Sorry for the delay; my computer decided to do an impression of evil!Number5 - bonus points if you get the bad 80's reference. :) Lost some documents (not so much writing, but editing) in the transfer process from my backup drives, so I'm working to get caught up.
Thanks JoeB, Winged Element, KTrevo, YumeTakato, Guest, Anne Camp aka Obi-Quiet, MsFrizzle, Aurora Warie Williams, Fluffypuppy77, DarkFoxKit, iloveyugiohGX93, TrustyFoxy, nycorrall, and Invader Johnny for their reviews!
Phantom, Danny
The story you know from the very beginning.
…and from a slightly different point of view.
Chapter 12: The Octopus
-Day 27-
Saturday was one of the least boring days of the week, in his opinion. The weekdays were filled with the torture that was School – a mandatory task that even The Danny slept through most of. Sundays were required 'family time.' Saturday, however, was his to what he wanted with.
Or, at least he would, if it weren't for the pesky human mind that insisted upon having its own agenda for this particular Saturday and not listening to a single idea he had. Instead of getting to go to the park and enjoy the day, he found himself standing in line for a movie ticket to a something known as 'Dead Teacher Two'.
After two hours of standing still, the line was finally staring to move. A human had appeared in the window ahead and was slowly letting people into the building.
"This is going to be awesome," The Tucker said eagerly, throwing its arm around his shoulders.
He shot it a glance and pulled away. Twenty-seven days in the human world had still not acclimated him to the idea of touching each other. And, to top it off, he'd learned more about the 'viruses' Danny had mentioned. Apparently humans were crawling with little creatures and bugs that could kill them. Many of the pictures on the website had been horribly graphic.
No, humans simply weren't going to touch him anymore. There wasn't much he could do about the things that lived on The Danny – at least, according to the strange computer voice that had read the website's words to him, he was immune to most of those anyways. "If you say so," he told it.
"Don't you remember the original Dead Teacher? That was epic. Changed the future of cinematography forever." It pulled the little PDA out of its pocket to show him the screen. A picture similar to the movie poster over their heads was displayed.
He could not remember, of course, being that he'd never seen a movie before. And he refused to dig around in The Danny's memories to discover what it had been. "Of course," he said blandly.
"You're no fun," it pouted. "I thought you were looking forwards to this."
The human was. It had chattered about it for several days. However, when it came to standing in line for hours to get the tickets, it had decided that was a better job for a ghost to do.
"Oh, come on, Tucker, leave him be," The Sam said. When she set her arm around his shoulders, he hesitated. While he didn't mind this particular human, the pictures on that website were still burned into his memory. Why humans subjected themselves to viruses was beyond him.
Instead of shaking her arm off, he poked at the human mind. It stirred, but didn't wake. "I am excited," he said, attempting to sound somewhat happy about having to spend the afternoon indoors, in a dark room filled with lights and sounds.
"Yeah, I believe that," The Tucker said with an eye roll. "What's up with you today?"
He was going to answer, but a horrible cold feeling swamped him. It slammed into him like claws ramming into his chest, making him shiver and gasp. Little bumps raced up and down his arms.
What's that, Ghost? The human mind was almost instantly awake.
"Danny? What's wrong?" He wasn't sure who said it.
"I am cold," he said, his teeth chattered slightly. He rubbed at his arms. Looking around, he noticed that none of the other human seemed to notice the temperature change at all. He backed up at few steps before looking back at The Sam and The Tucker.
They were both staring at him oddly. "Why?" The Tucker asked.
He thought it was a stupid question and was going to say so, but the human mind reached for control of the body at that point and he gratefully gave way. I do not like being cold.
"Buy my ticket," The Danny said, backing up a few more steps. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" The Sam called.
After a few steps, he repeated the question. Where are we going?
"I'm going to find what's causing this cold. I'm sick of it."
He tensed. You are sick? Just the thought of one of those diseases being inside of the human body made him feel disgusting.
The Danny rolled its eyes as it started to track down the source of the cold. It walked up the street, feeling the cold sink deeper into its chest. "I'm not showing you any more websites," it muttered darkly. "And no, I'm not sick." It paused at the intersection of two streets, before taking a guess and going to the left. By this point, its breath was starting to fog the air.
It paused a few buildings down the street. "Look at that," it whispered. It pointed upwards.
Floating in the sky about three stories up was something that glowed an inhuman green. It had several flailing tentacles and a large, bulbous head.
