12/27/24: Here we go! I posted all 30 of Taken's chapters in a month and a half. Since I first published this one, it's been almost 3.5 months. Whew.

WARNING: Same as last chapter. Strong T rating for violence, torture and language. This one…this one is worse.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.

–

Chapter 38: Hopeless

–

Shade was so frustrated and angry that she was nearly to the point of tears. They had spent all day looking through building after building, especially as the Boo-merang wouldn't lock on to his signature. For most of them, it was obvious they were abandoned, but for others, there were squatters, which gave the goth hope and sent her on a wild goose chase trying to find Danny in a building where he wasn't.

Ki-oh was trying to push her to go home. "You need to sleep. You didn't sleep well last night and Danny would want you to take care of yourself," he urged.

"I can't just leave him there," she growled, trying to walk away from him.

He got in her way again. "There's a fresh batch of law enforcement coming to continue the search. Besides, your kids need to see their mother."

Shade stopped, the words striking at her heart. She glared at him. "You're an ass, you know that?"

He sighed, but watched as she took several deep breaths and visibly calmed, letting go of Shade.

"Fine," Sam said, still annoyed. "But I will be back out here the moment I can."

"I do not doubt it," he responded, just glad he's convinced her to go home.

She suddenly teleported away and the Korean man stared, shocked, at the empty space. He groaned. "You forgot me."

–

Sam appeared in the living room, but couldn't face the hopeful looks of everyone in the room. Instead, she simply shook her head and then turned away, going to her room.

She found Jazz in there with the twins. The redhead stood, analyzing the look on the goth's face for a moment, before she went to Sam and hugged her without a word.

The goth's eyes widened at the gesture, but she was unable to return the hug. She hadn't brought him home and so didn't even feel like she deserved it.

Jazz pulled back and gave her a somber smile. "You'll find him," she said.

Sam's gaze shifted to a space to the left, unable to meet Jazz's eyes. "We don't even know if he's still alive," she said softly.

The redhead raised a brow. "I don't believe that. You knew the entire time he was in China that he was still alive. Do you feel like he's dead?"

The goth thought a moment before finally shaking her head. "No. I think he's out there."

"There, you see?"

Sam was saved from responding when they heard the others arrive. Skulker floated to the door. "You left the frail one."

"Frail? Seriously?" They heard Ki-oh say from the living room, clearly offended.

Bruce then appeared behind the hunter. "Excuse me, please."

"Yes, of course," Skulker replied, moving out of the way.

The doctor walked in with a tray of food and set it on the dresser.

"Oh, I'm not–"

"Did you eat at all today?" He interrupted Sam.

She paused before shaking her head. Her eyes widened a bit when she received the first glare she'd ever seen from the man.

"You've been through a lot these last few days and you're stressing your body much too far. It isn't just you anymore; if you keep pushing your body without adequate rest and nutrition, you will lose that baby," he reprimanded.

The goth looked ashamed, right hand coming up to grab her left arm in a vulnerable way. "I'm sorry."

Dr. Tanning sighed. "Don't be sorry, just take care of yourself," he replied before walking out.

Sam glanced at Jazz then. "I'm sorry, I just really want to spend some time with Aurora and Jackson…"

The redhead took the hint and nodded, giving the goth a small smile before leaving.

Sam sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt a headache coming on. After a moment she went into the bathroom and changed out of her clothes and into a pair of pajamas. When she was done, she looked at herself in the mirror.

She was disheveled, sallow and had dark circles around her eyes. Her cheeks were hollow and her eyes were red. She'd certainly looked better. Sam reached down and placed her hand on her stomach before closing her eyes.

"I'm sorry, little one."

–

Danny, though he didn't need to breathe, was breathing hard, sides heaving. It was almost like a comfort to him–a way to help push through the pain since he couldn't power up his core for help. The act of needing to concentrate on it diverted his brain to a task other than focusing on what was going on around him.

He was now covered in burns, shallow cuts and ecto-plasm. On his right side he even had a large Lichtenberg figure.

The ghost was still defiant, having yet to cry out, much to Declan's annoyance. Danny was glaring at the man through his bangs, sweat rolling down his neck and chest and mingling with the small lines of ecto-plasm.

Once Declan had gotten bored of the brand, he had electrocuted Danny, hence the Lichtenberg figure. Then he spent hours using his small knife to cut neat little lines all over his body, being careful to cut just deep enough that each one burned. Once he was done with that, he'd poured rubbing alcohol over Danny, the liquid searing each tiny cut anew and burning his eyes.

