Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom, Maternal Instincts, Lucky In Love or Million Dollar Ghost.
AN: This story contains rape and male sex.
Chapter Eight: Broken
Mom settled in beautifully at his home but I was on edge. I sat down, uncomfortable, in one of his chairs. I looked around the room, pelts of every animal known to man decorating the walls. I didn't know Vlad was into taxidermy. I looked to the floor and a bear's head stared up at me. I gasped and scooted to the back of the chair, imagining myself pictured like that. That is what Skulker wanted to do with me.
Of course! Skulker was probably the one who stuffed all these animals. It didn't matter, though. I had to find a way out of here. I looked to Vlad, his refection staring at me. I wondered if he was reading my thoughts, moms…, or both. However, I noticed something written on his clothing. DAVL—Vlad, spelled backwards! I knew it was him for a while but the fact the name slipped past me was humiliating… and the girl. I knew I recognized her. She was one of Vlad's stewardesses.
"So, tell me what brings you to these parts," Vlad asked us, as if he didn't already know.
"You'll never believe it," Mom said. Oh, he'd believe it. "We were on our way to the symposium when our pilot forced us out of the plane. Luckily, it was right over your house!"
I decided to make my move, "Yeah. It was like some kind of villainous plot. What a well-planned coincidence," I added, narrowing my eyes at Vlad. Now he's broken the truce!
"That would be an oxymoron, my dear boy," Vlad pointed out, raising his finger. "Oh, and speaking of morons, how's your old man?"
I felt my eyes glow from my anger. If anyone's the moron, it's him!
"Ooh, the scary eyes," Vlad taunted. Suddenly, Vlad's eye's shot a beam in my direction and I barely dodged out of the way. I landed in the floor with a heap. Vlad went towards my mom. "Maddie, I'm so glad you're here," Vlad began talking to her in that suave voice he's perfected. "It gives me a chance to apologize for Jack's behavior at our college reunion."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Dad overtaken by some putrid ghost," I said. I accidently put in the word putrid but I decided to take it further now that I've stepped in it. "Some fifthly, lonely, single, putrid ghost."
Vlad sent another beam my way, knocking me into a wall. My foot was actually lodged in the drywall.
"Well, if he hadn't been so weak perhaps that wouldn't have ever happened," Vlad said, remaining in character.
"Now, Vlad," I heard Mom say. Come on, Mom, let him know you don't buy this. "Jack may be a bumbler, but he means well."
"I know, Maddie, and I've forgiven him for many things," Vlad began. Now what? "The accident that ruined my life, stealing you, the backwash incident!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up. What did you say," Mom asked, blindsided. I smiled mischievously then returned to trying to remove my foot.
"Causing the accident that ruined my life," Vlad said, trying to make her forget his slip-up.
"No, after that," Mom said, kind but stern.
"The backwash incident," Vlad tried again.
Mom wasn't so kind this time, "No! In the middle!"
"Stealing you," Vlad said, almost as a question. Then he decided to stick to it because, he, who could turn him down? "Oh, Maddie, you could always see right through me." Yeah, because you've always been shallow. Vlad fell to one knee, "I'm just going to come right out with it: please dump Jack and stay with me; you and Danny both can! What do you say?"
I pulled my leg out of the wall and glared at him. If he believes I'm going to allow that…
"Danny, honey," Mom said, cutting my thoughts short. "Close your ears. What Mommy's about to say isn't for tender ears."
I gladly complied, knowing she was about to tell Vlad off big time. However, in my own voice I heard the following: "Vlad Masters, I loved your mother, but you son of a bitch! How dare you ask me such a thing, God Damnit? I am happily married with Jack and I have more than one child, you know! I love Jack and I will always choose him when it comes to whom I want to spend the rest of my life with, you bastard. I don't know why you think Jack ever stole me from you but, damnit, I was never for the taking. I'm going to take my son and go now and I don't ever want to fucking see you again, is that clear? You leave my family alone or I'll show you what I can do!"
Mom walked over to me, I barely able to hold a straight face and pretend I didn't just hear every word. Mom grabbed my wrist that was plugging my left ear and pulled me towards the door. I tugged my arm inconspicuously away from her hand before the choking sensation could ruin my moment of glory.
"Oh, you done," I asked, happily. I couldn't stop from smiling.
"Let's go, Danny," Mom said, her anger largely there. We walked out of the cottage, Mom actually stomping.
"Bye, Vlad. And as a lonely, single man in your forties might I suggest internet dating… or a cat!"
"Mark my words, Maddie, no one says no to Vlad Masters. You will rue the day you spurred my affection. … and I will not get a cat!"
This is the greatest day of my life!
XXX
Mom stomped in the dark woods for hours. It was completely black out and I could see clearly but I knew Mom couldn't. I think she was just too angry that she didn't care. I don't believe I have ever heard Mom use that many cuss words in my life. She sounded more like Mom Number Two than whom she normally is.
Mom finally stopped walking and began to set up camp. I started a fire, actually using my ecto-energy without Mom knowing. Mom came over and sat down against the log beside me. She pulled out something from her suit: "Fenton-jerky," Mom asked me, holding it up. I wasn't that hungry.
"Pass," I said, my mood changing. I may have had my fun but Vlad wouldn't let this slide.
Mom sighed, disappointedly. "Danny, I know this weekend isn't turning out like I'd planned but we're spending it together and that just means the world to me," Mom said. Trust me, it did to me too. But she placed her hand on my hand, causing me to choke.
I shook her hand away from mine, resisting the urge to gasp for breath. I used the technique Vlad taught me so I wouldn't come back gasping for air. "Please, stop touching me," I cried out, much too harsh than I had planned. Mom sighed again and I felt like crap.
I didn't want to hurt her anymore, so I stood up, "Listen, I'm going to sleep over here, all right."
Mom seemed to accept that, "All right," she said. "Goodnight."
I mumbled. "Goodnight," I said as I lay down in my sleeping bag. For some reason, Mom sighed again. As soon as I destroy that belt, I need to spend some time with her.
The fire died down and I was drifting off to sleep when I heard something crunching. I opened my eyes to see an immensely hairy brown leg in front of my eyes. I couldn't help it, "Either Mom really needs to shave her legs or this is really bad news." I knew it was the latter.
I struggled with the six-armed bear but come on it did have six arms. One set wrapped around my legs holding me in place, one set wrapped around my mouth so I couldn't scream for Mom and the other set wrapped constrictively around my waist. I tried wrestling with the thing but nothing seemed to work. If I tried to turn intangible, it would shake me until I lost my bearings. I couldn't strong-arm it; I was stuck.
The beast carried me across the forest in record-breaking time, slamming me into the chair I had sit in earlier. I prepared myself, both for a fight and for the losing of said fight. I knew Vlad would rape me again and I tried to tell myself I was okay with that. It wasn't working but I did manage to keep my breathing under control.
Animal beasts surrounded me on all sides and I stared at them in shock. The sea of animals parted and I saw Plasmius floating at the helm. I forced myself to breathe one last time as I leapt to the floor, transforming into my ghost form. What would un-scared Danny Phantom do now?
"Nice petting zoo, Plasmius!"
Vlad floated casually up to me, one hand behind his back like normal. "Ah, there's that teen wit again," he said. Suddenly, this sharp and penetrating pain shot through my body, every inch of me shooting with pain. I screamed out, not quite raped pain but more than an average attack.
I noticed Vlad's hand was now out from behind his back and he had in it a pronged device.
"Wh-what was that," I asked, in shock. My heart rate slowed so tremendously, that I thought for a second I was dying. Wait a minute, heartbeat? I glanced to my arms and sure enough the pink flesh peeked back at me.
"Oh," Vlad said, casually, "I call it the Plasmius Maxmius. It has just short circuited your powers for three hours—that's midnight. I tell you this because I checked your grades like I said I would and I know you're bad at math. Now I won't have to spend so much effort in keeping you contained."
My powers… gone? I backed away from Vlad, fearfully. Without my powers, how would I heal? The ghost animals all phased out of the room, apparently their duties preformed. Vlad floated over to me, the smile playing on his lips making me want to hurl. Vlad grabbed me by the arm.
"No," I said, fighting him.
