Chapter three:

The Start of Long nights

Valerie Grey had a long day. She went to school, had a short conversation with her best friend; Star, had to survive dodgeball during gym, and went to finish the day off at work. Now, the young African American girl was heading back home.

It's been two years since Phantom, or ghosts in general, ruined her life. The moment her father lost his job, she lost their home, clothes, friends and more. All from Phantom and his stupid ghost dog. Though, she can't say her life was completely ruined these days. She still had her best friend and even made some new friends. Or rather a friend and some acquaintances. Her dad even got his job at Axiom Labs back.

The biggest plus for her was moving out of that god awful apartment. With the money she made and saved from the Nasty Burger, along with her father's money from his own job, they managed to get a bigger apartment at a much better apartment complex. The apartment itself was a lot cleaner than the last. There were two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, laundry room, a kitchen, living room, and dining area.

Opening the door to the apartment, Valerie made her way inside. Her attention was on her phone. She had texted her father that she made it home safe, since he had a night shift. Meaning she had the apartment all to herself. Normally, she'd use being home alone to her advantage to roam the town as her alter ego; Red Huntress. Why? She found it harder to go ghost hunting when her doting father was practically watching her every move. So, she learned it was better to go out when he wasn't home. Tonight, however, she wanted to focus on her homework. Midterms were approaching and it had her full attention. She was sure that whatever ghost was causing trouble, Phantom would handle it.

So, anyone would imagine her shock to see Phantom outside her window, holding an unconscious child in his arms, the moment she stepped inside her room. Valerie gaped at the sight but ran to her window, opening it. "What are you doing here, Phantom?" She hissed the moment he hovered inside.

"Dani," Phantom answered in a hushed tone. "I needed to bring her somewhere safe."

It was then Valerie properly looked at the child. In his arms was indeed the ghost girl that was claimed to be his cousin. Her clothes were tattered, her snow white hair messy, she was covered head to toe with bruises from ecto-blasts while her left arm was bleeding. Valerie gasped and motioned Phantom to set her down on her full sized bed.

"What happened?" Valerie managed to ask as she watched Phantom gently place the girl down.

Phantom's jaw tightened. "The Guys in White." He answered after a brief moment. "They surrounded her."

Valerie looked through her drawers, finding and taking out a first aid kit with a roll of bandages. "Sounds like something they'd do." She had a firm frown on her face as she sat by Dani. "But why bring her to me? We don't really get along." She motioned between her and Phantom before opening the kit.

Phantom chuckled. "You make a good point." Phantom's tail morphed back into legs as he hovered over the bed. He kept a close eye on his cousin as Valerie began tending to her wounds. "You're kind of one of the very few that knows about her, plus w- I trust you."

This made Valerie look up at him. A mix of shock and confusion on her face. "You trust me?" She scoffed. "I tried killing you before our truce!"

"Yeah," Phantom dragged out the word. "Someone already beat you to the punch with that."

Valerie groaned. "You know what I mean!" Upon seeing the girl next to her shift, Valerie lowered her voice. "Why on earth would you trust one of your enemies?"

"Red, we haven't fought each other for a year. We're hardly enemies." Phantom rolled his eyes. The comment made Valerie scoff. "As for why I trust you." He grew silent, his finger tapping his chin. "With what's going on, I'm not completely sure. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend." He eventually answered with a shrug.

"What do you mean by that?"

"By what?"

"What do you mean by 'with what's going on'?"

"Oh." Phantom's eyebrow furrowed, his eyes flashing in anger. The sudden change in demeanor shocked the African American girl. "Let's just say some friends betrayed mine."

