Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom, Public Enemies, Charmed, or Maternal Instincts.
AN: This story contains rape and male sex. If this disturbs you, please do not read.
Chapter Seven: Tribulation
Things were really weird when Mom and Dad returned home. Mom was absolutely furious at Dad for not charging the bazooka and not only denied him a cookie, nearly took his fudge I gave him. Sam and Tucker were incredibly worried about me but I told them I was fine. I wanted to put all this behind me. However, the next morning came the biggest surprise.
I picked up my bowl of Apple Jacks and sat down at the table facing the TV in the kitchen. I flipped on the small appliance, and waited patiently for the six o'clock news to begin. Mom and Dad were still asleep and I think Jazz went back to Jessica's. Sam, Tucker, and his parents went home last night so I was the only one up.
"Good morning," the reporter came over the television, the dramatic music blaring. "It's Sunday, December 26, 2004. I'm Brett Turner and this is your local news. Morning crews are still cleaning up after an early morning accident on Highway 16. One motorist was treated for injuries on site while another was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. The State Police is investigating the cause of the accident. Reactions from around town to last week's shocking exposure. You'll hear from Mayor Montez himself, and only on WHOO. Now, on to Lance Thunder with your weather. Lance?"
I watched the entire program but nobody said anything about the mayor's 'kidnapping'. Even when the mayor himself came on the program, he never mentioned anything about an attack. When the program finally went off, I ran to the door to grab the paper. On the front was an image of my alter ego holding the mayor 'hostage.' What's going on here?
It was a trick and I wouldn't have minded them ignoring it but my name wasn't cleared. I was the prime suspect in all the attacks. I had become Public Ghost Enemy Number One! Normally, I wouldn't care about other's perceptions but this image would only harm my mission to protect my town. I won't ask for help but I certainly won't ask for more difficulties. Things were definitely changing, and not for the good, I was afraid.
I finished my cereal, washing my bowl out and exiting the kitchen. It wasn't yet seven o'clock so I couldn't call Tucker or Sam so I decided to go check out some other headlines. I left a note for my parents in case they woke up then went down to the newsstands. I enjoyed the brisk walk, feeling the bitter wind brush against my bear arms. I knew it was colder outside than the ghost in me replied. However, I was very tolerant of the weather now.
I got a few strange looks as I scanned the newsstands but I ignored the citizens dressed up like Eskimos. Every paper on the display completely ignored the incident with the mayor last night. I didn't even see Dad Number Two's paper, The Amity Park Angle, on display. However, after scanning a few I found the pile that is usually reserved for Dad's paper with another stack.
I walked up to the salesclerk, "Excuse me, had The Amity Park Angle not run this morning?"
The man was taken aback by my casual attitude with the weather but then he added, "No! They're not running this morning."
"Buddy," I said, my voice rising, "that paper is run by my best friend's dad! My house is a subscriber. He had an issue this morning. Now, display those papers or I will have Commissioner Sanchez down here for a violation of the constitution."
The man looked unfazed, probably not from this town originally. In fact, he may not be from the town at all. The newsstands were closer to Clearmont than they were to Amity Park. I picked up my cell phone and dialed the police station number by heart. After a moment, a voice came across the line: "Amity Park Police Department. This is Anne, how may I help you."
"Anne, it's Danny. Is Sanchez in yet," I asked the receptionist.
"Hello, Danny. What are you doing up so early the morning after Christmas," Anne asked me.
I chuckled, "Well, it's been a long week that's for sure but I really need to talk to him or the deputy in charge if he's not available."
"Of course," Anne replied. "Anything for you, Doll. Transfer."
"This is Captain Holliday, how may I help you," Norris answered. I chuckled, this guy is actually a ghost hunter.
"Norris, old boy, when did you get promoted to captain," I asked.
"Radar," Norris asked, surprised. "When the other yellow belly's ran off. There were a lot of positions available for those with the stomach to take it."
"And you've got the stomach of twelve men," I chuckled. "We've got an issue over here at the newsstands. Could you assist me?"
"Why not handle it yourself. You know you have more authority than any one of us on the force, Special Agent," Norris reminded me.
"Yeah, well I prefer to keep that part of my life private at home. I've got a bit of a subordinate reputation around here," I replied.
"Ha," Norris laughed out loud. "You could make Dash Baxter a fly and you the spider if you wanted to."
I laughed along with him, "You have no idea how right you are."
"Well, I'll come down and assist my superior officer," Norris let me know just how ridiculous it really was. However, I liked it this way.
"Yeah, well as your superior officer, I order you to do that," I chuckled back lightheartedly.
"We'll be right there, Radar. I'll send any patrols in the area your way," Norris answered.
"Thanks," I replied, then added, teasingly, "Captain Holliday."
"Always a pleasure, Special Agent Radar," Norris stated. I laughed; my nickname and my formal title contrast loudly.
"Goodbye, Norris," I ended our conversation.
"Goodbye, Radar," Norris also concluded, hanging up the receiver.
Within a few minutes, a cop showed up. At first, the cop was reluctant to listen to me, not quite sure if I knew what I was talking about. But I finally convinced him I knew what I was talking about and the policeman asked the vender to allow him to search his shop. When the vender refused, I knew what to do.
I pulled out my phone again and called another familiar number. But when this person answered, it was my office in Washington, DC (it was after seven there). I asked her to look up the director of news publishing and she paged me through. That number I didn't know so well but I knew Carrie would be able to find it for me easily. I thought having a secretary in D.C. was ridiculous but now it's paid off.
The director of publishing's answered her phone groggily but as soon as I let her know I was from Homeland Security, Division "G" she shaped up quickly. I asked her if she had jurisdiction over all newsstands and she said she did with probable cause. I gave her my permission to list probable cause as National Security and we received clearance to search the premises. When Norris arrived on scene, we had discovered boxes of the Amity Park Angle hidden away.
As Norris placed the vendor's hands behind his back, he replied, "You are an idiot for messing with that kid, man. If I wanted to experience what it's like to anger him, I'd just jump off a building and save myself the humiliation."
Time had quickly accelerated and now it was past eight. I headed home, this time taking invisibly to the skies. I landed at my house but my parents were waiting for me.
"Daniel James Fenton-Foley-Calloway," Mom called, angry. Oh boy, the three last names! I'm in trouble.
"Yes, ma'am," I asked innocently.
"I appreciate the note but next time you leave this house with no one awake, I will personally skin you alive and not wait for some ghost to do it for me," Mom overreacted.
"Oh, don't be ridiculous," I brushed it off. "I was fine. I just wanted to do a little investigating."
Mom heard the word and her mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario, "You didn't attempt to find any ghosts, did you?"
"No," I put her fears at ease. "It's the news that I'm investigating. Do you know that no one besides Dad's paper has reported the mayoral attack."
"Do what," Mom asked, in shock.
"Yeah," I answered. Dad was dazed on the couch, looking like he may just die right there from sleepiness. "Dad, why don't you go lay down. I'll keep Mom calm."
"I-I'm fine," Dad said, letting out a loud yawn, "son!" Yeah, right. He looked like he was about to fall asleep right there.
"Anyway," I returned about the news. "I turned on the news this morning and Channel 44 had an interview with Montez himself. He never once mentioned it. That's the reason I went to the newsstands. I wanted to check all the papers at one place. They hid Dad's paper!"
"And that's the reason you were so late returning," Mom got it loud and clear. "Anyone messes with that constitution and you're like a wolf on a rabbit."
"Something like that," I nodded my head up and down.
Mom looked at me for a long while, then she finally got the courage up, "Are you okay?"
I took a deep breath, trying to reduce the images flying through my head. "If I don't think about it I'm okay. With my hands busy, I could actually forget about it for a while but when I have idle hands, I tend to dwell on… my situation."
