Warning: This story gets darker from here. There is death, rape, and violence (though none of it happens to any main characters). Adult situations, mpreg and violence also occur. Please be advised.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.
Chapter Four: Digging Deeper
I took aim at the Sheriff first, feeling the adrenaline pump in my bloodstream. I hit the Sheriff, our energies colliding. My party came in behind me and I allowed them to take the next shot so we could weaken him. Moving in sync, we circled the ghost and shot a beam at him. I watched our blasts turn in on themselves, almost like something deflected them, and sent them back in our direction. Gauis was the only one who wasn't hit by his attack.
I pulled myself back to my feet, throwing blasts at the ghost as Gauis threw his own attacks. The ghost was unharmed due to whatever was protecting him. Marcellus was the next one to rejoin the fight. He wasn't even really fighting back yet. If he was wiping the floor with us by just getting us off his back, what will this fight look like when he attacks with intent to do harm?
We circled him again, trying to get an advantage on him. Once again, he threw us off.
I believe we may get an advantage on this ghost if we link up, Valentinus remarked. Suddenly, I had several voices fill my head. Valentinus wasn't as good as Vlad so it took him a while to control the noise. When he first linked us, we would have been more disadvantaged than ahead. Is it clear?
Very well, Valentinus, Gauis thought. Focus on your task. I want you to be keeping us linked. Nothing further from you.
Danny, Valentinus asked me.
Do as Gauis says, I replied. This is the first time I've ever been linked with my team so I was new to this.
Right. Marcellus, I want you on defense. Any attack he tries to send our way, block it.
You've got it, Marcellus replied to Gauis.
Serguis, you and I are on offense. We are to keep him busy. Danny. I want you to use your Ghost Stinger as we weaken him. You will be the one who takes him out. Use your energy until you are comfortable enough with the end result. Stick with green; I don't want you draining your energy. When you feel he will not resist the Ghost Stinger, let him have it.
I smiled. Let's do this!
Valentinus backed out of the group as Gauis and Serguis powered up blasts. I powered up my own fists and we three dived in. Instead of staying and fighting, we started attacking him in a procession. It was hard for him to focus on one of us and we were able to attack. If the Sheriff did target one of us, Marcellus was on the case. Now that we were synced, the attack was working a lot better.
He let out a roar and I felt his power increasing. Hit the deck, I called as I dived for Valentinus. I pulled up a shield as power exploded from behind us. I couldn't let Valentinus' connection break so the only thing I could do is protect him. As soon as the threat passed, I flew back to the ghost, hitting him with an attack. Everyone else on my team had been thrown off.
"You are a very foolish ghost," he seethed. "Can you not tell when you are outmatched?"
I landed in front of him, balling my hands into fists. "I know exactly what I'm doing! That doesn't mean I'm not up for the challenge!"
"You won't live to see a century," he said smugly. He chuckled. "You see, that's the great thing about ghosts like me. Even if you defeat one, you can't defeat them all. I am not alone. How many of there are you?"
"Do you think I care," I hissed. "I could never live my life like you. Targeting innocents and murder. I'd rather be killed than live your life."
"Well, you won't have to be disappointed, will you," he smiled.
"Why don't you come out of that body and face me," I asked, holding my head high. "If you're so powerful, why are you hiding?"
He lowered his head, growling. "You are a very, very foolish ghost."
"That may be so," I said, clenching my hands together. "But I stand for something! You're wrong! There are hundreds more like me. And so long as one of us is willing to fight, you will never win. Even if you kill us all." I flew straight at his chest, turning intangible and pushing the ghost out of the Sheriff. I shot a purple shield and trapped him in it as I circled around and picked up the Sheriff. I put him beside his fellow deputies and the border patrol agents. "Stay here. You'll be fine."
"What the hell is going on," the border patrol agent asked. "What the hell is this?"
"This is my job," I said, looking to him. "You save people. I save people. You keep people where they belong." I looked to the ghost, him trying to destroy my shield. "I keep people where they belong." I flew back to the ghost, dropping the shield as I lined up to hit him. He turned intangible but I sacked him anyway. "That trick doesn't work for me. I know how to defeat it!"
"I will obliterate you," he roared, placing his hand out in front of him. He fired a single shot at me but I noticed it shaped into a small stake. I pulled up a shield, dropping to the ground and covering my head. I didn't expect that.
I stood back up, firing shots of ectoplasm and destroying his stake shots. I hit him in the chin, sending him flying up as I did a circle and hit him in the back. He turned his hand on me and before I could deflect, shot the stake at my chest. I fell back, shrieking as the pain flooded my senses.
"Sire," Gauis screamed, dragging himself to his feet. I sat up, panting. The stake went straight through me but it was nothing like the attack that killed me. My energy was high enough to heal me. I clenched my chest, the SOB hurting like hell.
"I'm okay," I panted. I pushed the power out of my core, forcing it to assault the leader. I looked back to my team, Marcellus pulling himself to his feet as well. I wasn't quick enough to warn them.
"You are incredibly powerful, I'll give you that, but you cannot win," the ghost laughed. He pulled himself to his feet. "That was a very stupid thing to do, by the way. If you force all of your powers out of your core, how will you heal?"
"You tell me," I smirked, the words painful coming out. A pain-filled smile came to my lips. "I'm more than incredibly powerful. I have secrets you can't even begin to imagine." I powered down.
"Danny," Valentinus screamed out, panicked. Jeez, can't he tell my game plan?
"I'm okay," I shot back. I triggered the rings again but the hole in my chest was gone. All I needed to do was power up to heal. "You're not going to be, though."
Danny, I heard another familiar voice but this one wasn't currently here.
"Tucker," I asked, looking around. "Where are you?"
I'm home, Tucker said softly. His voice sounded differently.
"What's wrong," I asked, worry flooding me. The girls?
No, it's not the girls, Tucker answered. It's Sam. However, as soon as I heard her name, I knew what was wrong.
"Oh, my God," I said, clutching my chest. Tears filled my eyes. "Is she…"
She's okay, Tucker answered. It's just like when you died. She felt it… but—.
"But what," I demanded.
She was at the top of the stairs, Danny, Tucker said, his voice soft. She fell.
"But she's okay," I asked, my breathing coming through rapidly. "Tucker, tell me she's okay!"
She's alive, Tucker answered. His emotions told me something more, though. My stare went cold as I set my sights on the ghost. I heard Tucker swallow. She's resting.
"Take care of her, Tucker," I said, my voice firm. "You take care of her, do you understand me?"
I've got her, Danny, Tucker replied. I won't let her go for anything.
"Good," I said, blasting off. Instead of hitting the ghost, I flew around him like I was hanging tinsel. I circled him, round and round. I landed in front of the ghost but he looked around him in shock.
"Shields up," I heard Valentinus scream.
"What is this," the ghost asked.
