He had been like that for a while now: laying on the bed, a smile on his face and constantly sighing. Sam kicked one of his legs that was dangling from the edge of the bed in an attempt to make him react, but it was in vain.
- Tuck…
Before Danny could finish, the aforementioned jumped back to his feet and stood in front of them. He quickly opened up his arms and caught them in a group hug. With their heads around his neck, the couple shared a smile before Tucker pushed them away lightly.
- About damn time. – He smiled and then used the hand he had in their shoulders to slap them once.
- Ouch! – Sam complained.
- What was that for? – Danny rubbed his cheek.
- For taking to long. – He walked away and sat at the desk chair Danny had in his bedroom. – Do you have any idea of how much stress you put me through for the past 7 years?
- You? Stress? For real? – She asked amused.
- I felt like a child with divorced parents. Each one of you telling me all your secrets and asking me not to tell the other one. – He explained. – And act like nothing was going on during visitations. It was exhausting.
- Yeah, well… - Danny put his arm over Sam's shoulders and pulled her closer to him. – You don't have to anymore.
- Awww. – He teased them. – Is this the part where you kiss?
Sam rolled her eyes and Danny shook his head.
- We're not kissing in front of you, Tucker. – She said.
- Although I appreciate the promise, I highly doubt you'll keep it. – He smiled. – I have a question though. Why did you deny it when I asked you yesterday about it?
Sam felt Danny's posture change and then felt his curious gaze on her.
- You denied it? – He seemed… shocked.
Something about it didn't sit well with her. Maybe it was the tone Danny used or the fact he found out about it.
- Awww. Your first fight. – Tucker teased them again.
- First: shup up. – She pointed at him. – Second: yes, I denied it. But only because it didn't feel right to be the only one who would break the news to… - She pointed to Tucker. - … the child.
All 3 started laughing. That comment make Danny kiss her on the temple. She wasn't a big fan of public displays of affection, but she didn't mind when Danny did them. Especially to her. It felt good, it felt natural.
- So, what's with Jazz? – She asked again.
- Oh, that… well… - He scratched his nape. – Do you remember what happened yesterday morning?
Memories of their kissing session flooded and that weird but very pleasant tickling in her abdomen came back, making her blush and hide a bit more in Danny's embrace.
- I bet she does. – Tucker wiggled his eyebrows.
- Well… - He held her tighter. – I came back and my parents started asking questions. Technically, it was just my mom… and that was the problem. She wanted an explanation and I nearly got away with it, but…
- But…? – Tucker asked.
Danny blushed and leaned closer to Sam's ear.
- Your lipstick… - He whispered.
- Oh… - She blushed again.
Tucker heard it and exploded in laughter until the point of falling down the chair he was seated on.
- That's why I sent you that note yesterday. – He tried to ignored Tucker laughing in the background. – She gave me "the talk" and I didn't want that… I don't want that she gives it to you as well.
- Well, if is any consolation, my mother gave that talk years ago.
A hard knocking on the door called their attention. Danny and Sam looked at the door while Tucker finally sat down and kept his mouth shut. Someone knocked again.
- Yes? – Danny replied but no one answered.
They knocked again and Danny knew he had to open. He unlocked the door and only opened enough to stick his head out, but his vision field was blocked by an orange jump suit who was looking down on him. Danny knew he was screwed.
- Dad. – He squealed.
- Living room. Downstairs. Now. – He turned around. – Your friends as well.
Danny watched him walking downstairs and sighed. He closed the door and stared at Tucker.
- Mi bad. – He apologized.
With resignation they marched downstairs, but before they got to the stairs, a door opened and Maddie grabbed Sam by the arm.
- Sam. – She asked kindly. – Can we talk for a moment?
They all stared at her and Danny just wanted to die. Without options, Sam just nodded.
- Sure. – Maddie smiled at her answer.
Defeated, the boys marched to the living room where they found Jazz siting in the couch, her arms crossed and very annoyed.
- They got you too? – Danny asked.
- Yeah. Thanks to him. – She murdered Tucker with her glance.
- Sorry. – He smiled.
- I gave you one instruction. One! And you couldn't…
- Guys!
Jack's shout cut Jazz in the middle of her rant. He walked into the living room and stood in front of them.
- Relax! You're not in trouble. – He said with a smile. – Except for you Danny. Your mom is talking all alone with your girlfriend. Ha! That sure is embarrassing.
Danny dropped his head into his hands while his dad continued talking.