"I wish you'd tell me what is going on with you," Mom replied, fighting her own battle of the tears.
I glanced up to look her in the eyes, stating slowly, "So do I. If he'd let me just tell you guys and I promised not to fight… I'd jump for it. I need you guys…" I said. I was showing a vulnerable spot here.
"And you have us, sweetheart," Mom replied. "I just wish you'd forget this man's stupid rules and tell me what is going off with you. I'm scared."
"And that's the reason I won't ignore his rules. I've done it too many times before and every time I get hurt. I can't risk there never being a break. I can't risk him taking me from you guys," I answered as truthful as I could.
"He's threatening to kidnap you," Mom asked in shock and anger.
"He doesn't call it kidnapping," I answered slowly. I was so close. Just spill it. He's raping me! He owns me! Just say it. "To him, I have no life and I'm worthless."
Mom crossed the room to place a hand on my shoulder. I shivered again, "Danny, I want you to know that you are not worthless. You are a special little boy and you will always be the most important thing in my life."
I closed my eyes, tears streaking down my check. Mom wiped them away but her hand never stayed in contact for more than a few seconds. "I love you, Mom. Know that, no matter what happens."
"This is not goodbye," Mom said sternly. "He will not touch my cub and my cub won't hurt himself!"
"Just remember that, always," I said, wiping more tears away. "Remember me."
Mom began crying and she pulled me close. I was at my rope's end and I was ready to just cut it loose and see what happens from here, a thousand miles from the ground. I stood up, walking away from the living room and upstairs. I laid down on my bed, allowing the tears to soothe me to sleep.
I came screaming awake, sweat pouring off my forehead like buckets. I tried to breathe, telling myself it was only a nightmare but I knew better than that. It was real, but I had already lived it. Mom, Dad, Sam, Tuck, Mom Number Two and Dad Number Two were watching me worriedly. I sucked in air, trying to calm myself down but it did little to calm my erratic heartbeat. I pulled my knees up to my torso and held them there.
"Sweetheart," Mom Number Two asked me, worriedly.
"I'll be fine," I replied though it was a lie. I'd never be the same again.
"We're here," Dad answered. I nodded my head.
"Would you guys mind giving us a few minutes," Sam asked, quietly.
"It won't make any difference," I answered back. "It isn't about that, Sam. I can't answer no matter who it is."
"Then damnit, Danny, what is the problem," Tucker asked angrily.
"Do you think if I could answer that, I wouldn't have already," I screamed. I took another breath, trying to compose myself. "I can't tell anyone if I want to stay here."
"Do you honestly believe we'd let anyone get close to you," Sam asked, coming to sit on the end of my bed.
"I believe that you'd try to protect us all then all it'd get you is death," I answered truthfully. "If it were my life I'd be taking in my hands, I'd already spilled the beans. But it's not. He told me, 'it's not you I'll hurt it's your family and your friends.' I won't take that chance."
"And we won't allow you to get hurt," Tucker replied.
"Nothing can stop that except maybe killing me," I replied. Honestly, I wondered if that'd work. "If I defied him or denied him or disrespected him, he'd just kill all of you and take me away where my hell would never end. Would you want that for me?"
"It wouldn't get that bad," Mom replied.
"It's already that bad," I whispered. "I fought at first. I told him that I'd give him hell. It took him no more than a few hours to have me begging. Before, I'd defy him at every chance I got, now, I beg for mercy."
Mom Number Two's eyes welled up, "Please, just tell us."
I scooted off my bed, "I can't." I walked out of the room and downstairs. Once in the basement, I began training on the program. I could hear my family behind me, so I did nothing flashy. When I came upon the boxing regimen, I found peace in the ring. I hit that bag so hard that it split within 30 minutes.
I looked at the clock and it was almost lunchtime. I knew Sam and Tucker must be hungry so I went into the showers and got cleaned up. I exited, "Are you guys ready for lunch?"
"I guess," Sam replied. I knew she was worried.
"Then let's go," I remarked. "Oh, and Dad Number Two, good job on reporting the news the way it happened."
"That's what I'm here for," Dad Number Two replied, his jaw clenching.
"They asked you to take part in the cover-up, too, didn't they," I asked, seeing his change.
"Don't worry about that," Dad Number Two brushed it away. "Just focus on finding that inner strength."
"I know where it is," I replied. "He stole it." I walked off, heading in the direction of the Nasty Burger. Please, God, don't let me reveal too much and if I do, don't let them put the pieces together.
When we made it to the Nasty Burger, the entire place was packed. I couldn't believe how many were there. I thought it was full on the second day of the ghost invasion. This makes that look small. Patrons spilled out into the yard, even in late December. Sam, Tuck and I got our orders and found a seat, even though it was outside. Sam and Tucker wore heavy coats but I sat in just my normal clothes.
"Aren't you cold at all," Tucker asked me, avoiding his soda at all costs.
"No," I replied. "I lost all those things."
"I don't understand why you can't taste, smell or feel cold," Sam asked. I knew where this was going. It was more than just that.
"Don't worry about it," I said, taking a large drink of my coke. Tucker shivered, opting to take a big bite of his burger.
"That's what you keep saying but it's contradictive. What you are saying is something to worry about! Is this guy a ghost," Sam asked me. I looked at her through my eyelashes. It wouldn't hurt to give her that much.
"Yeah," I answered slowly. "It's a ghost I met alone. You don't know him."
"What is he doing to you," Tucker asked.
"Can't tell you that," I answered back, eating a fry.
"Just give us a glimpse. I've thought of every possible scenario and nothing pops into mind," Tucker asked me. It's better that way.
"Do you want to know what's happening to me and be powerless to stop it or do you want to support me but just go on a little faith," I asked.
"Neither," Sam retorted, "I want to find this bastard and kill him!"
"Well, that isn't an option," I replied, taking another drink.
"Dude, stop that," Tucker cried. I laughed.
"Tucker," Sam scolded. "Danny, please. Let us help."
I coughed, knowing if I continued this, it'd never end. "Well, I've been named public ghost enemy number one. No one recognizes the attack on the mayor, save Dad's paper, but I'm still responsible."
Sam pulled out of her spider backpack the paper from today. In the headline was the mayor and I but the image was from so far away it was almost impossible to read my surprised expression. The only thing visible was the body language: the mayor was pleading and I was rigid. It looked plausible.
"So even with everyone thinking you're a bad ghost, you're still going to play the hero," Sam asked me, beginning to read the article.
I glanced up, noticing Kwan wearing lunch. "Well, yeah. Someone has to. If not me, then who?"
Tucker groaned, watching the doofuses that were our 'leaders'. "Oh, man, if you thought it was hard to find a place to go ghost before!"
"Yeah," I trailed off. I got a glimpse of that at the first town meeting back on the twenty-first. "But it's not like I can ignore a cry for help," I said, going for another drink.
Suddenly, as if right on cue, a cry for help came to my ears. Sam and I turned around to see Mr. Lancer running for his life. Behind him, my parents chased after him screaming ghost. "Except maybe that one."
We three chuckled, knowing I wouldn't go anywhere near my parents in my ghost form. I stood up and chased after my parents. Finally, I caught up to Mom: "Check the scanners, Mom! He's not a ghost."
Mom looked at the scanners, "Jack! He's right!"
I groaned, why me? Why are my parents the most brilliant scientists but the dumbest parents at the same time? They can invent things that most call impossible or science fiction but to have an ounce of common sense between them is out of the question. But I love them!
I walked back to my friends, listening silently as Mom and Dad tried desperately to explain how sorry they were. I sat down, placing my head in my hands.
"Oh, cheer up, Danny," Sam smiled. "It won't be long before you'll be eighteen."
I laughed out bitterly, "Yeah. Well, I think I may never reach eighteen."
"Are you talking about," Tucker asked, trailing off.
