Chapter 16: part 2:
~~~DANNY'S POV~~~
Ever since we came back with Saralyn, she's been acting a little... strange. Actually, strange is sugarcoating it. Sara's been downright weird, bizarre, wacko. Just very... un-Sara-ish.
"Sara, you sure you're okay?" I asked as we walked to school.
"Duh!" she cried, thrusting her arms out to the sides of her. "I'm better than ever!"
"Uh..." I said, studying her.
Something just... doesn't seem right. I thought. But, what?
I examined what she was wearing. Today she was wearing a super-large t-shirt colored with stains and hung loosely off her body, baggy sweats and sneakers that looked puke-green.
I studied her face. Same eye color, same hair color, same features. I shook my head.
Maybe it's a girl thing... I thought.
"Hey, Danny?" Saralyn said.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"I, uh... left my books at my house. Can you meet me somewhere tonight?"
I was slightly shocked by that. Was she asking me out?
"Uh, sure." I said slowly.
"Thanks." Saralyn smiled.
She took out a crumpled up piece of paper and a pen. She scribbled something down and gave it to me. She then turned in the other direction and bolted. I raised my eyebrow and looked that the piece of paper, which I had to squint in order for my brain to comprehend the scribbles.
Yeah, something's TOTALLY up. I thought.
I shook my head, stuffing the piece of paper into my pocket. I continued walking down the street.
~~~SARALYN'S POV~~~
I felt my heart drop into my stomach, but I shook it off and transformed to my ghost half as I ran. I moved quickly, gracefully avoiding the obstacles and the large clusters of guards that stood in my way. I declared to myself that one day I could be an epic spy or star in an action movie. I heard the sound of crashing in the prison room. I whipped around and saw Metallica lying on the ground, motionless.
"Metallica!" I cried.
I ran towards him and knelt by his side.
"Metallica! Are you okay?" I said, shaking him slightly.
"I'm fine," Metallica moaned in pain. "just... go."
"No, I'm not leaving you here!"
"Oh, look." Skulker said, standing a few feet away from us. "Looks like the ghost whelp has found a new crush."
"What?! He's a bird!" I said. I turned to Metallica. "No offense."
"None taken." Metallica said, glaring daggers at Skulker.
Skulker stepped towards us and a fully loaded rocket launcher emerged from his armor.
"Get back!" I said, standing in front of Metallica. I extended my hand forward as it started glowing with ectoplasm. "Not one more move."
Skulker chuckled. "You think that your puny little ghost ray is a match against me?"
I glanced up at the ceiling and noticed a giant chandelier hanging. I smiled.
"No, but this will." I said.
I shot my hand up and a ghost ray shot from my hand to the chandelier. The ray sliced through the chain and the chandelier came down. It landed on Skulker, smashing him to the ground and knocking him out instantly.
"Yes, it worked!" I cried, pumping my fist in the air. I turned back to Metallica. "Do you think you can stand?"
Metallica struggled to stand, but I could hear the gears in him failing. "No."
"Here, give me your wing." I said, offering my hand.
Metallica obeyed. I grabbed his other wing and lifted us into the air. For a giant metal bird, he was really light.
"Alright, let's go." I said.
I flew through many doors, Metallica guiding me of how to get out.
"You okay?" Metallica asked.
"No, I'm not!" I snapped. "There's an evil clone of me roaming through Amity Park and my friends think it's me! What am I going to do?!"
"Okay, first off, calm down." Metallica said. "I'm pretty sure we'll think of something to get rid of the SC1."
"You sure?"
"Of course, I mean, I helped make the clone."
"WHAT?!" I screeched.
"That's not the point!" Metallica said. "The SC1 couldn't have done much damage. I mean, what's the worst that can happen?"
The worst would happen tonight.
~~~DANNY'S POV~~~
"Hey, watch it, Jazz! Ow!" I cried as my sister shoved a brush through my hair.
"How can I?!" She cried. "I mean, my little brother is going on his FIRST DATE!"
"How many times do I have to tell you?! It's not a date!" I said, swatting the brush out of her hand. "I'm just meeting with my friend."
"Who just so HAPPENS to be a girl, and it's just you two. ALONE..." Jazz said with a smirk.
"Whatever." I said rolling my eyes.
But still, I couldn't help but think.
Am I REALLY going on a date with Saralyn? I thought. I mean, we're just friends hanging out. She is my best friend, but...
"So, we need to talk about what you should wear." Jazz said, interrupting my thoughts.
I huffed a frustrated breath from my nose, but I felt a light bulb go off in my head.
"Hey, Jazz..." I said. "Why don't I pick something out and you critique it for me?"
"Okay." She said giddily.
She skipped out of the room, probably eager to tell mom and dad. And I was right.
Five seconds later... "DANNY!" my parents cried, bursting into my room. Jazz strolled in after them.
"Why didn't you tell us you were going on a date with someone?!" Mom cried.