Valerie frowned as Phantom turned his back to her. She didn't like the ghost boy, but it didn't take a scientist to tell he was hurt. Whatever these friends did to him really made an impact. If she was younger, she'd think this was a trick. 'Ghosts couldn't feel. They don't have emotions.' That's what she was told by the Fentons. Yet, her time with Phantom said otherwise. Each time she came in contact with him, she saw him get injured and react to it. She saw a different emotion. It took months into the truce until she realized Phantom wasn't like other ghosts. Unlike other ghosts, normal ghosts, she had seen Phantom vary from his cocky attitude to genuine sadness. If she didn't know any better, she would point out how she even sees him actually breathe. He was just so.. human compared to other ghosts. So whatever happened hurt him like it would a human too. Right?

That question wouldn't be answered as she sees the ghost boy suddenly tense up. Oh. She's going to regret this. "What?"

Phantom's expression became unreadable. "Seems like he's in trouble." He muttered. His gaze went to Valerie, a nervous smile forming. "Yeah, I may or may not be a duplicate."

Valerie rolled her eyes. "This isn't the time for your weird jokes, Phantom." Phantom stayed silent. Concerning. Then gave her a nervous smile. That's even more concerning. Wait-

.

.

"Oh, you've got to be KIDDING M-!" Valerie screeched. Her hand flew to her mouth as she glanced at the sleeping child next to her. Still asleep. Impressive. Slowly taking her hand away, she glared at Phantom.. or rather, the duplicate of Phantom. "What do you mean by duplicate? Like clone? Don't answer that. Just.. Where's Phantom now then? The real one."

"Exactly what it sounds like," Phantom answered calmly with a shrugged as he began to lower onto the bed. "And I don't exactly know where he is, but it feels like he's in trouble."

Valerie wanted to groan. Of course, he was in trouble. "Then let's go help him." Valerie said, getting up to get her gear from her closet. She was stopped, however, by the Phantom copy grabbing her wrist. "What now?" She hissed, narrowing her eyes.

"Sorry, I just can't let you do that."

"Wha- Why not?!"

"It's.. complicated. But he'd rather you keep Dani safe here."

"I'm guessing 'he' is Phantom.."

The copy nodded.

"And why would I listen to him now?"

"Do you really think Dani should be left alone in an unfamiliar place? What do you think is going to happen when she wakes up?"

Valerie went quiet. Her head turned back to the sleeping girl. With a growl, she snatched her arm away. "You better come back soon, duplicate or not, Phantom."

Phantom smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll try my best to." Floating off the bed, he went to the window. As he was about to phase back outside, he turned back to Valerie. "Take care of her, Red."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll take good care of your daughter." Valerie rolled her eyes and gave him a smirk. "Now go kick some ass."

To Valerie's delight, she saw a hint of green appear on Phantom's cheeks before he turned invisible and she guessed left the apartment. Leaving her alone with Dani. Valerie continued to stay where she was. Glaring at where she last saw Phantom in. She couldn't deny the small feeling of dread she felt the moment he left.

Deciding not to focus on it, she put her entire attention on Dani. Picking up the bandage roll once more as she sat down. Carefully, she lifted Dani's injured arm. Luckily it had already started to heal. No harm to help the process, Valerie thought.

As Valerie wrapped the bandage around the girl's arm, her thoughts went back to Phantom. What on earth was he doing? If the Guys in White did this to Dani, was he dealing with them now? If that's the case, why was he in trouble? He's dealt with the GiW multiple times for years now. What was different between then and now? Most importantly, why was she listening to him ?! Work couldn't have made her tired to the point of losing her mind, right? She wanted to groan. She could have been finished with her work by now. But no, that hero complex of a ghost had to show up before she could even sit down! Though, she supposed she understood. If she had anyone she cared about hurt like this, she'd probably do the same.

A frown made its way on Valerie's face as she placed the roll in her lap, already finished with wrapping the younger's arm. One final question in her mind. What did his friends do that made him that upset?

The African American woman sighed, knowing these are questions she probably won't get to know the answer to anytime soon. Her green eyes went to Dani's sleeping form once more. 'She probably won't wake up for a while, Valerie concluded. Nodding to herself, she got off the bed once more and went to her desk. She still had some time to do her work. She opened her textbook and laid it in front of her with a piece of paper, pencil in hand.