"No," I said, lifting my head. "I mean the half ghost thing."
"Oh," Tucker said, pursing his lips together.
"Oh, yeah," I said, returning to my former position. "Let's not forget that doozie."
"Yeah," Sam remarked, quietly.
After a moment to calm my nerves, I spoke up, "So, you guys want to go back to my place and play some games… or maybe to Sam's."
"I don't really want to," Tucker groaned. "Sam can't play along."
"Well, anyone got any ideas," I asked. I wanted to hang with my friends and I didn't really care what I did as long as I was with them.
Sam stood up, bringing her into my focus, "Come on, we'll think of something."
When nighttime fell, Sam and Tucker went home and I had a piece of business to tend to. As soon as I was sure Mom, Dad or Jazz wouldn't come in my room, I transformed and flew to the mayors mansion. I made the motion of breathing, trying to calm myself down. Of course, it did nothing but remind me the mayor is going to freak when he sees me. I walked towards the door, focusing on pushing an object from this world. When my finger came into contact with the object, the doorbell rang.
I heard ruffling inside the home and soon the door opened. The mayor had on a housecoat and some house shoes. "This had better… eh," the mayor said, trailing off.
"Have a minute," I asked him, point blankly.
"Gh-," He began to cry out. I focused on touching something else from this realm, clasping my hand over his mouth to muffle his scream.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I said quickly. "I just want to talk."
"But you're evil," he declared. I rolled my eyes.
"And you're a public official. So you are, too," I retorted. "I'm not going to hurt you and when we're done I'll leave here like I was never here. Please, take a moment."
"What do you want," the mayor asked, suspicion in his eyes.
"What do you think I want," I demanded. "You haven't cleared the air here and people are beginning to blame me!"
"Hey, you attacked us first," the mayor retorted.
"That's not true and you know it! Someone else fired the first shot, you guys fired back and I just got shot! And I want to know why you haven't made a public announcement about being overshadowed!"
"What," the mayor asked.
I rolled my eyes, "Oh, for goodness sakes! Possessed. You probably don't even remember the attack. Why won't you say that I didn't start this?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," the mayor lied through his teeth.
I growled, "Look, I said I wouldn't hurt you but with my anger right now that is starting to look like a bad promise to make. Speak!"
"Don't make me call for backup," the mayor threatened.
"How long would it take you to get someone over here," I asked, my voice soft.
"A few minutes," the mayor said proudly. Not bad but I can beat you.
I pointed my hand at a glass way off in the kitchen, "Watch the birdie," I trilled, firing a shot. The glass blew up but nothing else. "Want to rethink that?"
The mayor's back went straight as a board with fear. "Look, my advisors have warned me that being… what'd you call it," he began.
"Overshadowed."
"Yes, overshadowed. Well, they say if I am known as one of these overshadowed people then it would look bad on my record. They told me that I wouldn't have their backing if I balked!"
"Wait a minute," I said, looking him in the eye, "The A-List said this?"
"No," the mayor retorted. I looked at him, which was honestly just one in confusion but he reacted badly. "I mean not the school club. Why would they have any impact on my election results?"
"Because they run this town," I stated, my voice frank.
"No children run an entire town," the mayor remarked dryly. "I run this town."
"Paulina Sanchez selected you to represent the A-List. Without them, you're going nowhere," I answered.
"Look, you're wrong. No bunch of kids run this town, I do. I need votes and the voters want a strong leader. If you take the fall, who cares? You're just a ghost!"
"Yeah, and the next time your ass is in the fire I may remember this. You may not believe it… hell, no one may believe it but I have been on this town's side for a long time. I will protect it for the rest of my…" I trailed off, trying to think of something a ghost would say here "afterlife! And the next time you find yourself in a sticky situation and something or someone saves you; remember that that someone is just a ghost!"
I turned intangible and blasted out of the mayor's home, the wind knocking him over. My anger took up most of my being, completely debilitating me. I turned invisible and began to fly at a slower pace. Once I was back to normal, well as normal as I have been lately, I returned home. My parents seemed none the wiser.
It was 11:55 pm on New Year's Eve, and my entire family was over at my house. Sam had escaped a Manson Family party and came to hang with us while us Fenton's and the Foley's were celebrating the new year. The past week had been turbulent but I had managed them, actually reducing the meltdowns to three a day. I had decreased the moodiness and the depression on the surface but inside I still felt trapped. I hadn't seen Vlad since he returned me home but every day that passed, it reminded me I was one more closer to seeing him again.
Sam brought me a glass of eggnog over, hers some kind of vegan style. Tucker was weary of drinking his even though he does it every year. Sam leaned in closer to my ear, "Hey, Danny. You wanna try something?"
I looked to her, thinking of all the possible scenarios: kissing her at the stroke of midnight, finding us below a stalk of mistletoe. A guy could dream, couldn't he? However, she pulled a small bottle from her pocket. "My parents keep dozens of them at my house and I go through one every once and a while. Do you wanna try?" Sam had a mini-bar bottle of Jack Daniels' whiskey. I nearly fell down I was so shocked.
"Sam," I said, surprised. "Of all the people I was cautious of, you were never one of them."
"It's only occasional. I don't even drink three a year," Sam replied. The bottle couldn't have been six ounces. Why not?
Sam opened the bottle and poured a few splashes inside mine then into her own cup. "What about Tucker?"
"He don't remember the first one he had," Sam giggled. "He can't hold his liquor!"
"Well, bottom's up," I said, holding my cup to the sky. As the clock struck midnight, I turned the cup up and downed it. I couldn't even taste it. Sam swayed, clearly shaken.
"Shoo," Sam said quietly. "That gets me all the time. What about you, Danny?"
"It must be another ghost immunity," I said, disappointed.
"Sorry," Sam whispered. The rest of the room was celebrating. I for one, felt like mourning. All this means is another hell of a year to go through.
"Here's to this one being better than the last quarter," I remarked drily. I finished my cup.
Sam looked at me for a long while, before turning her cup up and downing it as well. I went and took a seat, not in the mood for partying.
"Honey," Mom asked me, walking towards me. "Is something wrong?"
Nothing more than normal, I thought. "No, just not felling like there's much to celebrate."
"Well, the prospect of a new year is always worth celebrating," Mom remarked. I thought to myself, not with the luck that I have. The last four days have actually been nice and I know that with the New Year, it'll return to the same old, same old.
Before I would have liked, with Monday school returned. Dash had actually forgotten about the limo on the last day of school. Actually, I had too until I saw him today. I can't blame anyone for forgetting, though, with what all has happened in these past weeks. With the return of school, I knew that the ghost attacks would pick up. Casper High was also a popular hangout for ghosts during their 'lunch breaks.' The only difference would be now, the students would know what the monsters were.
The bell ringed, signaling the beginning of the day. Sam, Tucker and I walked together to our first period. Crowds were still buzzing with talk about the ghost attacks but I tried to ignore them. What I couldn't ignore were the smells. I resisted the urge to gag, the smells threatening to debilitate me. I didn't need this distraction. I was actually going to try to focus on working hard in school in the New Year. Vlad had definitely taken an interest in my studies so that means I should give him reasons to drop it.
I lead my friends into our first period class, taking my seat and dropping my book bag. A name was written on the board that I didn't recognize. As class-intermission came to a close, more and more students began to file into the room. I noticed that the four royalties, Dash, Paulina, Kwan, and Star were absent though I'd seen Dash in the hallway. Finally, the bell signaled the beginning of first period.
A tall but frail woman entered the classroom, her hair fashioned in an outdated style. She had large-rimmed glasses and she wore a dress that went well below her knees. "Good morning, class. My name is Mrs. Harold and I will be your teacher for the remainder of the semester."
