The Samhain Chronicles: Ch. 9

"NO!!!" Danny cried, reaching out in desperation toward Penelope as the rifle's muzzle flashed. She was a good two meters away from him, yet somehow he made it to her side in under a second. operating fully on raw instinct, he held her close to his body and turned his back to Kane, bracing for the searing pain that was sure to come from the bullet impacting his flesh. To his utter shock, however, the pain he expected never came. He staggered from the impact, but instead of feeling the bullet sink into his flesh he heard a high-pitched crystalline "ping", and a confused string of expletives from Kane. When he peeked open one eye to brave a look around, everything was white around him.

"This is it," he thought, "I'm dead. At least it was quick, and much more painless than I imagined."

It was then he heard Penelope breathe a sigh of awe. "Daniel... Daniel, look!"

Hesitantly, Danny opened both eyes, and they widened immediately in shock. The glowing white filling his field of vision was constructed of feathers. They dazzled in the light of the rising sun like diamonds, gleaming and irridescent as a fine set of pure, crystal prisms. When he reached out to touch one he was shocked to discover that he could feel his own fingers upon it, as if it were a bizarre extension of his being. Upon closer inspection he realized the glittering feathers were affixed to a pair of massive wings bigger than he was tall...and that they appeared to be firmly attached to his own back. He spun in a half-circle for a second like a dog chasing its tail, trying to look at them, "How-?! What-?!"

Penelope just smiled, "I told you so. Apology accepted, by the way." He began to smile as well, his head abuzz with a million and one questions, until a shout from Kane brought him crashing back down to reality.

"No fair!!" The big man shouted, fumbling to reload his rifle as he stamped his feet like a child, "That's cheating, Laddie! Now get oot of the way and let me shoot her!"

When Kane managed to finish loading and priming the rifle again, he raised it and took another shot. Danny instinctively grabbed Penelope again, and his wings closed around the both of them creating a living, diamond cocoon to shield them. Danny winced and staggered as two more shots richocheted off his wings, then he heard a dull "click" and Kane started swearing again. "Jammed," he snarled, "Damn it all!!" After trying to unjam the firearm for another minute, Kane eventually chucked it aside and pulled a large hunting knife from his belt. When he started to advance, Penelope tugged Danny's arm and started running toward the edge of the roof.

"Daniel, come on!" she urged, again showing surprising strength as she yanked him along.

Danny's wings flapped behind him as he clumsily ran after her, nearly tripping him a time or two, hopelessly confused as to where Penelope was taking him. When he realized at last that she was heading to the opposite end of the roof, he pulled back hard on her arm to stop their momentum. Undaunted, Penelope urged him on, although when she climbed up onto the lip of the roof's edge she did suddenly look a little green. "Penelope, what are ye doing?!" He barked, pointing to the back left of the roof, "The fire escape is that way!"

Penelope closed her eyes tightly with a gulp and clung to Danny like a koala cub, then swung all her weight backwards towards the open air, "I know, b-but we don't have time! Y-You'll have to fly!"

Danny looked at her in absolute shock and horror as he shook his head, "Wh-Whaaat?! Penelope, I can't-AHH!!!"

With another hard yank on his neck, she pulled him off balance and the two tumbled together off the edge of the four-story bulding. They spiraled out of control toward the ground at a dizzying speed, while Danny's wings flapped awkwardly trying to stabliize them. Penelope managed to open her eyes after a few seconds, then buried her face in his shirt again with a terrifed scream, "DANIEL, FOR BLOODY SAKES, DO SOMETHING!!!" Danny, to his credit, did try to do something. He flapped with all his might, attempting anything and everything to control their descent, but nothing seemed to be helping. At the very least, he was comforted by the thought that their deaths would be quick, falling from such a high altitude. Just when he was ready to give up and accept their fate, he realized just how fast the cobblestone courtyard below was racing up to meet them and flinched instinctually.

In that instant, barely a meter before they would have hit the pavers, his wings snapped open wide and flattened out. Danny grunted from the wind currents buffeting him as their straight plummet to certain death was abruptly changed in the blink of an eye to a lateral, wobbly glide across the courtyard. He laughed out of shock, mostly over not being a grease smear on the pavement at the moment, but also with delight and exhilaration, "I... I-I can fly...? Penelope, I can fly!!"