Yet, she just tapped the paper with the end of the pencil. Her eyes glanced back and forth to the window. Should she have gone to help him? Valerie shook her head. No. She needed to focus. She was not going to fail an assignment because of that jerk. Her eyes stayed on the paper as she began to finally start the assignment.

She was halfway through the first question, biting the eraser and glaring at the paper. "Damn it," She muttered. In a swift motion, she stood up and went to the window. Her black and red battle suit materialized around her as she opened the window. A determined look on her face as she jumped out, her hoverboard appearing under her. Once her feet landed on the board, she began to fly off further in the town. In an instant she tried to use her tracker to find Phantom's ecto-signature, but received nothing. So she tried again. Nothing.

"Come on," Red Huntress grumbled. "I'm sure he's still out here." Her eyes scanned through every alley and on top of every building.

No sign of him.

By what she could tell, there were no ghosts anywhere.

Where was he?

It looked like everything was taken care of.

He didn't ditch Dani, did he? No. He wasn't the type. If she wasn't told otherwise, she'd say the ghost treated the girl like his own daughter. So, why couldn't she find him?

Then, her tracker got a hold of something. It was weak, but it was better than nothing. Turning her hoverboard, she went on the path the tracker gave her.

The Red Huntress's brows furrowed in confusion as she came close to Casper High. Why would it take her here? It didn't even lead inside the building, just a few feet from the front lawn. When she got closer she noticed marks on the ground and singed grass. 'Signs of a fight ?' She wondered as she landed on the ground. Her mask confirmed her theory, signifying the marks coming from ecto-blasts. Presumably from Phantom. Seeing how fresh these were, the fight must've ended minutes ago. But no one was there. No GIW members. No Phantom. Huntress frowned, but continued to inspect the area. As she headed towards the streets she noticed two pairs of tire marks. Two GIW vans? Probably. She turned to look around once more.

Phantom wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Feeling some form of dread, Red Huntress stepped back onto her hoverboard. Taking one last look at the scene before flying back to her apartment. The moment she got back in, from through the window, she willed the suit and board away.

Valerie closed the window and silently sat back at her desk. Something was wrong. She didn't know what, but she was going to get to the bottom of it. Phantom wouldn't disappear like that. No, something had to have happened. He wouldn't just leave knowing Dani was with her. Otherwise he would've come straight back when he was done.

She desperately tried to wrap her head around the situation. She knew she had to finish her homework for school. But she also knew this situation was going to bother her. Swallow her whole, if she doesn't do anything. Then there was the ghost girl. She was hoping he'd be back before Dani woke up. Now what was she going to say? 'Sorry to say, but your cousin disappeared and I can't find him anywhere.' She'd freak! But she can't lie to her. Then again, she could just be overreacting. It's only been a few minutes. Going straight to 'disappeared' territory was too sudden, even for her. For now, she'd have to give Phantom the benefit of the doubt.

Valerie flinched hearing the front door open. Her father was home already? She turned her head to the clock in her room. It was 12 in the morning.

"Oh, boy," she said. She'd have to tell her dad about Dani. Taking a breath, Valerie stood up from her desk. "Better than him finding out." She walked out the room.

Yeahh I don't have much to say. This is probably the shortest chapter so far, but i was already struggling.

Also... I forgot my posting days and didn't have my computer with me, so the story on ao3 updated like 3 hours earlier than this lmao

As for the actual chapter, Valerie's perspective was definitely unplanned and actually kinda difficult. But i thought it would be a good idea to have a few Valerie chapters before going back to Danny. Kinda like the calm before the storm. So, baee with me with Val for a little bit.

As always, thanks for reading. Leave a review and follow the story if you want to see how this goes!

Have a great night/day!

-Starry