XXX
Vlad floated down the hall with me in tow. I fought as hard as I could but I was absolutely no match for him without my powers. Vlad tossed me in a bedroom and I hit the floor hard. I groaned in pain but forced myself to my feet. It was hard to focus on the pain I felt now knowing what was to come… or better put, not knowing what was to come. "I'm going to give you five minutes after you're undressed to prepare," Vlad said. "Use it wisely."
Vlad floated away and I ran to the door. An instant shock greeted me and I screamed in pain. I tried the window but I was met with the same result. I willed my intangibility to sink in but nothing happened. I sucked in air, trying to calm myself but my heart just barely raced 120 bpm. I was normal again and now I'd kill to be half ghost.
Why does Vlad have the ability to make me wish something away then beg for it right back? For the past week, I've wished I was normal and now that I am I'd kill to be half ghost again. I felt the fear paralyze me, and I wanted to be anywhere but here. I began to strip from my clothes and I felt the first tear slip down my cheek. I reached up and felt the cold, wet surface.
After I was completely naked, I climbed on the bed and laid face down on it. My chest heaved up and down slower than normal but still fast for a normal person. I could feel my throat constrict as the fear set in heavily. I closed my eyes, praying I'd just wake up or for once what I feel in my pathetic dreams I didn't feel for real. A severely cold sensation overcame my backend and I couldn't feel anything below my waist. I screamed out in debilitating pain.
"Five minutes, five seconds," Vlad said, mockingly. "Looks like I'm bad at math too." I screamed again, the cold absolutely handicapping. "You'll learn not to disrespect me in front of others, boy," Vlad said as I felt his hand slip below my waist. Vlad pulled me to my knees, the screams still coming out and not a bit less painful.
Vlad thrust his penis in my anus and I felt nothing. The spots clouded my vision and everything seemed to slow down. I got a cotton-taste in my mouth and I screamed again, the pain returning. "This is the effects of my numbing sensation."
I knew it was numb but it could hardly be called that. All it did was make me feel more pain. Before, I didn't feel anything and now I felt every excruciating pain in my body. No part of me was sparred. I felt my mind slipping away but Vlad refused me to completely leave. If it seemed I would go comatose, I'd receive more numbing.
I watched the clock Vlad left on his nightstand as the minutes ever so slowly inched towards midnight. I thought for sure every minute that passed was actually an hour but I knew it couldn't be right. Suddenly, I couldn't imagine the lives of Vlad's previous bitches. Their last years would have been like this day in, day out.
Just before midnight, Vlad reached over beside the clock and picked the pronged device again. I fought to escape but Vlad held me with one hand. He touched my side again and I gasped. Nothing hurt like the last three hours. Just when I think he's found a level of pain no one has ever found before, he adds to it.
Vlad pulled my naked body against his colder than ice form. I shivered uncontrollably but it made like a lullaby for Vlad. Soon, Vlad was fast asleep. I thought I was forever trapped here, never to be without pain when Vlad's arm left my side and all that remained was the arm beneath me. It was a long shot, but I had to try.
I gently rolled out of bed, my back shooting with pain the minute I moved. I bit back the screams so I wouldn't awaken him. I got dressed quietly, suppressing every single cry I made. As I moved, pain shot up through every inch of my body. I was still bleeding but I continued to move. Bruises covered my body from the rape and even some from his cold body temperature but I forced past it all.
As soon as I was dressed, I left the house and took off into the forest. If I could just find Mom, she'd be able to protect me. Every movement hurt but I continued anyway. Then I heard a wild animal call. I didn't know what it was, but whether it was Vlad's pets or a common animal didn't matter. I was powerless now and I would continue to be for another two hours and forty-five minutes. I began to run.
If moving hurt, walking hurt worse; if walking hurt worse, running was like dying in every step. I was actually screaming with every muscle movement despite my attempts to stay quiet. Soon, I saw the glows. I forced myself to go faster knowing if I didn't get away, I'd go right back.
I ran as far as I could, as fast as I could. When I fell, I got back up. When I came to uneven ground, I jumped. Every movement felt like knives cutting my skin. I tripped again, hitting the ground hard. I screamed out as more pain shot up my back and shot knives into my mind. Then I felt a hand grip mine. I screamed in fear this time.
When the hand lifted me no higher, I was relieved to see Mom. She held me by the arm and my eyes leveled out with hers. I looked to her waist, not feeling the choking feeling. The belt was there and turned on.
"Remind me how much trouble you're in for leaving the campsite," Mom told me, her voice strict.
"Wow," I said, surprised, "That doesn't hurt!"
Mom lowered me to a branch high on the tree. I suppressed the shooting pain I felt when my bottom touched the solid object. "Be right back," Mom said, the pain I was in escaping her detectors. She dropped an ecto-rope around the bear that had dragged me away.
Mom jumped from the tree and strung up the bear. While it tried to claw or tear its way from the rope, Mom went to face the other animals. I watched her face each one, never backing away though she was mere mortal and they were spectral beings. When she was done with the ecto-tipped batons, she used her laser eyes. Those ghosts didn't have a prayer.
When the last two ran away screaming, I slid down the tree and inwardly winced at the pain. "Now, young man, will you tell me what you think you were doing," Mom proceeded to scold me.
I hugged Mom tightly. "You were awesome," I exclaimed. I wasn't buttering her up, either. I had spent the past thirty minutes or so running from them. She beat them in ten minutes.
Mom gasped in excitement, "Thank you, sweetie!'
This small gopher popped up beside us, "I will destroy you," it called. Without hesitating, Mom blew it up using the baton.
"We'd better go before more ghost animals show up," Mom said, walking off.
I panicked, knowing I was defenseless without my powers. I looked at my clock, "One a.m. Hey, wait for me!"
I chased after her, not noticing a sinkhole. I tripped inside, gasping in pain and biting back the screams I really wanted to release.
"Danny," Mom asked, hearing me gasp. She saw me lying crumpled up on the ground. "There's my clumsy son, again," Mom dismissed the fall.
"Sorry," I said, standing up. The minute full weight came upon my legs, my knees buckled and I yelped in sharp pain.
"Honey," Mom said, walking over to me. "You've probably sprained your ankle. Let me carry you."
I wanted to object but I couldn't put weight on anything below my waist. My body temperature was normal, Vlad raping me proved that. My heart rate was only slightly faster than a normal person's and that was because of the ghost animals. I didn't see any reason why it would hurt… actually, it would help a lot.
"Are you sure," I asked her.
Mom didn't answer, just picked me up. I screamed in pain as she touched my back. She retracted her hand to look at something, "Honey, you're bleeding!"
"Oh," I said, trying to sound surprised. "I must have cut myself."
Mom began to ask me questions as we walked and I recognized them as first aid questions. I answered them using my knowledge of first aid so I wouldn't worry her. I knew I'd lost a lot of blood and I knew that I need medical attention but if I could make it until 3 o'clock, then I'd live… no pun intended.
XXX
Mom stopped just on the outskirts of Vlad's land. I hated that we were traveling in this direction but it was away from the animals. I lowered myself gently to my feet, biting my tongue as I landed. "I think we managed to give those animals the slip," I said once I could act normal again. Mom nodded. "So," I continued, "Any idea how we're going to get out of here." My head began to swim from the blood loss. I steadied myself.
"As much as I hate to say this," Mom said disgustedly, "I think we need to go back to Vlad's."
I panicked. She wanted to drag us back to the lion's den! "But he's the one who done this," I cried out without thinking. "I mean he said all those things about Dad," I corrected my response to sound plausible.
"I know he's a creep," Mom said. She had no idea how right she was, "but he's a creep with a phone and transportation!" I closed my eyes, the pain shooting again. I felt something wrap around my waist and I gasped from the pain. Then I gasped for another reason. "I know it's girly but it's for your own protection."
She put the belt on me! Mom began to walk in the direction of Vlad's house as I stood there, realization hitting me. "At three o'clock I get my powers back. At 3:01 the belt zaps me. At 3:02, Vlad tries to make out with my mom. Those are going to be the worst two minutes of my life!"
When Vlad's house came into sight, I glanced at my watch. "Ten 'til three," I groaned. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Vlad's our only chance of getting out of here," Mom remarked.
"Okay," I said, my eyes falling back to my level instead of up at her. As my eyes trailed over her own belt, I noticed the key to mine. "But first," I said, a plan coming to mind. This might work. "I just want to say, 'I love you.'" I said, hugging her. I slipped the key into my pocket.