Now Declan was holding an odd looking weapon. The ghost was quite sure it was a whip, but the length was fairly short for a whip.

The man walked around Danny, holding the end of the whip in his right hand and then tapping the other end into the palm of his left hand over and over. "I like to use this little number to flog my victims. It's nice because, while it hurts like hell, it won't break the skin. Trust me, we'll get to that part, but if we get there too soon, then my fun will have ended, and I'm just not ready for that yet."

Danny was running out of energy, so this time, he simply rested his head against his left arm and panted.

The shorter man stopped behind the ghost and Danny's sensitive hearing picked up the sound of the weapon moving as Declan prepared to strike. Danny braced himself, holding his breath and clenching his jaw.

When the hit came, Danny nearly lost his hold on his voice in his exhaustion, only barely managing to remain quiet. He gritted his teeth, visions of Sam and the twins in his mind as each blow landed across his back.

Being flogged was painful enough, but add that the whip was landing over the myriad of small cuts and the large brand burned into his skin, and Danny felt like he might throw up.

After 50 lashes, Declan stopped, sweat on his own brow from the exertion. He came around from behind Danny and placed the weapon on the cart. "Lucky for you, it's that time of day where I need my beauty sleep," he said.

He turned around and smirked at the dull look in the ghost's eyes. "But don't worry, the pain should persist through the night. With your core inhibited, you won't be able to heal."

The shorter man then went to the wall where a hose was coiled up and turned it on before spraying Danny down with it without warning. The water was not what the ghost expected from a hose; instead of being cold, it was steaming hot.

This time Danny couldn't help the squeak that escaped as the burning water cascaded down his body, washing away the ecto-plasm. The water/ecto-plasm mixture dripped down his body and onto the floor where it spiraled down a drain in the floor.

Finally, Declan turned the hose off and went back to the cart, grabbing a syringe and needle. He held it up and flicked it before giving Danny a smug look. "Physical torture is fun and all, but it's when you mess with the mind that the real fun begins."

The ghost no longer had the energy to resist, even as he tried to glare at the man. He winced when the needle was jammed into his neck and the contents emptied.

"Have fun in your own mind tonight, asshole," Declan said mockingly.

As he left the room, Danny was left with a strong sense of dread.

–

Three days passed. Danny was not in a good state of mind. When Declan wasn't inflicting physical pain, he was being psychologically tortured and he was starting to not be able to distinguish between what was real and what wasn't.

He'd watched over and over as Mira slaughtered his children and his family. He'd watched as Declan attacked Sam in the worst ways…and he'd been completely powerless to stop any of it.

At first, he knew it wasn't real, as it would take place in locations that just didn't make sense, especially when he'd wake back up in the room. But then they started to occur in the room, where Declan would parade Sam in front of him, or Mira would come drag him from this room so he could go watch his children die.

It was becoming more and more difficult to not believe.

It didn't help that he was suffering from dehydration. While dehydration and starvation couldn't technically kill him, it did make him very weak, and he was getting to the point where he couldn't keep his weight off his arms anymore. The manacles were cutting into his wrists, ecto-plasm staining his arms as it slowly dripped.

Declan was getting angrier as the ghost still hadn't made a sound. But Danny knew it was only a matter of time; he was becoming too weak to prevent it for much longer. Heck, he no longer even talked back or glared anymore.

The half ghosts annoyance meant he was about to up the ante. He was currently circling Danny again with a wicked looking new weapon, Danny's head hung in resignation.

Danny may not be able to truly distinguish reality when it came to his family being hurt, but there was no mistaking the pain. The physical pain he felt in his dreams simply couldn't compare to the real thing.

"This lovely little number is something I've been dying to use, but forced myself to be patient. I haven't used this one before–it's brand new–but the damage is supposed to be unreal," the shorter man said as he crossed to Danny's front. "I'm done with using the little guys; it's time to bring out the big guns."

Declan moved again around Danny, a sadistic smile on his face. "This weapon is used in a way that's similar to the whip when flogging, except instead of a leather strap, this has five metal hooks on the end. Each strike means each hook has a chance to bury into the flesh and when I pull…" he laughed darkly, stopping at Danny's back.

Declan began spinning the weapon, hooks jingling together. Danny gathered the strength to pull himself up enough to grab onto the chains his manacles were attached to in order to brace himself.

