Johnny had his hands shoved in his jean pockets, stepping over the gore of the hallway. He had a wicked smirk on his face as he watched his shadow rip the little monsters apart. At first, he was worried about the sheer amount of them but to Shadow it was like fighting teddy bears. No way these idiotic beasts are behind the missing people. The boss must be around here somewhere. For now, the bad luck ghost was content with tearing through the fodder. They remind the ghost of little gremlins. There was an oddly large amount of them; Johnny figured they must be guarding something.

13 made his way down the passageway to a set of wooden doors. He grabbed the handle and yanked the entryway open with ease. It was even darker in this new room than it was in the hallways. He attempts to peer inside to search for any sign of more creatures, but the darkness was too much for the biker's eyes. The lack of noise answered the ghost's question on the other hand.

"These guys ever heard of a light?" Johnny grumbled.

Shadow hovered over Johnny, scanning the area for any more threats. 13 conjured a ball of green light in his hand, it illuminated the room and he immediately regretted it. Medieval contraptions of all sorts filled the room. The green slime of ectoplasm splattered the surfaces of every torture device depicting the recent use of them. That wasn't even the worst part.

Johnny could feel his stomach churning miserably every second he spent in this horrorshow. Women of the Ghost Zone were strung up by chains attached to the ceiling like they were chopped meat in a butcher shop. Some he knew. Most he didn't. All of them were stark nude with various injuries on their bodies. They were so still, that Johnny believed them dead, or as dead as they could be as ghosts. He's heard various theories on death for the spectral beings, but none of them were confirmed true.

13 slowly stepped through the room, glancing at the hanging bodies. When a familiar face caught his eye. Daniella! One of the dancers at the club Kitty used to work at. He remembers seeing her around the place when coming to pick his girlfriend up. She was extremely sweet and friendly to them. It made him sick to see her stripped of her dignity and left in this hellhole. Johnny wasn't a genius but he had a pretty good idea of how these girls spent their time in this castle. Fucking psycho he told himself as he thought of the menace behind this. Johnny took another glance at Daniella; he couldn't leave her like this.

He ordered Shadow to retrieve her and the other half followed the wishes of his owner swiftly. The dark ghost gently held her bridal style as Johnny took a closer look. He touched her pale face softly. She was a pretty girl for sure. It seemed the physical touch stirred the woman awake. Daniella flutters her eyes open and immediately panics at the sight of Johnny. Tears rushed out of her blue eyes as she flailed around trying to get out of Shadow's grip. The woman had the expression of pure fear on her face.

"No no no! Please no more! Please!" she begged repeatedly in a hispanic accent.

Johnny grabs both of Daniella's arms to hold against her sides, so she didn't whack them in the face.

"Hey! Hey! It's okay! It's me, Johnny. I got you. I'm not gonna hurt ya."

She wasn't buying it and continued her hysterics. Johnny was afraid Daniella's panic attack would draw out more of those little gremlins. He had no choice but to clamp his hand over her mouth.

"Daniella, you need to stay quiet before they find us!" Johnny ordered.

It was a couple of minutes later when the woman finally tired herself out and became limp in Shadow's arms. Johnny listened for any sounds of an approaching enemy before turning his attention back to the woman.

"You know who I am?" Johnny asked slowly.

"Jaw-knee."

13 chuckled, "yeah it's me."

Daniella's bottom lip quivered before throwing her arms around the man's neck. She sobbed heavily into his shoulder. Johnny returned the hug and rubbed the woman's back.

"I know, babygirl. I know."

Johnny allowed the woman to cry her heart out. It felt rude interrupting, considering all the shit she's been through. Daniella pulled away with big puffy eyes and desperately thanked 13.

"I have one question for you," he starts. "Do you know where Kitty is?"

The woman wipes her tears and nods slowly; she pointed at a steel gray door on the other side of the room.

"I was here when they brought her in. She was kicking and screaming like hell."

"That's my girl," Johnny said, proudly.

The ghost-biker pulled his jacket off and pulled it over Daniella's shoulders as he thanked the girl.

"Shadow, bring her out to the bridge then meet me back here."

Daniella grabbed Johnny's arm before she was taken away.

"Be careful…"

"As careful as a hurricane," Johnny grinned.

Daniella smiles slightly and kisses the boy's cheek. Shadow nods at its master and carries the girl off in the direction of the castle exit. Johnny watched them disappear into the darkness. He sighed and turned around to find the person he was originally searching for. 13 ran up to the steel door and blasted the padlock off.

The door creaked as Johnny used his shoulder to push it open. There was a single lamp hanging overhead that shone down on a king sized bed. A lone figure sat on the bed with their legs pulled to their chest. Johnny could recognize that shaggy, green hair anywhere. He rushed over to Kitty's side within a second.

"Hey baby! It's me, Johnny! I'm gonna get you outta here!" He promised.