I blinked, surprised. What had happened to Mr. Highman. He was our teacher for science. A few students began to chat in a startled manner and more smells assaulted my nose. I gasped and coughed a few times from the smell as the substitute raised her voice, "Students, let's all act as adults here. Mr. Highman has left due to personal reasons and I will be resuming his lessons. I will continue the same lesson plans that Mr. Highman mapped out but we must all remember to act appropriately."
I knew what she was talking about. Sam and Tucker looked at me worriedly so I sunk in my chair, completely devastated. The personal reasons she was referring to was the ghosts. He couldn't handle it. I had failed to keep them secret and now one of my favorite teachers had fled. I couldn't help but wonder, would this be a common occurrence?
The entire period was wrecked. No one wanted to listen to the new teacher and because Dash and his crew were nowhere to be found, there was no order. When the bell rang and ended first period, I was relieved. I exited the classroom, taking one glance back at the room where I had spent countless hours discussing the heavens and it's celestial bodies. Mr. Highman and I had a shared passion: space. Even before I was a high schooler, I spent hours in his room.
"Are you okay," Sam asked me, quietly. Everyone knew how much I admired and respected Mr. Highman.
"It's my fault," I spoke quietly. "I've failed everyone here."
"Don't be ridiculous," Sam remarked, continuing to walk beside me.
"Just think of it this way, D, you at least kept it at bay for four months," Tucker remarked, staring at his PDA.
"It was only three months," I corrected, walking in large strides from my frustration. "The ghosts didn't come out until September."
"Early September," Tucker remarked, lifting a finger from his gadget's side but not taking his eyes off it.
"Still, it's not the seventeenth yet," I reminded him. "So technically, it's only been three months."
"Which is still an achievement if you ask me," Sam replied, trying to keep up with my strides. Tucker had either not noticed or gave up trying because he had fallen behind.
"Well it's not to me," I remarked, my voice going high. "Ghost hunters have kept this silenced for over a hundred years. I can't keep it for three months!"
"Other ghost hunters weren't dealing with a steady flow of ghosts," Sam tried again.
I groaned out, "Yeah, and they also aren't half ghost. I should have an advantage!"
"You do," Sam cried out. "But you won't ask for any help. If we were…"
"Don't," I cut her off. "You two aren't becoming half ghost too!"
"Whoa," Tucker cried out. I heard loud clomping coming from behind until Tucker was beside me. "When we'd start talking about that?"
"Never," I retorted. "It isn't happening!"
"Well, you want to be better, don't you," Sam asked, as if she could talk me into destroying their futures.
"Yes, but it doesn't include turning you two," I replied, desperate for them to understand.
"Why not," Tucker asked.
"And how do you know," Sam cornered me.
"Oh, come on, guys. Believe me, it's not as glamorous as it seems. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance."
"Not this again," Sam groaned.
"Discussion over," I cut her off. I didn't want to hear how I should just accept what cards life had dealt me. I'd play them but that doesn't mean I'd return the four fucking jokers I'd been dealt for a house of aces in a heartbeat. Honestly, any hand would be better.
XXX
It was now third period, our math teacher still sticking it out with us. Mr. Fuluka was droning on and on about something that couldn't have been English when a chill came over me. I came fully awake, knowing what was about to happen. The ghost sense formed in my throat and I gasped as it was forced from my mouth. I guess I'm back on the clock.
I raised my hand, but Mr. Fuluka faced the other way and was caught up in his lesson. As the seconds passed, I knew we were closer and closer to a ghost attack. I looked around me, noticing how the other students were engaged in their own affairs. I gently lowered my hand as to not attract attention to myself. I looked to Sam and Tucker, one to each hand. Sam nodded, being the one I looked to first then Tucker nodded his understanding.
I came to my feet carefully, backing away from my desk that was located in the rear of the classroom. Once I was fully in the back, I turned invisible and fazed through the floor. I reemerged in the classroom next to my third period classroom, which was currently empty. I triggered my rings, instantly transforming into my ghost form.
I took to the air, and floated out of the classroom, passing through the door. I scanned the hallway, looking for whatever had triggered my sense so this could be over. If I was lucky, and that's a big if, I'd be able to slip back into the classroom without anyone noticing besides Sam and Tucker. I turned the corner, scanning the halls, when I felt the signature. The signature was small, so I almost decided to let it be. However, I knew that when I signed up for this I decided to deal with the powerful and the insignificant. It was probably Box Ghost again.
Chicken invaded my nose but this time, it wasn't pleasant. I tried to gasp but being in my ghost form, I had no air or lungs for that matter to gasp with. "Ghost," someone shrieked. I couldn't see them anywhere but it was definitely a girl. What was anyone doing in the hallway anyway? Well, I guess that explains the smell.
I heard footfalls, the girl must likely running, and then I heard her shrieks. An upperclassman came running around the corner and ran right through me. I lifted myself higher, slightly surprised by the intrusion. The girl screamed louder, now seeing me. I spun around, feeling the energy come within close range. My ghost sense went off again.
"Well, well, well," I heard a gruff voice chuckle. "Isn't it my favorite whelp?"
I gulped. "Skulker," I said, in shock.
"Surprised," Skulker stated mockingly. "I will have your pelt on my wall now, ghost boy!"
"Again, ew," I declared, powering up my ecto-energy. I heard the girl screaming louder, running for her life. The smell disappeared with her. We were alone now. I shot the beam.
My direct attack stunned Skulker and the beam slammed into the middle of his armor, throwing him backward. Tucker, where are you, I thought to myself. I powered up another blast and shot it at one of his cannons that armed itself. The cannon glowed green, absorbing the blast. Crap!
"Thank you, ghost child, for powering my cannon for me," Skulker said as a light flashed from the cannon. Before I could locate the blast, I was hurled backwards. Not wanting to leave the site, I focused on touching an object from this world, slamming into the lockers.
I grunted as I came to my feet and decided I shouldn't fire any blasts until I'm absolutely sure it was safe to do so. I flew straight at Skulker, hitting him like a rocket. Skulker turned intangible and slipped through my attack. I flipped over, landing on my feet and sought his energy out. I could feel it but it was so low that I had trouble following it. "Come on, Skulker, come out and face me like a man!"
I felt a blinding pain hit me from the side, throwing me through a wall. "I'm not a man, whelp, so I'm not bound by the same rules as one."
I floated back to the battle site, desperately searching the grounds for the metallic ghost. I was way in over my head here and if I didn't get some help soon, I just may turn into a bearskin rug. I shot a blast at a random signature but nothing happened. With all the leftover signatures from those who have passed on before and the unfinished business ghosts, it was difficult at times to determine if there was in fact a ghost there or just an echo.
"What's the matter, whelp, can't shoot what you can't see," Skulker teased me. I spun around, trying to at least determine what direction he was in. "Not so big now, are you," Skulker continued his taunting. He was going in circles, I determined! That's the reason there were so many signatures.
"So, what kind of men are there on your planet," I asked, focusing on where I was sensing the signatures. Maybe I could produce a pattern.
"Why do you care," Skulker asked me, moving to my left. I turned in that direction.
"I was just wondering if you had backbones or were all your species spineless cowards!"
"Most of us were spineless cowards," Skulker remarked. He was now in front of me. I turned to my right to throw him off.
"And you," I asked, waiting for his response.
A smile filled his voice with amusement. "I hunted things with less skill and brain development for sport, not food. What do you think," Skulker asked. I got it!
I blasted a powerful shot, the blast exploding in thin air. I heard Skulker cry out in surprise, the invisibility failing. "Now, you're not so big are you!" I began to rocket blasts at him, taking off his cannons first, then his arms. Finally, I put my hands together and shot his bucket head off.
I walked over to the disembodied head and kicked it to the side. Skulker's small form rolled out, his eyes going around his head in a daze. I pulled my thermos from my belt, sucking him inside. "You're going to be having a timeout for this." I smiled victorious. My first self-reliance-only defeat of Skulker!
