And what
Do you think you'd understand?
I'm boy, no, I'm a man
You can't take me
And throw me away

"M-Mom?" Danny knew the blade was getting closer, but he couldn't get out of the way, he couldn't swerve, he couldn't do anything, he was a sitting duck.

"Jack! It's going to hurt him!" Maddie glanced from her son to her husband. Her eyes were filled with motherly worry.

"It won't hurt him Maddie. It only hurts ghosts," Jack was as calm as he'd ever been. He was staring at the machine as it prepared to slice his son to bits.

"Guys!" Danny could feel the air being spun as the blade got closer. This was definitely not good.

"I'm not taking any chances," Maddie ran up to the machine and pulled out her Fenton

machete. She cut the rod holding the blade, but didn't realize the consequences that had for Danny. The rod broke causing the blade to fall, right on top of Danny.

It barley missed his neck, but instead landed on his back. The sharp spurs cut into his skin, causing him to scream.

"Danny!" Maddie ran over to him and pulled the blade off of him. She was about to lift him up when one of the machines arms pushed her out of the way. She hit the wall with a thud.

Danny heard the analyzer power up again as it lifted him back into the air. He floated there for a second before it thrust him back, pinning him to the wall and knocking the wind out of him. When he opened his eyes again he could see that there was a green glow surrounding the main box. The green glow that only meant one thing; a lot of pain for ghosts.

Danny swallowed. He knew this was a bad idea. His parents were definitely going to figure it out. No doubt about it. They would never understand him after this. He would be an outcast; a nobody. He couldn't let them find out.

"Jack! The machine is going to kill him!" Maddie yelled as Jack helped her up.

"I thought it only hurt ghosts?" Jack brought a hand up to his chin in thought. Danny did look scared as he stared at the glowing green box. Almost like he knew it was going to hurt him. Almost like he knew something they didn't.

"It's malfunctioning Jack! It's hurting our boy!" Maddie started to run towards Danny again, but the machine shot a green ray at him, hitting him in the chest.

"Danny, No!" Maddie reached out towards him, but was unable to grasp him. She could only stand and watch as the fragile child known as her son was cruelly pummeled by the ghost ray.

Danny's eyes widened as the ray shot at him. It hit him in the chest and he gasped at impact. It felt like it was ripping him apart; killing him from the inside out. I guess this is what it felt like to be ripped apart molecule by molecule, huh?

----------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

"What on earth is that?" Jazz put down the book she had been reading. A noise was coming from the basement. It was muffled because her door was closed, but she could have sworn it was someone screaming. She opened her door and poked her head out.

"Danny?" she looked down the hallway. Her brother's door was open, but no one was inside, "Mom Dad? What's that noise?"

She didn't get a response, so she walked down the stairs with a look of concern and a bit of curiosity on her face. Did they finally actually catch a ghost? If so, what were they doing to it?

The closer to the lab she got, the louder the screams were. They were some familiar yet so vague in her mind.

Danny heard faint footsteps from above him, and even through his scream he knew who it was; Jazz. She could help him, she seemed able to do just about anything… except hunt ghosts. But right now he needed her. This thing was tearing him apart, his light was fading.

"Jazz!" he didn't notice that his voice was weak and ragged until he finally spoke.

"Danny?" he saw her head poke into the room, "Oh my gosh Danny!" With that she bolted into the room, unable to take her eyes off of her little brother. She stared into his blue eyes, and he stared back at her. Those eyes that wanted to be strong, that wanted to say he could make it through this, but in reality they were the helpless glistening blue of a fourteen year old.

"Jazz! We need to get Danny out of that machine!" Maddie ran up to her daughter, yet didn't take her eyes off of her son.

"Well, can't you just turn it off and pull him out?" Jazz's voice shook a bit as Danny's screams increased.

"No it's malfunctioning, we have no control," Maddie had to yell over Danny.

Jazz faced him, "Danny! Everything's going to be alright, okay? We're going to get you out of there and everything will end, alright!"

Danny wanted to answer his sister, for her to know he was aware of her statement, but he couldn't. All he could do was scream.

"Come on, we have to find some way to destroy the machine!" Jazz started to sift through various weapons, looking for one suitable to use on the analyzer.

"But-" Jack started to retort, but Maddie cut him off.

"No buts Jack! Danny needs our help," Maddie joined her daughter and soon her husband did as well.

Danny breaths grew more heavy and ragged as the ray bore into him, pinning him to the wall; crushing as well as burning his entire torso. "Doesn't this thing ever run out of juice? It can't last forever…but then again…neither can I."

"Come on! Keep looking! It needs to be strong enough to blast that thing!" Jazz gritted her teeth. Nothing she found looked strong enough for her parent's newest invention.

Then, it seemed as though the room fell dead silent as they heard the small pat of a drop of ectoplasmic blood hit the floor. It came...from Danny.

And how
Can you learn what's never shown?
Yeah, you stand here on your own
They don't know me
'Cause I'm not here