The ghost zapped the chain off his girlfriend's ankle and picked her up bridal style. She was staring blankly up at the ceiling. Johnny was slow with her in his arms. He cursed at how weak he was without his other half, but pushed through the pain to get Kitty out of here. He had to place her down in the first room for a moment. It would be a thousand times better if she was able to share her own weight. He attempted to wake the woman up again.

"Hey Kitty, it's time to go, alright?"

No response, so he tried shaking her.

"Babe? I need you to try and walk for me."

Johnny was getting scared. She wasn't budging at all under the intense shaking he was putting her through.

"You're scaring me, Kitty. Why aren't you speaking?" he whimpered.

Johnny had no clue what to do. She wasn't coming out of the trance and they were wasting time sitting around. He turned to punch the wall behind him.

"FUCK! Where the fuck is Shadow?" he blurts out.

The ghost bit his nails nervously before deciding to tough it out.

Fuck it. He picked up Kitty again and headed towards the door. A loud crashing sound in the distance caught his attention for a moment. He assumed it was his sign to get out of dodge.

**PAGE BREAK**

Danny was pissed. How dare this freak put his filthy paws on his sister. He'd paid dearly. Phantom's eyes glowed with hatred at the werewolf. Malucard laughs deeply as he climbs out of the hole he created.

"What a boorish attempt at ruining our love," he spoke calmly.

It was sick how nonchalantly this monster talks about raping his sister. It made the halfa's blood boil in his veins. Every second he was forced to look at this beast, the angrier the teen became.

"Jazz… Run."

The redhead didn't need to be told twice as she sprinted for the other side of the room. Malucard attempted to make a pass at the retreating woman with his claws, but received a powerful side-kick from the ghost-boy right in the muzzle. The werewolf recoiled in pain and howled loudly, shaking the very core of the castle.

"You dare to strike my beautiful face, worm?"

Malucard swipes at the levitating boy like someone trying to swat a fly. Danny punished him with counter ghost rays after each of his missed attacks. Phantom hadn't realized that the wolf was getting faster. Malucard grabs his ankle and slams him into the ground repeatedly, before spinning the teen above his head and spiking him at the wall.

Danny crashes into the throne with a grunt. He was about to jump back up when the beast pinned him down by holding his massive hand on the smaller teen's body. Phantom tried to push back against the humongous beast but to no avail.

"Maggots should stay in their place- the dirt!" he shouted.

Malucard hammers Danny into the concrete floor relentlessly. The ground underneath cracking more and more with each mighty strike. Danny could only lay there and take the violent beating. A green beam zapped the snout of Malucard from afar.

"Leave my little brother alone!" Jazz snapped, as she charged up another blast.

"Don't worry my little flower! I have not forgotten about you! Give me a minute and we shall indulge in love-"

An energy beam from below him interrupted him. The monstrous beast growled and looked down at his prey just in time to see Danny clock him right in the nose. Jazz's shot was enough for Malucard to loosen his grip on Phantom for a moment and the teen had acted upon it.

"What a persistent mag-"

Danny launched another jab at the wolf's snout. No smart-ass comments or funny one-liners. He wanted to send this monster back to whatever hell he came from. WHAM! Another hook sent the werewolf stumbling back. Malucard was surprised at the boy's strength. He didn't seem that tough at first glance. That was the mistake of many of Danny's enemies; they underestimate him and his abilities.

"Fine, worm, you've earned my attention."

Malucard's eyes began to glow a blood red. Danny didn't care and angrily swung on the werewolf. It was like he hit a block of lead; pain shot up the teen's arm. Malucard deviously smiles, exposing all of his sharp teeth. Danny crosses his arms in front of his chest to block the extremely fast punch sent his way. It hit him like a bullet train. He grimaced as he felt one of his ribs crack. This pain was nothing compared to letting this beast have its way with his sister.

The battle between the paranormal beings turned into a slug-fest. Each opponent stood their ground against the other and traded blows of wicked proportions. The castle groaned and creaked as they tackled and threw each other into the old walls. It sounded like the place was coming down on top of them. Jazz can only gaze up in awe at the two powerful entities; one of them being her kid brother. The strength that Danny mustered in times of helping others was unbelievable. She took this opportunity to climb through the hole that Malucard entered through. She expected to see the inner workings of the wall but instead saw another corridor. It was dimly lit by candles stacked along the walls. She takes a closer look and sees a set of cellar doors at the end of the hall. It wasn't a second before Jazz was making a mad dash for the doors.

Malucard sensed his bride leaving the room and entered a fit of rage. How dare she leave without my say? This is grounds for punishment! The beast flailed his massive arms around like whips. Danny was shocked by the sudden burst of speed; he had barely any time to react. Phantom ducked and dived under most strikes, keeping his distance from the wickedly sharp claws. He shoots off a few ghost rays to keep Malucard at bay. The monster didn't seem to care and continued to stomp closer. The arms moved like snakes slithering through the grass, and striked like one snapping at its unaware prey.

