Broken Phantom

-Star-

The living room was massive, but it managed to feel strangely cramped. The dark green walls shimmered with faint ectoplasmic energy, and intricate black carvings of twisting vines decorated the edges of the ceiling. A fireplace roared with unnatural green flames, casting flickering shadows that made everything look like it was moving. My eyes kept drifting to those shadows, half expecting them to come alive.

The seating arrangement didn't help my nerves. That little girl, Dani was sprawled on one of the larger couches, her legs tucked underneath her. She seemed perfectly at ease like she didn't notice the dozen or so classmates crammed into the room.

She couldn't help but stare at the girl, She had called Danny her dad right? that wasn't her just hearing wrong right?.

Valerie leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed and face unreadable, watching everyone like a hawk. The rest of us were scattered on chairs, couches, and even the floor, some huddled in small groups while others kept their distance.

I sat on one of the smaller couches with Kwan, who kept bouncing his leg nervously. Across the room, Paulina perched delicately on an armchair, her face a mix of confusion and frustration. Dash paced back and forth, muttering to himself, Mikey and Jamie sat cross-legged on the floor, whispering to each other. Everyone else was just hanging around the room. No one looked comfortable.

"So… what the hell is going on?" Dash finally blurted out, his voice louder than necessary. The sound echoed in the cavernous room, making a few people jump. "What the hell is up with Fenturd".

Dani's eyes narrowed, her calm expression hardening. "Watch how you talk about my dad."

"Dad?" Paulina repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Danny Fenton is your dad? How does that even make sense?"

Dani smirked, leaning back against the couch cushions. "It's a long story. One you don't really need to know."

I felt my frustration bubbling up. Dani's flippant attitude wasn't helping anyone understand what was happening. "We deserve to know," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Danny's alive, and he's clearly… different. We're stuck here, and none of us know what's going on. So maybe you could explain?".

Yeah, She knew they weren't all that close but they were still friends at the least.

She and Kwan had been there for him when Sam and Tucker were away with their parents during the Summer before he Disappeared.

Valerie sighed, pushing off the wall and walking toward the center of the room. "Look, I get that you're confused. But the Ghost Zone isn't exactly the place for casual Q&A. You're here because of the Fentons' little field trip stunt. None of this would've happened if they'd stayed in their lane."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mikey asked, frowning.

"It means," Valerie said, leveling him with a sharp look, "that this precious science project tip of theirs was a cover for their obsession. They've been hunting ghosts for years. And now, they've dragged you into their mess."

The room was silent for a few seconds.

"Are we really stuck" a voice whispered out, Nathan, looking so scared. And Star herself was a little worried about that bit of information that Danny had dropped before.

"It's not Anything permanent Nathan" Valerie answered softly as if afraid he would drop dead if she raised her voice any louder. "It's hard to explain but think of Halloween"

Valerie started talking. She seemed to draw everyone's attention, probably eager to know about their current situation.

"You know how on Halloween people say that the veil between worlds blurs" she said as she looked around, seeing she had their attention she continued " They are times when the opposite is the same. When the veil between worlds seems to simply close shut and refuse to open".

"Any attempt to do so by force would cause you flying into the unknown of Infinity".

That seemed to crush any hope she and the others had been hoping to hear. Before she could relax, Valerie Continued.

"They is one person who can do it"

"Who" Paulina demanded as she leaned forward from where she was sitting.

"The Ancient of Space. But I don't doubt he would do it"

"Why" Sam bit out, Gritting her teeth.

"He is Space itself, The entirety of Space in all of existence," Val said. "Do you think he would shift space for you when it would no doubt affect other places, worlds, and even Timelines".

The room fell silent again.

-Kwan-

I kept bouncing my leg, even though I knew it was annoying Star. But I couldn't help it. The energy in the room was suffocating, and every word Valerie said made it worse. The idea that this whole trip was a setup made my stomach churn.

"You said that the Fenton's dragged us in here like it was what they wanted," Star said.

"You're saying the Fentons planned this?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Valerie nodded, her face grim. "Pretty much."

The room erupted into murmurs, everyone talking over each other. Some were angry, others just confused. Dani rolled her eyes and let out a sharp whistle, silencing everyone.

