Consciousness came back to her slowly. Her neck was killing her and her cheek felt numb. Blinking her eyes open slowly, Kagome got an eyeful of dusty, stone floors. When she tried to push herself into a sitting position, her hands wouldn't move from their position behind her back. Okay. Try something else. Rolling over onto her back slowly, Kagome took in the vaulted stone ceilings, old cobweb-covered chandeliers and haunting, green hue of the place. Where was she?

Her neck was sore, her jaw was feeling a little stiff and she felt completely uneasy with her surroundings. Ghostly energy was all around her. It was almost suffocating how many ghosts there were! Where was this place? Some sort of haunted castle?

"I see you have awoken, witch."

Glancing over to her left, Kagome watched a flaming man stride towards her slowly. He had a green sword drawn, a flaming, purple cape billowing in the nonexistent wind, and purple flames around his grey helmet. He was wearing some sort of fitted, black bodysuit to show off every one of his muscles (did full ghosts even have muscles?) with a grey, wrapped skirt, gloves, boots and shoulder guards. She couldn't see his face- only two, bright neon green eyes that seemed to peer into the depths of her soul. She tried to scoot away from him, but he was quick to point his sword at her face.

"Resistance is futile, witch. I have gone through a fair bit of trouble to bring you to the king's domain," he spoke.

"I don't know who your king is. But, you can tell him to bite me!" Kagome shouted and attempted to draw on her magic. Eyes widening, she tried to glance behind her. It wasn't working! Trying again and getting the same results, Kagome nearly cursed. What was happening to her? Was it the haunted castle? No. Being around ghosts always drew out her magic. So what-

"The arrogance of youth. Or perhaps this be the arrogance of a witch?" the man questioned.

"Who are you? Where are we and why did you bring me here?" Kagome asked with a fierce glare. Okay. No magic. That's not good. She could still fight, but not with her hands chained behind her back. And this guy had a sword. This was not looking good. If she could keep him talking, then maybe she could think of a way out?

"I am the Fright Knight. Bringer of darkness and fear! The spirit of Halloween! And servant to the true king, Pariah Dark," Fright Knight said in a loud, grandiose voice. Geez. He was probably the type of bad guy who liked to monologue. "I have brought you, witch, to my king's domain. So that you may free him from his forever sleep and that he may reign once again over the ghost zone and all its inhabitants!"

"I'm in the ghost zone?" Kagome asked and looked around. She'd heard about the ghost zone from Danny and her grandmother, but she never thought that she'd actually see it.

"Yes, witch. I have committed a traitorous crime by bringing you into our domain, but my king will surely pardon me once he sees that it twas I who freed him," Fright Knight said and sheathed his sword.

"Oh? And what if he doesn't? I mean, what ghost would be happy to see a witch?" Kagome reasoned skeptically.

"The ghost child seems rather fond of you," Fright Knight pointed out smugly. Kagome's cheeks flamed. "Nonetheless, it is time for you to payest your dues, witch. You will use your magic to free my king," the Fright Knight said and pulled Kagome up onto her feet.

"What makes you think that I would help you?" Kagome fought back. She didn't know a lot about Pariah Dark. Danny had mentioned once that he had fought the Ghost King and won, but it was years ago and he'd nearly lost his life in the process. As if she'd let him out on purpose!

"I do not believe that you have much of a choice, witch," Fright Knight promised and lead her away.

Okay. It was a petty thing to get angry over, but she couldn't help but be annoyed that he was only referring to her as "witch". "My name is Kagome. Not "witch"," Kagome argued as she fought against him.

"I do not care! In this castle, under this banner, you are my prisoner and you shall do as you are told!" Fright Knight commanded and hoisted Kagome over his shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down! You medieval Neanderthal! Let me go!"

Despte wriggling like mad from within his hold, Kagome was getting nowhere fast. Okay. Time for a new plan. What could she do with her hands chained behind her back and no magic to help her? Why couldn't she use her magic anyways? Was it the surroundings? Who knew what being in the ghost zone would do to her magic?