"Enjoy hell," I said as I clenched my fists together. It was like ten thousand pounds of TNT went off in an instant. I triggered my ghost stinger and an explosion rocked the earth. My stare was still focused where the ghost was as the smoke cleared. His screeches could be heard echoing in the mountains still. In front of me was a hole fifty feet deep, going down like bullet. In front of me, where the ghost last was, sat a drag mark going as far as the eye can see. I didn't regret it.
"Sire," Marcellus asked, walking up to me tentatively.
"Take care of these people," I said, turning to my team. "I'll call Samuels and tell him to work with you. There's somewhere I need to be." I lifted in the air, hitting the sonic mark. What Tucker didn't tell me still came through loud and clear. Sam begged him not to tell me but it was all over his thoughts. Not so much in words but in feelings. Sam was pregnant.
(04)
I flew through the window that Sam was staying in, seeing her sitting up in bed. She was dressed in a night gown even though she normally wears pajamas. Sam's head snapped in my direction, her eyes red and puffy. She wiped her eyes.
"Danny. What are you doing here? Didn't Tucker tell you I was all right?" Sam glanced in my nursery and I saw Tucker sleeping in the rocker.
Tucker promised me he wouldn't let her go but at least he was near her. I could take it from here. I walked over to the bed, sitting down beside her and wrapping my arms around her. "Yeah. He told me you were okay. I had to come, though."
Sam was trying to act tough but as soon as she settled in my arms, she fell apart, crying. She clung to my black suit, crying uncontrollably.
"It's all right, honey," I said softly. "I'm here."
"I'm so, so sorry, Danny," Sam sobbed. "I'm so, so sorry."
"How did you find out," I asked. Please don't tell me she found out when she lost it.
"I was late," Sam sobbed in my shoulder. "I am so sorry."
"Don't be, honey," I said softly. I kissed her head, holding her. I began to cry with her. My heart broke in a million pieces. I didn't know what to say or do. So I just held her and let her cry.
I powered down, continuing to hold her. It wasn't ten minutes later that the door opened. I went invisible but continued to hold her.
"Sam," Mom's voice called softly inside. I saw Tucker move slightly in his sleep. Sam lifted her head from my chest, sitting up. "I need you to drink this."
"I don't want to," Sam whimpered. Mom sat down on the other side of the bed.
"Baby," Mom said, dropping her gaze on the mystery cup. "It's not helping. You know there's nothing else to do. Just drink it, Sam. Let go." Sam let out a sob.
"I don't want to," Sam said, wrapping herself with her arms. "Please, just give me a little time. It's not too late."
"It doesn't have a heartbeat, Sam," Mom said, her eyes filling with tears. "The baby is dead, Sam. It's time to pass it." I swallowed hard.
"No," Sam retorted, turning away from Mom. "I'm not giving up on mine and Danny's baby!" Mom touched Sam's shoulder but she turned on her. "Don't touch me!"
"I'm sorry," Mom said, holding her hands up. "Sam, this isn't healthy."
"And aborting my baby is," Sam seethed. "I will not lose this baby! He's strong. Just like his father."
Mom's eyes cast down. "I'm sorry." Mom put the cup on the desk. "Call me if you need me, sweetheart. We love you."
Sam turned to her pillow as soon as Mom closed the door. She started to sob.
"Oh, Sam," I said, becoming visible. Shakes racked my body. "I'm so sorry." Tucker jumped up, surprised.
"He's strong," Sam sobbed. She sat up and curled into me. "He's going to make it, Danny." She looked into my eyes, her purple eyes filling with tears. "Don't give up on our son, Danny. He has your genes." Tucker had walked over to the bed but I didn't address him. I closed my eyes, holding Sam close.
"Do me a favor." I swallowed.
"What," Sam asked. Her voice shook but it was clear.
"You know about my healing abilities," I said softly. More tears flooded her eyes and I knew she was denial. "Let me heal him and if he doesn't get a heartbeat, take the drink."
Sam shook her head. "What if he's just in ghost form?"
"Sam," I said softly. She curled into me and cried. Tears leaked out of my eyes as I put my hand on her stomach.
"No, please," Sam whimpered, so softly.
I hugged her to me as I sunk my hand in her stomach. Sam broke down in tears, choking. I pulled my hand from her stomach and Sam clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably. She was in denial. There was no way for our child to live. He wasn't like Lilly. He couldn't take a traumatic event. Sam wasn't a full half ghost.
"I'm sorry, baby," I said, kissing her head.
Sam whimpered in my arms.
Tucker finally took the place where Mom was earlier. "No one wants this, Sam. You're not alone."
Sam didn't respond. She only cried in my arms.
"You're going to be okay, sweetheart," I said, kissing her softly. I whimpered myself, heartbroken. Three miscarriages; what has she ever done to deserve this?
"I'm sorry, Danny," Tucker said, looking down. "I couldn't protect her."
I swallowed. "Sometimes, we have no control over what happens in our lives." More tears filled my eyes as I looked to him. "Can you do me a favor?"
"What's that," Tucker asked, his own eyes filling with tears.
"Find him," I asked, my voice breaking. Tucker nodded.
(04)
Tucker, Jazz, Danielle, Val, Sam and I floated into the children's ward of the castle. Tucker had checked the registry as I asked and this is where they said he went. Sister Victoria knew exactly why we were here because she started floating towards the nursery. There were only six babies in the nursery and I already knew which one was ours. Sam clung to me as Sister Victoria stopped by the bassinet.
He was a small child, much smaller than mine and Vlad's children. He was a little cue ball, though, with no hair topping his soft head. He slept on his back, swaddled in the gold and black blanket, distinguishing him from the remaining five. He had Sam's nose I noticed but he had the Fenton's face frame. Sam rubbed his stomach, her hand touching the golden fabric of his blanket. He let out a soft whimper, as if to say go away like Sam would.
I started to sob. Sam stepped away from me, bending her knees to lift him up. She cradled him to her chest, the end of the blanket draping over her arm. "I love you," Sam murmured, tears choking her words. "I love you, my little William Gabriel."
I smiled. She hadn't told me she named him.
Sam walked over to the rocker and began to rock him back and forth. The tears never stopped but her smile was firmly placed. I looked to Sister Victoria.
"Thank you for looking after him," I said softly, "But why is he here?" I figured he'd be with my grandparents.
"The best answer I can provide, sire, is that he is the Duchesses child. The only family she has in the Ghost Zone is a grandfather. He is recognized as the prince, though, because he has your blood line."
I nodded. "I understand." I looked back to Sam as she rocked our son. I think she was improving.
"What about Eddie and Jacob," Tucker asked me. "Are you going to leave them with Grandma and Grandpa while he is being raised here?"
I sighed. "I don't know." I glanced at Sam, rocking our son gently. "I mean… I think of Grandma and Grandpa as Eddie and Jacob's parents. They've had them for two years. It's not right to take them away from them."
