Puppet Strings

Chapter One

That's why Danny was waiting, they wanted him to turn on the portal, his hazmat suit was to protect him from the radiation, as the others stood by, waiting to take down any ghosts who threatened to come through. Danny felt honored to be chosen to go inside the portal and flip the switch, though he didn't understand why the switch was inside the portal. But he wouldn't question the grownups. As they knew more than him. If he did question them, it would lead to pain, proving to Danny that they knew more.

Questioning them was never allowed.

Danny stepped forward as the door slid open, greeting the room filled with familiar faces, the GIW and their scientists all stood back, leaving a pathway for the eight year old to walk through. His bright blue eyes stayed on the target of the portal, which gaped open, looking as if it were about to devour Danny.

Danny stopped outside the portal, his heart pounding in his chest, he was almost certain everyone could hear it in the room. His eyes glanced to the side, to the agent standing next to the portal. Even though he was wearing sunglasses, Danny knew he was looking at him. With a swift nod from the man, Danny continued forward, gripping the opening as he struggled to step over the threshold. It was a little too tall for him to do it easily, but he managed.

Stumbling inside the portal Danny reached out to the wall, steadying himself. He looked for the switch. It wasn't that far from his hand. Reaching forward, Danny pressed his shaking finger against it. Turning back and grinning triumphantly at the GIW as he switched it on.

White filled his vision as something shot through his body.

Burning him. All he could feel was the burning.

The smell of burning flesh.

And the scream that tore through his throat, before it became too painful to scream. Too hard to scream.

Time slowed, leaving Danny there for an eternity, feeling his cells get ripped apart, his body burning.

And then it all went dark.

It took Danny a week to fully wake up. Coming in and out of consciousness, unaware of the scientists around him, the strange green liquid flowing into his body.

The heart monitor, showing no pulse.

Danny blinked as the white lights blinded him, his entire body aching. The smell of burning flesh still seemed to linger in the air. But was quickly replaced by the smell of cleaner "Oh good." A voice boomed, causing him to wince. His head throbbed as he turned ever so slightly, the movement causing his world to turn.

"Wha-?" Danny started, eyes widening at the pain bursting through his throat at the simple sound.

"Careful there Phantom." Another voice came, applifying the throbbing in his head. Danny turned his head sideways,watching as the world swam before coming back into focus. Phantom wasn't a new name for him, not really. It's what they called him since he got here, having no memory of his past, drifting through the halls like a ghost. "You took quite the hit, but now we have access to the ghost realm and a halfa all thanks to you."

"Wha-." Danny winced, rubbing his throat as the woman handed him a cup of water. Danny shakily grabbed it gulping down the cold liquid. Once it was gone, the woman took it back. Danny's attention once returned to the man. "What's a halfa?" Danny asked, his voice barely a whisper.

The man, Agent K, grinned, sending a cold chill down Danny's spine. "You are."

Danny stared at the man, not understanding. As a fog started to come over his mind again. Unaware of the drug that was placed in the water he just gulped down. His head thumped back down on the pillow as his vision slowly darkened.