But it wasn't enough.

The half ghost brought the weapon down, three hooks catching and burying deep. Danny clenched his eyes shut, but when Declan pulled, skin and muscle were torn, some even coming away with the hooks.

Danny screamed.

Declan grinned, finally getting what he wanted.

The sadistic man did it again and again, and each time the metal hooks tore away at Danny's flesh, ripping away the skin and leaving his muscles in tatters. Danny couldn't help the screams that were ripped loose from his throat.

Finally–blessedly–Declan stopped after twenty lashes, leaving Danny shaking and with ecto-plasm pouring down his back like little streams. He tried breathing again so he could focus on something else, but his breaths came out as rasps, his voice occasionally mingling with them as he groaned.

Even trying to picture his kids wasn't working, the pain all consuming. Tears streamed down his face as sweat dripped from his nose and down into his beard. He had a fleeting thought that at least when Mira ripped out his core, he would no longer feel the pain. He hated that a part of him was starting to welcome that, even long for it.

Declan came around the front, chuckling. "I gotta say, this is probably my favorite new weapon," he said as he looked at the bloodied implement with reverence. Bits of Danny's muscle and flesh were still in the hooks.

The half ghost clicked his tongue. "It's a shame it destroyed the branding on your back though. Guess we'll just need to make sure you're on your back when that bitch finds your body."

Danny was barely listening as he was slowly losing consciousness from the pain.

Declan noticed it and reached out, slapping the ghost's cheek a few times, but barely getting a response. "Damn, guess I'm done for now," he said before grabbing the new syringe on the cart and injecting the ghost.

Danny never even flinched.

"Nighty night, asshole. Enjoy your trip," Declan said, cackling as he left.

–

The table flipped, taking the map, markers and drinks with it. It crashed down, making a mess all over the floor as the water from the drinks spilled.

"Shade, please calm down," Ki-oh pleaded at the irate half ghost.

She turned on him. "He's been missing for four damn days–four! And we've ruled out every possible lead," she shouted. While her anger was at the forefront, she had tears in her eyes.

"We need to consider the possibility that they are not in Amity Park," Vlad stated.

"We have no idea why she took him. After this long he's probably…" Shade trailed off, fists clenched at her sides.

"We don't know that for sure," the mayor tried to assure her.

Shade went after the table again but Ki-oh got in her way. "Dr. Tanning gave me a sedative. If you don't calm down, I will make you take it. It's far better for the child than the stress," he warned.

"Child?" Mayor Roswell asked before it dawned on him. "She's pregnant? A full ghost really can create a child with a human?"

The look Shade gave him said she dared him to say anything negative about it. He held up his hands and remained silent.

She turned back to the Korean. "Touch me and it'll be the last thing you do,"

Ki-oh glanced at the mayor, noting his look of horror. "You aren't exactly helping your case that you're not the enemy," he said. "You need to let Sam take control."

"Wait," the mayor started. "Take control? Shade isn't just her ghost name like Phantom?"

Shade sighed, trying to reign herself in, before regarding Mayor Roswell. "Shade is the one Mira created to kill Danny. Danny broke Mira's power, but it left Shade behind. She's my more…angry side," she explained.

The man nodded, taking the information in. Finally, "Ki-oh is right; stressing yourself isn't going to help you. It's getting late, go home and get some rest; we'll regroup tomorrow and try to narrow down anywhere they could've gone outside of Amity Park."

The goth looked so hopeless at that moment. "I just…"

"I know," Ki-oh said, hand touching her shoulder and squeezing.

"We all know," Vlad chimed in.

She deflated, Sam fully taking over. The grief hit her like a ton of bricks and the tears started falling. After a deep breath, she turned back to the mayor and gave him a soft smile. "I'm sorry," she said gently.

He shook his head, giving her a sympathetic look. "I cannot imagine what you're going through, so please, don't be sorry."

Vlad placed a gentle hand on the goth's shoulder, drawing her attention. "You need to take care of yourself. You should go home and see your children; we'll stay here and figure out some places outside of Amity that may be viable search targets."

Sam wanted to protest, but her exhausted body was screaming for a break. So, she nodded and teleported away, reappearing in the living room.

She held her head and Tucker was immediately there, but she waved him off. "Just a headache, not a seizure," she assured him.

The dark-skinned man could see the wet lines on her cheeks and, without a word, enveloped her in a hug. Sam felt her breath hitch at the show of comfort and swallowed hard, trying to force back the emotions. She hugged him back, though, allowing herself that small comfort, head resting on his shoulder.