- Now, Jazz. Why did you hide them? – He scratched the top of his head. – Danny is grounded, but he can have visitors.
- I did it to avoid what's currently happening upstairs. – She said.
He wanted to use his powers to get away from that situation, but his dad was watching him.
A figure descended from the sky softly on the frosted landscape of this unknown territory. His presence immediately attracted the attention of the local creatures, who started to surround him in shock and awe. One came to him. An arm and a horn made out of ice complemented its eccentric appearance and confirmed him the identity of the ghost he was looking for.
- Frostbite? – He said with caution when the beast was within hearing range.
- Great one? – He replied, unsure of the identity of the ghost before him until he saw the symbol in his chest. – You look… different.
"Great one?" Was he on a cult? Dan put that detail in the back of his head for now. He gave one step forward and spoke again.
- I need a favor. – He used his politest voice.
- How can we serve you? – He replied with a smile.
- I'm looking for Clockwork. I've been asking around and they told me the last time they saw him was here with you.
Frostbite adopted a pensative posture, grabbing his chin with his paw while looking down to the snow.
- He certainly was here. But didn't stay for long.
- Do you know where I could find him? – He asked.
- What if we discuss this inside? – He smiled a signaled to the village at the distance. – We weren't ready for your visit, my lord. But we can arrange something quickly.
The rest of his people observed their leader without any particular emotion. Dan hesitated for a second whether he should go along with it.
- Sure.
- Excellent! – He clapped his hands and turned around. – Let's move then.
And then, Dan found himself walking behind a yeti-like beast. They were walking in silence, with a couple of meters of distance between them. Looking around, he noticed the rest of the ice beasts were walking around him in the same direction. He counted 20. None of them made eye contact with him. He could see more clearly a few cottages in the distance, but there was no trace of any activity in them. He stopped walking and everyone imitated him, with the Far Frozen waiting for any indication from their leader. Dan just chuckled. He stopped because he realized they weren't his guides; they were his guards.
- He warned you. – He smiled to the sky.
Frostbite, still looking ahead, chuckled.
- He mentioned something like you would come, yes.
Dan nodded, still smiling.
- So now what? – He looked at the back of his obstacle.
Frostbite turned his head to look at him, a grin in his lips and a blue glow in his eyes.
- Now, we move to plan B.
A roar in his back made him steal a glance to see one of them flying towards him, and soon after, everyone followed. Creating 3 clones, he split his opponents per cardinal point and started fighting them.
Sam walked into Danny's parents' room and made her way to the middle, trying to put as much distance between Mrs. Fenton and her. She turned around when she heard the door closing and took a deep breath, preparing mentally for "the talk" Danny warned her about. What she wasn't ready for, however, was the breath-sucking hug Maddie trapped her with. Shaking off the initial shock, she returned the gesture briefly before she was pushed away.
Maddie stared at her with a happiness that, quite frankly, was unsettling her.
- Emm…
- Finally! – She squealed excited. – I still don't understand why Danny took so much time. I honestly thought you started dating on your 16th birthday, but Jazz told us you weren't.
Sam was very confused and Maddie noticed it.
- Oh, don't worry dear. You're not in trouble. – She smiled. – At least not on our side. – She added less enthusiastic as she remembered Pamela.
- Yeah… It's just… I thought you were… mad.
- I was mad at Danny for lying to us, not because he was with you. – She explained.
- But you punished him. – She commented.
- No, Sam. Don't try to plead on his behalf.
- No! – She squealed embarrassed. – That's not what…
- Danny was wrong by going behind our back. He disobeyed us and, as long as he lives in this house, that has consequences.
Sam took some seconds to process the information.
- So… you approve it? – She said fearful.
- Of course we do! – She hugged her again. – Which reminds me… - Maddie's look got serious suddenly. – Sam. You're still young and have a future ahead of you.
Oh, there it was.
- Don't worry about it…
- But I do worry about it! Accidents happen and when you're in the heat of the moment…
- Mrs. Fenton…
- … your mind gets clouded and by the time you realize…
- Mrs. Fenton… - Her discomfort and embarrassment grew little by little.
- I just don't want to be a grandmother too soon.
- Okay. – Sam looked away completely.
- Your parents wouldn't like the scandal and would force you into marriage, but a marriage under those conditions rarely leads to a happy life…
- Wow, wow! – She interrupted her out loud and escaped from her. - We've been dating for only one day to start thinking about that. – She replied.
