Danny woke with a gasp, rolling onto his stomach in pain. His whole body burned, only the cool dampness of the lake water to battle the memory of the fire. Everything hurt.
Blearily, the ghost boy opened his eyes. It was either dusk or dawn, Danny couldn't tell which. Small waves lapped against his body, hissing as they touched him and evaporated into steam. Tiny shards of ice glistened as they fell from the clouds, landing on the sand beside Danny.
Weird, he thought, before foolishly trying to stand. After an age of effort, Danny made it to his knees. The world tilted crazily for a few moments before he fell back into the water with another hiss of steam and a frustrated grunt. He couldn't remember it ever having been this hard to get up before. Even while fighting Pariah Dark, Danny had never felt this degree of exhaustion. He could barely move, despite his best attempts.
Memories flooded through his mind. Memories of an endless void that swallowed him whole, managing to extinguish the aura that glowed around him, or just deadening it, halting its progress in illuminating Danny's surroundings. Memories of a cold fire, burning him from the inside out. Memories of Tucker, watching the flames with a lost, uncomprehending expression on his face. Memories of... of Sam. Screaming his name in desperation.
Maybe it was her that brought me back, Danny wondered. It wouldn't be the first time.
DPDPDPDP
Tucker felt empty.
His bed was hard and uncomfortable, the edge cutting into him as he lay draped across the narrow section. It hurt, but Tucker still couldn't bring himself to move. Why should he move? It would be a while until Sam was ready to meet up. Even though Tucker longed to see her, he knew that Sam would only view him as a reminder of a past best forgotten. What was more important- himself or Sam?
Tucker grunted with false humour, shifting on the bed and falling into an even more uncomfortable position. I guess Danny's hero complex rubbed off on me.
There was no way he could hurt Sam- not just to make himself feel more complete, less alone. He would need a better excuse than that. If Sam wanted to see him, Tucker knew that she would come. The fact that she wasn't here now showed that she just wanted to be alone, left to her memories in peace.
Something gleamed in the corner of Tucker's eye. He turned his teary gaze towards what had caught his attention. His PDA. How had it ended up on the ground?
Tucker slid off the bed lifelessly, limp and without hurry. Collapsing in an awkward position on the floor, he reached out to pick up his baby.
Oh, technology, he lamented. Why can't life be as simple as you are?
Because there's no challenge in that.
Tucker sighed. The voice had almost sounded like Danny, as he was only mere hours ago. The tears started again as Tucker realised that his best friend was dead- completely, this time.
DPDPDPDP
Left, right, left, right. A slow, steady pattern. Every so often, the unstable sand would send Danny to his knees, teeth gritted in an effort to silence the screams that built up in his throat. He was burning up again; feeling as if he could burst into flames any second.
Is that what happened before? Danny questioned. Of course, no one answered his muted inquiry. He was by himself, isolated from the rest of humanity, and the only plan he had was to find Frostbite. Last time his core acted up, the old yeti had known what was wrong. Maybe he would be able to shed some light onto this situation. Danny hoped so, but the hardest obstacle was currently in progress. The beach on which he stumbled was familiar, but it wasn't the coast. Danny had been to the coast several times, and there were waves there. Not even a ripple disturbed the mirror-like surface of what must be a lake. It was eerie in the failing light.
That's it, the ghost boy thought in relief. Lake Eerie.
Now he knew where to go. He needed access to the Ghost Zone, and from here Danny could find Amity Park easily. It was just a matter of finding enough energy to fly there, otherwise he faced a long and tiresome walk.
Danny sat back onto the sand with a large exhale, trying to relax. Fire and ice battled inside him, turning some parts of his body hot, and others cold. He lay down, resting his face on the cool sand. He preferred the lower temperature because at least that was familiar. The fire scared Danny, made him anxious.
He sighed again, his breath shifting a few grains of sand. This made him smile weakly for no particular reason. At least he was alive.
DPDPDPDP
She still hadn't cried.
Her best friend was gone, engulfed by those otherworldly flames, but she couldn't find a single tear. Instead, Sam sat blankly against the wall of her bedroom, staring at the photo in her hands. It was her favourite. Before the Accident, before life became infinitely more complicated, that's when this picture was taken. She couldn't remember who had the camera, but somehow, all three of the trio were standing there, smiling up at her happily. They were pitifully oblivious to what would eventually happen to them.
Good, Sam thought. Let them stay that way.
But did she really want that? To forget all the ghost fights, the excuses, the secrets, the hiding? Strangely... no. She couldn't imagine how boring her life would have been if it weren't for Phantom. But just how unbearable would it be without Danny?
A wave of nostalgia broke over her, tossing her through a whirlwind of emotions. Still, she didn't cry. She couldn't cry.
There's something seriously wrong with me, Sam concluded. How else could she appear to be so uncaring, while she really felt as if she were being ripped to pieces?
Her parents had sensed her mood, apparently. It was getting close to midnight and neither of them had disturbed her. That was lucky, Sam knew. She couldn't tell what she'd do if she had to see another person.
What about Tucker? Her mind whispered. It was right. She should see how he was doing. Sam twitched a little, thinking about getting up for the first time in some hours. It was too much effort.
Tucker would just have to be another friend that Sam had disappointed.
AN:
Hey! pale-blue11 here!
Did you think it was over? Well it's not!
I know I'm being a bit harsh to Sam, but this is what I think she would do in this situation. Tucker, too. What do you think is happening to Danny? I already have it planned out in my head, but any suggestions are welcome:)
It is cold and wet where I am :D I am enjoying a Chai Latte :) Mmmm….
Nothing else to say…
Please review, favourite and/or follow! All feedback makes me smile :)
pale-blue11