"I love you too," Mom said, returning the hug. "Clingy," Mom exclaimed, cheerfully. I know she was just trying to suppress her gag reflex.
Mom walked up to the door, knocked and settled into waiting for a while. However, to her surprise, the door opened immediately. Vlad came to the door in fake enthusiasm. "Maddie," he cried Mom's name. He then turned to me, a hint of anger in his voice, "Daniel! You've returned! Oh, and just in time."
Mom pulled the focus off me. "Danny, go somewhere else as the adults talk," Mom said, her voice going low.
"Okay," I said, happy to leave but refusing to go out of sight. "If you need me, I'll be over there, barfing!"
I walked into the house, the opposite direction I actually pointed to. Mom and Vlad came in as well, taking a seat on the couch. I positioned myself far enough away that I couldn't hear what they were talking about but close enough to step in if Mom got in over her head. I couldn't do anything, though, so I had to wonder why I bothered.
It didn't take long for Vlad to be leaning in to my mom and I was burning with rage… and pain. Another two minutes, I thought to myself, and my injuries will heal up. Mom pushed Vlad away, her body language saying she wasn't quite ready yet but when she returned she would be. She walked over to me, an expression of pure horror on her face. It quickly turned to anger: "Keep old bate breath entertained until I can find a phone!"
Mom walked off, probably leading Vlad to the assumption she was going to powder her nose or some other such nonsense. I unlocked the belt. "Mom's gone so that means I can have a little alone time with Uncle Vlad," I said. "But first," I said, turning the minute hand back to fifteen 'til.
I walked over to Vlad, "Hey, Uncle Vlad," I said, as if it were so natural.
"I don't want that anymore, Daniel," Vlad said, reading a book. "If you want to butter me up, you'll have to try another approach."
"Perhaps the other offer," I said, imagining I was talking to a girl I liked… and wasn't my best friend or from my school.
This caught Vlad's attention, "Oh?"
"Yeah," I said, suppressing the gag reflex I now felt. "I kinda discussed it with my mom… not the whole picture but you get the image. What you did earlier," I lowered my eyes and cocked my head, "I love someone who takes control and doesn't take prisoners."
"Are you sure it has nothing to do with the fact I could do that at any time," Vlad asked me, placing the book on the couch. "And that your powers will be out another fifteen minutes?"
"Does it really matter," I asked him, stepping closer.
"Do you really mean it," Vlad asked, a smile of success lighting his face.
"Yes, I do," I said. I positioned myself just in front of him where when he went to accept my surrender I could do what I planned next. "I'm yours, Big Daddy!"
Vlad lifted my chin to kiss me and I whipped out the belt from behind my back. I locked it, backing away. The choking sensation did nothing to Vlad and I began to fear it wouldn't work.
"You tricked me," Vlad declared, pissed. Suddenly he screamed out as the dial glowed green. "You know what this means, don't you?"
"Oh, yeah," I said, looking at my watch. The display switched over to 3 o'clock. "A much fairer fight!" I powered up, my injuries healing immediately. "Thank you, portal!"
Vlad triggered his rings, black as my jumpsuit, and transformed into Plasmius. I stared in shock but shook the feeling. He can't do all the things he would with the belt on!
I charged at him but he easily tossed me aside. Vlad mocked me, saying even with his power drained he was still more powerful than me. That may be so but I'm stronger today! I struggled to get a hit in while he made no effort to do so and got results. When I nearly got caught by Mom, I found my strength. If I didn't do something, he'd touch her!
I don't know where the reserves came from but I was grateful it was there. I fought him until all it took was a puff of air for him to fall over. Vlad admitted defeat but refused to allow me to win. He called his animals but I had a solution for that too. The beasts turned on their creator then I got another idea.
"Don't even think about it, you spectral freaks. Even now I have more power than you," Vlad declared as the animals cornered him. I stuck the pronged device in his side.
"And now you don't," I quipped. I had revenge mapped out. "I'll give you five minutes, Plasmius."
"Really," Vlad asked, hopeful.
"Minutes, seconds; you know how bad I can be at math," I said casually. His face fell as he realized I'd make him pay for hurting me that way. "Get him!"
Vlad ran out of that house screaming.
I triggered my rings just before Mom came in the room. "Where's Vlad?"
"Oh, he ran out for a bite," I kidded but made it sound plausible. "So, how are we getting out of here?"
"I don't know," Mom said, dejected. "I couldn't find a phone in the cars, ATVs or the helicopter…" I started at her with amusement as Mom caught on. She stumbled to speak her words.
"Couldn't we just take the copter," I asked casually. Mom smiled at me.
XXX
I walked to the kitchen in a daze. What had that been that Jazz was riding on the back of? I didn't get a good look at whatever it was but I'm certain it had something to do with Vlad's demand to 'kill Jack.' Nice to know Dad isn't the screw-up Vlad thought he was. I picked up the phone and dialed Sam's number, missing my cell already.
Later that day, Sam and Tucker were in my room as I paced the floors. They watched my procession intently, wondering, I'm sure, what was going off. Finally, I took a seat on my bed. "It was all a trick," I spoke simply.
"What was," Sam asked me.
"The trip," I answered, making myself comfortable. "I swear, as soon as I'm comfortable talking to you guys about Plasmius, he shows up."
"That was him," Tucker asked, surprised.
"Yep," I answered simply. "And I hate him even more now."
"What happened," Sam asked me, concerned.
"He has this device," I answered. "It powered me down for three hours straight." They didn't need to know about the second time in the same night.
"Oh, my God, are you okay," Sam asked me.
"My injuries are healed," I spoke, then realized what I said. "Yeah."
"He hurt you," Tucker asked, enraged.
"It's nothing," I replied. It really wasn't. I'm just more appreciative to my powers.
"Danny, you need our help," Sam replied, her eyes locking with mine.
"Yes, I do," I said. "I need your help making me better, stronger, faster. I turned the belt on him and he was still stronger than I was. I need to go further."
I heard a knock on my door. "Come in," I called.
"Danny," Mom asked me, opening the door. "Hey Sam, hey Tucker."
"Hey, Mrs. Fenton," Sam replied.
"Hi, Mom," Tucker answered.
"Danny, where's the belt," Mom asked me. My eyes widened. "Danny?"
"I took it off at Vlad's," I remarked, not lying but not telling the truth either.
"You what," Mom yelled, enraged. "Daniel, why would you take that belt off? I told you to keep it on!"
"It was girly," I replied, using her description of it. Mom walked out of my room upset.
"What belt is she talking about," Tucker snickered.
"Oh, nothing," I answered. "Just a belt that electrocutes me when I had powers."
"And she put it on you when you didn't have powers," Sam said, seeing the dilemma.
"Yep," I answered.
"Oh, man," Tucker remarked, slowly.
"Yep," I said again. "3:00 powers back, 3:01 shock of my life, 3:02 shock that ends my life. Thank goodness I managed another way."
"Well, it's late," Sam said. "We'll start working on this tomorrow."
I hesitated. I still hadn't had time to go to the free clinic in Elemerton and after last night, I wanted to do it even more. "Actually, let's wait until after school. Another day won't hurt."
School went back in session Monday as always and the day was pretty normal. I had to be excused four times the entire day and caught nine ghosts. When school ended, Sam, Tuck and I went home to work on my powers. After a few hours of practice, Tucker suggested we hit a new place in town.
"What is it," I asked, not recalling a grand opening.
"It's called Floody Waters," Tucker remarked. "It's an indoor water park. They say the water is warm and the heaters are on so it feels warm. It's like a piece of summer to escape the winter from."
The idea interested me. We decided to take a break and go check it out. However, my fun ended before it even began with the attack of Johnny 13's shadow. All in all, it was a very fun week. What wasn't fun was that Sunday.
I was watching over the mall area since it was Sunday and the mall was usually very active. I hadn't seen a ghost all day and it felt like it was going to shape up to a very good weekend. However, as I flew over a portion of the mall that had low traffic, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. This something was floating so I knew it had to be one of two things. The glow told me it wasn't decorations.
"Hello, Daniel," it addressed me. My throat and the lump met again. Not today. Why show up today of all days? "It's time for us to have some time."
