know it was because of the Danny incident. She was really still seething because of the cheap trick Tucker pulled on the two.

Honestly, that boy was as impatient as her grandmother!

"I have so told her!" Start argued, looking miffed.

Valerie blinked. "What?"

"I called her yesterday," she replied with a bright smile. "I asked her if she had something planned and she said no so I, like, told her if she'd like to come with us to the most awesome show ever and she said yeah, but, like, she'd totally kill us if it was another fashion show which it isn't!" Star giggled, before adding seriously: "Everyone knows it isn't fashion season!"

"Er, right," Valerie coughed, a little creeped by the sudden serious atmosphere. "Anyway, Sam said yes?"

"Yep!" Star grinned. "She said yes! Take-Sam-to-Circus-to-make-up-for-teenage-angst is a go!"

Valerie pasted up a smile and dropped her gaze, a little queasy. She really hoped Sam wouldn't bail on them the instant she saw where they were taking her. It would be just like her to adamantly refuse attending the circus that would only be in town for a one last day.

Maybe it isn't such a good idea, she thought, troubled. Danny was really mean to her when they first met, I can't imagine just how'd mean she'd be if she caught onto where we were taking her... Valerie hoped Sam would at least sit still for one hour – then maybe their ticket wouldn't go to waste, right?

"Oooh! Look! Gossip Girl is on!"

Valerie groaned and slumped her face into her magazine, ignoring Star's squeal as she saw her favourite actor on screen.

Danny sighed, sitting on the doorsteps of his home. He had just gotten out of there, after being smothered with kisses and hugs and cheerful grins for the last seven hours. His sister, Jazz, hadn't been there but his family had no qualms on activating the webcam and having them met like so. It had been a little emotional, as Jazz had burst out into tears and he'd felt his eyes sting a little.

He hadn't seen his sister in so long, he wondered what compelled him to break free from his family for as long as he did.

That was probably my lack-of-memories, Danny thought sullenly. And Dan.

You rang?

Shut up, Danny thought with no real threat, leaning back on his hands to gaze up at the dark orange sunset. Tomorrow would be his last day in Amity Park, if he allowed it; if he didn't manage to get to Sam in time. All these days were spent in a struggle for control, Dan had managed to suppress him enough to avoid getting to close to Sam. He really wanted to speak to her, face-to-face, and tell her everything that happened and to try and convince her he wasn't who she'd made him out to be but...

You're always butting in, Danny thought darkly.

Trust me, kid, you'll thank me when you're older.

Danny didn't respond to the lofty comment. He merely stood up and dusted himself off, the evening chill offering a small comfort to him. When he was human, all of the sensations of the living made him appreciate life more than the usual person. When he was in ghost form, he felt nothing – nothing except the empty beating his heart.

The door behind him creaked open and he felt a splash of warmth engulf him for an instant. It made him realize just how cold it actually was.

"Danny, sweetheart, are you alright?" his mother asked, concerned.

Danny turned and smiled. "I'm fine, mom. I'm just a little tired."

"Oh," Maddie frowned, leaning against the door frame for a moment. "Well, come inside soon, okay? Don't stay out too late! We're having your favorite for dinner!" she beamed.

"Radioactive steak?" Danny asked dryly.

"Yes! Only without the radioactivity!" She laughed, going back inside. It was much too cold outside, she would have shooed him inside if it weren't for that awfully heavy-looking coat her son had thrown over his shoulders. "Hurry up, okay?"

"Will do!" The door shut and Danny sighed. His family seemed happier with him around. He had kept in touch with brief emails or phone calls but meeting them personally with them was a first in five years. He was just relieved Dan hadn't decided to make a guest appearance and completely ruin this first meeting with the family he hadn't seen in years.

Yeah, that's the only break I'm giving you, alright? Don't get too comfy with me.

Whatever, thanks anyway.

He'd gotten the shortened version on what he had missed out over the years during the course of the day he dedicated only for his parents – he even missed out on rehearsal for it. After all, they deserved it. Their inventions had, apparently, gotten wackier and more incredulous, it seemed, which relieved Danny as this meant his family, however sullen without him, was still going on strong.

