Puppet Strings

Chapter Three

Warning: Gore and Mild Panic attack

Phantom creaked one eye open at the sound of the beep. A groan escaped his mouth, and at the loss of a long-needed rest, the gravel of the rooftop bit into his back as he shifted, hoping to tune out the beeping. The sound of vehicles and chatter once again pulled him from the attempt to sleep. With a grunt Phantom laid on his back, a hand shooting upwards to block out the afternoon sun.

By the sound of it, Casper High had just gotten out. Phantom stood up looking across the street at the stream of students leaving the school. Amity Park was more of a home than anywhere else for him, yes he grew up with the GIW but this place just called to him. Phantom wasn't sure what it was, the people, or the amount of ectoplasm it just felt right. He stumbled upon the small town once while searching for his way back to the lab and something inside of him seemed to click. A warm feeling as if this is where he was supposed to be, and it wasn't an irritating warm like he'd grown accustomed to, no it was a nice warm.

Ever since the accident the heat always bothered him, not enough to hurt him, but it did make him rather uncomfortable. After learning about it, the GIW reveled in it making Phantom's room the hottest one in the building.

It was fine with him, Phantom was rarely there. Spending most of his time in Amity or on missions. Since the GIW could track where he was at all times, from the tracker in his bloodstream and the one in the collar, it made it easier for Phantom to avoid being in the lab, except for the usual tests and experimentation, Phantom was rarely there.

Phantom groaned as the beep chimed again, a little louder. He lifted his wrist, watching as the message beeped into existence.

Return to base

Phantom sighed, stretching his tired arms out. He had one heck of a fight last night, with a ghost who had a lot of fun throwing boxes full of metal at Phantom.

It wasn't as fun as it sounded.

And lucky for the ghost, he got away. Phantom would wring that ghost's neck next time he saw him. Being hit with a box full of bricks was extremely painful, even with his enhanced healing. He often shook off the pain though, as ghosts weren't supposed to feel anything, it had to all be in his head.

"I'll be back." He said to the open air as he walked away, taking a deep breath, he put his focus on flying. When battling the box ghost it was rather difficult to fight with extremely diminished powers. But he managed. Huh.

That's what he'll call him. Box Ghost. It is what the ghost kept on shouting while Phantom struggled under the pile of boxes.

Taking off into the air, Phantom looked down at the town with a small smile before moving forward, shooting through the air and back towards the lab.

His flight wasn't too long, having arrived at the lab within an hour. He landed softly as Agent K stood at the entrance of the lab, watching the ten-year-old near. Agent K moved forward, holding the oval device Phantom turned in a few weeks ago.

"We have finished adjusting the EctoTracker." Phantom nodded slowly, looking at Agent K. "It will track anyone with the slightest possibility of becoming a ghost after their death. You will try it out in Bludhaven, keep an eye out for the vigilante Nightwing."

Phantom looked up, his eyes trained on the man's chin, never making eye contact. Yes, they wanted him to look up to show he understood, but looking into their eyes was forbidden.

Agent K turned around and walked back into the lab, the door sliding shut behind him. The orange light on the collar turned yellow, as Phantom felt the familiar amount of power return. Turning around, fighting off the grin as he took off in the air with little effort.