I panicked, triggering my sonic speed. I hoped to escape just far enough away that I could get away but the direction I was traveling in ended where Vlad was. I tried another and the same there. Everywhere I turned, a Vlad stood there until my trap was set. Vlad grabbed my arm but I didn't pull. I had lost.
I felt my stomach lurch again as Vlad transported me to his castle. I fell over in a bedroom, my world spinning. Vlad looked at me disappointedly. After a few seconds, I stood and changed back into Danny Fenton. I pulled my shirt over my head and removed my pants and boxers. I left them scattered on the floor, standing with my arms behind my back.
"I warned you not to run from me," Vlad said, anger in his voice.
"I panicked," I replied simply. I didn't feel like arguing. I just wanted to get this over with.
"Do not do that again," Vlad added in a harsh tone. I saw a glow enter my peripheral vision. A hard and electrifying object busted me in the face, sending me flying backwards. I laid crumpled up on the floor.
Vlad sent an energy beam that more resembled a snake than anything else, the beam bringing me back to my feet. I landed there, not fighting or showing defiance. Vlad sent another blast my way, this time the way it's normally used. I covered my face but did nothing more.
After Vlad finished raping me, he pulled out of my anus and proceeded to leave the bed. I pulled my knees to me, holding them in place on the bed. "Roll over on your back and pull your knees to you," Vlad ordered out of my sight.
I rolled over, the pain no longer present. I knew it wouldn't last long. I pulled my knees to me, praying Vlad would return me soon.
I felt a blunt object come into contact with my sensitive area and I screamed again. No matter how many times Vlad touched it… no matter how often Vlad placed objects in it, the site still hurt like hell. Vlad began to push the object in the area.
I screamed, commanding my knees to stay still. I didn't want to anger Vlad but I also knew if I struggled, the pain would only grow. I pressured my hands on my knees, pushing so hard I felt the bone snap. I continued to scream but not from my leg. The tears stung my eyes and the pain only grew in intensity. I just can't figure that area out and I don't understand the injuries I get with Vlad.
Vlad rose back up, stating: "You can sit up now." I didn't want to but I pushed myself in a sitting position. The minute I was vertical, I could feel the object protruding at my insides.
"Do you know why you are receiving this punishment," Vlad asked me. It was a punishment, I wondered to myself. I thought this was just him being Vlad. "No," Vlad answered my observation. "You broke one of the rules this week. Can you tell me which one it was?"
My mind went blank. I hadn't a clue as to what Vlad was talking about. The only thing that happened this week out of the ordinary was Johnny 13 and his shit. Wait a minute…
"Bingo," Vlad said. "You didn't know from the beginning that Katrina had overshadowed the young lady. You cannot use the excuse that you were doing it for your town. You dated someone else though you knew that was a blatant violation of the rules. Now, you will pay for your insubordination."
Crap, I thought to myself. It had happened so quickly. 'Paulina' had 'discovered' my secret that evening and by the next day before lunch I had been deemed her boyfriend. It was a dream come true and I never imagined it would cause me such a nightmare. And now this!
"Well, regardless of how it started, you still disobeyed a clear rule. I gave no leeway in that item. You are not to be seeing anyone other than me," Vlad informed me. Ha! I don't consider what we 'have' as anything I cherish. However, I did make a mistake.
"How long must I go with this," I asked, hoping he would tell me that he'd remove it before the night was over. Tomorrow school started back up.
"Precisely," Vlad informed me. "I could have picked any time to punish you. Why do you I believe I selected today?"
"To make my life miserable," I answered. God, please tell me he'll remove this thing sometime this week!
"All right, get dressed. I'll take you home," Vlad told me. I sighed miserably. Here goes nothing.
When I made it home, I curled up in a ball knowing it had started. Now any time he wanted me, he'd come and get me without hesitation. I cried, knowing that this would be my life. I struggled with the object, trying to make myself more comfortable. That slot made anything touching it my personal arch nemeses.
XXX
If I thought fighting ghosts and vying for the attention of our peers was hard before, I never took into consideration what it would be like with an object inserted in a very pain-absorbing place. I went each time my ghost sense went off but my moves were slower, creating a messy and drawn-out situation. Monday turned out to be Martin Luther King Day so I had an unplanned extra day to try to cope with the object but it would do little to help.
That night, I stared at a blank sheet of paper wrestling with the pain and my faulty memory. I had an extra day to complete my homework but I couldn't remember whether the Mayflower was a cookie or a pastry but for some reason I had to write an essay as to what it represented in America today. How the hell should I know?
Downstairs, I heard a commotion going on so I decided to have a closer look. I didn't plan on finishing this stupid assignment anyway. As I neared the top of the stairs, I could hear Mom Number Two downstairs. Mom and Dad were arguing.
"Maddie, I swear I saw it before my headlights illuminated it. It had to have been a ghost," Mom Number Two declared.
"Alice, you were just scared and you don't remember clearly. How could it have been a ghost," Mom asked. Well, this is new.
"How about the fact that we live in a haunted town," Mom Number Two defended, angrily. "All the times that you accused something of being a ghost and I never believed it and now it's the other way around!"
"I have to agree with Mads, Alice," Dad said. "It doesn't sound very plausible."
"Coming from the man who was convinced that the mailman was a ghost because he delivered the mail through the door," Mom accused Dad of his most embarrassing moment.
Dad's voice went high, "I didn't know Maddie installed a door mail slot!"
"I know what I saw. That curve was too sharp for my lights to have hit it properly. It had to have been glowing," Mom Number Two declared. I tended to agree with her. I went back to my room.
As curfew came and I was in lockdown, Vlad teleported into my room. I glanced up at him, my anger there but my shame drowning it before it could surface. "It was you, wasn't it," I asked, my head cast downward.
"And if you run again, the damage will be worse," Vlad answered me. I stood up from my bed and walked over to Vlad. "Where are your books," Vlad asked me.
"On my desk," I answered, confused. "Why?"
"The ghost hunting is really bringing down your grades," Vlad answered. "I want to talk to a tutor tomorrow."
I pointed to my desk with my book bag on top. Vlad dragged me over to it, picked it up and teleported us out. Before he took me home the next morning, Vlad 'copied' my books using his ecto-energy. He also added speed to the device.
The next day I entered into the Nasty Burger to find Tucker pacing the restaurant's floor along the back wall. Noticing Tucker's unusual behavior, I painfully jogged to where he was, grabbing his arm to stop his ranting march. "Hey, what's going on," I asked, concerned.
"Sam's not here," Tucker stated, his green eyes penetrating mine. "I tried calling her. It went to voicemail."
I looked to where we usually sit to find the table empty save for Tucker's stuff. This was not like Sam at all. Sam was the kind of girl that when she was five minutes late, we knew something was up. It was now 6:15 and she hadn't made it. My fifteen-minute truancy was nothing unusual for the times but Sam had become more punctual in the past quarter.
"You said you tried calling her," I asked for clarification.
"Yes," Tucker said, bringing his hands up to his head in worry. I took hold of his hand again, staring him in the eye.
"We'll find her, Tuck." Tucker's look told me he had his doubts.
We hit the streets and checked all the public places we could but nothing seemed to turn up results. As I passed the park, I picked up something with my hearing. I led Tucker to the sound only to be surprised. Sam was sitting at our old secret hiding spot and she looked horrible.
Tuck and I rushed over to her, sitting down beside her on the ground. Snow covered the ground in a fresh blanket, but she ignored the cold and sat there in just her usual clothes. Sam came crashing down upon me and I was quick to transform back into a human so not to freeze her anymore.
"Sam, what's wrong," I asked, terrified.
"I stopped them," she said, her voice broken, "but I couldn't believe they tried."
"Who," I asked. "What?"
"The C-crew," Sam answered. "Th-they, they…"
I knew that look. I've been wearing it for more than a month now. "They tried to rape you," I said, my voice breaking.
Tucker's worried face snapped up in complete surprise.
Sam cried into my shoulder, her body trembling from the heartbreak. I held her, tears of my own falling with hers. Soon, Tucker held onto her as well and cried his own tears. We sat like this for hours, crying.
I took Sam home with me and snuck her in my room. She didn't want to go home and she didn't want anyone to know. I could understand that. I gently placed her on my bed, grabbing an extra blanket to wrap around her shoulders. Sam clung to the fabric as if it were some kind of protection.