Maddie observed her reaction and smiled. Even we she was at the edge of collapsing due to the redness of her face, she was still rational.
- I'm sorry. – She put her hand on the girl's shoulder. – It's just that… I glad it's you.
Sam was genuinely moved by that comment and she just hugged again.
Danny lifted his head when he hears steps coming from the stairs. He resisted the impulse to take Sam away from his mother and hug her when they reached them. Her neck and ears were still red, which confirmed his worst fear. He smiled at her briefly before turning to face his mother.
- Am I in trouble? – He asked.
- Why would you be? You didn't do anything. – She replied.
Danny sighed in relief and barely had time to catch something his mother threw at him. When he had it in his hands, he noticed it was his phone.
- I don't get it. – He looked at her with curiosity.
- I decided to lift your restrictions. – She said standing in front of him.
- So, I'm not grounded anymore? – He asked with hope.
- Of course you are. – She pinched his cheek. – But under the terms of your original punishment.
- Does that mean… we can leave? – He looked at his friends.
- If you want to. – She shrugged and moved aside.
As soon as those words left her mouth, Tucker and Danny rushed to Sam and then, upstairs.
- But if you're going to be upstairs, you better leave the door open!
- Mom! – Danny squealed.
He deflected a punch directed at his face and with a kick sent the ice beast flying backwards. Charging his fist with energy, he flew to where Frostbite landed and was received by a swipe of his tail that send him against a cottage, destroying it immediately. He got up to counterattack, the ghost now coming at him, but got distracted when a paw grabbed him by the ankle. Looking down, he noticed that the yeti holding him had frozen his leg from the knee all the way down. He knocked it out with a punch and grabbed it by the fur, throwing it against his leader.
With the successful distraction, he shook his leg violently to free his leg from the ice. That fight had extended longer that expected and he was getting annoyed, but that thing kept on fighting. He made 2 invisible duplicates that surrounded his foe.
Frostbite got up after tossing aside the body of his fellowman. He was at his limit and knew he couldn't fight much longer. He was injured and tired, but he was the last Far Frozen standing against that monster.
- I see you don't surrender easily. I can respect that. – Dan said while regularizing his breathing. – But it's time you go down.
- Make me! – He roared.
- Oh, I will.
He froze when he heard the whisper not coming from the ghost in front of him. Suddenly, he felt hand moving through by back and laying on his nape, immobilizing his arms in a wresting lock. Dan's clone made himself visible and started using more force in his grip. Frostbite tried to shake it off, but another duplicate materialized in front of him with energy accumulated in his fingers and put them in his face, transferring the energy to his victim.
He screamed and squirmed at the intense pain, but none of the clones yielded. With the strength and energy he had left, he opened his eyes and shot an ice ray to the one in front of him, trapping him in a layer of ice. He used his momentum to reach for the head of the one behind him and once he grabbed it, he used his powers once more to froze it.
His effort, however, has rendered useless when a fist destroyed the ice statue before him and squared him in the jaw. He opened his eyes as he was flying and he saw the original ghost flying over him, following his trajectory and taking a deep breath. Dan's ghostly wail hit him at close range and sent him to the ground, falling through the rock ceiling of a cave.
Dan landed inside the cave, on top of the yeti but he was already unconscious. He growled and reprimanded himself mentally. He released the fury inside of him by increasing the size and intensity of his flaming hair. He caught his breath and his hair went back to normal. The Far Frozen posed a real challenge to him and, even though he won, he couldn't shake the feeling that the power gap between him and the rest of the ghosts had shrunk over the years he spent locked away. And the thing that bothered him the most was that peculiar skill this specie had. Using ice turned out a very effective way to slow him down.
Once he calmed down, he inspected his surroundings. There were drawings in the cave's walls (the ones still standing) and it seemed like they used it for storage. "Primitives". He thought as he walked deeper into the cave. He found weapons, chests containing clothing, armors and, to sum up, nothing meaningful or valuable. There was a chest, however, resting on top of a pedestal in the center of a room that pick his curiosity. The chest was closed with an unusual kind of key. When he deciphered the lock, he dragged Frostbite's body and used his hand as a key. His disappointment was visible when he looked inside and found it empty. With a flick of his hand, he sent it crashing against a wall.