"If you're done panicking," she said, her tone sharp, "I can tell you this much: You're safer here than you are out there." She gestured toward the window, where the swirling green void of the Ghost Zone was visible. "The Zone isn't just some haunted theme park. It's dangerous. If you want to survive, you'll listen to Val and me."

"Why should we trust you?" Dash asked, his voice defiant. "You're a ghost too, aren't you?"

Dani's eyes glowed faintly, but Valerie stepped in before she could respond. "Because, unlike the Fentons, we actually care if you make it out of here alive."

That shut Dash up, but the tension in the room only grew. I glanced at Star, who looked just as uneasy as I felt. None of this was making sense, and every answer just led to more questions.

-Jamie-

I sat near Mikey on the floor, my legs folded awkwardly. The soft green glow from the fireplace made the whole room look like something out of a nightmare. Shadows flickered across the walls, and the swirling designs on the ceiling seemed to twist and move when I stared too long.

"Danny's different now," Star said. Her voice was soft but carried a strange weight. I knew she was right. We'd all seen it.

"What happens now?" I asked, not even sure who I was talking to.

Dani's expression softened just a bit as she looked at me. "Now? You stay out of trouble. Danny's got enough to deal with without worrying about you guys."

It wasn't much of an answer, but it was better than nothing. Mikey shifted beside me, leaning closer. "Do you think she's telling the truth?" he whispered.

I shrugged, keeping my voice low. "I don't know. But what choice do we have?"

-Dash-

I hated this. The whole situation was insane, and I felt useless. Pacing the room didn't help, but it was better than sitting around feeling helpless. Danny being alive was one thing, but him being some kind of ghost king? That was too much.

"You're saying this is all the Fentons' fault?" I asked Valerie, my voice sharp. "That they dragged us into this?"

"Exactly," Valerie replied, not missing a beat. Her tone was steady like she'd said this a hundred times before.

"Why?" I couldn't help but ask. "Why bring us here"

"They're hunters why do you think they came to the Zone". She replied.

"But why bring us into this"

"Bait".

"Bait?" I asked, disbelieved. The shocked faces of my mates were probably mirrored by my own.

"Why else do you think they would bring untrained Teens into a dangerous place like this for"

I wanted to argue, to say it wasn't fair, but the look on her face stopped me. She wasn't joking, and she definitely wasn't wrong. I ran a hand through my hair, muttering under my breath. "This is insane."

Dani's voice cut through my thoughts. "If you think this is bad, you haven't seen anything yet."

Great. Just what I needed to hear.

-Valerie-

I'd expected questions. I'd expected panic. What I hadn't expected was how exhausting it would be to deal with all of them at once. These kids had no idea what they'd stumbled into, and their fear was practically suffocating the room.

She knew they were scared and rightfully so, they had been pulled from their home -Hell their world- and brought into the depths of the unknown and now told they were brought to be bait, it would frighten anyone.

"Listen," I said, stepping forward so they'd all shut up and pay attention. "You're in the Ghost Zone. It's not a playground, and it's definitely not safe. You follow the rules, you listen to me and Dani, and maybe—' maybe—you'll make it out of here in one piece."

"And if we don't?" Dash asked, his tone defiant but his eyes betraying his fear.

I stared him down. "Then you're dead. Simple as that."

The room went silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Good. They needed to understand just how dangerous this place was, As much as this place had changed since Danny took over, it was still equally as dangerous as it was before.

They need to understand that.

-Danielle-

We'd warned them. Told them how dangerous the Zone was. But they were still acting like this was some kind of school trip gone wrong. I could see it in their eyes—the disbelief, the fear but they still didn't get it. Not yet.

"Danny's got enough to deal with without worrying about you guys," I said, leaning forward. "Stay out of trouble, follow the rules, and don't touch anything. Got it?"

"What if something happens?" Mikey asked, his voice trembling.

I sighed. "If something happens, you stick together. You don't wander off, and you don't try to be a hero. Danny and I will handle the rest."

The room fell silent, the crackle of the fireplace the only sound. They were scared, and they had every right to be. But if they stuck together and listened, they might just make it through this.

Now if only they could figure out why they were brought in here as bait to begin with. No doubt the GIW has something big planned.