I picked up Skulker's head and gently floated over to the rest of his body to collect it as well. Once I had his entire suit in my possession, I phased out of the school to deliver it to my house. I knew Tucker would want to learn as much as he could about the new suit. And if Vlad had furnished it, I knew I certainly would too.
Within five minutes, I returned to just outside my classroom. I powered down in the same classroom as I powered up in and stuck my head invisibly in the room. I noticed that the lesson was still going on. I floated into the classroom, still invisible, stopping at Sam. I whispered quietly into her ear: "Has he caught on?"
Stupid, I thought as Sam gasped in fear. I hadn't given her any warning before speaking to her and while she may be one of the bravest persons I've ever known, her friend's disembodied voice still causes her heart to race. Sam apologized for the disturbance while the others chuckled at her expense. However, it was me who paid the most.
"Oh, my," Mr. Fuluka cried out. "Where is Mr. Fenton?" I smacked my forehead, realizing I had screwed up a perfect escape. I hurried out of the classroom, my hopes of slipping back in dashed.
I wanted to just stay away for the rest of the period and go about my day as if I just harmlessly skipped. However, I knew I had to face my crimes and go back inside. I had returned to that camper when I escaped to eat. I could face my teacher who would do far less to me.
I took a shaky breath outside the door, and prepared to go back inside now that I was visible. Come on, Fenton, I thought, get a grip on yourself! He'll assign you detention or most severely call Mom and Dad but that's the most he'll do. Vlad caused you to have four sensations at the same time, two painful and two pleasuring. You can do this!
I gently opened the door and snuck inside the classroom. I gently closed the door, careful not to call attention to myself. I may already know I'm busted but I'm supposed to have no way of knowing this information. I sneaked along the back wall, approaching my desk closer and closer. As I was about to slide in my desk, I noticed Mr. Fuluka's eyes fall on me. "Nice of you to rejoin us, Mr. Fenton?"
I looked up, feeling the embarrassment shade my cheeks. I've spent my entire life wishing to just vanish when I'm in these kinds of situations but now that I could very easily disappear from everyone's views I'm even more confined to endure my humiliation. Why it is a common misconception that having the ability to disappear would solve all problems? It's only created problem areas in places I'd never have guessed.
"I'll see you after class, Mr. Fenton, yes," Mr. Fuluka asked me. I sat down in my seat, nodding my head. Mr. Fuluka turned back to the board and continued the lessons.
At the end of third period, I approached Mr. Fuluka's desk while Sam and Tucker remained in their seats. "Miss Manson, Mr. Foley, unless you want me to assume you aided Mr. Fenton in his escapade, then I'd suggest you to go about your day."
"Go on, guys. I'll catch up, soon," I told them.
"You sure," Tucker asked me, ignoring the teacher's threat.
"Yes," I said. "Don't get into trouble because of me."
"Let us worry about that," Sam answered, grabbing her backpack. "You don't let him push you around."
"Out," Mr. Fuluka ordered of Sam.
"Don't…" Sam began to retort angrily but Tucker covered her mouth.
"Danny's in enough trouble. Let's not add to that," Tucker remarked. Sam glared at him.
"Fine," Sam said, stepping outside. "But don't think I'll forget about this."
"Go on, guys," I told them. My two friends exited the classroom.
"Mr. Fenton, I have to say you associate with some unruly characters," Mr. Fuluka remarked.
"I don't question your friends, please don't question mine," I stated with my voice respectful.
"Anyway," Mr. Fuluka remarked, "I am truly disappointed in you, Mr. Fenton. You never displayed problems before."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Fuluka. I had something I needed to deal with," I told my teacher. "Can you just give me detention and let me go?"
"See, Mr. Fenton, the problem is detention isn't working. It's no longer a punishment to you," Mr. Fuluka remarked. "I believe I will be required to do something more productive."
I nodded, "Do what you need to."
"You are dismissed, Mr. Fenton. Please do not disrespect my classroom like that again," Mr. Fuluka remarked. I picked my bag up and walked out of the classroom.
"What happened," Tucker asked as he and Sam came up beside me when I entered the hallway.
"Apparently, detention isn't teaching me anything," I remarked, my voice sarcastic.
"What's he going to do," Sam asked.
I came to a stop at Tuck's locker and placed my belongings inside, "I don't know. He never told me." Tucker came up behind me and did the same. I handed Tucker his book for the next class.
Tucker and I now share a locker. When the Box Ghost destroyed my old locker and Mr. Lancer assigned me a new one on a completely different hallway (near Band Geeks, no less), Tuck offered to share his locker. So now, I have school supplies in Tuck's locker while I have extra ghost weapons in mine.
"And you're not curious," Sam asked as Tucker slammed his locker. We began walking to Sam's locker next.
"Of course I am but what can I do? Whatever this punishment is, it won't stop me from my 'inappropriate behavior'," I said, putting up air quotes. "I don't have a choice."
"We know that," Tucker said, picking up speed to line up with Sam and I. "But do the teachers?"
"It doesn't matter if they get that or not," I replied, coming to a standstill by Sam's locker. She began to exchange her belongings. "All that matters is I still get to do my job while trying to have some education. I can't live off of ghost hunting for the rest of my life."
Sam laughed out, deliberately, "Yeah, right. We make more from the United States Government than most people make and they've been working the system their whole lives!"
"That's true," I said quietly, "But I don't want to bankrupt our country!"
Sam slammed her locker shut and packed her books in her bag. She slipped the bag on her back and began walking to our next class. The subject didn't come back up because we all wondered what would happen in our next class. Either both Sam and Tucker forgot the reason I got into trouble or just figured it was nothing serious. Either way, I couldn't wait to tell them how I defeated Skulker on my own!
School ended at three-thirty like every day, Sam, Tucker and I walking home just like every day. However, when I made it home my parents were waiting for me. I dropped my bag behind the couch, mentally cringing at the conversation that would soon take place. Without being told, I sat down in the recliner beside the couch.
"Do you know what this is about," Mom asked me, the disappointment evident in her voice.
"I have a suspicion," I said, looking at my shoes.
"That doesn't sound like you, Danny," Mom said, her voice rising.
"I know," I said slowly, keeping my eyes downcast.
"Then why did you do it," Dad asked me next.
"I can't answer that," I replied quietly.
"Then what are we supposed to believe," Mom asked me immediately.
"I don't know," I replied, still in my weakened voice.
"Aren't you going to defend yourself at all," Dad asked me, surprised.
"Why should I," I said, my voice rising up but still a far cry from defensive. "No matter what I do, I can't satisfy you!"
"Sweetheart, we just want to know why we pulled your butt from the fire," Mom asked me.
I looked up at this, "What happened?"
"Mr. Fuluka was going to suspend you for insubordination," Mom answered.
"You've got to be kidding me," I cried out. "For sneaking out of the classroom because he wasn't looking.
"We told him that if he proceeded to seek that punishment, then we would take this to the teacher's union," Dad answered. "One look at your record and they would truly reconsider. But why would you sneak out of the classroom in the first place?"
My eyes immediately cast downwards again. I couldn't explain that to them. I heard Mom and Dad sigh.
"If you won't answer us, then our only choice is to ground you," Mom replied. I heaved a sigh. So be it.
"How long," I asked.
Mom and Dad released disappointed sighs as well, "One week." I stood up, going upstairs. I heard Mom reply to Dad, "I think Mr. Fuluka was right, though. The current punishments aren't working."
XXX
I snuck back into my window, ending Wednesday's night of patrolling. I still can't believe how many ghosts now decide it is perfectly fine to come and go as they please now that everyone knows about ghosts. My thermos was absolutely full and I was only on the streets from six 'til ten. Before Walker's invasion, I'd catch this in maybe a month, not four hours! However, I guess this is the new norm.