"True," Jazz nodded. She put her hands on her stomach, shuttering a breath. "I'm so sorry, Danny."
I looked down. "Thanks." I swallowed. I looked back up. "How have you been?"
"I'm okay," Jazz said softly, as if afraid of offending me because she's still pregnant. "I'm trying to hide it from Mom and Dad. I stay away as much as possible and when I am around them, I try to wear baggier clothes."
"You should tell Mom," I said gently. Jazz started to shake her head violently.
"Are you crazy," Jazz said, her eyes filling with tears. She looked away from me. "You haven't been around. Mom has been on a war path. She's so stressed. Anyone adding to that stress is just asking for it."
I narrowed my eyes. "No," Tucker cut in. "She hasn't been saying it around Sam. She wouldn't dare. But everyone else…" Tucker trailed off.
"What about you," I asked, looking to Jazz. "Has she been stressing you?"
"Joseph takes care of me," Jazz said softly. "I stay at his apartment a lot. Mom is the one who's at her wits end. I'm afraid of hurting her more than her hurting me. This latest news has devastated Mom. She feels guilty for blaming the baby."
"She should," I said, looking away. My eyes filled with tears. This wasn't Sam's or the baby's fault.
"Don't go there, D," Tucker said softly. "You had no idea."
"I didn't," I accused. "That's only the way I got pregnant all three times! How did I know sucking someone could get them pregnant?"
"We don't know if it was that time," Sam said softly. I swallowed, feeling guilty. I didn't want to suck her into this conversation. "You didn't cum in me, Danny. If none of your semen got in me, how did I get pregnant?"
My eyes widened. "Well, we used protection every other time."
Sam gave me a smirk and I finally noticed her tears had dried. "Oh, yeah. I forgot to tell you about that wild night I had with that other guy. William isn't yours at all."
"Oh, well that's a relief," I smirked.
"If you're in a net and you can't break it, what's your next move," Sam asked me.
I raised an eyebrow. "I will turn intangible."
"Exactly," Sam stated. "And what is a condom but a big net with no holes?"
"You think my sperm turned intangible," I asked, surprised.
"That was my theory when I found out I was pregnant," Sam said, using her free hand to rub his face. "Think about it, Danny. How else are we going to have kids? Do you know the exact moment Sammy, Pammy, DJ, Donnie and Jay are conceived? I think not. We'll have sex and the sperm will turn intangible. Or else, no babies would be born."
"That is pretty hard to imagine," I said, sighing. "If ghosts didn't wear protection all the time, they'd be having babies left and right. I'll have to ask someone how a ghost decides to get pregnant."
"I already know," Sam said, smiling down at William. "I told your mom that the rubber probably broke but I know for a fact that it didn't. You didn't cum in me and we used protection every other time. There's only one explanation."
I walked over to her, kneeling down to his level. "I'm sorry, Sam. I'm sorry I got hurt."
Sam looked into my eyes. "We can't control what happens. The only thing we can do is prepare for the worst. I had no idea you would be seriously hurt and you had no idea I'd be at the top of the stairs. Shit happens." She looked back to our son. "We're still lucky, though, Danny. We didn't really lose William. He was just delayed."
I rubbed my hand down the back of his head, planting a kiss. "He's so beautiful, Sam. He looks just like you."
Sam looked up at me, a smile on her face. "Are you blind? He looks just like you."
I smiled, placing my hands on my knees. Sam lifted him up, kissing him on the head. She settled him back in the previous position, continuing to rock our son. I pulled myself up, going back to Tuck, Val, Jazz and Dani.
"So," Dani sighed. "What happened last night?"
"I got an email yesterday," I sighed. I frowned, looking to my watch. It was three in the morning. "Yeah, yesterday. Jeez, it's been a long day. Well, I went to help out and I found a group of people who were being forced to harvest marijuana. I thought it was human but I wasn't going to leave these people defenseless. I ended up scaring the shit out of the bad guys and rallying the victims into standing up for themselves. A few hours later, a ghost attacked. She was using humans to control the people but when her pawns were too scared to act, she came down to prove she was scarier. When I caught her, I thought that was the end of it but then Valentinus woke me up. Law enforcement officers had found them. We went down there and there was a bunch of cops had been overshadowed and was planning on punishing the people. The Sheriff in the group was a very powerful ghost; Valentinus said he thought he was from the eighth century. I screwed up and an ectoplasmic stake went through my core. I wasn't low on energy so it wouldn't kill me… but that didn't mean it felt great either."
"That explains why Sam fell," Tucker nodded. "When that thing went through your chest, it caused her to jolt and she was at the wrong place at the wrong time." He let out a sigh, looking to Sam. "She hasn't told me, but I'd bet it didn't even hurt nearly as bad as when you died." Tucker's eyes unfocused. "That's a day I'll never forget."
"Thanks, guys," I said, looking down. "I can never repay you for what you're doing for her."
"She's one of us," Val said, looking to Sam. "We'll always look after our own."
"Danny," Tuck said softly. "Can we take a walk?"
"Sure," I said. I looked to the girls, "Look over her, will ya?"
"You've got it, cuz," Dani nodded.
"We'll take care of her," Jazz said as Val nodded. Tucker and I floated outside.
"Danny," Tucker said, swallowing. "I'm scared, buddy."
"Why," I asked. What else could happen?
"You're not getting the point, Danny," Tucker sighed. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed."
"Noticed what," I asked, stopping and turning to him. Tucker crossed his arms.
"Name one thing that's happened to you that's never happened to Sam," Tucker accused.
I opened my mouth but fell short. She was becoming half ghost. She was nearly raped so many times that I think that fate just gave the hell up and settled for some pervert stealing her towel. She's been molested. She's now had a miscarriage. I shuttered a breath. "This was my fault. This started when I reversed my powers."
"No, Danny," Tucker retorted. "I'm not blaming you! There is one thing that's happened to you that hasn't happened to Sam."
"The rape," I nodded.
"You died," Tucker retorted. My jaw dropped. "We can deal with a miscarriage. We can deal with a rape. We can deal with any of that! We cannot deal with her getting herself killed!"
"Oh, my God," I said, covering my mouth.
"If she can't hold on, she's dying for real," Tucker retorted. Tucker shuttered a breath, wrapping his arms around him. "How do I fight that, Danny? Do I wrap her in bubble wrap?"
"Fate gave up on raping her," I said, looking up. I was in denial more than hopeful, though. "Maybe we can protect her."
"Look how close she's come, though," Tucker said. "How many times does she have to nearly die? Can we really protect her from everything?"
I shuttered a breath. "Oh, God, Tucker. What are we going to do?"
"What can we do," Tucker asked. He sucked in a breath. "We have to keep her safe or we can lose her… forever."
"I'm sorry, Tucker," I said, looking down. "That's a big responsibility on your shoulders. I'll do everything I can to help you."