"You're one of the people I love most in this world," he said. "I wish I could take this pain away."

She squeezed him a little tighter before letting go. She went to her bedroom and he followed. Maddie was in there with the twins and gave them a small smile, but it fell when the goth didn't return it.

Tucker used his hands to silently request the redhead leave so he could talk with Sam. She graciously nodded and left.

Sam removed her boots and trench coat before going to the twins, who had been on the bed with Maddie. She sat down and watched them. It killed her as they smiled up at her, completely oblivious to what was going on.

Was this how Danny felt when she was gone?

Tucker sat on the bed as well, climbing up next to her and giving the twins a gentle smile. "How's the search?" he finally asked after a few minutes of silence.

Sam sighed. "We're out of places to search. It looks like he's not in Amity Park."

"She wouldn't have gone too far, though, right?"

She absently scratched her arm before reaching out and grabbing a toy for Aurora. "I think that depends on what her plans are for Danny, and if she's done with Amity, or us."

Tucker grabbed a toy for Jackson and gave it to the infant, the small child cooing as he waved it around. "So, it's possible she's gone back to China?"

"Would you keep a powerful ghost and try to force him to become your weapon, knowing you can never really trust him to be loyal? Or would you kill him and take his core so you could create a powerful half ghost you can control?"

"Eden did," he replied.

Sam sighed. "Correct, but there's two things wrong with that statement. One: Eden didn't have the option to create half ghosts until after Danny escaped, and two: Mira isn't Eden. Also, once Danny escaped, Eden did kill him."

"So you think she took him to create her most powerful half ghost?"

"If she hasn't already," the goth answered softly.

"You don't know that."

"Why would she keep him alive?" she asked. "He's a liability."

"I don't know, I just…" he trailed off, trying to find the words. "I'm trying to be optimistic." He watched her for a moment, noting the hopeless look in her eyes. "Please don't give up hope," he said softly and with emotion.

Sam had never given up hope when Danny was missing for four years. To see she might be losing it now…it scared him.

She suddenly leaned against him, head resting on his shoulder. "I won't stop looking for him," she said.

Tucker wrapped an arm around her, putting his head on hers as they watched the twins play with their toys. "You found him on the other side of the world. When the rest of us lost hope, you didn't. I believe you'll find him."

"Oh, I don't doubt I'll find him," she replied. "I just don't know if it'll be in time," she added softly.

They heard the others arrive, followed shortly by a frantic Do-hee. "Is Ki-oh with you?" she asked Vlad and Skulker in a panic.

That caught Sam's attention. She grabbed Aurora and the cooling blanket, while Tucker picked up Jackson, and they went into the living room.

"No, he said he had an errand to run. We dropped him off at the supermarket," the billionaire answered.

The explanation only served to panic her further. Then Do-hee saw Sam and went to her. "He left this…I just found it in Se-ri's pajama drawer, where he knew I wouldn't find it until late," she said in tears.

Sam grabbed the piece of paper and began to read it.

'My dearest Do-hee,

Danny's abduction was proof that she can still reach us. I'm so sorry it's come to this, but the only way I can keep you and Se-ri safe is if I join her.

Tell Sam…I am sorry.

Love, Ki-oh'

The goth stared at the paper for a long time, the dark tendrils of betrayal curling around her heart and squeezing. Her tears began anew.

"Did he…" she started before faltering. She sniffed before starting again. "Did he know where she was this whole time?"

Do-hee shook her head, body shaking from grief, panic and worry. "I do not think so. Maybe he believed he could find her if he was on his own?"

The goth looked at the woman over the paper. "He said he went to join her."

The others in the room gave each other uneasy looks. "He joined her?" Tucker asked.

Sam read the note aloud and there was a collective gasp. "He did not seem the type," Vlad commented.

"He is not the type!" The Korean woman insisted.

The goth stood taller, the grieving and devastated Sam shrinking into herself and letting Shade take control. "The next time I see him," she started darkly, "I won't be so forgiving."

–

12/29/24: I know this is shorter, but I don't have another good spot to cut for a bit. I thought it appropriate to end it here.

Hopefully you guys are still with me!

Going forward there will be some sections that seem like a hallucination but aren't, and some that seem to not be a hallucination but are. I know it's so mean, but that's on purpose to keep you guessing, and to also surprise you.