He walked to the exit hole but a drawing stopped him halfway. It was him, or at least a younger version of him. The picture showed Daniel standing on top of a defeated Vlad, with his fist held high and something that looked like a scroll in his other hand. He looked around and found more drawings. Some of them were about Vlad, other about Daniel, but that scroll was in every illustration. And it seemed tightly linked to portals to the human world. What called his attention was the background in every drawing: there were references to Rome, Tibet… even some witch hunt event. In the last image Frostbite was giving Daniel that scroll, and the chest was also there.
"Could it be…?" He wondered for a few seconds, but it was pointless to think about it. On his way out he observed a different picture, one featuring the event of him fighting the Ghost King. "So… it is a cult". He rolled his eyes and took off. When he reached a certain altitude, he discovered more buildings beyond the battleground, but they also seemed abandoned.
He located a rock floating in the ghost zone and flew to it. He sat down and closed his eyes to analyze the situation. First, Clockwork had let him out and didn't try to recapture him. Second, he had warned the Far Frozen about him yet, they only sent a handful of them against him. Where were the rest of them? Considering the number of cottages, there were more of them. Third, Clockwork taking that scroll… why? His powers allowed him to travel through space and time as he wished, regardless the age. Why would he need that piece of paper? Fourth, he slaughtered the court of Observants without opposition nor consequences. That was strange. Fifth, he chose to warn the Far Frozen but not anyone else. Not the Observants who where his bosses, not Daniel and let alone the common ghost population. Klemper was evidence of it because when he forced the truth of Frostbite out of him, he actually thought Danny Phantom was the one beating the crap out of him. Why? And lastly, Clockwork's lair was trashed before he could escape. Who would dare to do that? "I would". He thought, but it clearly hadn't been him. Then who and why?
"Himself". He concluded. "He destroyed his lair and emptied it so I wouldn't have access to his power". He stood up quickly, expanding on his theory. "That's why he took that scroll, so I couldn't use it". He scratched his chin. "And he only warned the yetis so they could try to contain me using their pesky ice powers. But why?" He relived everything he had done since he regained his freedom up to that moment and smiled when he finally understood. "To protect him".
After going into Danny's room, they had decided not to stay in the house for obvious reasons. And as long as Danny made it home before his curfew and kept an eye on his phone, he was allowed to go out with them. Jazz joined them and together they went to the Nasty Burger. The excuse: to celebrate that Danny and Sam were finally a couple. Tucker, at Sam's request, had tipped off his little gathering to Dani, who had shown up a few minutes later. She was somewhat uncomfortable when she arrived because things with Danny were still rocky. Danny quickly noticed this and took her aside from the group to talk to her in private. After a few minutes, Dani had hugged him and they knew that their issue had been settled.
Now they were all sitting at their table: Sam and Danny were together, and Jazz was next to them to make sure those two kept their hands to their food only. On the other side, Tucker was eating with Dani next to him, she was seated by the window and he was by the hallway.
- So… - Dani said while swallowing the food on her mouth. – It's official?
- Yeah. – Sam answered with a smile.
Danny rested his head on her shoulder, but Jazz immediately grabbed him by the ear and straightened him in his place.
- What was that for? – He complained to Jazz.
- Mom's orders. – She shrugged and bit her burger.
Sam smiled and now it was her who rested her head on his shoulder while he drank a sip of his soda.
- You won't do anything to her? – He asked again to her.
- She's not my sister.
- Yet. – Tucker added.
Sam choked on her drink and began to cough violently, causing laughter from the others present. Danny patted her on the back to get her back to normal.
- Are you okay? – Danny asked worried.
- Not thanks to him. – She pointed to the other male and he just winked at her.
- May I ask… what took you so long? – Dani took a sip of soda. – I mean, you like each other since before I was born. – She joked.
- You're 15. – Jazz said, her math not adding up.
- But I was born at 8. – She winked at her.
- Oh, right. – Jazz replied.
- Well, that is… - Danny looked at her looking for help.
- Complicated. – They both replied.
Tucker just rolled his eyes and Jazz mumbled a "No, it wasn't".
- Well, I'm happy for you. – She smiled.
- Thanks. – Danny said.
- Does that mean she knows about you-know-who? – She whispered to Tucker's ear.
The aforementioned just shook his head and, when he lifted his head back, the had Sam's curious eyes on him. "Crap…"
- What's there to know about you-know-who, Tucker? – She said looking directly in his eyes.