His ears caught the sound of feet crunching on the stray leaves and twigs on the sidewalk and he gazed at the sidewalk, waiting for someone to suddenly appear from down the way. To his utter shock, the first thing he saw was a streak of red, followed by vivid violet eyes and flushed cheeks.

His heart thudded in his chest, as Sam jogged down the sidewalk with an MP3 player held tightly in her sweaty palms. The words caught in his throat, as he watched her slowly grow distant, but his movements didn't slow at all.

He could hear Dan's vicious growl but it seemed blocked due to the hammering in his chest.

"SAM!" He finally said, all his emotions spilling into that single name. She staggered to a stop and popped out her earphones, looking around her before looking over her shoulder, her eyes widening when she saw who it was. To his dim surprise, she plucked her earphones back on and continued her jog – faster than before as he scrambled down the steps and tried to catch up with her.

"Sam, wait up!"

She only jogged faster, until she was running down the block with Danny hot on her heels. It was times like these that he thanked his athleticism.

"Sam!" Danny managed to grab her wrist, felt a shock course through him, and very nearly got decked in the stomach when she swiveled around; eyes alive with rage. He dodged, grabbing her other hand, and yanked them down so they wouldn't inflict pain on his person. He was human and her punches would hurt unlike when he was in ghost form. "Please, listen to me, it's not what you think, alright?" Danny rushed, words sounding jumbled to her. "I have to tell you something important—"

"Leave me alone!" Sam hissed. "Just—go! Please, just leave me alone!" Sam shut her eyes, trying to pull away from the boy she felt such a connection to. "Danny, please, just go! Don't talk to me, I really can't—"

"No, listen to me, before anything else," Danny rushed, blue eyes panicked. He could feel the push, the control slipping. "That time at the Nasty Burger—I don't know what I said but I didn't mean it alright? It wasn't me!"

"You don't know what you said?" Sam growled, eyes sparking like flint. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"It—the staff, it messed with my psychological stand point or something," Danny explained, the best he could, as he felt his control slip like sand through his fingers. He was winning. Danny couldn't stop the bucket full of emotions that were whirling inside of him. "Sometimes I change per—whoa, there, almost let something important slip."

Sam froze. His gaze had gotten colder, meaner, and he no longer wore that aura of friendliness. Instead, someone else stood in the place of Danny. He wasn't like she remembered him to be – the harsh look in his eyes enough to ward her away – but what had he been trying to tell her? Sometimes he—what? Sam swallowed, a bead of sweat trickling down the side of her face, as Dan's cold hands gripped her own to a bruising level.

She tried not to flinch.

"Danny, you sometimes what?" Sam decided to ask, as his eyes flashed with that strange mix of green-blue. He looked a little amused, a little disgusted by the sight of her and it made her feel self-conscious. What was with that look? "Danny...?"

"Nothing," he replied, grinning sarcastically as he gave her wrists one last squeeze. "Nothing at all." He let her go, stepped back, and jammed his hands into his pockets. "Nothing at all, you damn drama queen." She watched, with a slack jaw, Danny just strut away from her, humming a tune she had never heard before and leaving her completely floored with his switch.

What had that been all about? It was the same deep voice, the same serpentine eyes, the same shark smile that made her feel uncomfortable to the point of turning away. It wasn't Danny, she was positive of this, but then who was it? What was it? What had the real Danny been trying to tell her?

It was almost as if someone else had taken over him...

What's going on?

There was only one person who had the faintest of ideas as to what was happening to Danny:

Tucker.

Tucker prided himself to be a very organized and down-to-earth kind of guy with a unique sense of humor that some wonderful girl, who happened to be Valerie, would see and appreciate. But at the moment, he was not organized – it was quite the opposite, judging by the splash of papers and pencils all over his desk – and he was not down-to-earth because his mind was anywhere but at the task at hand, as he tiredly wrote down the answer to a calculus problem.

And this wonderful girl was ignoring him and starving him of attention, which made him cranky, moody, and overall, had him in a black mood.

