Chapter Sixteen: Water Phantom
Jack couldn't hear what the two were talking about, but it seemed to make Danny laugh. For a moment, a tiny moment, he regretted what he was doing to his son. Then he remembered that this wasn't his son, this was a monster using his son's face. Scowling, he turned away from the box and went to prepare the next test.
Danny's tests would have to wait, but now that he'd determined that Phantom could actually breathe it was time for his water challenge. He would have to make sure he couldn't escape, though, so he had to put a Fenton Ghost Shield on pretty much everything.
The next problem was how to get Danny to release his hold on the ghost. Easily solved, if he would be obedient and let go when he was told to, but it hadn't worked the last few times and it wouldn't work now.
He needed to do another option. Phantom seemed to behave when he watched Danny's test, so maybe Danny would behave if he watch Phantom's. He headed back to the lab and opened the box, startling the two from their conversation. "Both of you, out." He nodded to them. "Phantom, I'm not going to use the Wraith Wrangler this time, as I trust you know what will happen to Danny if you resist."
"…Right." Phantom got up after Danny did, looking at him warily.
"I've decided to give you the same test I came Danny before." Jack said as he led them out, his grip tight on Danny's arm. Phantom followed reluctantly, his gaze on the elevator even when they stopped. "I've installed shields, but I'm going to assume I won't have to use them." He opened the door and Danny gasped, realizing where they were.
"Why are you having him do this test?!" Danny asked.
"Because he does breathe, so I want to know how long he can hold his breath." Jack said, then pointed to the ladder. "In there, Phantom. Swim down to the—" He was cut off by Phantom taking a deep breath and then just going through the tank to float just above the bottom. Jack activated the stopwatch, making a mental note to add five seconds to the count.
Danny approached the tank and reached out to touch it, Phantom reached out to meet his hand with his. It was almost sweet, the way they had such a kinship. Danny brought up his other hand and rested his forehead on the glass, Phantom mirroring his motions. Jack made notes, glancing at the stopwatch every now and then. He trusted Danny to tell him when Phantom was running out of air, so he could take his eyes off of the tank for a little while.
When he glanced up at them, they were moving their hands as one on each side of the glass, both looking equally lonely by just the glass separating them. He glanced at the stopwatch, noticing that they had been in here for five hours now. He got up and walked to the door. "Danny, I'm going to get you some food. If I find that either of you have left or that he fudged up the test, he's starting over." He walked out and shut the door.
Danny glanced at his father leaving and then glanced back at Phantom, letting out a panting gasp. He had been trying to hold his breath, but he'd had to stop every two hours. Phantom gave him a pitying smile and shook his head, his softly glowing body resembling a deep-water fish in the tank. "How much longer can you do this?" Danny asked softly.
Phantom closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the glass.
'I only appear to need to breathe. I'll have to fake it if I'm going to get out of here, but I have to do it in front of him.' Danny heard in his head. He gasped, not realizing that Phantom had that ability. 'Don't tell him about this ability. He can't know all our cards, after all. He already knows too much.'
Danny nodded, leaning his head against the glass. "Okay." He whispered. "When did you develop it?"
'I was desperate. I had to talk to you, even when we're apart. I came up with it while we were talking earlier.' Phantom glanced away. 'Pretty sure it only works between me and you, though…so I can't call for help.'
"That's fine." Danny whispered. "This is enough. Even if we never escape, we still have each other."
The door opened and Danny and Phantom looked over at Jack coming in with food. He looked at Phantom still in the tank and then at the stopwatch. As if on cue, Phantom started to thrash a bit, covering his mouth with both hands. Turning off the stopwatch, Jack nodded to Phantom. At his okay, Phantom left the tank, hacking and coughing on all fours.
"You okay?" Danny whispered, sitting next to him.
'I got a bit of water in my mouth during the drowning act.' Phantom replied in his mind.
Danny nodded and took the offered towel, wrapping it around Phantom's shoulders.
"Lunch time." Jack gestured to the food. "After you've eaten, we'll go back to the box."
"I-If we don't run, could he stay in my bedroom?" Danny asked. "It's just…I do miss beds…"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to tether him to the bed." He informed them.
Danny nodded. Phantom didn't know why Danny would promise that, when they had a chance to escape if they went to the bedroom? Then again, their last failed attempt and the threats of one being hurt if the other disobeyed rang strongly in their minds.
After they finished their lunch, Jack took them to Danny's bedroom, tethering Phantom to the bed as promised. It was long enough for him to talk about the room, but strong enough he couldn't remove it.
"Rest well." Jack said, shutting the door and locking it.