"An octopus?" it asked. It looked around at the other humans on the street. No one seemed to have noticed the floating octopus-thing. When it looked up again, two more had appeared. "Do you know what they are, Ghost?"
They are ghosts. He shuddered a little as one of the ghosts seemed to look his way. Powerful ones, if they can have a form in the human world.
"What do we do?"
We leave them alone, he said frankly. Ghosts that have forms are things to be left alone. They will destroy you.
The human stood there, shivering, hands in its pockets, simply watching. "So… do you think it's these ghosts causing the cold?"
It is possible, he replied slowly. Although it is not something I have ever before experienced.
When the ghosts started to drift down the street away from them, The Danny followed.
Where are you going? We should leave them alone.
"I'll leave 'em alone," it said. "I just wanna see where they're going. Give me a minute." The ghosts started to move faster, and The Danny had to pick up speed to keep them in view. Soon it had gone from a walk to a fast jog, then to an outright sprint. By that point, The Danny had entered the park and was weaving through trees, trying to keep them in view.
Ghosts can fly far faster than you can run.
"Then take over and fly," it panted.
I do not wish to catch them. Chasing a ghost that is stronger than you is a plan that could end your existence. He stayed in the back of its mind. But a small sliver of thought made him add, You could fly after them, if you wanted.
It stumbled to a stop, chest heaving as it struggled to get enough air into its lungs. "I don't want to fly," it muttered.
Then you will not catch them.
It stood there, leaning against the tree and gasping for air, before it pushed away from the trunk with a dark, "Fine," and stumbled towards an open area. "How do I do this again, Ghost?"
Why do you care where they're going so badly? He pushed energy towards the human and felt it grab onto it.
"I just do, okay?" it said sharply, closing its eyes and unsteadily levitating into the air.
He pushed it invisible and quietly steadied the worst of the human's wobble. Stop worrying about falling.
"That's a little hard to do," it hissed, finally opening its eyes and pushing its way through the air. Its flight was slow – perhaps it would have been more likely to catch the ghosts had it ran. "I don't see them."
The cold is gone as well.
It dropped heavily to the ground, wincing when it landed a bit oddly on one foot. "Well, that was a waste of time."
We now know the source of the cold.
"True." It limped slightly as it started to head back towards its friends. "I wonder how many ghosts are in Amity Park?"
Three. Or perhaps more.
It sighed. "That's helpful."
I fail to see why you think I would have any better information than you on the subject.
"You're the ghost." It paused next to a tree, slowly rolling its foot around in a circle. "I think I twisted my ankle." When it started walking again, it asked, "Where do you think they went, Ghost?"
Why must you constantly refer to me that way?
"What?" It stepped out of the park and started back towards the movie theater. "As 'Ghost'? What else am I supposed to call you?"
He hesitated, not even sure why he was complaining. The term had simply started to get on his nerves. You don't need to refer to me as anything, he said slowly.
"Yeah, I don't think that's going to work. Humans refer to each other all the time."
I am not human.
"I haven't forgotten," it muttered, looking over its shoulder – no doubt in hopes of seeing the ghost octopuses again. "But I've got to have something to call you. And you refuse to tell me what your name is."
I do not have a name. Ghosts-
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," the human interrupted with a sigh. "You might not have one, but maybe you need one. Ya-know, since you're in the human world."
He was quiet as the human walked to the end of the block and turned down the street. The movie theater was in sight up ahead. Perhaps you are right.
"Do you want me to pick one for you?"
No. And I do not appreciate being the one who must wait in line for you at the movie theater.
It winced. "I guess that was a little mean," it conceded. "Just think about it. You could be the first ghost to ever have a name."
He settled back in the human's mind. Other ghosts have names. But they are all very powerful creatures. Only the most powerful have a name.
"Something new for you to experience then." It hesitated when The Sam came into sight. She was holding tickets. "You're going to stay quiet, then, so I can watch the movie? You're not going to ask a million questions?"
I will leave you alone. I will not break my end of the deal.
It relaxed a bit, smiling. "Awesome." Then it hurried up the street, wincing each time its foot touched the ground a bit harder than planned, grabbed the ticket, and vanished into the movie theater.
He curled up deep in the human's mind and contemplated what sort of a name he would like.
.
.12.
.
-Day 27-
It sank onto the bed that night, still grinning from the movie. The Sam and The Tucker had been chased home after supper. It's mind poked at him. "That was a great movie."
So you have said.
"I found the perfect name for you too!