"We have to tell someone," Tucker replied in a whisper that no normal person could pick up. He knew how sensitive my ears had gotten and if he wanted to talk to me without including anyone else, it was simple enough.
I shook my head, "It's her choice, Tucker. If she doesn't want to tell anyone, then she should be able to make that call."
Tucker looked at me as if I had betrayed him, "How could you say that? Someone tried to rape Sam, Danny! Are you processing this at all or is your brain fried!"
"I get it, okay," I hissed quietly. If anyone got it, it was me! "But I also know how Sam is! I want to protect her and we have a way of doing that better than anyone else. What could the courts or police department do for her that we couldn't?"
"Maybe arrest the bastards that did this," Tucker shot back. I looked to Sam, watching her stare off into a direction. My blood boiled. I wanted to find the bastards that made her that way and skin them alive, letting them know what an evil Danny Phantom would be like. He sure as hell wouldn't hold a mayor hostage or shoot a harmless blasts at a couple buffoons.
"Tuck, just trust me on this. Sam doesn't need any more pressure. She's hurting as it is," I said, calming my rage down. I couldn't focus on what was happening in my town concerning my name. I shuttered, then grew angry at myself for getting off focus. The horrible nickname I had inadvertently earned, Invisobill, was insignificant at this point in time.
Tucker looked between the door and Sam. He stared at the door for a long time and I thought maybe he might ignore my advice but he sighed, resigning. I placed my hand around his shoulders, knowing Tucker was torn. I couldn't blame him. He had to be thinking that neither of us knew what to expect in this situation.
"Come on, Tuck," I replied, pulling him along with me. "Sam needs us," I told him. Tuck nodded. I went around the bed as Tucker prepared to climb in behind Sam. "Tell her you're there before you go to touch her," I informed him.
Tuck looked at me questionably, but proceeded anyway, "Sam."
Sam looked up from her position on the bed. Tucker climbed in the bed and scooted close to her. I took that time to bend down to look her in the eye. "Sam," I said my own warning.
I came in the bed as well and wrapped my arms around her. Sam's head fell upon my chest as she clung to me. Tucker also wrapped his arms around Sam and we both held her tightly.
"We're here, Sam. No one else is going to hurt you, sweetheart," I told her softly.
"Thank you," Sam said, her voice soft. She was holding it together but you had to know Sam to know how much this was affecting her. Sam was just as disturbed as I had been and I knew that was okay. Sam was human, after all.
Vlad didn't come that night and I didn't know if I was lucky or Vlad knew what was going on. It didn't matter if he showed up or not, I wasn't going. My friend needed me.
The next morning at school, I followed the boys' notorious with the C-crew into a hallway. "Well, well, well," the leader, Gary, mocked. "Isn't it little wimpy Danny Fenton."
"If you had something to do with what happened to Sam, you'll be thinking wimpy," I said coldly.
"Something happen to your bitch," Gary asked, then faked a slip up, "I mean friend."
I stepped closer, "If you hurt her like I think you did and I ever find proof, I will make you eat those words."
"So what if I said it was me," Gary said. He patted his two friends in the gut. "I didn't expect the girl to be that strong."
I grabbed Gary by the shirt, slamming him into the wall. "You'd better shut up right now if it wasn't you!"
"Danny," I heard Tucker call from behind me. I dropped Gary to the ground.
"Yeah, better listen to your nigger friend," Gary quipped, "While he's still recognizable."
Any doubts I had to the responsible party vaporized. I picked him up, this time slamming him into the wall so hard it cracked. "You come near either one of them again, and you'll be the one unrecognizable."
Gary coughed, the wind knocked out of him. One of his friends took a swing at me. I ducked the pathetic punch, dropping Gary to the ground in a crumpled mess, and delivered one of my own. The boy fell to the ground unconscious. Gary's other friend tried to get me while I sent his friend flying but Tucker caught the boy's hand. Tucker decked him, slamming him against the wall. When the boy looked up dazed, Tucker turned around and elbowed him right in the windpipe.
"You hurt any of my friends again, and we won't be so nice," Tucker said, walking away. The boy Tuck fought passed out from the pain. I walked away, uncaring what happened to the bastards.
At the intersection of this hallway and the main hallway, Sam stared in. "Are they the ones who did it," I asked her gently. Sam nodded her head, her shoulders standing squared. Sam had let out all the pain and frustration last night and now she was back to her self-declared impenetrable self.
Friday, I learned the same three boys who had tried to rape Sam attacked Tucker. Of course, Tucker enjoyed their challenge, kicking their asses all the way back to Axion Labs. When Tucker came into the Nasty Burger that afternoon, he told us in absolute delight how they had challenged him. While Tucker enjoyed the fight, Sam and I were pissed. I went to the bank the next afternoon and sold a baseball card. After writing the check for Beth, I would need more cash for what I planned to do.
I returned from a gun supplier I knew from my work with the division to find Vlad in my room. He didn't stay, only removed the device.
On Monday, I met the three boys. They offered a proposal that made me laugh out loud. Gary had the nerve to ask me to say I tampered with the case involving their fathers and they'd leave Sam and Tucker alone. When I refused, they tried to rough me up. They couldn't touch me and I didn't touch them. However, as they were beginning to realize they were outmatched, I spoke up. "You don't get it, do you," I asked Gary. "My guys are stronger than your guys. You tried to rape Sam and she beat your ass. You tried to beat Tucker and he came to the Nasty Burger talking about it like he got a new toy. Here you are trying to beat me but you're so far from even touching me you may be on the moon as far as I know. Give it up! So what you're fathers' are going to prison. That's what happens to bad people. If you come after another one of my people again, I mean it, I won't be nice. You can come after me all you want, I don't care but if you come after Sam or Tucker again and you may wake up in the Ghost Zone."
Gary's two friends tried to pin me in a tackle and I stepped back, allowing them to sack each other. I walked off, having not touched them once.
That evening, I met up with Sam and Tucker. They weren't suspicious at all when I came into the Nasty Burger at six-thirty. We hit the streets, picking up the usual suspects and a few others who had discovered the portal. I couldn't quite figure out how I was going to convince them to carry those pistols. I had picked up two Derringers Friday evening for Sam and Tucker but I knew they wouldn't see them as necessary as I.
XXX
I had a lot on my mind as of late. There was the ghost increase in the evenings and not to mention the late-night ghosts. I had an alarming amount of ghost invasions between the hours of six and twelve but after twelve until nearly seven, I was constantly having to leave my room. I left for school at seven-fifteen. Then there was Vlad, struggling with his demands as both a master, a 'parental' figure, and a teacher. Vlad was constantly on me to improve my sex performance, my attitude and my education, both in human and spectral academics.
And of course, I can't forget about my parents. I had improved significantly in suppressing my moodiness, depression and outbursts. I still felt horrible and the such, but my bouts with the ghosts made it easier to put that frustration elsewhere. However, my parents hadn't forgotten my slip up in my moment of weakness. Any male seen in the same vicinity as I was under constant unscrupulous attention. Mom and Dad had hoped just keeping an eye on me in the public would chase away my attacker.
However, as time has passed and I have begun to get better in their eyes, they're beginning to wonder if the man has left or if I am becoming more under his control. Mom and Dad have been having discussions about multiple preventive measures, all terrifying. They've thought about pulling me from school, Mom mentioning that it's a prime place for abuse to happen. They've been talking about putting a device on me that would send not only GPS coordinates, but live feed. They've thought about putting a tail on me. All of this could spell disaster for both my identity and Vlad's patients. The last thing I want is for Vlad to say I've been here enough.
Vlad found Mom's attitude towards him very frustrating after the DALV incident. He would have forgiven her for storming out that night but when she returned to play with his emotions, he has completely denied having feelings for her anymore. That would be great news except for two little details: he may find her obsolete and he may find keeping up appearances pointless. I am constantly on the lookout for something that may cause Vlad to say that I'm coming with him. He's always telling me how he wished I was with him all the time.
"Hey, D," I heard Tucker exclaim, chuckling slightly. "Earth to Danny!"
I snapped up, noticing that we had arrived at Sam's house and I had stupidly walked right past it. I chuckled as well, "Sorry. Lost in thought."
"That's all right," Sam remarked, looking at me. Please, Sam, don't start worrying about me. You have enough problems. "Are you all right?"
