Finallyrememberedto post early so I don't have to rush during the night.
Random Quote of the day:
"ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴏꜱᴇ. ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ." ~ ʜᴇʟᴇɴ ᴋᴇʟʟᴇʀ
Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter V:
The Most Dangerous Thing
The rest of the school day went by in a blur for Valerie. If it weren't for the notes she took, she would've thought that she wasn't even there. She did, however, vaguely remember Jazz coming up to her and Star when they were saying their goodbyes to each other. The older Fenton gave the both of them her cell number in case they needed to contact her. Or how Valerie saw it, if they found Danny. She had happily accepted the number exchange either way. She wanted help in any way she could.
Valerie was the first to leave from the conversation, once she had took a good look at the time, bidding her good lucks as she did so. While she didn't have work that day, she did have an late visitor at her place. Her father was still at work. Meaning there was a child in an apartment by themselves.
Just that thought alone made Valerie speed into the apartment complex. She even silently prayed that the ghost girl wasn't awake.
It wasn't until she got to her front door when she remembered that her luck hasn't been particularly lucky these days. Because once Valerie opened the door she saw the mess that was made in the apartment.
Dani was definitely awake.
'Let's just hope she's still here," Valerie thought to herself as she entered the apartment. Making a mental note to clean everything up once she finished talking to the younger girl. When Valerie made it to her room door, she gave a quick warning knock and waited a second before opening the door.
Inside, she was relieved to see Dani sitting on her bed. Luckily her room wasn't as messy as the kitchen. "Hey," Valerie softly greeted as she walked in the room.
Dani looked at her but mumbled a softer "Hi" in response.
"I'm surprised you actually stayed," Valerie stated, sitting at the foot of the bed.
"You told me to," Dani huffed. As if to prove her point, she showed Valerie the note that was obviously left for her.
A breathy laugh escaped from Valerie's lips. "Then I'm surprised you listened. How are you feeling?"
Dani shrugged. "Felt worse."
Valerie hoped she didn't visibly cringe at the implication. Not wanting to think anymore about it, she continued, "Do you remember anything from last night?"
"Uh," The ghost girl shifted before nodding. "Yea. I was on my way to surprise Da- I mean my cousin, but then these Guys in white suits started to come after me. I didn't want to fight them, so I was trying to lose them. But they ended up surrounding me, so I tried my best to fight back then.. I guess I blacked out at some point." Dani explained, her eyes intensely focused on her gloved hands. Once she was done talking, she glanced up at the older girl. "But I'm pretty sure I didn't come here on my own."
Valerie nodded. She held out her hand towards Dani before asking if she could take a look at her past injuries. When she received a nod, Valerie took her time to take off the bandages and inspect the wounds. They had already started healing even before Valerie could finish patching Dani up, so it was safe to say most were fully healed. The only one that was still visible was Dani's left arm. "Phantom brought you here," She finally spoke up. Her eyes back to meeting Dani's. "He did tell me you were surrounded, but I wanted to hear what happened from you too."
Dani perked up at her cousin's name. "Really? Where is he?"
"Not sure. He left to take care of the GiW but didn't come back last night."
"The GiW- you left him to deal with them alone?!" Dani screeched, surprising the older girl.
"Yeah?" Valerie raised an eyebrow. "He's dealt with them for years, I'm sure nothing's different."
Dani's face morphed to one with an unreadable expression. Like she wanted to say something, but was holding back. Or she was just that angry at the Ghost Huntress. Either way, it almost worried Valerie. Until she watched a childish pout make its way onto Dani's lips. "Then why isn't he here now?"
"Like I said, I'm not sure." Valerie sighed.
"You don't think he got caught do you?"
Valerie snorted, "Phantom caught by the Guys in White? He's had more trouble with the Fent—" She suddenly paused. Her thoughts suddenly flew back to her previous ones during her last classes. "Dani," the ghost girl hummed as a response. "Is Phantom.. involved with the Fenton's in any way?"
Dani blinked. Staring up at the other in surprise. "The Fenton's as in those two ghost hunters from FentonWorks?" Valerie nodded. Dani started to laugh. "Oh, not at all! He tries to avoid them the best he can!"
Valerie couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows. Dani wasn't necessarily wrong. All of Amity saw Phantom's "relationship" with the older Fentons. Jazz never seemed too interested unless needed and then there was Danny. She realized she never saw Danny and Phantom together in a room. Though it was common knowledge that the youngest Fenton seemed to run away from ghosts in general. But she was determined to find the connection between the boy and the ghost. There had to be one.. right? Like a possession or a ghost kidnapping. Just something. She wanted to groan in frustration. She couldn't say these thoughts to Dani. Or anyone for that matter. They'd think she's crazy! Maybe she was. A lot happened in less than twenty-four hours. Maybe she was just too frazzled and paranoid with everything that happened since last night.
"You're right," Valerie sighed. She slumped over, resting her head on her hand. Her gaze drifted to the nearby. "I just heard Danny Fenton kind of disappeared last night too. I guess I just thought it would be easier if they were connected somehow in this. Crazy, right?" She looked back at Dani with a small smile.
Dani was staring at her with a surprised expression. A flash of worry in her eyes as she let out a nervous laugh. "No, yeah. It is a little silly," The young ghost said, waving her hand dismissively as she gained an interest in the bed sheets under her. "But I understand. It would probably be easier if you knew."
Valerie raised an eyebrow hearing Dani mutter something that she couldn't hear. Before she could ask anything about it, she was stopped by Dani's sudden shiver which was followed by an exhale.