She hated herself for that, but she couldn't help it. She wasn't like that, she wasn't the jealous type… For Pete's sake! Who was she trying to fool? Of course she was jealous type! Paulina, Valerie, Paulina again… But now it wasn't just jealousy. There was something else that made her nervous. Uncertainty. Had Danny dated someone else? Did he like someone else? Hadn't she been her first choice? Little by little, the thoughts of years gone by were returning one by one. She tried to block them again by looking around. Jazz had no idea what they were talking about, Tucker and Dani seemed resigned, and then there was Danny. She feared she would see panic, or worse, guilt on his face. But his expression was one of understanding.
- They're talking about…
- Valerie. – Tucker said out loud.
- What? No. – Danny corrected him.
Everyone turned to see Tucker, but his gaze was fixed somewhere else. Although the perverted face that he had told them everything they needed to know, they all turned in the direction that the dark-haired man was looking. Everyone except Dani, who shrank back in her seat.
Wearing orange flats, orange shorts, and a yellow blouse, Valerie was walking down the hall toward the exit when she noticed Tucker watching her. As was the case with everyone who actively went into ghost hunting, she had acquired a very athletic body.
- Hello Valerie. – He tried to sound seductive as she approached the table.
- Tucker. – She raised an eyebrow. – Didn't know you were back.
- You've been asking around? – He smiled at her.
His answer caught everyone present off guard, so much so that they turned to look at each other. Valerie let that go to greet the others.
- Hello guys… - She stopped when her eyes landed on the girl hiding. – Dani?
Sam felt a pang in her heart, but then she realized they weren't talking to her Danny. The teenager only smiled when she was discovered.
- Hi Val. – She smiled nervous.
Valerie looked at her curiously before looking around the rest of them, then back at Danielle. She understood where Val's thought was going.
- How…?
- Vlad is friends with the Fentons. – She explained.
- Oh, right…
Now it was Team Phantom turn to alternate glances between her and Dani.
- And you…? – Jazz started.
- Oh… - Valerie started panicking.
"Well, she's the ghost girl and I'm the Red Huntress, and we're partners." Even if that was the truth, she didn't think it wise to confess their secret.
- She's my… tutor. – Dani lied. – Vlad hired her to tutor me in the afternoons.
- That's it. – Valerie confirmed.
- Wow, what a small world. – Sam said.
- Very small. – Valerie had no idea what else to say. – Anyways… I guess I'll see you around.
- Definitely. – Tucker said to her.
- Ok… - She said uncomfortable. – Bye.
- See you. – Everyone at the table replied.
They watched her leave the restaurant and walk away.
- Please tell me we didn't look like that when we lied. – Sam said to everyone.
- Worse. – Jazz confirmed.
- I forgot we're not supposed to meet. – Dani said.
- Your lie wasn't terrible. – Danny backed her up. – Technically, it wasn't a lie.
Dani smiled at him and everyone returned to a comfortable silence to finish eating their food. Sam, however, still had doubts about what Dani had said.
He tossed the unconscious ghost into the void that was the Ghost Zone to float until he regained consciousness. She had run into another dead end. Apparently, no one knew where the protector of time could be and he was already getting fed up. The Ghost Zone was immense, it would take him years to go through it completely, and not even that guaranteed him that he would find Clockwork. He punched the wall behind him to release some frustration. He had conquered the world! And what had he been reduced to now? To be a simple ghost that was at the mercy of what another did. No… He refused to accept that.
And then came clarity. He had been doing everything wrong. He wasn't the one who followed orders, he gave them. He wasn't the one doing the searching, they brought him what he was looking for. He once had servants, and in this timeline, he would have them again. But above all, he was not the mouse. He was the cat.
If Clockwork hid to avoid his destruction, he would have to force him out of hiding in another way. That was his greatest advantage over them, the morality that bound the good guys to do the right thing. A smile formed on his face. Maybe it was time to visit Clockwork's favorite pet. After all, if he had handed him the Observants in order to save him, he would sacrifice himself for the same purpose for sure.
- Leaving already? – Jazz asked Dani.
- Yep. – She shrugged. – I think I have to speak to Valerie. You know… tell her that you really believe us.
- Good luck with that. – Tucker said sliding aside so she could get out. – And send her my best regards.
- Yeah… - She scratched her nape. – I won't. See you.
A few minutes later, they imitated her and left the place. Taking advantage of the fact that Sam was distracted, Danny took her hand and walked with her on their way out. Already on the street, Tucker stretched before asking out loud.
- What shall we do now?
- Go home. – Sam replied.