I do not wish you to pick my name. He sighed and uncurled. It had been a long time since he'd not taken control of the human body for hours and hours on end. Spending most of the day curled up while the human enjoyed his Saturday had been somewhat tiring. At least he had The Danny's reassurance that he would have the night to enjoy.
"I heard it during the movie-"
I do not wish to hear of the movie any longer. He reached for the human body, relieved when the human gave way and the world came into clearer existence. He stretched, unconsciously rubbing his fingers together to feel the slight roughness of his skin. "As Jazz says, it is getting old."
But you should just hear the name-
"I have picked a name already," he interrupted. He crawled across the bed to peer out the window. The sun was slowly setting, staining the world interesting shades of purple and red.
Oh. It sounded taken-aback. After all that time telling me you didn't want one, that was fast.
"Only the most powerful have names," he said slowly, "and I am not one of them. But I see your reasoning as to why I should have one while I exist in this world. So I picked one."
Is it a good one? It sounded a little skeptical. Most people don't get to pick their names, you know.
He sighed, leaning forwards a bit to watch a small bird flit from place to place on the tree outside. "I believe I have remembered my real name."
Really? What is it?
"I have been having… memories. From when I was alive." He was quiet, resting his elbows on the windowsill. The bird flew off over the top of the house, leaving him with nothing to watch. "I have been remembering my family as well, I think."
Isn't that good?
"Perhaps," he whispered. "But it is not normal for a ghost like me to remember things like that."
The human mind was quiet. That's what you meant, the other day. When you said you were worried about turning human.
"Yes, it is part of the problem." Pushing away from the window, he got up and walked over to the mirror, staring at his reflection. At the black hair and blue eyes. He could almost forget, sometimes, that he didn't really have a form. That he didn't have eyes and fingers, much less black hair and a white shirt. "And I am getting a name."
You don't have to have a name, it said, feeling uncomfortable. I mean-
"No, you were correct. I need to be called something other than 'ghost'." He ran a hand through his hair, momentarily distracted by how easily his mind accepted that it was 'his' hair. "It is not your fault."
It winced slightly. Well, it kinda is…
He shook his head. "It is not worth arguing about any longer." He blankly stared at his reflection for a long moment.
So what is your name?
"I will be called Daniel."
It paused. That's my name.
"It is also mine," he added. Blue eyes stared back at him. He would be Daniel.
No… you can't have my name. You need to pick your own name.
He arched an eyebrow. "It is my name. I believe there are several Daniels at School. It is not an uncommon name."
True, it said, frustrated. But it was my name first.
"As I was born more than two centuries ago, I beg to differ."
It's my body!
He left the mirror, shaking his head, and pushed himself through the wall and into the air. It was more than dark enough to fly without being seen. "You are a jealous, pesky human thing."
I'm not jealous! It sounded furious.
"It is my body. It is my name. It is my friend. You cannot have any of them." He twisted past the tree where the bird had been fluttering and headed up towards the sky. "As you pointed out just a few minutes ago, it is your fault I am here."
It was very quiet. But…
When it stopped and didn't continue, he sighed. "It would be silly for me to have a different name than you anyways. You are insisting that we tell no one, so they are going to refer to me as Danny anyways. It would simply be confusing if my name were to be Sally or something."
Sally is a girl's name.
He let a little grin cross his face. "That is the best argument you can offer?
It's still my name.
"Danny is your name. My name will be Daniel."
There was a quiet beat. Daniel's my name too.
He snorted. "You have many names. Now you are just hoarding them."
It was quiet as he flew through the night.
He rolled a few loop-the-loops, raced down to skim over the top of the lake, and then settled onto the top of a tree. It quavered under his weight. "What is the name you thought of while watching the movie?"
He felt it squirm slightly. I thought it'd be a good name for a ghost. I didn't know you wanted a human name.
"Oh."
There was one character who died and he came back as a ghost. Everyone called him the Phantom.
He grinned. "So there are a few names that use 'the' before them."
It scowled at him. That's not what I meant.
"I do not mind the name. However, I believe my name will be Daniel. You may be Danny."
And you just get to choose.
"Yes." Throwing himself off a tree to chase a bat that had fluttered by, he grinned. The bat flew wildly left and right and up and down and he followed every movement. When he nearly caught it – would have, if he'd have truly wanted to catch the creature – he pulled up short, laughing. "I am the ghost. You are merely human."
It huffed at him. Are you ever going to stop thinking about me as an 'it'?
"When you stop treating me as an 'it', I will stop calling you one."
It poked at him, annoyed.
"Do you wish to try flying tonight?"
The flare of frustration made him laugh.