"There is one thing you can do," Tucker said, looking me in the eyes. I breathed in slowly. "Tell her that you do no longer want to split the two of you up. Give her a reason to stay alive. If she dies and she still thinks you don't want her, she may have no reason to hold on. Please, Danny. Even if you have no intention, give her a golden globe performance. Tell her you still want her."
"I won't be acting, Tuck," I sighed. "That's never changed. My hope is that one day, she won't love me. I'll always want her, Tuck. I just pray that magnetism will let go of her." I clenched my hands together as a wash of anger ran through me.
"No," Tucker said softly. "She wasn't impregnated because of magnetism. Let go of that."
"She just so happened got pregnant with a baby when we were broken up," I hissed. I turned away from him, my insides on fire. "I know magnetism, Tuck. It plays dirty. William was a victim of magnetism." I fought the urge to blow something up.
"Really," Tucker questioned. "Magnetism got her pregnant just to make her lose the baby." He let out a breath. "I think it was pretty clever to know that you'd be impaled by an attack."
"It didn't have to know the exact details," I said through clenched teeth. There was no doubt in my mind. "I've never dreamed of William before, Tucker. Sammy was our first pregnancy. What else could it be?"
"Did you dream of Lilly and Megan," Tucker asked me. "Danny, your dreams change all the time. You told me once that Donnie and Jay were added later. Maybe you just never had the opportunity to see William. Maybe…" he let out a soft breath, "William is a result of your and Vlad's relationship."
"What?!"
"Think about it," Tucker defended his insane idea. How on earth could Vlad be responsible for this? "You never dreamed of Lilly and Megan until after you were pregnant. That's because Vlad was a curveball in your life. If you and Vlad never got together, you would have never broke up with Sam because of a relapse in magnetism. It sounds crazy but it also makes sense." He nodded his head. "In an insane way."
"Yeah. Insane," I remarked. "Vlad isn't even here anymore, Tuck. He's out of our lives."
Tucker snorted. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"If he wants to keep Blue, he'll stay away… and believe me, he's desperate." I looked down, reminded of what Vlad done to his employees.
"I know, right," Tucker declared. "That was insane! It was all over the news."
"What," I asked, looking up. "You mean the trouble DALV was in, right?"
"No. I mean local Danny Fenton, founder of Team Phantom is now owner of Vlad, Co. For two weeks since you left, that's all you saw on the news. You're the richest person in Amity Park now."
"Please don't remind me," I grumbled. I crossed my arms. "I could have killed the Froot Loop. I couldn't believe he just abandoned his people. That was their lives he played with. He should have left it to someone until the girls got old enough. I'm absolutely wrong for the job." I let out a huff. "He could have mentioned it when he came to see me."
"Yeah," Tucker said, a playful smirk on his lips. "What happened when Vlad visited?" His smirk turned into a taunting smile.
"Not that," I retorted. "Sam asked me that question." I sighed, looking in the direction of the nursery.
"Oh, dude," Tucker said, his voice pained. "I really stuck my foot in my mouth. I'm sorry."
"We haven't really talked a lot since that night," I shrugged, trying to look unaffected. "It's no big deal."
"I'm teasing you about being pregnant right after your girlfriend had a miscarriage. I am a horrible person!"
"No," I said, looking back to him. "You're my brother. Don't sweat it."
"Still," Tucker sighed. "I am serious. Have you taken a pregnancy test?"
"I haven't been sick and I haven't had any weird cravings. I'm not pregnant." I laughed. I have to admit, after that weird event, I even considered it.
"What weird event," Tucker asked me.
I sighed, aggravated. He's so going to accuse me of being pregnant. "We went for a walk after we put the girls down. There was this really strong storm going off but when we walked outside, it was calm. There was a lot more trees when I pitched the tent but it was open space on that walk. It was weird. Then Vlad got weak but before I could check on him, the air was knocked out of my lungs. Vlad was suddenly fine and he was gone." I gave him a weird smile. "I think I was just upset about Vlad's leaving."
"I think he used his powers on you," Tucker retorted, not an ounce of humor in his voice. "You got a headache, didn't you?"
"A headache," I questioned, confused. "What does that mean?"
"When a ghost penetrates your mind, the victim gets a headache. I can prove it to you."
"How? You're not that good!"
"No, I'm not," Tucker agreed. "But it says it in a book here."
"No," I shook my head. "Trust me. I'd be nearly two months pregnant, Tucker. I know how it feels to be pregnant. I figured it out within the first six weeks with Megan."
"Come on, dude. You know every pregnancy is different."
I snorted. "So you're an expert in pregnancy now, huh?"
"How many kids do we have in this family," Tucker asked dryly.
I laughed. "I concede!"
"Uh, huh," Tucker snorted. "I think I'm a pro. We all are." His voice lightened up. "Still. Would you check?"
"Sure," I smirked. "Do you want to watch me pee on the stick?"
"I'll trust your word," Tucker added in a frank voice.
"That's what I thought," I laughed.
"Danny," Jazz said, stepping out of the nursery. "Sam wants to see you."
"I'm coming," I said. I turned to Tucker, whispering, "Not a word about what we were talking about earlier. I don't want to scare anyone. We'll keep Sam safe."
"That's what I was going to say," Tucker whispered back. We nodded, moving towards the nursery.
"Hey," Sam said, smiling up at me. "William's awake. You've got to see this."
"What," I asked, walking over to her. I looked down to our son and gasped. "Oh, my God."
"I couldn't believe it," Sam said, her eyes filling with tears. "He's got my eyes." They were glowing but the purple color was undeniable. She looked up to me. "I have never seen my eyes look better."
I rubbed Sam's face, kissing her deeply. I felt that abrupt startle in her kiss before it dissolved away in passion. Well done, Tucker replied.
I'll do anything to protect her, I thought back. I opened my eyes, breaking the kiss.
"That was different," Sam breathed.
"I'm sorry," I said, feigning embarrassment. "I-I thought you still—I mean, I didn't realize you had moved on."
Sam moved in, kissing me again. "Silly boy," Sam breathed. "I thought you were still on that kick."
"No," I breathed. "Hearing what happened. Seeing you as you were." I put my head down, casting my gaze to the ground. "I couldn't keep this up, Sam. I love you too much."
"Are you staying," Sam asked me.
"I wished I were," I said, lifting my head. My eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to leave you." I forced myself to heave a sigh. Most of it wasn't an act but the reluctance to leave was less honest. With all the ghosts across the planet and my fears of Sam being forced down this road, it isn't that hard to pull away. I know my girls are okay and I know Sam will be okay; there's not much keeping me here."
"I-I need you, Danny," Sam said, her eyes filling with tears. "Please, don't leave me. Not for a while at least." The heartbreak across my face wasn't acting. I've never seen Sam acting so weak.
I lifted my arm, gripping her head in my hand. "I'll be here as long as I can."