He had put off his homework and now it had piled up into a mound too tall to really work with in one night. He vowed never to let this happen again, even if there was a little voice inside his head that snorted and told him he'd only end up doing this exact same thing again the next week and making the same vow all over again.

That was why when a harsh banging came from his door, he was more than tempted to just leave that person outside as he furiously worked on his calculus homework. He didn't have time to dawdle – he really had to get working or else he'd fail the semester and failing was simply not an option for him currently.

He needed to pass.

Least his mother get on his case once more for his lack-of-interest in his school work. And, trust him, his mother was just as scary as Valerie when she lost her temper. Tucker shuddered, not wanting to relive bad memories.

The tip of his pencil broke when he heard his front door slam open, bouncing off the wall loudly. He had half a mind to panic when he remembered only a few people, few people he knew, could tear a door open like nothing at all. Rapid footsteps warned him that ignoring the door was probably not the best thing to do as his bedroom door slammed open to reveal a scowling Sam.

He hoped that door was still functional by the end of the day.

"I think I broke your front door," was the first thing she said and he sighed.

"I know," Tucker pushed his glasses up his nose. "I'll fix that later. So, whats up?"

"Why the hell didn't you answer me?" Sam scowled, then glanced at the slew of papers on his desk and rolled her eyes. "Nevermind. You're stressing. Anyways, something...weird just happened." Sam sat down on his bed as Tucker yawned, setting his pencil down as he knew no more work would get done after this.

What happened now? Her favourite vampire show brought up a new fact of the undead?

"Weird how?"

"Weird as in... Danny weird," she cleared her throat, ignoring the spark of interest in the African Americans eyes. He sat up straighter.

"You saw Danny? And didn't totally beat him black and blue?" Tucker crossed his arms, the corner of his lips curling up in a grin. "I have to hear this."

"Well...he was trying to tell me something," Sam began, uncomfortable. "Something about, um, that day, right?"

Tucker shrugged, a little apprehensive to enter this topic. "I don't know, shouldn't you know? You're the one telling me."

"Well...the weirdest thing happened," Sam mumbled. "He...I don't know. He wasn't Danny anymore. His voice got all...weird and he ,well... he got weird, alright?"

"Weird. Got it." Seeing Sam's glare, Tucker sighed and added: "Okay, I get what you're trying to tell me."

"Right, so...why?" Sam sat up straighter to listen. "I know you know why, Tuck, you've gotta' know!"

Tucker swallowed, on the spot. Her eyes seemed to look right through the lie on the tip of his tongue, as he scrambled for an excuse or a way to get out of this mess. He desperately wished her Ghost Sensor would go off right now but knew it was too much to ask for. He had to tell her or...do something.

Tucker sighed deeply, contemplating his options.

If he told her, he'd basically betray Danny since he promised him he wouldn't tell her, but then if he did it would all resolve all their issues quicker and they could all get on with their merry lives like planned.

If he didn't, he'd risk his friendship with the girl as they promised they'd keep no secrets between each other. At least, nothing life-threatening which, in these circumstances, it was, since Tucker wasn't sure just how bloodthirsty Dan was for Sam.

He supposed there was no choice at all, as Tucker rose his eyes to met hers again.

"Danny's weirdness... remember when he was being controlled by Freakshow five years ago?" Tucker said, slowly. Sam nodded, remembering that chilling day all too well. "Well, it messed with him," I better let him tell her this, Tucker mentally added, "and, have you noticed how his eyes sometimes get this funky color? Like, green-blue or something close to it?"

"Kind of," Sam trailed off with uncertainty.

Tucker continued. "He's got a split personality, to be blunt. The staff thing messed with his ghost self, so now, apparently, it tries to gain control over his mortal self, which is obviously stronger considering his circumstances," Tucker explained, as Sam's eyes widened with realization. "That was why, that time during the Nasty Burger, you got dissed."

"I-I wasn't dissed!" Sam sputtered.

Tucker shrugged, feeling a little daring. "Whatever floats your boat—OW!" He groaned and rubbed his shoulder, as Sam sat back down and cracked her knuckles again for emphasis.