"Mom, like I told Jazz, I'm just hanging out with a friend."
"Who just so HAPPENS to be a GIRL..." Dad said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just the two of us. ALONE." I said, mocking Jazz.
"Well," my mother said, shaking her head. "if you need anything, just let us know. I want your... GET-TOGETHER with your... uh, friend, to be perfect."
"Mooom!" I groaned.
"I didn't say that, but if you say so, then that's that. Whatever you say." she said, winking at my dad.
I buried my face in my hand and pointed at the door. "Just... go."
My parents looked at each other.
Jazz placed her hands on her hips. "Danny, you're so frustrating." she said.
"I'M frustrating?!" I said. "How could you like a brush made of porcupine quills scraped against your head?!"
I turned around and crossed my arms as the door closed. I took a deep breath and changed into my ghost form. I phased through my wall and welcomed the cold wind that pricked my skin. My body shivered with the cold, but also from nerves. I reached into my pocket and took out the piece of paper Sara gave me. I read it, then raised my eyebrow.
The address is... an alley? I thought.
I stopped about a block away from the place and changed forms. I entered the alley, but there wasn't anyone else.
"Danny?" A voice said.
I turned around and Saralyn was approaching me.
"Hey." I said, noticing my voice cracked. I clear my throat. "You look... nice."
She was wearing a red skater dress with three-quarter sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Her eyes were striking in the moonlight and her hair fell softly on her shoulders.
Saralyn blushed. "Thanks."
There was a small silence.
"So..." I said. "Why did you ask me to come?"
"Well..." Sara said, scratching her head. "There's been something I wanted to do..."
I raised my eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you know how we've been friends for a while..." she said shyly, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Yeah..." my voice cracked again.
Saralyn turned around quickly.
"Nevermind, this is silly." she said.
"You okay?" I asked. "Just tell me."
Saralyn took a couple of deep breaths. She turned around.
"I like you. A lot."
I swallowed the strange urge to throw up. What? She likes me?
"Wow." I said, my ears growing hot. "That was sure unexpected..."
Saralyn blushed more and stepped closer to me.
"There's something I've wanted to do ever since I met you." she said, stepping even closer to me.
She leaned in and butterflies erupted from my stomach like a volcano. But still, I leaned in too.
"DANNY!" a voice screeched.
A ghost ray shot out and hit Saralyn, knocking her into a heap of trash cans.
"What the?!" I cried.
I changed forms. I whirled around and froze.
What in the...?!
I shook my head to see if I was hallucinating, but what was in front of me was real. Her brown hair now white, her playful lavender eyes now neon green and hard, full of horror and rage. Standing next to a giant metal eagle.
It was Saralyn.
~~~SARALYN'S POV~~~
"Th-th... there's TWO OF YOU?!" Danny screamed.
"No, Danny." I said, shaking my head. "I'm the real Saralyn. That one's a clone!"
"No, I'm the real Saralyn!" the SC1 said. "It's obvious she's the clone!"
Danny looked back and forth at me and the SC1. He turned and charged at me.
"Huh?!" I cried.
I dodged as Danny threw a punch at me.
"Danny, it's me!" I cried.
"Nice try!" he said.
"Danny..."
Danny lunged at me again, but I dodged it. He quickly turned around and grabbed my arms.
"Hey, let go!" I cried.
"You leave Sara alone!" Danny said.
"I AM Sara!" I said. I felt tears fill my eyes. How could he not know it's me? My tears grew hot with anger. "That does it!"
I lurched forward and Danny flew over my body and flipped onto his back. He gasped as the wind knocked out of him. My eyes glowed and I shot my hand out and Danny lifted into the air. I thrust my arm forward and Danny went crashing into the wall. He slid into a garbage can. I turned around and glared at the SC1, who was picking a rotten banana peel off her shoulder. She smirked at me.
"What's the matter?" she said. "Did I strike a nerve? Seems more like a thousand."
An orange tabby cat strutted to my side and uttered a soft mew. It dawned on me. Skulker's too stupid to create a perfect copy of me.
"Sorry, Mr. Cat." I said.
I stretched out my hand and lifted the cat into the air. It yelped as I shot it towards the SC1, slamming into her face.
"Hey! Get this off me!" she cried as she tried to rip the frantic feline off of her face.
"Come on..." I muttered. I moved my hand in a windshield wiper motion, rubbing the cat more in her face.
Suddenly, a force slammed into me. The tabby cat landed on the ground and scurried out of the alley. I hit the asphalt with a strained "OOF!" and I felt hands pin me to the ground.
"Danny, get off me!" I cried. "I'm the real Saralyn! You've got to believe me!"
"If you think I'm a fool-!" Danny said.
"Ah... ahhh..." a voice stifled.
"Danny, look!"
Danny lifted his head. The SC1 stood there with her face scrunched up and she staggered back.
"Aaah... ACHOOO!"