"I'm sorry, Danny," she said. Her voice broke. "I can't face the night alone. I don't want to be alone."
"You're never alone, Sam," I said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. I flipped her hair over her head, clearing it out of her face. "You know we'll always be there for each other. Allow them to help you. I know Tucker wants to help."
"No one else can touch me," Sam said, casting her eyes down. "I can't stand it."
"Well, you won't have to worry about that again," I said, leaning my head against hers. I rubbed William's head with my free hand. "I'm not letting you go."
"I love you," Sam whispered.
"I love you, too," I said, rubbing her hair.
"Are we going to let Mom and Dad see him," Danielle asked. "Mom would probably want to see him."
"I don't know," I said, my teeth grinding. "Not after what you told me."
"Don't judge her," Sam said softly. I looked to Sam in shock. "I'm not stupid. I knew Mrs. Fenton was upset with me for getting pregnant."
"I-I'm sorry, Sam," Tucker said softly. "I didn't want you upset."
"It's nothing," Sam sighed. "I was kind of upset with myself, too. I know, though, that I had no control over what happened. We used protection and it still didn't help." Sam smiled down to William. "He was just ready to be born."
I rubbed his head, looking into his gorgeous purple eyes. "Yes. Yes, he was." I looked up to Sam. "I'm sorry, though, that this had to happen."
Sam nodded softly, her smile turning down. "Me too but it's no one's fault. These things happen." She looked into my eyes. "We can point fingers or we can accept what is and figure out what we're going to do next."
"I'll never point a finger at you, Sam. This was my fault."
"No," Sam shook her head. She looked back to our son. "This was fate. It sucks but we can't do anything about it. You say it all the time, Danny. Things happen for a reason."
I rubbed her hair. "I may find the reason for this too, in the future." I looked back to our son. "I just wished he could have stayed with us."
"Me too," Sam said. "I'll wait a while but we'll bring him to the real world. I want to give him some time, though. He just arrived."
We all agreed.
(04)
We spent two days at the castle before I went back to the border. Sam was doing better but she wouldn't be returning to the real world. She practically lived in the nursery; she even slept there. I flew back to my party to check out how things were.
"Danny," Gauis declared upon seeing me. "Was everything all right?"
I put my head down. "Sam and I lost a child. I've been with her."
"Princess Lilly or Megan," Marcellus declared, his eyes wide.
"No," I shook my head. "Sam was pregnant. I saw the girls. They're okay." And big! It has only been a month but Mom and Dad have improved them so much. Lilly is using the potty and Megan is improving her speech. Megan is on par for Jacky and Jamie—whom Megan can't stand. Both of my girls are now partners, facing a common enemy: the male child.
"I am so sorry, sire," Serguis bowed. "How is Duchess Sam?"
"She's doing all right," I nodded. "She's spending time with our son. He's at the castle."
"He is in good hands, sire," Valentinus replied. "My sister works in the nursery."
"Vita, right," I asked.
"Yes," Valentinus nodded. "Did you see her?"
"I saw her but I didn't talk to her," I replied. "She looked good."
"I'm sure she's fine," Valentinus bowed.
"Did you speak to Domitilla," Serguis asked softly.
"Yeah," I said, cocking my head at him in shock. Serguis has three brothers in the army and a ton of cousins that do various jobs. The last person I expected him to ask about was Dom. "She's been busy with the girls. She's helping Mom with Jacky and Jamie so she's got her hands full there. I also saw Gage, of course. They're both doing fine."
"That's good," Gauis nodded. "Your boss arrived the morning after. The humans were taken care of. We are set to go further south if you wish, Danny."
"I'm wanting to move," I nodded. I let out a sigh. "I had plans to leave that morning when I got that email. We're behind schedule."
"As soon as we are packed, we may leave," Marcellus replied. We began to pack up.
(04)
We made it out of Mexico by day four but every day, we were cleaning up nests. None were as bad as Arizona but I was disappointed that the situation was looking bleak once we made it out of the country. Through the American south, things were looking good. Now, things were looking bleak again. The more time I spent in the south, the more emails and calls I got. By the time I got to Guatemala, if I wasn't receiving three a day, I was suspicious.
Monday, the twenty-second of October, I decided to suspend our journey south. I was getting so many emails it was flooding my inbox. I decided to pitch the tent.
I was rushing to finish my breakfast when I heard a buzzing sound. I stood up, cautious. I followed the sound to the backpack. I picked it up, finding the communication egg vibrating. Oh, it's Mom.
I pulled it out, answering. "Hello!"
Mom's face relaxed. "Oh, it is so good to see your face, Danny. How are you, sweetheart?"
"I'm fine," I nodded. "How's things at home?"
"They're… good," Mom said, looking down. She wouldn't tell me about the miscarriage I see. "We've been good. The girls miss you."
"I miss them too," I sighed. "How are Jacky and Jamie?"
Mom laughed. "If you want to see punishment, you should see what your girls do to your nephews."
I laughed. "I'm sure they're unrelenting."
Mom laughed again, nodding. She let out a deep sigh. "They're something else. What have you been up to? Have you been taking care of yourself?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "I'm eating breakfast."
"Hmm," Mom remarked. "It's seven o'clock here. Are you still in the Central Time Zone?"
"Yes, ma'am," I declared. I was, too. Most of Mexico is on the same time zone as Illinois is. "I've got a few reports to look into."
"Are you getting a lot of business," Mom asked.
I let out a deep sigh. "Yeah. The longer I stay in one place, the more response I get. I have my account rigged to display ads in the area I'm in. I'm getting a lot of business."
"Well, be careful," Mom said. She swallowed. "I want you to stay safe."
"Don't worry," I said seriously. I held my free hand out, showing her how I looked. "I'm doing fine."
"I can see that," Mom said, a little at ease. "I have to be honest with you, Danny, I didn't call to check up on you."
I furrowed my brow. "You didn't." Would she tell me about Sam?
"No, I didn't," Mom replied. Her image got smaller as the egg stayed in the same place but she sat back. "I was going to tell you the day you left but I got caught up in the goodbyes. I wrestled for a while to tell you this or not…" I furrowed my brow again. What could she have to say to me back then? "Your father and I decided, though, to stick to the plan."
"What plan," I asked, confused. I sat down on the chair, cupping the egg in my hands as I hutched over it.
"You're pretty sure that you can't be found, right," Mom asked me.
"As long as you play fair, I can't be found," I answered. "If anything you gave me has a GPS in it, though, then I guess you could find me."
Before I finished speaking, Mom was interrupting me. "No. I have not lojacked you. This is solely based on skill, not tricks."
"Then I'm pretty sure," I nodded.
"Good," Mom remarked. "Because I want you to agree to the terms that if we find you, on our own, not with tricks, then you come home."
"What," I asked, furrowing my brow again.