Danny knew he couldn't fight Malucard forever. So he switched to plan B; grab Jazz and get the hell out of there. He scanned the area quickly for his sister and saw the redhead running towards what looks to be cellar doors. Malucard wouldn't allow for the ghost-boy to leave so easily. The beast lunged at him with a roar. Danny was already flying in the direction of the hole and managed to dodge the attack. Malucard narrows his glowing red eyes and inhales slowly. Phantom didn't hear the creature chasing after him but frankly he didn't care.

Malucard opens his large muzzle, a small swirling ball of black and white energy emerges. The orb grew immensely until it was the size of his head, and it crackled with raw power. Malucard unleashed the dark beam with another roar. Danny noticed the shadows growing on the walls and glanced behind him to see what all the light was. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the black and white laser rocketing towards him.

Danny manages to slip underneath the attack at the last second; he could feel the high temperature of the beam singe his skin. The laser continued through the wall cutting a perfect tunnel out to the ghost zone. Green light inking into the dark space. The tunnel was distorted and warped as the everchanging castle tried to repair the damage. Phantom jumped through the hole and sprinted down the hall like he was an Olympic trackstar.

"MAGGOT! DON'T RUN FROM ME!" Malucard howled into the corridor.

Danny paid the yelling beast no mind as he continued down the passageway. He saw Jazz yank the doors open and descend into the darkness. Danny could hear the heavy breathing of Malucard behind him. The teen noticed a door appear on the wall and two figures stumbled out. Danny made eye contact with a desperate Johnny carrying a nude Kitty.

"GET DOWNSTAIRS!" he yelled at them.

Johnny rushed into the dark stairwell with Danny right behind him. The doors shut firmly behind them and they could hear Malucard throwing a tantrum above. Phantom came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. Danny scanned the candle-lit space and saw empty bookshelves lined against the dusty walls.

"Jazz?" the boy called out worriedly.

"I'm over here! You should come see this!" Jazz answered.

Danny and Johnny navigate their way through the deceivingly long maze of shelves to an awaiting Jazz. Danny looks past his sister at the man sitting on the floor, chained to the wall like a wild dog. Phantom was completely shocked by the sight of him, the man didn't look anything like a ghost after all. More like a mad scientist in an old cheesy movie. White messy hair atop his wrinkly head, goggles hanging around his neck, an old lab coat with black pants and shoes; the man resembled a researcher from the world of the living. So what's he doing down here? Danny asked himself.

Jazz glances back at her brother and yelps at the sight of Johnny holding Kitty. She puts her hands over her mouth and takes a step back. Danny was confused about what got his sister all riled up until he peered to his right. He had totally forgotten Johnny had entered this cellar holding his girlfriend.

"What happened to her?" Jazz questioned.

"I don't know…"

Danny saw that the usual rebellious aura cloaked around 13 was gone.

"Why didn't you take her out of the castle?" Danny asks.

"OH I was looking for a place to rest my aching bones- Clearly I got fucking lost. This place is like a damn maze."

Johnny fell to his knees, finally feeling the effects of being separated from his shadow for so long. Jazz rushed to his side and Danny attempted to grab Kitty from him so she didn't hit the ground.

"NO! Don't touch her! Don't you dare touch her!" Johnny shouted at the teen.

Danny recoiled from the glaring ghost and shot him a dirty look.

"What the hell, man? I'm trying to help-"

"Let it go, Danny," Jazz said sharply. "We're not going to touch her but you need to rest for a bit," she told Johnny.

The ghost nodded and shifted himself against a pillar, firmly holding onto his girlfriend. He kisses her forehead and puts his face in the crook of her neck. Danny and Jazz glance at each other for a moment, having an entire conversation with one look. The halfa approached the mad scientist cautiously with his hand extended.

"I'm awake if that's what you're wondering," the man grumbled, not even lifting his head.

Danny jumped into a defensive stance and narrowed his eyes at the old man.

"Relax ghost-boy, I'm a doctor; I help people not hurt them."

"Oh bullsh-"

"You're a doctor?" Jazz interrupted hastily. "If that's true then help this woman right here!"

The doctor lifted his head to peer at the woman in question. Danny noticed he had ice blue eyes.

"I'm a doctor. My tools are my hands, love."

"If you're asking to be released then it's a fat no," Danny cut in.

"Your knowledge in the profession of health is just as important. You can tell me what to do."

"Smart girl… Nothing like your other half here."

Danny grabbed the front of the man's lab coat, "Oh I can show you how stupid this can get," he snarled.

"Danny! Let him go."

