Chapter 12: Me And My Phantom

(Cato's POV)

I woke up and saw myself in a familiar spot. I was in a mall with a fair happening in front of me. I heard screaming from behind and as I turned around, I was terrified. I saw walkways collapsing right there in front of my eyes. I ran to the scene and towards a familiar young ghost trying to dig something out. I finally realized that I was in my memory, cuz what the girl dug out was me. I saw myself ran towards my parents' bodies and tears started to fall from my face as I reminisce the day I lost my family. Then, a voice started talking from behind me.

Phantom: Isn't this a beautiful sight to see?

Cato: You?!

Phantom: This was one of my favourite moments. Because this was the time you ever felt like you've lost something.

Cato: Why am I here? Answer me!

Phantom: Because I wanted to crush you before I take over.

Cato: You're never gonna take over me. You hear me?!

Phantom: Huh, naive as always, Cato. I already have.

Cato: What?

The phantom started laughing and the world started to break into pieces. It felt like I was falling into a deep dark abyss.

(Haunted Mansion)

I woke up from my sleep with a loud scream. I looked around and things were just normal. Except the fact that Amber was sleeping right beside me and she woke up as soon as I screamed.

Amber: Cato? What's wrong?

Cato: Nothing. Sorry. Get some rest.

Amber: Okay.

Amber then fell asleep again and I walked out. It's a good thing today's Saturday, cuz I really need to take a breather. I planned on going for a little stroll around town. Before I left, I looked in the mirror and I had chills going up my spine. There was something different about me. My eyes weren't like they used to be. My eyes were completely black. Then, my body started moving on it's own. Right when I know it, it was too late.

Phantom: Time to have some real fun, hehehe!

(3rd person POV)

(Park)

The coyote and the amber fox were having a good morning walking around the park holding hands. Until they saw the white skinned boy passing by.

Jake: Hey, Cato. Where have you been? You missed school yesterday.

Cato just kept his head down and kept quiet.

Kelsey: Cato? Are you alright?

Cato: Oh, I'm fine. But you're not.

Jake: What?

Cato punched Jake at the chest and he was sent flying backwards as Kelsey went to his aid. Cato then walked over to them, pushed Kelsey out of his way, pinned Jake down and punched him across his face multiple times. Kelsey tried to pull him back but it was no use. Until Darwin, Dante, Lexy, Jamie and Ivan came.

Ivan: Hey, what's going on?

Cato turned around with drool flowing down his mouth and a creepy grin on his face. Then, he went in and attacked Ivan and did the same thing he did to Jake. Darwin and Dante managed to pull him back but the both of them got hit by Cato's clothesline. His brutal attack ended there with Lexy, Jamie and worst of all Kelsey traumatized on what just happened and the others hurt laying on the ground. Cato ran away without saying another word.

Kelsey: Jake, are you okay?

Jake: I'll live.

Dante: What was that about?

Lexy: Ivan, did you piss him off or something?

Ivan: I haven't seen him ever since two days ago. And we just saw him strangling Jake! How is this MY fault?!

Jamie: He's got a point.

Ivan: Thank you.

Darwin: Anyone else noticed that he was drooling like crazy?

Kelsey: Yeah, he had black eyes as well. Something's not right.

Lexy: Maybe we should ask Carrie and Amber about this.

Jake: Good call, let's go.

(Haunted Mansion)

Amber: He did what?!

Kelsey: Yeah, now Jake's completely bruised. And so is Ivan.

Amber: But why though?

Lexy: We don't know, but his eyes were black and he was drooling a lot.

Amber: Did you see where he went?

Darwin: We don't know about that either.

Amber: We gotta find him, right now!

Dante: Why? What's going on?

Amber: No time to talk. We need to move now! Jake, Ivan, are you gonna go with us or stay here?

Jake: Of course we're following you.

Ivan: Yeah, not letting you have all the fun.

Amber: Okay, let's go.

Kelsey: No wait.

Amber: What is it?

Just then, the doorbell rang so Amber went to the door and opened it.

Amber: Riki? Anna? What are you doing here?

Riki: Dunno, we got a text telling us to meet up here.

Lexy: Oh, so you got my text.

Anna: What's wrong with Cato?

Amber: No idea. We were just about to search for him.

Riki: Then you should've been with us earlier.

Gumball: What? You saw him?

Riki: Yeah, he was just standing in an alleyway. We'll take you there.

Amber: Okay, let's go guys.

(Alleyway)

The group made it to the alleyway where Riki and Anna saw Cato earlier.

Carrie: Are you sure he was here just now?

Riki: Positive.

Gumball: Um..you guys might need to look at this.

Everyone turned to where Gumball was looking and it was actually a message written in spray paint saying "You won't save him!"

Kelsey: Is this another one of your graffiti thing Ivan?

Ivan: Nah, Cato did this.

Amber: How can you tell?

Ivan: Look at the bottom right.

There was actually an initial from Cato on the bottom right corner.

Darwin: Well, at least we know he's close.

Dante: Yeah, we better get going before he makes some more.

Ivan: Hang on. Cover your mouths everyone.

They did as what Ivan told and he pulled out a can of spray paint from his pocket. He shook it and sprayed it on top of Cato's initial to cover it up.