"If we find you, you come home," Mom simplified. "I think I can find you. I'm certain once your father and I figure this out, we can find you no matter where you're at. I just want your word that if we find you, free and clear, you come home; no fighting."
I let out a breath. "I can't imagine you ever finding me. Fine. If you find me, I come home."
"Thank you," Mom nodded. She gave me a soft smile. "I don't like you out there on your own. It worries me to death. However, if I can't find you then I will allow the master to do his job. If I can find you, though, then you'll know who really is the best. You will have to work with us."
"No tricks," I said, sitting up. I propped my forearm on my knee. "If you can't find me on your own, then it doesn't count. It's solely based on yours and Dad's equipment."
"That's all I'm asking," Mom replied.
"Deal," I nodded.
"Good."
(04)
We captured the tenth ghost in this country alone. It was ridiculous. By the time the radar adjusted to the new location here in Costa Rica, we had more blotches on that screen than the bumper of a semi.
"How are these ghosts getting here," I demanded. This country wasn't even twenty thousand square miles. It was not even the size of West Virginia. Yet, I had captured ten ghosts in two days. It was ridiculous.
"I don't know, sire, but we've got another report," Serguis replied. I groaned out, fed up.
"No," I declared. "It isn't helping! Until we find how these ghosts are getting out of the Ghost Zone, we will not capture another ghost. As long as they have a way in, we can't keep the people safe!"
"What is your suggestion, sire," Marcellus replied.
I looked to Serguis. "What would Tucker do?"
"He'd signal out the calls and find the unregistered ones. Something that powerful is bound to turn up on radar."
"Exactly," I said, pointing my finger at Serguis. I could already see Marcellus setting up my next point. "But tell us what's wrong with that plan, Marcellus."
"There's too many signatures," Marcellus replied. "With as many ghosts as we're capturing, we can't possibly signal out every one of them."
"Is that true, Gauis," I asked.
"Not in theory, sir," Gauis remarked. I grunted. "I mean, Danny. The signatures we're looking for will be permanent or at least show up on multiple outlines. Serguis should know how to set up multiple outlining maps."
"Of course," Serguis remarked. "Once I have that signal, I can look it up from any map. If it remains the same strength, then we'll know it's our call."
"Now you're talking," I smiled.
(04)
It was so easy it hurt. Once we signaled out the ghost signals from unregistered signals (like the portal, to say), it was simple to locate the suspect. My team traveled to the rural community that the signal was broadcasting from but we found a natural portal. It wasn't time for them to be opening sporadically so I was confused. This couldn't be what was causing the fuss.
But Serguis was convinced despite my doubts. We had been in Central America for ten days and the portal was opened already. To believe this little portal could have encouraged all of the ghost invasions was incredulous. Other hints, though, were unavailable.
So we decided to keep an eye on it. I thought my point was proven when twenty minutes later, the portal closed. Serguis wanted to wait, though, so wait we did. Two hours later, the unthinkable happened. The same portal opened but it wasn't inactive. Three ghosts went through the portal.
It was easy to capture the ghosts and we had them squealing like stuck hogs. They found the portal into the real world and it was easy to manipulate. I tested the theory and they were right on the money. I was able to open and close the portal by simply releasing energy near the portal; I didn't even need to use a lot of it.
I called Samuels. After the team Samuels' sent took care of the threat, we moved on. That was Thursday.
We did a search, looking for any massive signatures that would fit the profile. The result that came in stunned me in disbelief.
There were these points of energy across the globe but in every town we had visited that had a ghost, there was an enormous source. The one on the border in Arizona was huge.
The number of these energy points, these hot spots, was staggering. Up north and down south, in the US and across the globe; these things were everywhere. However, there was an obviously discrepancy. If the region was rural or it was in a poor country, the land was riddled with these hot spots.
I called Samuels again.
(04)
Samuels sent teams to my previous locations while we went further south. There was a large focused point of energy about eighty miles away, in Venezuela. We set up camp there, trying to determine the severity of this outbreak. The wind howled outside out tent, shaking it with force that I couldn't believe. When we were lower, at sea level, it was unseasonably warm but once we hiked higher in altitude, the tropical weather had turned cold. It was quite amazing, to tell the truth. I've never looked up in the summertime and seen a mountain covered in ice before I started this trip. This was the weirdest I've seen, though. In Russia, it was snow packed the entire time.
My team isolated the signature and affirmed that it was a hot spot. Once certain, we traveled to the location, higher in the mountains. We located it high in the mountain range, the area locked in ice. The wind blew my hair wildly as I studied the odd phenomenon.
"It's so small," I said, furrowing my brow.
"This is not right," Serguis objected, checking the radar. He shook it, looking more like Sam than Tucker in that moment. "It's too small to be the hot spot! This is insane!"
"Maybe we got the wrong one," I replied. I took the radar from Serguis' hand and reprogramed it to search again. It spanned out and took us to a new location. "See. It just got the big one and the small one mixed up. This one will probably close on it's own."
"I don't feel good about this, Danny," Gauis spoke uncertainly.
"It's a coincidence," I brushed it off. There's no way this portal and the hot spot we're really tracking have anything in common.
"Danny, I feel strongly about this, too," Marcellus spoke. "It's not a coincidence. There's no way these two portals have nothing in common."
"The odds of them being linked is even more bizarre," I objected.
"We've seen a lot of bizarre things, Danny," Valentinus spoke. Was everyone against me here?
"Well, if you guys feel strongly about this," I remarked. I waved my hand, lifting off the ground. "Let's check out the other portal and I'll do another search. We'll keep our eye on this one."
"Wait, Danny," Gauis spoke. "We shouldn't abandon this portal."
"Why," I asked, turning to look at my team. Each one had a grim look.
"I've been in a situation like this before," Marcellus spoke. "When I was alive. My battalion and I were traveling through the countryside, searching for villages. We came across several townships but they had joined together. It's how I died, sire. We were outnumbered and unsuspecting."
I landed on the ground. "You think the reason the signal is so large is because it's reading them clumped together."
"Yes, sire," Serguis spoke. "If all the portals in this area are this size and there are hundreds of them, it could confuse the radar. Allow me to do one more thing."
I handed him the radar back. Serguis started plugging into it. His glow faltered. "What is it?"
"It's as I feared," Serguis spoke. He passed it to me and I studied the screen, in shock.
"This is worldwide, right," I asked, seeing hundreds of dots on the screen. Please don't tell me this is just in the mountains.
"I'm afraid it is, sire," Serguis remarked. "It's a radius of thirty miles, sire." I swallowed. "The hot spot is actually hundreds of points."
"This isn't good."
(04)
It took us three hours to find eighty nests in the Andes alone. We searched the mountain ranges and found them everywhere. We haven't even searched at sea level. It was terrifying.
I had to find out what I was going to do. It wasn't time to call Samuels. I needed to clean up this mess before it could be handled and I had no idea how I was going to do that. I decided to take this one day at a time. We pitched the tent on sea level, away from the ghosts. There were too many in the mountains, we'd be destroyed before we could clean anything up.