"Thanks for the bruise," Tucker muttered, before continuing. "Anyway, his ghost self basically has some sort of grudge against you."

"Me?" Sam blinked. "What did I ever do to it?"

Tucker shrugged. "Ask Danny, he hasn't told me." Though he knew very well the reason why, he decided to let Danny sort this out with her. After all, he'd have to confess his feelings for her in order to explain his ghost self's feelings. It'd all work out, Tucker concluded, as Sam gazed thoughtfully at her hands.

That was the reason she felt so terribly awkward around Danny that time. It had been because she knew, somehow, that it wasn't Danny – that the person sitting across wasn't the boy she knew five years ago and wouldn't ever be. He was too mean, looked too tough, and had this mischievous glimmer in his eyes that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. It wasn't a very nice glimmer.

"Thanks, Tuck," Sam murmured, standing up, still in thought. "I owe you one!" She turned around without sparing him a glance, still in thought, and Tucker merely yawned, feeling sluggish and lazy to continue his homework.

"See ya tomorrow Sam!"

"Tomorrow?" Sam asked, puzzled. She looked over her shoulder for an answer.

"Halloween? Special ultra secret show with Star and Val?" Tucker prompted.

Sam nodded. "I remember now...hey, do you happen to know where they're going to take me?"

Tucker stared for a moment. "Nope. Not at all. No-ho. No sir-e."

Sam smirked. "Sworn to secrecy?"

"Val would have me by the neck if I ever told you," Tucker chuckled. "You'll like it though," now that you're a little over your hatred for Danny-boy, he added mentally, as Sam smiled.

"See ya, Tuck! Good luck on your homework."

"Yeah, I'll need it..."

He winced when he heard Sam slam the front door three times. It must've stuck on the hinge on the third time because he didn't hear another slam. He'd really need to get that fixed today or else he'd get robbed tonight..

Tucker glanced down at his half-finished homework.

He glanced at his door and then back to the sheets on his desk.

"I'll finish them later," he promised, standing up to go see the damage.

Somehow, someway, Tucker knew this decision would come back and bite him in the butt.

She guessed that, after that talk with Tucker, she shouldn't have dwelled on his words for as long as she had. She should have looked where she was going, as she walked down the sidewalk under the blanket of the dark with only the dotted sky and glazed crescent moon to guide her. It was mostly empty, that was probably why she lowered her guard even though Valerie stressed to never let your guard down during her Ghost Hunter lessons – especially when it was dark and alone.

Because you were never alone.

Ghosts also thrived in the cold darkness of the night; it was when they were the strongest.

Sam didn't notice the shadow on the floor, which twitched as she grew closer. It lifted itself up slightly, the thin film of black pressing as it slowly rose from the floor. If she'd been paying attention, she would have noticed the maniacal giggle that came from deep within the dank ally she was walking by.

Her foot caught in the shadow and Sam barely had time to squeak in surprise until she was crashing to the ground, scraping the heel of her hands on the abrasive concrete in her effort to avoid major damage. Her eyes barely caught the swivel of the shadows, which moved unnaturally around her, before she felt a spear of fear shoot through her.

It had gotten too cold.

The dark was too black.

The usual town noises were next to nothing compared to the pounding of her heart.

Sam shakily glanced over her shoulder, laying corpse still on the floor, just in time to see the salivating, sharp-fanged, smile of the shadow ghost that stretched upon the brick wall behind her. Its hands were close by its body, the light touching it enough for her to see its sharp claws, which were dripping with something she didn't want to think about. The shadow consumed her, wrapped around her until she was trembling from the sheer fright, and dragged her slowly into the ally; paralyzing her with the unnatural terror she felt zinging through her veins.

She knew she should have looked where she was going, as black flooded her vision and only her scream could be heard all around her.

A/N: Oh. Cliff hanger. How about that? I updated early, compared to my recent updates anyway. Its a bit short but I'm going to try to make the next chapter longer. By the way, I posted up three new drabble DP stories so check them out if you have time! :D I thank you all for the reviews! I hope to reach at least 200 reviews by the time I end this, so please keep up your encouraging comments! Man, June 8 is just my day, huh?

Scarlett.