I sighed, "Yeah," I told her. "Why are you worried about me?"
"Because," Sam said, looking me in the eyes, "You've seemed to believe that we've forgotten about your meltdown after that trip to Vlad's."
I looked away from that penetrating stare. She had a way of seeing into my soul and reading me like a book when she did that. When they got me thinking about that week, though, I was a short read. "I know you guys haven't forgotten about it. I haven't either. I just wish you guys would stop bringing it up all the time. It's over."
"You didn't seem to believe it'd ever end that week," Tucker remarked, now getting on the bandwagon.
"I was just scared," I told them some of the truth. "I understand it a lot better now. I'm okay and there's nothing to worry about."
"That's what you want everyone to believe," Sam remarked. "But I've developed a new theory and I don't like what it's been telling me."
I thought about turning around her stare was so potent but I stood still. I had to remember my training and keep it looking natural. Sam could be the one to guess what was going on. I don't believe anyone else would because only she and I have been there.
"You want us to walk you up," I remarked, changing the subject.
Sam chuckled, humorously. Tucker spoke up, "I found nothing funny about that comment!"
"Well, I did," Sam said, ending her laughter. "Why would you guys believe I would need walking to my room? They're not going to be in my house!"
Talk about someone denying anything ever happened. You couldn't convince Sam she was in danger that evening. She refuses to talk about it and sometimes tries to say she doesn't even think about it anymore. Neither one of them know how well I understand that kind of hurt so neither one of them can hide how they feel to me.
"Goodnight, boys," Sam said, turning to go inside. I sighed, wanting to stay put but knowing that I was just paranoid. After all, most rapes only occur once. Mine is an exception of the rule.
I walked Tucker home then continued on to my house. I made it home just five minutes after curfew, infuriating Mom and Dad, again. They keep telling me that this is becoming a problem, but they act like it's the first time each time. I sat in the living room, getting lectured by Mom and Dad again.
"Look," I defended. "I tried to get home on time but it never works. Why are you guys making such a big fuss about this?"
"Because someone is out there hurting you and I have no idea who he is," Mom declared. It wasn't a sudden outburst. I'd heard it before.
"I've told you," I stated, aggravated, "There's no one hurting me! I overreacted that week. Nothing is going on!"
"Danny," Mom cut in, her voice level, "I saw you. I watched you crumble before my eyes and I watched you suffer for weeks after that. You're still suffering but you pretend to be fine. I still hear you wake up with nightmares!"
This did catch me by surprise. It was true that I had been having frequent nightmares but they weren't the normal ones. I was having a lot of pathetic dreams lately and every time I wake up, I come back to live (sorta) so to speak. When I go into a pathetic dream, I tap into a power that is reserved for full ghosts. My grandfather (Mom's dad) has pathetic dreams and he told me that when I start a dream, my vitals shut down. So when I wake up, I come to with a sharp intake of breath.
"Mom," I stuttered, trying desperately to cover this one up. It actually didn't have anything to do with Vlad but with another big secret of mine. Damn, I have too many secrets to keep track of.
"So why don't you just tell us about this man," Dad replied over my stuttering. "You know you can trust us."
"But it's not what you think," I stuttered out in one breath. "It's not about that!"
"Then what is up with these horrible dreams," Mom asked me, crossing her arms.
They weren't all horrible. It's just that I come to with a sharp breath and it sounds like I'm gasping in fear. If she saw that, she'd understand. Then another thought occurred to me… if she watched me sleep, she'd surely freak when I'd go thirty-or-more minutes without breathing.
"…" I opened my mouth but my mind froze. I couldn't come up with a plausible explanation but I couldn't just drop it either. If she ever did venture into my room, I'd be toast.
"Just talk to us," Dad tried again. Oh, crap, I'm stuck.
"I don't know what to say," I reluctantly admitted. "I'm in a shithole here and I don't know how to get myself out without stepping in it."
Mom chuckled, well past the shock of my cussing. I never curbed it. Vlad stole a lot from me and my pristine mouth was one of them.
"Just begin talking, son," Dad informed me.
"I did get into a lot of trouble," I spoke softly, praying I wouldn't get anyone hurt or taken for this. "I—I was…" I trailed off. I took a shaky breath, trying to calm myself but it didn't work. I hadn't spoke about being raped to anyone except Vlad, Brit and the clinic. I had told Brit about my 'nightmares' after the reunion and I'd went to the free clinic in Elemerton for a check-up.
Flashback
I sat in the waiting room, my body slumped and my arms covering my head with the magazine I wasn't really reading. This was a really bad idea, I thought to myself for the umpteenth time. However, I had no choice. I needed to have myself checked for anything wrong with me from the rape and I didn't have a whole lot of choices. I couldn't do those tests myself and anywhere else, parental notification would be required not to mention police involvement.
"Daniel," the woman called from the door. I carted their magazine away with me, placing the article over my head. The last thing I wanted was to be recognized here of all places. If Mom found out… he, well, she may tear me apart molecule by molecule just to reconstruct me again.
The woman put a blood-pressure cuff on my arm and I chuckled nervously, definitely not finding anything funny: "How high does this pressure reader go?"
The woman chuckled, "High enough."
"I doubt it," I said. "I'm pretty stressed."
The woman initiated the cuff and I felt the bag inflate. A moment later, the woman let out a sound of confusion. "It's not taking."
I chuckled nervously, "Well, I'm sure it's fine. That's not why I'm here anyway."
"Okay," the woman answered, turning off the machine. "Let's weigh you."
I inwardly groaned this time. The minute she checked my height-to-weight ratio, she'd freak. Perhaps, the chart wouldn't even be necessary if my luck managed to stay firm.
I stood on the scale and the woman balanced the scales. After a moment, sure enough she squeaked: "That can't be right."
"Must be malfunctioned, too," I tried to get away with it.
"No, no, no," the woman refused to believe it. "This machine is absolutely functioning properly. You just weigh a paltry 95 pounds!"
Oh, shoot, I thought to myself, she'd really freak if I didn't have this oversized shirt and jeans on. I hardly eat anymore and the only consequences from my malnutrition is an extremely tiny frame and weight. The most meat on my bones was actually muscle.
"Look, I just need to talk to someone about why I'm here and I'll go. I know all this and it's nothing to worry about," I replied.
"Kid," the woman said, "you are way too thin for your height. You should be gaining weight as you shoot up but it appears you're only shooting up."
"Please listen to me," I pleaded, "I have more pressing issues."
The woman asked sarcastically, "Like what?"
"I was raped," I informed her, casting my eyes downward. I heard her breath catch in her voice. The clinic got a lot of weird cases but rarely were they of the criminal manner. "I can't go to anyone about this. For crying out loud, my mom's a doctor but if I tell her then I may be taken from my home. I'm scared, though. This man has had multiple… partners in the past and I'm afraid I may have something.
"I'm so sorry," the woman cried, obviously distraught.
I shook it off, "It's nothing. I can't do anything about it but I'd like to know ahead of time if I contract herpes or something."
A few minutes later, the doctors had come in to test me for all possible STDs. However, what I hadn't counted on was the drawing of blood.
"Is that necessary," I asked, fearful.
"I'm afraid it is," the doctor replied, kindly. "We must use a needle."
"It's not the needle I'm afraid of," I spoke softly. "I can't have you guys drawing blood from me without knowing some things."
I could hear the woman from before gasp in surprise, "What now?"
"Well," I started off, shakily. I'm about to have my blood tested and my secret may come out. "How many of you guys are from Amity or know what's going off over there?"
The doctor shook her head, "Well," she began, "most of us are from Amity and the rest know about the ghosts if that's what you're talking about."
I took a shaky breath, trying to calm myself. "Well, four and a half months ago I was involved in a bit of an accident. I can't give you specifics but I can say it changed me. I've got a high tolerance to pain, a low appetite, a metabolism that would surprise anyone and my vitals are screwed up." I looked to the woman, "The blood pressure monitor wasn't messed up… it just wouldn't go that high."
"Okay," the doctor said slowly, processing it. "Why do I feel like you're about to say something about your blood."
"You're better than I," I laughed, embarrassed. "I forgot to mention that my blood will be different than everyone else's. It'll have ectoplasm in it."
"Ectoplasm," another girl cried, surprised.