When the Fright Knight stopped in front of a large pair of doors, she bent at the side to look behind her. Once the doors were opened, she could see a large room that was bare of any decor. There was only a large, green staircase with a colorful sarcophagus at the top. Oh boy. It probably wouldn't do much, but she would try it anyways. "Help! Help me!"

"There is no one to aid you now."

Where was Danny Phantom when you needed him?

~:~

The ghost zone was completely empty. And not like it had been the last time he'd seen it. This time, there wasn't a soul to be found- no pun intended. Had they all really run away or were they just hiding? That didn't matter right now. All that mattered was finding Kagome. And Danny didn't have a lot of time to do it in. He needed help now and there was only one ghost who could help him. Hopefully, he'd still be home.

Stopping above Clockwork's clocktower, Danny nearly breathed a sigh of relief. Nearly. He still had to make sure Clockwork was here. Flying through the walls of the floating tower, Danny looked around the silent domain. The only sounds he could hear were his footsteps along the ground and his heart pounding in his ears. "Clockwork!? Are you here? I need you help!" Danny shouted. When he received no response, Danny cursed softly under his breath.

Coming into the main room of the clocktower, Danny looked around again to no avail. There was no sign of Clockwork anywhere. He couldn't have runoff too! Could he? Clockwork never seemed scared of anything- not even Danny's future self from that alternate reality. Speaking of him, Danny's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the familiar Fenton Thermos innocently resting on the room. It was carelessly rolled onto the floor, dents and bumps all over its surface. Geez. Wasn't Clockwork taking good care of it?

"You rang?"

Jumping up, Danny turned quickly to spot Clockwork gliding into the room. "Clockwork! You're still here! Listen, I need your help," Danny started.

"Let me guess. To find the witch," Clockwork replied as he smoothly bent over to reach the thermos that had fallen again. He placed it back onto the table again before gliding away.

Danny's wary gaze fell on the thermos. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that it almost looked like his face was imprinted on the metal. Shaking himself out roughly to clear his thoughts, Danny went on. "Yes. You know where she is?"

He knew everything. But Clockwork didn't say this aloud. While carelessly turning the dial on his staff, Clockwork spoke evenly, "It was easy to determine that she arrived about the time when the screaming and panic started."

"What?"

"I'm guessing you noticed the lack of neighbors."

"You've never had neighbors," Danny pointed out smartly. It wasn't a lie that most ghosts found Clockwork's mannerisms and personality a bit insufferable. No one liked a know-it-all. But that was besides the point! "Where is she Clockwork?"

Clockwork gazed evenly down at Danny as he shifted from middle-aged to old to young and back. The urgent look in the teen's eyes was undeniable. Perhaps there would be no time for a lesson today? Gliding over to the swirling portal in the room, Clockwork rested his hand on the face.

Danny quickly moved in closer to inspect what Clockwork was showing him. It was Kagome! But this was last night... Danny watched Kagome walk out into her backyard before being grabbed from behind by- "The Fright Knight!? He's the one who's been after Kagome!? But why? T-that doesn't make any sense," Danny argued.

"Perhaps not now, but soon it will," Clockwork hinted and gestures his head to the swirling image of Pariah Dark's castle in the middle of the portal.

"Thanks, Clockwork. I gotta go," Danny said before turning to fly off.

"I want to meet her," Clockwork quickly interrupted. Danny paused to shoot a curious look back at Clockwork. "Whether it be in the future or the past is completely up to you."

As cryptic as ever. "Uh... Sure. I gotta save her first. Thanks again, Clockwork!" Danny exclaimed and took off. Clockwork watched him go before the sound of metal clattering to the floor captured his attention. The thermos had fallen again.