Phantom backed off and shot the man a glare. Jazz nodded at the doctor, signaling for him to continue.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I don't know… I found her staring blankly at the wall not moving," Johnny answered.

"Hm… sounds like a symptom of acute stress disorder, has anything happened as of recently?"

"Yeah… At least I think so. I-I-she was-he ra-"

Danny widened his eyes at what Johnny was hinting at. If they were thinking of the same thing then the prime suspect is pounding away at the door upstairs.

"It's okay, lad. I understand. If that's the case then she needs to be examined at a proper facility, not an old basement," the doctor informed.

"She can be checked out at Medicine of Ectoplasmology," Jazz exclaimed.

Danny agreed with the idea of taking them to the hospital he was admitted to. It would make things a whole lot easier. The hard part being their escape from the castle and Malucard.

"A place that researches ghosts? How fascinating!"

"It's not just a research facility, it's also a hospital," Jazz corrected the doctor.

Danny waved his goodbyes to the man, "Well thanks for your help".

"You're just gonna leave me here? After I agreed to help you?"

"I said thank you, didn't I?" Danny rebuked.

"How preposterous! You'd leave an old man behind when he lent out his assistance?"

Danny waved him off. The only thing on his mind was getting Jazz out of the Ghost Zone and away from that monster. The longer they stayed in this castle made his stress levels skyrocket. He was gonna have gray hair by the time he was 20 if this continued. Phantom was turning to leave when the man let out a chuckle.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

As soon as those words left the doctor's mouth, a light bulb appeared over Danny's head. His eyes grew in realization of the dire thing he WAS forgetting. He glances down at the time medallion. I totally forgot that Clockwork sent me to find a doctor… The time medallion that Clockwork gifted the halfa made him forget all about his injury. His LIFE-THREATENING injury.

"Lemme guess, your name is Doctor Monty?" Danny inquired.

The doctor smirks slightly and laughs, "Aren't you so smart."

"Clockwork didn't tell me that you were imprisoned."

"Ah the time-ghost… He always gave people's intelligence too much credit. I always told him to give it to them straight and skip past the cryptic lines."

Danny groaned in dissatisfaction at the mistake he just made. He was about to leave the only person who can help him in this dusty basement.

"Don't fret one bit, lad. I am not the type to hold grudges; my offer is still on the table: let me go and I'll fix you up," Dr. Monty insisted.

Danny wasn't falling for that one. A ghost not holding a grudge? He'll believe it when he sees it. With how long he's been fighting ghosts; he imagines that the doctor is gonna blow him away as soon as he's unshackled. Like how the sun goes up and down every day; ghosts are quick to hold a grudge and too stubborn to forget it. There's probably a semi-reasonable reason behind why he's locked up in the first place. No one in the Ghost Zone is completely innocent. Danny didn't exactly have a choice in the matter, he needed to get back to 100% before the next time the Don shows his face.

"I better not regret this…"

Danny zaps the cuffs off the man's ankle and hands.

"Don't do anything to get your ass kicked, old man," Johnny threatened.

"Please, I wouldn't dream of it."

Monty rubbed his wrists and attempted to get to his feet. Jazz stepped up to help the doctor stand. He gave the woman a thankful smile and leaned against the wall.

"Well, are you gonna show me or not?"

Danny reverted back to his human form and pulled his shirt up to expose his stomach to the man. Doctor Monty raises an eyebrow at the transformation, but keeps his thoughts to himself. He scans the teen's sculpted torso; nothing but abs and an abundance of scars.

"You're physically fit if that's what you wanted to know."

Danny rolls his eyes and yanks off the time medallion. The image before the doctor changed for the worse. A large gash stretched from his back to his stomach along the right oblique; it was clearly septic and quickly turning into an infection. The dark aura around the wound signaled the dying flesh. An amatuer stitch job was holding the flaps of the wound together by a literal thread. The doctor whistled at the impressive injury.

"What happened here?"

Danny winces at the pain now shooting up his abdomen. God this is unbearable.

Jazz's hands flew over her mouth, "It got bigger…How did it get bigger?" she announced.

"A bullet from the Don scratched me…" Danny chokes out as he falls to a knee. "You know him?"

"Course… I've patched up a number of ghosts who've got into it with him. And examined plenty of corpses that the Don had left in his wake."

Jazz rushed to her brother's side and shouted, "Can you fix him?"

Dr. Monty materializes an old style medical bag in his hand and pulls out a golden needle.

"I am a doctor after all," Monty answered sternly. "Though, I have a feeling that he can fix himself."

The trio was confused by what the man meant by that. Doctor Monty touches Danny's sweaty forehead with the golden needle. Phantom instantly collapsed in Jazz's arms, confirming the doctor's own theory. The redhead screamed at her brother's sudden unconsciousness.

This halfa continues to surprise me again and again. What is your association with Pariah Dark, child?