I placed my thermos on my dresser and undressed for bed. After I put my PJs on, I climbed in bed too tired to bathe. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.
XXX
I woke up, the sun shining brightly. I stretched, curious as to why my alarm hadn't gone off. I reached for my alarm clock but instead was met with a body. The body moved in its slumber, waking slightly. "Good morning, bitch."
I jumped out of bed, staring at Vlad in shock. I looked around my room but it wasn't anymore. I didn't know where I was. Vlad stood up from the bed, grabbing a robe from the bedpost. "Stay away from me," I demanded but it didn't deter him.
"You knew I would come for you one day," Vlad said, tying the ropes. "Last night was that day."
"You promised me if I obeyed you'd leave me," I screamed. Realization dawned on me as I had no desire to speak those words. Okay, I thought to myself, it's a dream.
"And you didn't obey me," Vlad remarked. I backed up against the corner, my breaths shaking my shoulders.
"I'm sorry that I ran," I stated, once again not having any clue as to why I'd say that. "I was fighting a ghost."
"And I come first," Vlad said, closing the gap. Vlad's lips came crashing down on my mouth. I tried to fight back, hating his kisses but I wouldn't do this in the future. Apparently, Vlad had visited me so much that I knew what to do and how to act. However, what surprised me most is I began to return the kiss. I could feel the unease in my stomach but I put full passion in the kiss.
I wrapped my arm around his neck, fully engaged in the kiss. I moaned as Vlad pulled at the corner of my mouth. Vlad's hands tightened around my waist as he pushed me against the wall. Mentally, I was having a fight with myself. I wanted Vlad but at the same time I didn't.
Vlad picked me up and carried me over to the bed. I broke the kiss for a moment. "Are you going to go Plasmius," I asked.
"No," Vlad replied, looking into my eyes. I felt my shoulders relax. As Vlad laid me on the bed, I untied his robe and pushed it over his shoulders. The robe slipped to the ground, Vlad standing completely naked. My eyes traced his hard body, relishing in his beauty(?) and desiring his body. Vlad came down upon me and began to remove my PJs. I turned intangible before he finished, the purple fabric slipping through my skin.
I pulled Vlad in, me kissing him this time. Inside, I was trying to suppress the desire I had. It wasn't me, not really. My future-self desired Vlad but I experienced it as I dreamed it. Vlad came on top of me but his weight didn't crush me. I reached my body up until we were kissing uninterrupted again. Vlad slipped his hand behind my back to hold me so I wouldn't strain.
I love you, Vlad thought. You know that. I was still hearing my voice but apparently it didn't affect me.
And I love you, I returned in my mind. But I love my family too.
But you're choosing them over me, Vlad said, heartbroken.
I told you that I'd always choose you but you also know that if we tell Mom and Dad about us they'll forbid me from seeing you, I tried to tell him.
They'll never find us here, Vlad insisted.
You know that's not the truth, I replied. We were talking but at the same time we were playing around. Ever since I screwed up and told them I was… raped… they've been on high alert. I said the word rape slowly, as if I was afraid to say the word. If I could, I would have never told them.
If I could, I would have never hurt you, Vlad said, my voice shameful.
I reached up with my hand and traced his cheek as we kissed. You weren't yourself. You loved me even then… you just done what you had to. I told you to forgive yourself, honey, so do it. For us.
I try, Vlad answered. He broke the kiss, laying down beside me on the bed. "It's hard, though."
I sat up on the bed, pushing myself against his body. "I know that it's hard to forgive yourself but if you don't, you're going to never experience life the way it's supposed to be experienced."
"I don't deserve you," Vlad said, him now rubbing my cheek. I kissed him passionately.
"I believe you do," I said after the kiss. "I believe we deserve each other. We'll never be complete without the other. We're soul mates."
"I'm going to mess it up," Vlad said, his voice still ashamed.
"Only if you keep focusing on the past," I replied, laying my head on his chest. "You've screwed up before but there's nothing you can do about it. Focus on your future and be determined to make it for the best."
"Go better," Vlad said, his voice displaying humor.
I laughed, finding the humor, "Yes, go better."
Vlad laid his head on mine, holding me close. I snuggled into his chest, enjoying the silence. Inside, I desired his body but I took comfort in this substitute. I had other intentions but I enjoy the cuddling sometimes more.
After a long time, I watched the sun start to sink into the horizon. Vlad kissed my head suddenly, pushing me into a sitting position. I pulled myself up and turned to look at him. Vlad started to get dressed.
"Hurry up and put your pajamas on, Daniel," Vlad addressed me.
"Where are we going, honey," I asked him.
"I'm not going anywhere. You're going home," Vlad told me.
"Are you sure," I asked him. Excitement and depression filled me at the same time.
"Yeah," Vlad answered, buttoning his suit. My future-self wondered why he was dressing if I was the only one going. I wondered how I was going to go anywhere without Vlad.
After I dressed, I walked over to Vlad and he pulled me into a kiss. After he broke the kiss, he phased me through the floor into a lab of some kind. "I'll see you later," I told him as I triggered my rings. I stepped through a portal and flew into the Ghost Zone.
I floated out of the Ghost Zone and into my house where I phased through the ceiling to the front door. I powered down and opened the door, walking in. I saw Mom, Dad, Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Mom Number Two, Dad Number Two, Samuels, and a few officers. I coughed lightly.
"Danny," my family shouted excitedly while Samuels and the officers shouted my nickname.
"Hey," I said with my lips turned up in a small smile. "He just freaked, that's all."
"That's it," Mom declared. "You are to tell me who this bastard is!"
"That bastard is my boyfriend," I defended. "I told you I forgave him for what he done."
"Well we haven't," Sam retorted.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't leave and be with him," I said, looking at my family and friends.
"Because we haven't hurt you," Tucker returned.
"Come on," I said, my voice rising. "Every one of us here has hurt someone else and regrets it. Sometimes, it's each other! He made a mistake and he knows it. I've forgiven him. Case closed."
"Danny, I know that's the way you think you feel," Jazz began. My future-self grew angry, citing her psychoanalyst.
"No," I retorted. "That's the way I feel. He doesn't hurt me anymore. He even let me go although all he wanted to do was protect us."
"Then why don't he tell us who he is," Sam asked critically.
"So we'll forever be criticized," I asked. "Would you?"
"I've decided to do so now," I heard Vlad's voice. I spun around, horrified.
"Vlad," I asked, trying to sound surprised for a reason other than the reason I was.
"It's time I stood up for our love, Daniel. I love you and I'm willing to fight for you but the right way," Vlad said, stepping close to me. He turned to the direction of my family and those from Homeland Security, Division G. "I was originally Danny's rapist but now I'm his boyfriend."
My future-self stared in horror as Vlad confessed to my family. Suddenly, my instincts kicked in as I stepped in front of Vlad just as Mom stood up, hurt and anger on her face.
"We trusted you," Mom said, as I cut her off. "Daniel, step aside!"
"No," I returned, putting my hands up. "Vlad, you know what I said," I said desperately. "It's going to come true now!"
Great, I thought to myself. I'm dreaming the result of a failed dream. I hate my life.
"If I can't have you the way it's supposed to be, then maybe it isn't meant to be," Vlad answered me. He then looked at my parents, "I'd hope that our friendship would be strong enough for you to realize what I'm saying is genuine."
"We have no friendship anymore," Dad retorted coldly. "You lost that when you hurt my son!"
"Dad, please, he didn't mean to," I said, still defending Vlad but frantic for this to end.
"The hell he didn't," Sam screamed out. "I should have seen the signs that it was him."
"The rape was over before you guys even met him for the first time," I cried out desperately. I choked over the word rape but I forced myself to stay together.
