I'M ALIVE I'M SORRY! I just haven't been into this story in a while. I reread it this morning though, and I think it's really time I update. I won't be replying to reviews this time because the reviews are many and different chapters. Warning: This chapter is pretty dark and bloody. Just so you know. I normally wouldn't do it like this, but it really captures Dan's nature. Onwards!

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Chapter 20

Agony

(Spidey POV)

"That idiot! This is like making a contract with the devil!" I cursed, looking up as I heard footsteps approaching me.

"Turned, huh Webs?" said Nova. "You don't seem very evil to me."

"It was all a hoax so I could access Danny's files," I replied.

"Somehow I don't see you crossing that line to the other side," said Nova. "I can't believe Danny is Phantom. It does clear up the mystery of the guy though."

"This is not the time. Dan has Danny. Do you know what that means?"

"Lots of torture?"

"Yes, but even more importantly, Dan is Danny. He's going to try to force his mind onto Danny."

"I don't understand how that's possible but you're right, Danny is in trouble. Questions later."

"We need to leave right now. I'm the one with the ghost sense, so it'll speed up the hunt with me," said Dani, walking into the vicinity.

"You're right. Nova, let's roll," I said, preparing to use my webshooter.

"Wha-" started Nova as Dani transformed.

"Later. Danny is in serious trouble," said Dani, taking off.

All three of us took to the sky. Normally, I enjoy swinging around the city, letting the wind chill me. However, when a friend's life is on the line, it ruins that.

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(Danny POV)

"Now, now, don't let your anger get the best of you. Emotions can really change a person, don't you think?" said Dan.

"Shut up," I said, wiping the blood on my hands on my cloak.

"You know what a lovely souvenir to this little episode would be?" said Dan with a dark yet gleeful undertone to his voice.

"What?" I said wearily.

"Oh, but curiosity killed the cat," said Dan, pulling out a wrench.

"What do you need a wrench-" I started before screaming in pain.

Dan had clamped the wrench around my arm and was currently breaking it so badly there was bone sticking up through my skin.

"Bones are such fine building material. Plus, the bone sticking out should substantially delay your healing abilities," purred Dan as he wiped the blood-specked ectoplasm off the wrench. "I know I said that emotions can really change a person. That's true, but pain can also change a person."

"I knew that already," I said through clenched teeth. "Emotional pain as well as physical."

"Smart boy," said Dan, ripping off my hood. "Here's a little fact of the day. You already know that ghosts have healing powers to speed up the process. But did you know that ghosts can't regenerate body parts once they're lost?"

"What are you-" I was cut off again. This time it was so much worse.

It was hard to imagine that even Dan would go this far. Dan…he had turned his hand intangible, put it inside my head, and turned it tangible briefly. He had ripped out my left eye.

"So that's what you were getting at," I whispered. Falling backwards and clutching my face.

"Yes, and you can't get another one. This should be a wonderful trophy. Oh look, the iris is now red and blue!" said Dan excitedly.

"I thought you wanted to make me into you, not kill me," I murmured.

"Oh, I did. But I had a thought: What would be the point in that? I'm already here, and you would have served as extra power for me. But now I have Venom."

"Why haven't you killed me yet then?"

"If I killed you quickly, that would be too painless. It would be much more fun to kill you slowly and agonizingly."

"I see," I said before becoming unconscious.

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(Spidey POV)

"Still nothing?" I asked, staring at the white-haired girl on the roof of the Daily Bugle.

"Still nothing. I don't know where in the world they are," replied Dani, sighing in defeat.

"Well, we need to take a break sooner or later. We've been searching for hours," I said. "Let's just sit here for like fifteen minutes."

Dani looked like she was about to protest but held her tongue. She knew I was right, even if she wanted to keep searching.

"Fine," she said.

After the promised fifteen minutes, she immediately got up and flew off. About half an hour later, she called Nova and me.

"I'm getting something!" she said, zooming off in the direction her ghost sense was leading her.

"A cave?" asked Nova quietly.

"Don't act so surprised. Enter with caution," I said. "Dani, change into your human form. It should take him longer to realize there's another ghost, right?"

She nodded and went a little ways away to hide the bright light.

As soon as she had come back over, all three of us tiptoed into the cave quietly. All of us inhaled sharply at the sight we saw before us.

Danny was unconscious in a ring of blossoms covered in blood. His hood was gone and his arm was in shambles, with bone sticking out all along it. What especially scarred us all, however, was the sight of Danny's eye in the palm of Dan's hand.

"Unconscious? How disappointing," said Dan.

So he really is torturing him, I thought, the strong smell of blood hitting my nose. My head was pounding from the intensity of my Spidey Sense.

Dan clasped his hands together behind his back and began thinking aloud.

"I wonder if that Spider Man would be useful. His blood could quite possibly make Venom stronger," He began. "Yes, I think I'll need to capture him. Should I hold off killing him? Yes, I should. He can produce more blood that way."

Dan's red ghost sense went off.

"Well I wonder who that could be?" said Dan, turning around to face the group.

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Again, I'm sorry about the few and far between update times.

Until next time.