"Are you okay?" She asked the ghost girl, who's attention was outside the window.
"Huh," Dani turned back to Valerie. "Oh. Yeah, I'm fine just-"
A very familiar ghostly voice rang out from the town, "BEWARE!"
Valerie had a rising feeling of dread, but got up to look outside the window. Silently pleading for it to not be who she was thinking of. As much as she didn't want it to be, Box Ghost was seen flying past with a number of cardboard boxes.
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before turning to her guest. "I'll go take care of that."
"Oh," Dani exclaimed as she hopped off the bed. "I can help!"
"Dani, it's the Box Ghost. I doubt I'll need any help taking care of him." Valerie said, a humorous tone in her words.
Dani blinked. "Well, I've heard he's been slippery lately. So, I'll be there in case he tries to get away!"
Valerie hummed.
"You want to look for your cousin."
"I want to look for my cousin."
She gave Dani a look before turning her attention to the window. Finding Phantom would be helpful for both them and the town. Naturally, it's The Red Huntress's job of keeping Amity Park safe whenever Phantom is busy or gone. Ghosts were unpredictable too. Maybe..
Valerie turned back to Dani, an idea in mind. "Alright fine, I'll help you look for Phantom." She rose a hand as she saw Dani's happy expression spread across her face. "But you help me with any ghosts that come while he's gone. It would be faster if we work together. Deal?"
Dani was quick to respond. "Deal!"
The two shook on it. Once their hands separated, Dani's legs merged together into a ghost tail as she rushed to phase through the window and hurried the teen before flying in the Box Ghost's direction. Valerie playfully rolled her eyes but, nonetheless, willed on her armored suit. Though she kept the helmet in her hands.
She wondered if this was the right decision. To let the younger Phantom fight with her. Dismissing the Box Ghost, there were a few ghostly foes that gotten stronger; from what she could tell when watching Phantom. But like she said it would be faster. She's got a lot more going on along with her ghost hunting. Now she made another promise to look for another person in less than twenty four hours.
"I need to keep my mouth shut," she muttered to herself as she put on the helmet.
The Red Huntress climbed out the window and summoned her hoverboard before landing on it. Being clicked in, she went to follow Dani. It didn't take long to spot her with the Box Ghost. They seemed to be talking about something. Whatever it was, it kept the Box Ghost distracted enough for her to come up behind him and take out her thermos. "Sorry to interrupt this conversation but," She drew a blank as she was suddenly met with two pairs of green eyes staring at her. Both waiting for her to finish. The huntress sighed. "Man, this just isn't my day." Pointing the opened thermos at the Box Ghost, she turned it on.
"This won't be the last of me!" The Box Ghost cried out as he was sucked inside the thermos. "But I will give you time to work on your quips!"
The thermos was soon shut tightly. A frown being firmly placed on the Huntress's face. There was a beat before the ghost girl started giggling.
"What?" Red Huntress asked, narrowing her eyes at Dani through her visor.
"Nothing. It's just," Dani stuttered out as her laughter grew. "You do need to work on your quips!"
The Red Huntress sighed exasperated. "I don't do quips or banter! That's Phantom's thing!" She exclaimed. Glaring at the girl as she seemed to laugh harder. Dani seemed to have noticed her glare and started to repeatedly apologize as she tried to calm herself down. "Let's just try to find your dumb cousin or whatever." She didn't wait on a response. Instead, turning in a random direction and flying off on her hoverboard.
"Hey! Wait up!" She heard Dani cry out before flying next to her. "You know.. I could teach you!"
She had the urge to roll her eyes, but sighed. "I'll think about it." If it'll stop the conversation for now, she'll say yes to whatever.
They fell into a comfortable silence as they flew around Amity Park. Visiting places that they feel like Phantom would be. Valerie also took the time to search for Danny, as well. She didn't want to prioritize one over the other and she was searching already. The search felt like it went on for hours and it did. Neither wanting to exactly stop. Though she knew that the both of them were looking for different people. Eventually, after seeing no signs of either one of the boys and looking at the time, the Red Huntress called out to Dani to call it a night. The younger reluctantly agreed and followed her back to the apartment; after putting the Box Ghost back to the Ghost Zone.
When the two walked back in Valerie's room via the window. Valerie's suit came off the moment she stepped on her carpet. Dani was quick to climb back on the bed and curl up into a ball with a frown. Seeing Dani look so crestfallen, she sat on the bed and placed a hand on the girl's back. Silently noting how cool the ghost felt through the unitard.
"It's okay, he'll be back soon." She reassured her.
Dani looked up at her. "Promise?"
Valerie paused. "Come on, want to help me make something for dinner?"
Dani's eyes brightened a bit at the mention of dinner and nodded excitedly. Valerie watched as she hopped off the bed and went out of the room. She sighed in relief that she managed to avoid promising anything for now. As much as they might want Phantom to come back soon, she couldn't exactly promise that he would. She doesn't know what's keeping him busy for the whole day, if he was.
It was during the night of the first day without Phantom that Valerie Gray realized that they would have to do one of the most dangerous things to exist:
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. . .
Hope.
Hope and dream if they had to.
So they can believe that Phantom will come back soon.
Well, that was delightful.
I'm not sure how many of Valerie's perspective I'm going to end up doing as a whole, but for right now.. that's all
The next chapter will be posted in two weeks. I'm going to use the time to write more chapters before going back on schedule.
In the meantime, don't be afraid to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Do you guys think Valerie figured it out?
Anyways, that's all folks! Don't forget to drink water and eat! Take care of yourselves
Next up: Danny's escape plan; Tucker and Sam comes on stage?