Vlad's hand lay upon mine, my eyes searching for him. "It's all right, Daniel. I'm a big boy."
"No, you're a man. He's a boy," Samuels declared.
"Samuels, please, you don't know what's been happening these last few months. None of you do," I said, my eyes pleading.
With my eyes on Samuels, I didn't notice Mom make her move. I felt an arm on my shoulder and a jerk. Mom broke a capsule with her thumb and placed it under my nose while I saw Dad pull out a thermos. I didn't fear that they'd discovered our secrets but that Vlad would hurt himself because he was claustrophobic. I restlessly fell unconscious.
XXX
I shot up in bed, my heart pounding alive as it always did with my dreams. I breathed hard, still feeling the hatred for my family and the fear for Vlad that I felt in my dream. I pulled my knees to my chest, absorbing the dream. I tried to calm my breathing but with my vitals returning to life and the dream still in my memory, I couldn't do it. There was a lot of things that my dream told me.
One, Vlad would return. No doubt about that, and there was hardly a doubt before the dream, but now it was official. The dream was crystal clear which meant that it was a real possibility. But not only would Vlad return, I'd fall in love with him. That part scared me.
There was little doubt there, too; though this time I had no clue before the dream. I would be so devoted to Vlad that I would choose him over my family and in fact when pressured to do so at the end of the dream, I was beginning to do just that. I was angry with my family for disproving of Vlad. I was about to expose our secrets but was afraid of the consequences.
However, one thing I don't know is why I kept referencing an us. One would be first to presume that I meant Vlad and I but I didn't. I'm not sure what I was referencing but it meant a lot to me. I finally felt my heart return to the usual 120-180 bpm and my breathing return to normal.
I laid my head down on the pillow but I was scared to return to sleep. I looked at my clock and it read a quarter 'til 5. If I started to have another dream, I'd be late to school. I stood up, placing my feet on the ground. I'd go take a bath for the remainder of my time.
After thirty minutes in the tub, my mind still wouldn't rest. I have always been terrified of Vlad returning but I'm learning that I'm more scared of falling in love with him. The way I kissed him and the way I secretly wanted him disgusted me. I never want to feel that.
It made me think back to the dream I had at Vlad's with my siding with him. How I had turned my back on my family and even killed or hurt them because Vlad told me to. I still believe I can never give up but isn't falling in love with him just as dangerous? I was going to side with Vlad there in that living room when Mom and Dad turned on their former friend. Even that would be bad.
My eyes fell upon Dad's razor on the tub side. I fought the thought that came to my mind. I couldn't possibly… and what about my family? What would my town do without me? What would they do with that side of you, a part of me asked? I had destroyed part of the town, killed Tucker, raped Sam, killed Jazz and did nothing while Vlad killed Dad and raped Mom. Would the town be better off with that side of me?
I shook my head, trying to reason with myself. It was only a dream. I woke up the minute that Vlad began the next step. That means that it wasn't a pathetic dream… just a regular pathetic dream. It was only my worst fears presenting themselves.
The same way your overactive imagination continued the fight with Vlad in the castle that night and told you he raped you, that voice returned. I felt a lump in my throat as I began to realize what I needed to do. I picked up the razor and removed the blade. I wouldn't hesitate. I wouldn't drag this out any further. I held my hand out and placed the razor to my skin.
I held my hand steady, ready to finish it. I fought the urge to close my eyes, knowing I was doing this with my family and my town's sakes in mind. I would be dying for them. It wouldn't be a waste. I'd be saving them by stopping myself.
I took one last breath and pulled the blade to me. I felt the skin break and the blade travel the length of my wrist. The system failure of my arm sent a rush to my head, a sensation I haven't felt in a while. Pain rushed through my body, causing every sensor on my body to react. However, the gush of blood only lasted less than a second.
I looked down at my wrist in wonder, the shock of the pain not allowing me to think clearly. My wrist was fine. The sensors began to shut down, the pain now gone. The water wasn't even tinted red. As the shock faded, I could once again think clearly. I placed the razor back to the top of my wrist and pulled again.
This time I saw it. The pain instantly filled my sensors, the shock kicking in. As the blade cut a new cell, a new patch of skin, the old one healed. When I reached the end of my wrist, the skin healed completely but I still felt the pain. A small pool of blood formed at the sight but it slipped into the water unnoticed. As the pain faded, so did the shock.
I pulled it again, the blade cutting but my wound healing. It only lasted a manner of seconds, and the blood loss was insignificant. I decided to try it the other way and cut vertically. The results were the same. I brought the blade up to my sight, seeing the small trickle of blood on the steel.
I couldn't even commit suicide. Even though I wanted to die, I still couldn't. I was stuck here. If I did fall in love with Vlad, then there would be nothing I could do to stop myself from siding with him. But perhaps the most devastating was the fact that there was no escape.
It was like my powers were a prison. It would be too easy to just leave this world. I had to suffer through what I got myself into. This was my punishment for cheating death. I had done it so many times before, now Death was punishing me by making me really want it this time but be unable to get satisfaction. My life will forever be hell.
I heard a knock come to the door and a sleepy voice ask me, "Danny, are you in there?"
"Y-Yeah," I replied, my voice breaking. "I'll be out in a moment, Dad."
"Take your time. I just noticed you weren't in your room," Dad said. I heard his footfalls going away from me.
XXX
All day Wednesday and Thursday I wasn't myself. Even simple things were difficult to do. The last I saw Beth, I had decided to send her some money so I asked for her address. With a moment to do so, I sent the check to aid her, hoping she'd leave Vlad. However, just to write the check and mail it proved difficult. I really wasn't myself Wednesday and all day at school Thursday, I was distracted. I knew something had to be done but I didn't know what to do. On the way home from school Thursday, I decided on what to do. Friday I was more optimistic, although I probably shouldn't have been. Walking home, I decided to end my months long silence.
"Guys, we've got to do some things this weekend. Have you got any plans," I asked, my stomach in knots.
"Yeah," Sam answered. I felt my face fall. "Do whatever you've got planned." Tucker started laughing.
"It's not funny, Tucker," I stated, aggravated.
"Actually," Sam answered. "I'm on his side."
I stared at Sam in shock and so did Tucker. Suddenly, Tucker got this arrogant look on his face. "See, I was right."
"Don't get too cocky," Sam shot back. "I'm just saying that your face was priceless there, Danny. As if we could do anything else when you need us? What kind of friends do you think we are?"
"It's not the kind of friend you are," I said, "It's the kind of friend I am. I constantly disrupt your lives or ask you to ignore your needs. I should be ashamed!"
"Well, I'm glad that you're not," Sam answered. I never said that. "We're in this together, Danny. And as soon as we catch you with your back turned, we'll really be in this together." I didn't need to wonder what she meant by that.
"I'll never allow you to turn yourselves half ghost," I said simply. I didn't feel like getting in another argument.
"Good thing we'll never ask for your permission," Tucker answered back, his response simple as well.
I cleared my throat, "Okay, back to what I was saying. Do you guys remember when I told you about the ghost I met in Wisconsin?"
"The one you told us tried to kill your dad," Sam asked.
"Yes," I answered, my voice level as I fought back the suffocating fear. "Well, his name is Plasmius and he's more powerful than me."
Sam and Tucker's eyes widened at this. "You said you had no problem defeating him," Tucker declared, shock in his green eyes.
"No," I corrected his memory, "I said that I beat him simply. I didn't mean easily, I meant in a non-complex way."
"How were we to know that's what you meant," Sam asked, angry.
"Actually," I said, my voice low, "It was meant to throw you off. That's how I remember how I worded it."
"Danny, don't you believe we deserve to know there's someone out there more powerful than you," Tucker asked me.