Low profile was the game right now.
We did our best to clean up what we could but there wasn't much we could do before nightfall. I would get some rest tonight but the next few days would be spent restless. I heated up some potato soup and was stirring it around in the bowl when the egg buzzed again. I licked the spoon, moving to the counter where I last had it out. I pushed the communicate button but instead of Mom, my girls showed up. "Hi, Daddy," Lilly cried out excited.
I forced a small smile. "Hey, baby." I saw Megan beside of Lilly. "How are you, girls?"
"We're okay," Lilly replied.
"I miss you, Mama," Megan said, her voice a lot clearer. Mom was helping so much.
"I miss you, too, girls," I said. I plopped down in the kitchen chair, smothering the spoon in the potato soup again. "How's Mommy?"
"She took us to see William today," Lilly replied.
"Lilly," Mom's voice declared.
"Oops," Lilly said, looking above her head. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that."
"It's okay," I said, stirring the soup in my bowl. I pulled it out, licking the spoon again. I didn't know what it was, but I liked playing with it.
"Are you okay," Mom asked, appearing on screen. "You look horrible, honey."
"Rough last few days," I sighed. "I'll be okay when I get some sleep tonight."
"Mama, when you coming home," Megan asked me.
I frowned. "I don't know, sweetheart. Things aren't… how they seemed." I let out a sigh. With the discovery we made today, I may never come home.
"What happened," Mom asked.
"Do you need help, Daddy," Lilly asked.
"No," I declared, my eyes widening. My apprehension faded but I was confused. I didn't want to protect them… but what else would make me that upset about them coming around me?
"Sweetheart, are you getting adequate sleep," Mom asked me.
I put my head in my hand. "No." I let out a deep sigh. "Things have been hectic. I'll get some sleep tonight but for the last few nights, I've been getting catnaps more than sleep."
"Stop that," Mom added firmly. I looked to the egg. "You are going to get yourself killed if you over exhaust yourself." Mom picked up Megan and placed her on her lap as she sat down in Megan's previous spot.
"Sorry," I sighed. "This was unique. The last few locations were…"
"Hectic," Mom provided. I sighed, nodding my head exhaustedly.
"It's only three in the evening," Mom said, looking away from the egg. Her eyes fell back on the device. "How long have you been up?"
I glanced at my clock—five-forty-eight. "I didn't get any sleep last night. We were traveling. I woke up yesterday around five in the morning. You do the math."
"Daniel," Mom declared, upset.
"I know," I groaned. I stirred my soup again, licking the spoon. "Hectic."
"There's going to be hell to pay if you don't start taking care of yourself."
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep again," I mumbled out. I propped my elbow on the table, holding my head up in my palm.
"You're so tired," Mom remarked. I forced my eyes to look at her. "Get some sleep, baby. We love you."
"I love you guys so much," I sighed. "I'll talk to you girls later."
"Love you, Daddy."
"Night-night, Mama."
The egg blinked off and I shut mine down as well. I finished my soup and washed up my dishes. I pulled my laptop from under my couch and sat it on my lap. Ninety-eight emails… and I just checked it half an hour ago. I groaned, clicking off my inbox. I signed into my school work. Twenty work projects to do.
A message box popped up beside my school inbox.
: Yo, Dude! How have you been?
I groaned, spinning my touchpad to the text area. I typed in my response and it showed up onscreen.
: So-so. Things are wild. How are things in Amity?
: Freaky. Ghost attacks are down and school is quiet. Phantom took out after you did, too.
: Sorry to hear that about Phantom. There's a lot of ghost attacks across the planet. He's probably chasing them. Good news about the ghosts, though.
: Not so sure. We haven't been in this situation before.
: I'm sure Phantom wouldn't leave you defenseless. There's probably a reason for the absence.
: There is that chick that looks like him. HOT!
I set my jaw, trying not to growl or throw something in frustration.
: Careful. That's his little cousin, Dani.
: Have you talked to your family?
: I just talked to Mom and my girls earlier.
: What's up with Sam? I haven't seen her in a while.
: You might have heard her boyfriend ran away. She's been preoccupied.
: Lol. Yeah, I heard about that. You got balls.
: Last I checked.
: Wished you were here. You'd love the way this is set up.
: No shit. I had no idea!
: Smart ass. We improved your idea.
: I kinda figured. How have you handled it?
: We don't have to come to class. We either send messages or vid chats. The teacher records lectures but we have the option of attending a live chat of each class. Each teacher has a personal office and the classrooms have been transformed into living areas. You'd like it.
My jaw dropped as I read the statement.
: Doesn't anyone attend a class anymore?!
: You mean traditional classrooms? No. It's all done over the internet now. We show up to the school but we go where we want to. It's awesome!
: This is insane! The computers were meant to help, not change! We didn't develop this new order of operations to make school less structured. How do you partake in learning?
: Dude, chill. Things are better now.
: You are not going to school, you are social networking!
: And it's awesome!
: Enjoy it while it lasts. When I get back, I'm changing it.
: Come on, dude. You'll like it.
: I'll check in tomorrow at school.
: Lol. Tomorrow's Saturday.
: Monday then!
: Later, dude.
: Later.
I clicked it off, my jaw line straight. I can't believe this. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I should have known the A-List would get a hold of it and turn it into a freaking party. They were supposed to show up five minutes at the beginning of class and five minutes at the end of class. There were supposed to be repercussions if they skipped classes. The laptops were supposed to help in a ghost attack, not change the way we learned. Jazz was right. It was hard on the teachers. But, instead of rising to the challenge, they canceled their lessons. I wonder how many actually provide live lectures and how many just put that front out. I'll find out.
(04)
I hit that alarm with ecto-energy when I saw it say four o'clock in the morning. I pulled myself to my feet, glaring at the broken object. I forgot to take into account the time difference. I know I shouldn't have lost my temper like that but I had another hour of sleep. I staggered into my kitchen and put the coffee on. I didn't care if I had anything else, I was going to drink me a damn pot of coffee.
I brought my laptop to the kitchen as the coffee perked. I had a ton of homework to finish but lives depended on me now. I checked out maps of Venezuela.
The hot spots were in the Andes Mountains. We were in the northern part of the country. The area was poor and the villages had high populations. Thousands of people were at risk. We were in the highly dense part of the country. The ghosts were higher up but there was little speculation as to why. The people were at their feet.
The coffee finished and I poured me a cup. I sat back at the computer and drank a big gulp. I have to get out there, identify those at risk and locate the targets. Once I find out where these ghosts are feeding, I can take control and lower the numbers. Once I have the numbers even vaguely in check, I can call Samuels and isolate the portals. I can't bring humans into this until the risk is diminished. These ghosts will slaughter the Division agents. The capture of Agent Roland will seem small in comparison.