~:~

Okay. This was not what she signed up for. Kagome looked up at the large sarcophagus in front of her before turning back to glance warily at the Fright Knight. "What am I supposed to do?" Kagome asked.

Comically, the Fright Knight's green eyes widened. "Don't you know?" he asked with a surprised tone.

Kagome nearly rolled her eyes. "Obviously not. I don't even know where to begin," Kagome scoffed.

"Do not play games! It was a witch who crafted the sarcophagus so a witch should be able to open it!"

"Yeah! Except I have no idea how it was made! Why don't you go find the witch who made it!?" Kagome shouted back. Honestly, it wasn't the best idea to anger her ghostly captor, but she was losing her patience!

"That witch has long since left the world of the living so the task falls to you," Fright Knight said and unsheathed his sword. Pointing its blade at her, he continued, "I suggest that you make haste. I will show no mercy to a witch."

"Don't you think you should take the chains off first? I can't do magic with my hands behind my back. I'm not that skilled," Kagome scoffed and rolled her eyes for added effect. It was a total lie. But if she could get her hands free, she could probably distract the ghost and make a run for it.

Fright Knight narrowed his gaze. This witch was a crafty one. He had to remain on guard. "You think you are clever, witch? I know to keep at least a shackle on you. You won't be using your magic on me," Fright Knight scoffed and released her right hand.

Instantly, Kagome felt a small surge in her magic. Staring down at her hand in surprise, she glanced at the shackles. What kind of shackles were these? They could block her magic!? How could she get them off!?

"Enough stalling! Perform your spell at once! Or else," Fright Knight threatened.

She would only get one shot at this. Fright Knight hadn't used a key to unlock her shackle so there had to be some special way to do it. If she could just get away... Taking a deep breath, Kagome raised her hands before the sarcophagus. She swore that she could hear the Fright Knight inhale sharply behind her. 'Here goes nothing.' Quickly praying that this worked, Kagome swung her shackled arm out with as much force as she could. The loose shackle struck the Fright Knight over his head and left him groaning in pain. 'Gotta get out of here!'

Fright Knight held his head in one hand and his sword in the other. The witch was escaping! Growling lowly, he reached out to grab the girl by the back of her shirt before pulling her to him. He held his sword to her neck as a warning. Gripping her free hand carefully, he pressed it to the lock on the front of the sarcophagus. When nothing happened, he tried again.

That was anticlimactic. Kagome nearly rolled her eyes as she sighed and looked away. Having her hand pressed against the cool sarcophagus starting to feel more annoying than anything. "Why. Isn't. It. Working!?" she heard the Fright Knight ask, her hand touching the wood after every word. "Can I go now?" Kagome rudely asked. There was no point in staying. She couldn't get the thing open. This was pointless!

There was one more thing he could try. Turning the witch to face him, Fright Knight put away his sword in favor of a small blade that he kept hidden in his boot. The witch watched him fearfully and suspiciously. She had every reason to. This was going to be painful. Preparing for the backlash, Fright Knight quickly slashed the blade along the palm of her free hand. Ignoring her pained cries, he stuck the bloody blade into the lock on the sarcophagus. A witch's blood was magical. He couldn't force her to use the magic she held within her, but he could certainly borrow a bit of it.

"You psychopath!" Kagome shouted as she clenched her hand shut. The wide gash was stinging and her hand was dripping blood onto the floor. She was about to chew him out some more (and maybe vaporize him with her magic), but she stopped when the sarcophagus rattled. Taking a cautionary step back, Kagome watched the lock on the sarcophagus quickly rust over and disintegrate. The bloody knife fell from the lock as the wood of sarcophagus started to blacken. The wood splintered loudly as the entire thing violently shook and wobbled.

"Who dares to awaken me!?"

It was such a stereotypical thing to shout, but it did its job. The deep, booming voice startled and terrified the daylights out of her! Eyes wide, Kagome turned and ran for her life.

~:~

Moi-Moi: Don't forget to review!