I took a shaky breath, "I didn't think he'd come back. When I met him, he wanted to kill Dad and marry Mom. But when he found out about my powers, he also wanted to make me his apprentice."
"How did you beat him," Sam asked me.
"I forced him into a truce," I answered, my voice still low. "I threatened to expose us both unless he agreed to leave my family alone. He agreed but he found a way around the truce. He went after me instead of my family," I started but was cut off.
"How could you expose him as a ghost? Didn't your parents already know," Sam asked me.
"No," I spoke softly. Moment of truth. "He's like me."
"What," both of them screamed at me.
"But he came after me but left my family alone. The truce is still in effect but I'm still in trouble," I replied. Of course, I couldn't let them in on the full scene.
"He broke the truce, Danny," Sam replied, her voice urgent. "Expose him!"
"How," I asked her. "If I expose him, he'll expose me! With me being public ghost enemy number one, Mom and Dad will dissect me or worse. I'll lose anyway."
"Mom and Dad will understand," Tucker answered.
"You guys didn't see their faces," I said, my voice leveling out again. "They hated Phantom. They'd kill him in a heartbeat, even if it meant killing their own son."
Tucker opened his mouth to object but Sam interrupted him, "What have you got in mind?"
"Well," I said, getting back on track. "The reason Plasmius is so powerful is because he's had all this time to train. If I could actually spend time training, I might be able to hold my own instead of getting wiped the floor with."
Sam broke out in a smile, "I thought that you'd never ask."
We went to the lab and I explained to them about the duplicate process. Sam believed that it might be able to trigger it by wanting to be in two different places at the same time, kind of how Prue developed Astral Projection on Charmed. I tried it with disastrous results but it did prove that I could one day obtain it… just not today. However, something I never expected happened.
I heard Mom cry my name happily, as she ran down the stairs. I narrowly missed an otherwise uncomfortable conversation with the help of Tucker but Mom ruined all hopes of having a weekend with no homework, no family and no interruptions. She wanted us to attend some kind of mother-son science symposium, just the two of us that way Jazz and Dad could have some time to spend together as well. As much as I didn't want to, I couldn't just say no.
Therefore, before the evening was up, we were on the way to the airport. I was so angry because Mom has no idea how hard it was for me to get the courage up to tell Sam and Tucker about Vlad. Then there was the fact I was spending an entire weekend with the woman who wanted to kill my other half and dissect me for scientific purposes. That does tend to create tension on an otherwise close relationship.
We boarded the plane at the airport and were approached by a member of the staff. I stared at her for a while, but I shook the feeling that I knew her. Of course I didn't know her, she worked for this DALV group. The woman asked for all phone's and communication devices.
"Why," I asked, suspicious.
"Our objective is to unite mothers and sons through the power of science, not just technology. We feel that the bond will be tighter without the extra burden of those objects," she answered. I growled but handed the woman my phone. Thank goodness, I decided to leave my one-eight-hundred Phantom phone at home.
Mom also handed her communication devices over and the woman departed the plane. I wondered what she would do with them until we were through with this stupid thing. Soon, though, we were taking off in the direction of Florida.
Once again, I was on my way to Florida but I truly hoped this trip would be slightly better than the last one. It's not to say that the last trip was terrible because it really wasn't. I only spent two nights with Vlad while I was there, the rest of the time I spent with Grandpa. I really need to call him when I get back. Only problem is, I don't have his number.
A couple of hours later, Mom ended her silence. "A private plane ride to and from the convention," Mom declared, her voice exuberant. "What do you think about that, Danny?"
"Do you want the truth or one of those little white lies that makes you feel better," I asked her, my arms crossed against my chest.
Mom sighed disappointedly, "Just forget it, Danny and look at that warm, sunny Florida coastline."
I looked outside the window but found tall mountain ranges instead. "What the," I asked, alarmed. Mom glanced out the window as well.
As if on cue, an announcement came across the loudspeakers: "This is your captain speaking. If you'll take a look to your right, you'll see the cold, bleak Colorado Rockies," the man stated in a tour guide voice.
"The Rockies," I asked, startled even more. The timeline fit but what were we doing here. "That's nowhere near Florida, what gives?"
"And if you look to your left, you'll see me; bailing out of the plane before it careens," he said, chuckling cruelly, "and crashes!"
I was the first to the window on the opposite side but Mom wasn't far behind. Sure enough, the man was parachuting out of the plane. We had to get to the cockpit. As I was going over our options, I actually gave Mom the opportunity to reach the cockpit before I did. Mom sat down in the pilot's seat but I knew it wouldn't work. Whoever done this didn't want us to come out alive.
"The controls are jammed," Mom spoke aloud, unintentionally, I'm sure. How do we get out of this, I heard in my head.
I know one way, I thought to myself. I ducked low to the ground and triggered the rings. I didn't know if I'd get out of this or if she'd kill me for attacking her and Dad last week but I knew I couldn't just let her die. I loved her too much to let her down. I stood up, now in my Phantom form, and placed a hand on her back. Instantly, a painful shock shot through my body, draining me of my energy.
The rings formed and I powered down. Mom turned around and seeing me hurt, she rushed to my side. "Danny," Mom cried worriedly as she placed a hand on my forehead. As soon as her hand touched me I felt a part of me being choked.
"I'm fine," I called, swatting her hand away.
"Danny," Mom said again, this time hopeful. "Parachutes!"
I turned around to see two parachutes, one with my name and the other with Mom's. I now know this is a plot, but from who?
We bailed out of the plane and pulled our chutes. As we fell gracefully to the earth, I heard something below me. I looked down to see the pilot. "You've been the recipients' of a cruel hoax," the pilot called cheerfully, as if we were on a game show and our lives weren't in danger. "Thank you for flying Air Evil Plot!"
I crossed my arms as I saw him float towards the plane. He was a damn ghost! "Oh, Danny, don't be so glum! Look at the view!"
I don't believe she even pieced it together!
XXX
I really regret giving that woman my cell phone now. Mom cut through a bushel of undergrowth with a machete. She had one actually tucked away in that suit of hers! I groaned again, knowing we were stuck here and there was no way Dad could know where we were.
Mom cut down another thicket revealing a cleaned path. I looked up in amazement, a large home sitting in the background. "Hey, maybe they have a phone we could use here," Mom declared. I wasn't so sure. Whoever owns this place is going on my suspect list.
I heard a beeping sound and I turned to see a two-seater cart pull up. "Maddie and Danny Fenton," the voice declared in mocked surprise. I'd know that voice anywhere.
"Vlad Masters," Mom cried out completely surprised while I done so with a much less friendly attitude.
"Oh, what an amazing, unexpected and unplanned for surprise," Vlad said, his eyes squinting as if he wanted to scream at Mom 'I did it.' Nope, he's just showing off: "Personalized gift baskets?"
Mom totally took the bait, jumping in the cart and taking the baskets from Vlad's hands. I narrowed my eyes, you're up to something!
Oh, you think, Vlad returned to me telepathically. I shivered as I once again heard my voice in that cold and uncaring tone.
I stepped out of the woods and once again onto his property but only because Mom was there. If I had my way, I'd be as far away from that man as possible. I saw Vlad lift his wrist and speak into his controller. I knew exactly what he said but Mom didn't quite catch it or thought she heard wrong. Vlad balked.
"I said… flap jacks. Yes, flap jacks. I made pancakes!"
Apparently, it sounded plausible to Mom. I'd do anything to get her away from him and get us out of these woods but I knew we were stuck here… maybe forever.
AN: Chapter Companions are available at fan fiction dot net slash my forums slash Team 04 Phantom slash 3876657. Thank you for the reviews! I was starting to believe I was talking to myself out there. I can't begin to tell you how warm I feel to know someone out there is reading. Please keep it up. I'll take any kind of criticism.
Until next time,
Team04Phantom