Ivan: There. At least after Cato goes back to normal, he won't know he did this.

Gumball: Do you seriously carry a can of spray paint everywhere you go?

Ivan: I carry a lot of things everywhere I go.

Amber: Guys, we're wasting time. We need to find him quick!

Carrie: Question is, where do we go from here?

?: You don't need to, cuz you found me already.

Everyone turned around and saw Cato standing in front of them.

Amber: Cato, what happened to you?

Cato?: I'm not Cato anymore. I'm his phantom.

Amber: Phantom?

Phantom: Even a ghost doesn't understand. My, my, such a pity.

Amber: Why do you even want to take control of him?

Phantom: Anger, worries, fear, loneliness, these are but a few things that are hidden deep inside this boy. That's why I'm here. To let it all out.

Gumball: No way. Give back Cato.

Phantom: I'm afraid Cato is no more.

Amber: No, he can't be gone. I know he's still in there.

Phantom: Foolish little girl. When I say he's gone, I mean he's gone!

Amber: No, no, NO!

Carrie: Amber, wait!

Amber rushed towards Cato's phantom and tried to get inside of him to get Cato back, but the phantom just had to punch her in the face. However, Cato managed to snap out of it for awhile and saw Amber hurt with a bruise on her cheek in result of his punch.

Cato: Amber?

Everyone was looking at Cato while Cato was looking at his own two hands. Thinking that all this was his fault, he ran off using his super speed.

Gumball: Cato! Cato!

Darwin: It's no use, man. Let it go.

Ivan: Well, what do we do now?

Jake: Dunno, how did this even happen?

Carrie: That's what we're trying to find out right now. We have absolutely no idea how did it happen.

Lexy: Well, if so, then we should start figuring it out.

Riki: But where to start? We don't have any hints on this thing. Carrie, you're a ghost. What was all that?

Carrie: I don't know. This isn't something like that Jealousy spirit.

Anna: Are we really going to lose Cato?

Everyone kept on buzzing and talking, causing Amber to lose her patience.

Amber: Everybody shut up!

They all kept quiet after those loud words.

Amber: Okay, we don't know what's happening, but arguing like this isn't going to help us. We need to calm down a little.

Kelsey: Amber's right. We should be calm and collective about this. This is the one time Cato needs our help and for us to repay everything he's done to help us. He helped us a lot of times, now it's our turn to help him.

Darwin: Okay, we hear you.

Gumball: So, you got a plan, Amber?

Amber looked at them with a sly grin.

Amber: Just one.

(Forest Of Doom)

Cato finally got tired and stopped running. Soon after, he got into a debate with the phantom again.

Phantom: What's wrong? Not brave enough to punch your little sweetheart?

Cato: Why? Why'd you do that?

Phantom: Are you that stupid? I'm you. I know every single thing you know, even your feelings towards that ghosty. And I already told you that I wanna crush you bit by bit.

Cato: That's it, I'm through with you.

Phantom: Huh, what are you gonna do?

Cato: Something really stupid.

Cato put his arms over his head and tried his best to get the phantom out of his head using his consciousness. He struggled very hard to do it and getting through the pain.

Phantom: What do you think you're doing?

Cato: I'm getting you outta my head! Now get out!

Phantom: Hahaha, you don't know what you're doing, kid. Getting me out of you is going to make things far worse. Make sure you won't regret what you're doing.

Cato: I said GET OUTTA MY HEAD!

Cato tried so hard to get him out, he even had to roll on the ground to do it. About a few minutes of fighting inside Cato's head, the phantom suddenly stopped. He wasn't talking and Cato can't hear him talk anymore.

Cato: I can't believe it. You're out. Finally.

Cato stood up but suddenly he was attacked from behind and got pinned on the ground by the phantom, he was just like Cato, only the phantom was black skinned.

Phantom: See? What did I tell you?! You just gave me an opportunity to have a physical form of myself. Now, I don't need you!

The phantom tried to punch Cato in the face but he managed to dodge every single punch he throws. He finally got up and engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with the phantom. Cato tried his best to block every attack the phantom makes. He tried to attack the phantom back but his fist just went through his body like mist. Then, the phantom grabbed his arm and chopped it at both the upper arm and forearm, causing Cato's arm to get injured badly. Finally, they stopped.

Phantom: Heh, you're just wasting my time. I got bigger fish to fry.

Cato: And where do you think you're going?

Phantom: Where else? I'm going back to the museum. Your friends are heading there as we speak, even the two bozos who were with you the other night. Later, me and my master will use them as our slaves and they'll do whatever we want! Ahahaha!

Cato: You're messed up! Aaaahh!

Cato threw one last punch, however this time, the phantom disappeared and reappeared behind Cato, allowing him to kick Cato to the ground.

Phantom: You're pathetic. You just let your friends be in danger and it's all your fault. Don't regret this, got that!

The phantom left in a mist laughing while Cato was still on the ground.

Cato: I need to get to the museum.

And that's the chapter. Sorry it took so long to do since I was a little busy with school and all. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and the story so far. Favs and comments are always appreciated, and as always, I'll see ya in the next chapter. Peace out!