"Yeah," I said, feeling my adrenaline pumping. I was terrified. I'd never told anyone who had access to my daily lives my secret before. I didn't want to completely reveal it here, either. "You can't tell anyone this. My life depends on it."
"We couldn't," the doctor replied. "We are bound by the laws of Amity Park from which we were created."
"That's why I'm here."
End Flashback
They hadn't discovered that I was half ghost but they were darn close. My test results had come back negative, which I was thankful for. I looked to Mom and Dad, trying to summon the strength to tell them I was being raped but not tell them who. However, my body and my fear fought me the entire way.
I could feel my emotions trying to give way. If I didn't force myself to breathe, I'd either pass out from the strain or break down. I didn't want to do either one right now. Mom and Dad looked on, expectantly, and added more pressure to my already boiling emotions. "I—," I started again but the words caught in my throat.
"Take your time, honey," Mom told me. I know she was just trying to calm me down but it was too late for that.
I slumped over in the chair, placing my elbows on my knees and taking my head in my hands. I tried focusing on breathing some more but it was as if my lungs had taken a vacation. "I can't do this," I said, my voice cracking. "I don't know how!"
Mom stood up from her spot on the couch and gently made her way over to the chair where I was. She bent down, bringing herself down to my level. "Honey, just breathe," Mom said calmly.
"I don't know how," I stated again, more urgency in my voice this time. "I'm trying to deal. I want to tell you. I don't want to keep this face up. I hate how this makes me feel! One minute, I'm moody, the next I'm emotional. I flip-flop between so many emotions at one time, even I don't know what I'll be doing next. I don't know what to do!"
"Just trust in us, son," Dad commented, still sitting on the couch.
"How can I do that," I asked, sharper than I intended. "I mean, how can I expect to put a burden on you that I myself can't carry."
"You're just a teenager, Danny," Mom stated softly. "We've been through what you're going through. We can help you make sense of it all."
I blinked a few times, trying to register what they were saying. "What do you mean you've been through what I've gone through?"
"I mean," Mom began, "Whatever you're going through, it isn't something your father and I haven't done before."
I laughed, and though I tried to make it sound normal I could faintly detect the bitterness. I stood up, walking away from Mom and Dad, trying to control myself and stop this insanity immediately. They don't believe it's anything serious anymore. Just teenage aghast, I believe.
"Danny," Dad asked me as I stood away from them.
"It's nothing," I said. I tried to control my breathing, refusing to think of what would happen if Vlad ever discovered how close I came to spilling the beans. "You're right. You guys made it through whatever your problems were and I'm sure you never asked for help from your parents. I'm just overreacting… again!"
"No, Danny," Mom said, understanding coming to her eyes. "Honey, you're so close. Just tell us what is going off."
"Nothing," I repeated again, turning around. "Nothing at all."
XXX
The day began like any ordinary Tuesday. I came to my feet, stretching after the pathetic 3 hours of sleep I got. Every 20 minutes it seemed, I'd wake up shivering. I wonder if sleeping with a heating blanket would help matters any?
I came downstairs and grabbed my box of cereal. I poured a bowl of apple jacks to notice that I only had enough for one more bowl. I put the box back over top the refrigerator and marked down cereal on the grocery list. No matter if I'm hungry or not, I try to eat at least something every day. Sometimes, I don't get another chance to.
I started for the door when I saw Jazz heading out. Surprised, I looked to my watch to notice in fact she wasn't late, I was early.
"Hey, Danny," Jazz called in the tone of voice she's been sporting towards me lately. "Wanna ride to school?"
Well, I thought to myself as I looked to my watch again, I have time. "Sure," I accepted, picking up my book bag. Jazz's smile grew brighter.
XXX
We walked through the doors of Casper High, our journeys about to part due to the grade difference. "Thanks for the ride, Jazz. You know, it's nice to slip into school silently and anonymously instead of riding the bus," I commented to her. Of course, it was just for show. I haven't rode the bus in ages.
"You're welcome, Danny," Jazz smiled at me. The warning lights began to flash and a female voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing: "Ghost alert, ghost alert!"
Jazz grabbed me by my shirt, "Danny, hide!"
I stared at her in shock, her reaction causing me to actually not have one. "Why," I asked her. I knew why I should hide; how did she!
Jazz dropped my shirt, a look of worry crossing her face: "That's an excellent question!"
I noticed my two friends walking over to me and I decided to leave my crazy brilliant sister alone. "What's going on," I asked. Surely someone must know what was happening.
"They're running ghost drills now," Sam said, pulling her book bag over her shoulder. She retrieved a piece of paper from her bag, holding it up to me: "Didn't you get the memo?"
And horrifically, I heard a sound I never want to hear in public: "Ghost! You kids stay back. I got the memo and I know there's a ghost here!" Dad was in the Fenton peeler. As if things couldn't get any worse, Mr. Lancer came walking down the hall in this mask.
"Ooh," he said, actually making what Box Ghost does seem scary. "I am a ghost!" Yep, he even sounds like him!
"Dad, no," Jazz cried.
I caught on to the trouble too, "It's not a ghost! It's an out-of-shape teacher in a mask!"
"We'll see about that, son," Dad called. "Eat Fenton peeler, spook!"
And just like that, I received detentions for the rest of my unnatural life. Dad shot the beam at Lancer and because he wasn't a ghost, it did nothing to him… personally. The peeler shredded his clothes and I imagine it might have scared the shit out of him.
"I can't give you detention!" Mr. Lancer looked away from Dad to Jazz & I, "But someone named Fenton here is staying after school!" Well, duh, I thought to myself. I've been staying after school for months. I'm still serving time for the busted beakers!
"Wow," Dad and Jazz declared dramatically, "Look at the time!" I swore I felt wind kick up in their hasty retreat.
"Mr. Lancer," Sam started. "It was an accident… and Danny had nothing to do with it!"
"Miss Manson, I understand that you just want to help your friend," Mr. Lancer started, trailing off.
"Yes, and my family does contribute nice stacks of money to our fine school that helps balloon your year-end bonus," Sam commented quickly, as to not draw attention to herself.
"Yes, and our school does appreciate that thoughtful contribution every year, Miss Manson. You know, on second thought, perhaps I did act hastily," Mr. Lancer replied. "I'll see you for unrelated reasons after school, Mr. Fenton. I apologize for being quick to blame you. Excuse me."
Tucker chuckled as Mr. Lancer backed away, holding the portrait of President Washington over his frontal parts. "He sure knows how to milk it, don't he?"
"Thanks, Sam," I remarked, grateful.
"Don't mention it," Sam remarked, swinging her book bag back over her back.
"Any chance you'd help me out like that," Tucker asked with a cheeky grin, "Or is that only reserved for Danny because you have a crush on him?"
Sam stomped down on Tucker's foot, him crying out painfully. I tried not to look hurt at Sam's blatant rejection of my feelings. However, we three walked off in the direction of our first period class.
XXX
After Detention, I decided to fly home instead of walking because of all the books I had with me. Mr. Lancer may have let me off the hook with what Dad did detention wise, but he sure laid it on me with extra assignments. Great, just what I need! It's not like Vlad isn't out there right now hunting me a private tutor 'worthy' of my time.
I walked into the lab, hearing Jazz scolding Dad about busting in on our school. Dad made the comment about if I thought I was in trouble now and brought up the lab's conditions. I know I haven't been cleaning the lab but it's not like I've been blowing it off. I have ghost fighting, school work and a master to please… I'm very busy.
"And it'll be six more by the time I finish all this extra work Lancer assigned me," I commented, dropping the bag on the floor with a thump. I rubbed my shoulder, mock aching playing out. "Dad, are you familiar with the term 'stay-away-from-my-school?'" I tried to calm myself down but I've got enough problems going on right now.
"Sweetie, relax," Mom said, pulling her helmet away from her face so we wouldn't have a repeat from when I was younger. Gee, Mom, I'm not four anymore. I won't mistake you for a mother-eating alien anymore! "You know your Dad loves you and he doesn't mean to make your life more difficult."
I went to comment, but something caught my attention. I turned up the volume as to not sound crazy when I heard the nearly mute television set. "The hunt is on for the ghost boy," Harriet Chin announced at her new job as anchor-woman on Channel 44, replacing Brett Turner.
"What," I shouted, completely blown away. What had I done now?
