Chapter 2: (A) Sam POV - 1

I messed up. I messed up badly. When Danny went in and nothing happened for a while, I was disappointed but not really surprised. Honestly, the Fentons were technically geniuses, but most of the things that they invent either fizzle out after a couple of seconds, or just don't work at all. My hopes weren't really that high, but they were still there. I was about to ask him if he saw anything or just to come back out if not, but then I heard it. The laughter.

Laughter is what said, but it was more of a cackle. Not one of a cartoon super villain or of a mad scientist, but more...deranged. It was primal and terrifying. The type of laugh that immediately brought a shiver from my spine. I didn't think it was him, not really. I thought he found someone or something in the portal and that he was in trouble. So I called out to him, screamed his name in concern. I could vaguely recognize Tucker doing the same, but I couldn't really hear him. My body moved on its own and I found myself making my way towards the portal as fast as I could.

I was just about to step in, Tuck right behind me, when there was a flash of green light. The situation turned from bad to worse as we both were blown back by some type of explosion. It hurt, not anything specifically, but everything just hurt. It felt like a bomb went off in my face, and the next thing I know, I find myself staring at the ceiling. I didn't know what happened, my thoughts were scattered, and I tried to rise from the floor. One problem though, a spike of pain filled me the moment I moved even slightly.

From my side, I saw my techno friend doing the same thing, but he seemed better off, already in the middle of getting up. He was behind me, so I guess it's expected, but I didn't have time to envy him, because that's when the screams started. I couldn't think, and my body froze. I could only stare in horror at the portal as I realised where the explosion originated from and who was still in ground zero.

The flash of green light projected his shadow across the basement walls and my worry was only by my will to get up. I messed up. He needs help. He needs me. I need to get him out of there. My eyes refuse to even blink while I watch as his back arches in agony and his head tilts back. With each passing second, his screams call out to me. The pain, it hurts with each twitch, but I ignore it. It's nothing compared to what he's going through, and so I keep struggling.

My legs feel weak, like they'll give out on me at any passing second. My arms aren't much better, they can't stop shaking. The pain is making my body spasm, and with each movement, it's causing more pain. A never ending cycle that causes my entire being to scream at me to lie back down. To. Stop. Moving. But I can't, not while he's still in there. And finally, after what seems like more minutes than seconds, I force it to follow my commands. To get up and help its friend. To shut up and focus on the task it was given. To stop wasting anymore time and move!

But I was too late. The light faded into black and the screams stopped. Quiet. It was too quiet. One step. Then two. My mind was foggy and I couldn't think straight. My thoughts were jumbled together and they all weren't good. Thousands of questions went through my head, and none had an answer. What if I killed him? What if he's still suffering? This is my fault, why didn't I just leave the stupid ghost thing alone? If he's still alive, will he hate me? Will he want anything to do with me?

And then, I heard it again.

That laughter.

That cackle.

And then footsteps, slow and sure. And there the monster was.

White hair.

Green eyes.

Smile twisted.

It took me a second, but I recognized it of course. How wouldn't I. It was my best friend after all.

"....Danny?"