There was a strong gust of wind, and I took the opportunity to throw Danny away me. A pair of black wings appeared of the SC1's back and she gasped. Her eyes found me and she growled. I sat up and leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. The SC1 picked up her wings and took off into the air.
"So long, losers!" she said.
"Get back here!" Metallica screeched.
He picked up his wings and flew after her.
"Metallica, no!" I cried.
I was too exhausted to do anything but watch Metallica disappear.
"Sara..." Danny said.
He walked over to me and offered his hand. I stared at his outstretched hand then up at him. My exhaustion bubbled into anger and I found the strength to stand up by myself. I glared at Danny one more time before turning and walking away, out of the alley and down the street.
~~~DANNY'S POV~~~
I kicked myself repeatedly on the way home.
I'm the world's stupidest jerk. I can't believe I mistook Sara for the SC1.
I huffed out an angry sigh. I looked up at the sky. It was perfectly clear, not one sign of a cloud in sight. The moon and the stars blinked in radiance, like they were dancing together. I sighed again.
A chilly wind blew. I didn't care. My whole body felt numb.
All of a sudden, a light flashed before me. I hovered my hand over my eyes and squinted. When the light subsided, I flinched when I saw a girl standing in front of me. Her back was turned to me as she looked up at the sky. She wore a fitted brown leather racerback tank top with black halter straps, black leather pants, and knee-high combat boots with multiple buckles down the side. Her longhair was back in a braid that laid over her shoulder and reached down to her ribcage, but the freaky thing was it was rainbow-colored, like a unicorn threw up on her head.
"Um... can I help you?" I said.
The girl turned around and stared at me with eyes just as freaky as her hair: two different colors, one white, one gold. She stepped towards me and stood on her tiptoes, examining my face at an uncomfortably close distance.
"Uh..." I said, leaning away from her. "Ever heard of personal space?"
An annoyed expression grew on her face. She stepped back and walked around me, examining me from head to toe. When we were face to face again, she reached up and tugged on my hair.
"Ow!" My cries didn't seem to faze her as she reached her hands out and grabbed my cheeks. I grabbed her hands and pried them away. "Hey, what's your deal?!"
The girl wrenched her hands from my grip with ease, offended by the act of me touching her.
"Strong, but stubborn with the brain of a bull." she said, shaking her head. "But no matter. Your heart is pure."
"Um... thanks... and hey!" I said.
The girl grabbed my hand and held it in hers.
"The second Hero." she said. She scoffed. "With female issues. Typical boy behavior. What it is, I don't care, you must fix things with Saralyn. Your destiny is coming."
"My what? How do you know Sara's name?" I said.
The girl let go of my hand and backed away. She thrust her hand out and a ball of glowing green power formed in front of me. I reached out to touch it when it suddenly shot towards me and absorbed into my chest. I clutched my heart and staggered back.
"You're welcome, Daniel Fenton." the girl said.
"How do you-" I looked up, but the girl was gone.
I stood up straight and glanced down at my body. Nothing seemed to be different, but that was unpleasant enough to not leave something behind. What did she do to me?
She said I needed to fix things with Saralyn. I mean, even if I didn't meet her, of course I would still do that.
~~~SARALYN'S POV~~~
When I flew my window, I flopped onto my bed and sighed.
"So, how was your date?" a voice said.
I cried out as I sat up straight. Carmen leaned against the door with her arms crossed.
"What are you talking about?" I said.
"The date you had with Danny!" she said. "Duh!"
"Date?" I said. "I didn't go on a date with him."
"Oh, okay..." Carmen said, winking at me. "Sure..."
I shook my head. I seriously didn't know what she was talking about...
Maybe... I thought.
My eyes widened.
Did the SC1 ask Danny out? Oh man. I mean, she was my CLONE! Same face, same body, same style... SAME FEELINGS! Oh, no! Did the SC1 tell Danny of my feelings for him?!
"Sara?" Carmen said, poking me in the side. "You okay?"
"Huh?" I jolted. "Uh... y-yeah..."
Carmen stared at me, and it was obviously she could see right through me.
"What happened?"
I let out a big sigh. Then, I told her. About getting kidnapped, Metallica letting me out, and the SC1 Skulker created from me that almost kissed Danny.
Saying that made me want to throw up. When I finished, Carmen was silent with wide eyes.
"Wow..." Carmen said. "The craziest thing I've done today is burn a few of my popcorn kernels in the microwave."
"Carmen!" I cried.
"Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood." Carmen said, holding her hands up.
I rested my face in my hands.
"You should have seen the look on his face. He didn't believe me when I was telling the truth. What am I gonna do?" I said.
"Give it time. You know how boys can be." Carmen said.
"Oh, and you do?" I said, flashing her a teasing grin.
Carmen gave me a shove.
"You know what I mean. Everything's going to be fine. Trust me."
Carmen walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. I crossed my arms and buried my head in my pillow.