"As a result of this morning's ghost drill at Casper High, a need for more competent, not-Jack-Fenton, ghost hunters is being called for," Harriet reported. I felt the blood in my veins boil. My dad is not incompetent!
"More competent ghost hunter," My dad asked, clearly confused. "What's that supposed to mean," he asked. As if by some cruel fate, the weapon he was working on exploded. If that made him incompetent, then there were many of us out there that fit the bill.
"Luckily," Harriet continued, "a mysterious benefactor has placed a million dollar bounty on the head of the most infamous ghost in town."
A million dollars, I thought to myself. I must be worth a lot then! However, I started the countdown, glancing at Mom out of the corner of my eye as she done so too: "Five, four, three, two."
"If anybody captures that ghost boy, it's going to be me," Dad exclaimed, waving a gun around like some kind of mad man. That's my dad. He knocked over a stack of poorly lined-up boxes. "Danny, clean that up!" Gee, Dad, I'll just ask my master for more time to do house chores!
I smiled despite myself anyway, seeing Mom smile the same one as I wore. I looked to Jazz and she too wore a similar smile.
XXX
The next morning came early and I decided to go have a peek at what was going off with the gathering. I pulled Sam and Tucker from our classes today for business and ventured down to the Nasty Burger. Sam stared at me in shock as she saw the sign welcoming the freak parade.
"Aren't you worried, Danny," Sam asked me after a moment to compose herself. "These are supposed to be the best known ghost hunters."
Precisely! "Sam," I said, speaking in a bored tone yet slightly amused. I couldn't wait to see how this would turn out. "They're the best known, they're not the best!"
"Well, I know that," Sam shot back playfully. "We didn't sign up!"
"Well, let's see," I commented, smiling at her comment. "The Groovy Gang and their scaredy cat," I commented, locating them on the property. "Basically, your Scooby Doo generation refusing to grow up."
Sam burst out laughing, seeing the tall, lanky man with blond hair and the chubby girl with a short red hairdo. If they weren't parodies of the mystery cartoon, nobody was!
"Then," I said, scanning the parking lot, "Oh, yes. The infamous Ghost Breakers. Two morons with weapons to match. They're a part of the generation that the movie Ghostbusters created." I said the next part slowly, "The worst thing that ever happened to Division G."
"Who are they," Sam asked, looking at the two biggest idiots on the parking lot. They were the worst mistake Division G made!
"The Guys in White," I commented, my voice dripping in disgust. "A group created by Division G to monitor ghostly activity. They shouldn't even be here. They're not authorized to hunt, just observe. The division didn't make a complete fool of themselves."
"Guys in White," Sam asked, horrorstricken.
"Play on words," I told her, watching how the Ghost Breaker's motorcycle went speeding through a mud hole and splashed a few specks of dirt on their suits. They acted as if a security post had been breached. "The rumors about Men in Black had been hitting an all-time high so the current Director created a team to scout and made their uniforms white and named them Guys in White. They're a bunch of idiots who have allowed the fact that the division created them personally go to their heads. They're a bunch of rebel punks."
"Sounds like someone else I know," Sam kidded.
I didn't laugh, "Nowhere near as bad as they are."
A honk of a horn brought me from my thoughts and I saw the RV pull up, Dad nearly running into the Ghost Breaker's transportation. Hey, I never said he was a perfect driver! The group converged around the set-up table to receive their tips and orders from whomever wanted me dead. Meanwhile, Tucker started telling us about his latest get-rich scam.
"If they are truly a bunch of idiots, then you won't have any problem with this," Tucker said, pulling a white sheet over his head. "Thanks to Danny, we know every ghosts' hiding spot in town. Tucker's Boo-Yea Tours are bound to be a hit. Boo-yea," Tucker said, making a highly stereotyped viewpoint of ghosts.
I was about to scold him for playing into the bed sheet fantasy when Tucker was suddenly covered in green goo. I looked up, wondering what idiot just attacked my friend when I felt humiliation slowly killing me.
"I got him! Me, Jack Fenton," Dad called triumphantly. "Danny Fenton's father!" Why me?
Tucker pulled the sheet over his head, a look of complete humiliation on his face, "I'm not going to grow a third arm, am I?" The group started to laugh at my dad. I covered my face shamefully.
"In hindsight, maybe dressing as a ghost in a parking-lot full of ghost hunters wasn't the best idea," I heard Sam chide him from behind my fingers.
A sudden chill overcame me and suddenly my fun turned serious. Why here? I just wanted to kick back and laugh as the real buffoons try to find me while I stayed right under their noses. If a ghost was attacking, things could get ugly fast.
I heard a caw scream out and something swooped from the sky above. I didn't see it but Dad declared he had the home field advantage. Knock yourself out!
The fishing line caught the ghost and I noticed it immediately. It was one of the vultures from before, the ones that work for Vlad. However, just because they're here doesn't mean they're working for Vlad. When Dad slammed into the Nasty Burger order-out sign, Sam grew desperate.
"Danny, do something," Sam cried.
"What do you want me to do," I asked, frustrated that she'd even suggest I step in. "I can't go ghost around here. Besides, it's not like anyone's in any real danger," I said. Just as I was thinking about how even they were harmless, the two others swooped down and picked up Sam and Tucker, carting them away. "And now they are," I replied stupidly.
I snuck off, trying to find a place to go ghost. Oh, how stupid I was to believe I could get away with this. I transformed and took off in the directions the birds took my friends, right over all the ghost hunters head. I heard all the others exclaim: "Ghost!"
I was a mere inch from my friends when something grabbed me by my throat. I gasped out, once again finding despite the fact I don't need air I can be thrown off by that simple action. I hit the top of a building hard and when I felt the impact, I knew what to expect. The only time I feel the pain is when he's around.
"Plasmius," I asked, seeking him out. I spotted him floating about 80 feet above me. "What are you doing here?" Don't you usually come during the nighttime, I added mentally.
Plasmius pretended to think things over, "Hmm, let me think. There's a million dollars on your head, your father looks like a fool… what do you think I'm doing here?" Well, not coming to rape me. That's for sure.
"You're the one who hired these idiots," I demanded angrily. I thought he said I was irreplaceable!
"Yes," Vlad answered me simply. He formed something that greatly resembled a flyswatter out of his energy. "All but your father. He's a free idiot!" Vlad smacked me with his creation, sending me careening to the top of a building. I slammed into it purposely. Great! First, he makes me feel like I'm a pesky bug and now he's treating me like one! I flew towards him again but slammed into a wall made of ectoplasm. This is ridiculous!
How many times must I make this clear to the Froot Loop! When he comes after my family, I am no longer his bitch but his archenemy! I came to the air, flying towards Vlad at high speeds. "As much as I'd like to catch up, Plasmius, but shouldn't you be getting home to the love of your life?" Vlad shot a few blasts at me but I easily dodged them. "Oh, that's right," I said, mock surprise in my voice: "Dad married the love of your life. You're bitter and alone!"
I went to throw a punch at him but he caught my hand instead. I didn't have time to react as this jarringly painful electric shock left his body and entered me. I screamed in pain, the bolts coursing through my body and entering my ghostly core. I felt myself slipping but before I transferred back, I noticed Vlad was talking to me.
"At-At-At," Vlad titter-tatted, "We can't have you passing out and changing back to Danny Fenton, now can we? This may be your father's party, but you're the guest of honor! Ta," Vlad said, tossing me to the ground. I screamed as I saw my world crashing around me at speeds I couldn't control. I landed hard on the ground, flipping over head to toe as I landed. I looked up and froze. I was sitting in the middle of every one of the ghost hunters, their weapons locked… and loaded.
AN: I have chapter companions available at fan fiction dot net slash my forums slash Team 04 Phantom slash 3876657. I do believe I have explained everything to the best of my ability. I post the companions after I have updated a new chapter. For example, Chapter eight's companion will be up after I post chapter nine. That way, if there is anything left unexplained (like the cliffhanger, for example, on chapter two), you can have access to answers. Please, check them out if you are confused but feel free to PM me or review any questions. I do not mind answering them in private messages. It's just that if you have any really stubborn questions and it is on a previously updated chapter, I may have already answered it. If you private message me any questions about the current cliffhanger, I will not answer them. I will have the new chapter up the next day.
Please review or private message me with any questions or comments. I love to receive feedback.
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