- We'll watch a movie? – He asked curious.
- No. – She said. – I meant go home… separately.
- Why? It's still early.
- You've been carrying in that backpack every single possession you hold dear since the morning. – She reminded him.
- I have to finish some work. – Jazz said.
- And I will walk Sam home. – Danny smiled.
- How convenient. – Tucker retorted.
The couple smiled at the comment and Danny noticed how her sister raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.
- Jazz…
- I'm only letting you go because I don't want to witness you two in your honeymoon phase. – She interrupted him.
Sam blushed while Tucker laughed out loud.
- But if mom and dad ask, I'll tell them you escaped.
- Deal.
With that, Danny put his arm around Sam's shoulder, turned, and started walking with her in the opposite direction. Jazz just shook his head, before smiling and turning to go to her house. Tucker, who was on the same course, paired up with her.
- You really think they're in a honeymoon phase?
Jazz looked at him with a raised eyebrow, as if he had been asked a silly question.
- They have one day as a couple and 7 years of repressed feelings, Tucker.
- Good point. – He paused. – It's just that I can't image Sam… expressing her feelings in public.
Jazz snorted.
- Just be thankful we didn't see them "expressing their feelings" at the table.
Sam wrapped her arms around Danny's head to deepen the kiss even more. He held her tighter, pulling her close to her body and lifting her slightly to make it easier for him to devour her lips. They didn't care that they were in the middle of a street or that people had to avoid them in order to move freely. That moment they were sharing kept them happy, and only that mattered to them.
- You know… - She said between kisses. – My house is not in this direction.
- Oh, no. - He said nonchalantly before kissing her again. – I guess we're lost.
Sam smiled again as Danny kissed her again.
- I guess I don't mind then.
- Good. – He looked into her eyes. – I really like getting lost with you.
Sam pouted and pushed him back. Danny chuckled.
- As you know, I'm very good at it. – He joked.
- Dumb. – She smiled and turned around, pretending to be outraged.
- Come on, Sam. – He hugged her from behind. – I was just kidding that day. – He kissed her cheek.
- Well, it wasn't funny. – She stuck her tongue out.
Danny just held back his laughter before starting to spin around with Sam. The laughter of both was very contagious, but it didn't matter to the people who had to cross the street to avoid being hit by Sam's boots.
- Danny, stop! – She asked him in laughter.
The young man obeyed, but didn't release her.
- I'm a goth, Danny. – She weakly tried to break free. – I'm not supposed to be this cheerful in public.
- Would you rather I go ghost? – He whispered in her ear. – I mean, you can't get more goth than having a relationship with a dead man.
- Ha ha. – Danny let her go. – First, the last thing I want is to be thought of as just another Danny Phantom fangirl. And second, you're not dead. At least not completely.
- Does that mean you don't admire me? – He pretended to be hurt. – And if I recall correctly, I am dead for you.
Sam blushed at his words, but her smiled faded a bit for the hidden meaning of those words. She shook the thought out of her head and focused on Danny. He was being very forward in his advances. And he liked that. A lot.
- Why are you on romance mode?
- Because I have to make up for 7 years. – He whispered, his breath making her skin turn red. – And there is nothing you can do about it, so… come on. – He gave her his hand.
Sam did not hesitate to take it and they began to walk on that street in a very comfortable silence. From time to time, one would stare at the other, just to smile as their eyes met, or gaze down at their clasped hands, as if to make sure their relationship was really happening, and it wasn't just one of the many fantasies they'd had during their teenage years. A couple of streets later, they were finally heading the right way to Sam's house.
- About what Tucker said at the Nasty Burger… - Danny spoke.
- Yeah? – She asked with caution.
- It's actually a fun story. He was talking about…
- DANNY!
The shout coming from behind them stopped them.
- Speaking of the devil… - Danny whispered as he turned around to face the person who called his name.
Sam took a little longer to react. As expected, she had also recognized that voice. The problem was that she hated that voice or, rather, the owner of that voice. Just like Danny and his ghost sense, she also had a physical reaction that warned her of the presence of that person. Hers just was more like bile forming in her stomach. She dug the nails of her only available hand into her palm as she formed her fist with a lot of pressure. She turned around only to see her nemesis in front of her; the oil to her water; the stone inside her boots; the scourge of her existence... When she saw her smile in her boyfriend's direction, she almost had the urge to throw herself at her and pluck every fine strand of hair from her head.