I pulled up the radar of the hot spots and laid them over the map on my laptop. It was insane how many hot spots were in this area. This area of the country was perfect for an invasion. The mountains were perfect to conceal the portals and keep humans away for the most part and the towns at the base of the mountains provided the perfect opportunity to feed. I just wonder how many ghosts have taken advantage of this recipe for the perfect storm. The number of emails I have in my inbox gives me a hint.
So my next move is to infiltrate into the community and begin taking this setup apart one piece at a time. I can't let the ghosts know who is destroying their plans. I took another drink, looking up the Venezuelan culture. I need to fit the bill.
I moved into the city shortly after breakfast and was talking with the locals. It didn't take me long to hear the stories. I talked with many locals and they told me about the devils. About six weeks ago, the incidents were limited to the jungles and the mountains. Then a change happened and the creatures came into the villages. Mostly, I heard of local disasters but there were a few citizens who told me about how other villages in the region were under the same attacks.
Then I met a man that truly shed light on the situation. He invited me in his hut and told me about his daughter. She was a teen who worked the streets at night. He and his wife had a baby but he couldn't work so the daughter swallowed her pride to help bring in money. His daughter was found one morning raped repeatedly and she died later from her injuries.
"I am so sorry," I spoke, looking to my fists. The images of the Mexicans still burned in my mind. The sight of Sam rocking our child with tears streaming down her face. The realization that it would be years before we could even raise him properly. "I will stop these attacks, I promise, and I will give your family justice."
"I just want no one else to go through what we're going through," the man spoke. He looked down, swallowing. "My daughter wasn't proud of her work but no one deserves to go through what she went through. The monster left her to die. My daughter didn't deserve to be treated like an animal."
"I will do everything in my power to stop this thing," I said. "What about the rest of your family? Is your infant and wife okay?"
"As much as expected," the man remarked, his head downcast in shame. "I'm not much of a man anymore since I hurt my back."
"Have faith, sir," I spoke, standing up. "Miracles still happen." I nodded to him. "Thank you for inviting me in your home, sir. The best of luck."
"And to you," he nodded. I walked out of the hut, pushing the button on my Fentonfone.
"Anyone there," I asked.
"I am, Danny," Marcellus's voice came through my ear.
"Can you do me a favor? Get me two hundred dollars in Venezuelan currency, some food staples and some baby supplies."
"You are too generous, sire," Marcellus spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Keep calling me sire and I'll make you eat those words," I playfully retorted. Since I came back home—two weeks ago—they have slipped back into the role of my servants.
"Yes, sire," Marcellus laughed. I rolled my eyes.
I walked along the mud streets. The storms turned the dirt roads into mud overnight but no one paid them any mind. We are close to the coast so I imagine this is nothing unusual. I didn't expect to find any trouble, but I invited myself into the more dangerous places in town. I saw a few people hanging around, exchanging objects, getting into fights and offering services. I kept my eyes on the road ahead of me but nothing got past me. I heard and saw everything.
I saw a woman standing alone so I moved up to her. She flipped her long black hair over her shoulder, trying to appeal to me. "I'm not in the market for your services," I spoke. I reached in my pocket, pulling out a handful of Venezuelan money. I had a little bit left. "Can I ask a few questions for this much?"
She took the money I handed her and counted it. "Make it quick."
"Has anyone come up missing? Any co-workers or friends that most wouldn't miss?"
Her eyes found mine and I knew the answer. "How did you know that?"
"That's my profession," I said with a smooth face. "I need to know everything. I may be able to save your life."
"No one cares about us," she spat. "Why are you so different?"
"You're human," I said, crossing my arms. "You have the right to live as much as the next person does. Anyone treats you differently has a problem with me."
"That's a fight you aren't about to win," she said, looking around. "They hang around during the day. If we come quietly, they won't kill us. If we make a commotion, we die instantly. If they like us too much, we disappear. Got it?"
"Just female," I asked.
"Yeah," she nodded. "They stay away from the boys. Scares the hell out of me but they take care of us. If we come quietly. If I comply, I'll live. That's all I know."
"What about nighttime's," I asked.
She shook her head. "You never live. The best I can guess is if you see them, you die."
"Thanks," I nodded. "Take care of yourself."
"I'll always go along quietly," she said, turning away from me. "If it hurts to agree, I'd hate to imagine resisting."
As she walked away, my ghost sense went off. Crap. One's around here somewhere. Marcellus shouldn't be done yet. He has to go trade the money in. It's going to take him a while. I took off down the alley, sensing for the ghost.
As I ran into a dead end, I picked up the sense. I heard a woman startle a gasp and whimper. I put my hand on the wall, transforming. I flew to the ghost.
The woman laid in the back of another dead end, her skirt torn. Her head was turned to the side, crying as the ghost raped her.
"Let her go," I declared, flying at him. I hit him, and he ripped out of her. I heard her flesh tear and she screamed in agony. I growled. "Your time is up."
"Who are you," he asked me, cocking his head in surprise. "I haven't seen you before."
"You are to leave these people alone," I growled. "You have no right!"
"They are nothing," he spat. "They are our toys. Why do you care about the creatures?"
"They mean something to someone else," I hissed. "They matter to me!"
"They are insects but it doesn't matter to me. There are more like her."
"And where there is wrongdoing, I will be there," I said, powering up my fist.
"I'm not fighting you," he said, raising his eyebrow in disbelief. "You'd tear me apart."
"Well, you're not escaping," I said, summoning my thermos. "You will not hurt anyone else." I sucked him in and surprisingly, he didn't fight back. Wow. I've never had one go quietly.
Whimpers brought me back to the present and I turned in her direction. She was holding her pelvic region and crying, obviously in pain. I walked towards her but she cried out, flinching away from me.
"No, no," I said, holding the palms of my hands out. "It's okay. I'm going to take care of you."
"Please," she whimpered.
"Trust me," I spoke softly. I took another step, my palms still faced out. I put my hand on her shoulder as I knelt down. I phased my hand in her shoulder and she healed. "We don't all do harm," I said softly.
"Why," she asked me.
"No one deserves to be treated this way," I said, rubbing her hair. "I promise you, I will make the streets safe again."
"Thank you, sir," she nodded, afraid. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
I reached in my pocket but all I had was about twenty dollars in American money. "I'm sorry. This is all I have. Take it. Get yourself something to eat."
"Thank you, sir," she said, bowing her head. I pulled her to her feet, giving her an encouraging nod.
"Take care of yourself," I nodded. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye, sir," she spoke. I floated above her, flying to another part of town.
AN: Hello, dear readers. I hope you enjoyed today's update. Another strike for "whatever happens to Danny, happens to Sam". But is this the end or will it strike one more time? If you have any questions or comments, I'll try my best to respond. Update next Wednesday! I hope to keep this momentum up. Chapter four posted, writing chapter ten. So far, so good!