She pried her face from his chest for just an instant to observe the miracle, her terrified frown breaking into a small, awestruck grin. Suddenly she looked over her shoulder with a gasp, "Daniel, the tree! Look out!!"

He glanced up at her warning, just in time to see the oak tree in the middle of the courtyard zooming toward him. With a yelp, he barrel-rolled out of the way at the last second, but in doing so accidentally pulled his wings in tight to his body once more and they plowed straight into the dirt. His shoulder hit the ground first, sending the both of them rolling and tumbling across the turf until a small clump of hedges in front of the cafeteria building arrested their momentum at last.

Penelope groaned and spat out a few leaves and grass as she stumbled to her feet, luckily cushioned from the fall by Danny's chest. "Oof," she winced, rubbing her shoulder and hip delicately, "Not exactly the most graceful thing I expected...but we survived at least." Danny let out another giddy little titter, dazed and a bit drunken with euphoria. Penelope looked down at him worriedly, "Daniel? Daniel, are you alright?!"

He grinned at her like an imbecile and waggled his wingtips playfully, "W-Wings... I have wings...and I can fly! Wait until Dr. Horace finds out about this!"

Penelope rolled her eyes exhasperatedly and started pulling him to a seated position, "Daniel, please...pull yourself together! There's still a madman after us, even though we've got a decent lead on him now. Come on, up you get!"

Danny sobered up a little at her statement, then cleared his throat, "Ah... yes. Ye're quite right. Forgive my gaeity. We should press on now." By the time he got to his feet, his magnificent wings had disappeared in a shower of sparkles back into the ether.

Kane had tried to follow them down via the fire escape, but it seemed he wasn't aware that the lowest third of it was no longer attached to the building. He was still holding onto what was left of the bottommost ladder for dear life when campus security and the local fire brigade swarmed over to investigate. The police were called a few minutes later and hauled Kane off in handcuffs, although it took no less than five officers to drag the snarling, spitting bear of a man over to their armored wagon and stuff him inside it. Danny and Penelope gave their statements to the police, Headmistress Carlisle and the head of campus security, although they both thought it best to gloss over the fact that they had flown off the roof to safety.

"There was someone else with him," Danny warned the officers, "A woman. I didn't see what she looked like, but I have reason to believe she's quite dangerous and may very well still be on campus somewhere." Without a physical description there was exceedingly little to go on, but the chief of security promised to put out an announcement warning the students and staff to be on the look out for a strange woman hanging about the grounds. With all the hubbub stirring the school into such a tizzy, Headmistress Carlisle cancelled classes for the day outright and quarrantined the students to their dorms, but urged them to work on their studies independently all the same.

Danny walked Penelope back to her apartment once the police and campus security had finished their interrogation. Both were still quite sore from the rough landing they'd endured, and they walked slowly with their arms around each other for emotional as well as physical support. When they got to their floor, Danny suddenly stopped and leaned against the wall. Penelope stopped as well and turned to him puzzledly, "Daniel, what is it? You did hurt yourself, didn't you? Come on into my flat; I've got a first aid kit and an ice pack with your name all over them."

Danny shook his head, "No... I'm alright. I... I just... was trying to find an opportunity to say 'goodbye'... and I suppose this is it."

Penelope's jaw dropped open in shock, "What? Goodbye? What for?! Kane was arrested, and that mystery woman will be soon as well. We won, Daniel, we're safe! Why does that mean you have to leave?!"

Danny's heart was heavy as he forced himself to look her in the eye, "Why? Because ye were very nearly killed this morning, Penelope... and it was my fault! If Kane breaks out of prison or... o-or if they send someone else, I have no guarantee that I shall be able to protect ye!"

"I resent that," Penelope huffed, folding her arms across her chest sternly, "I thought I took rather good care of myself in that situation, for the most part! I'm not a child, Daniel, and I'm not afraid to face those people again if I have to."

Danny tugged at his hair agitatedly, "Penelope, it's not just about you! If I stay here, I'm putting the entire school in jeopardy!! I cannae live with that...nor can I live with the possibility of getting the woman I love injured or killed!" A heavy silence hung in the air between them, filled only with the sound of Danny's angry, grief-riddled breaths.

"You... You love me?" Penelope asked timidly, her cheeks flushing a pale pink.

Danny blushed as well, his own words just now setting in and quelling his anger, "I... well...yes. I have ever since the day we met." More silence followed, causing Danny to sigh heavily and hang his head, "Ye must think me a fool, or a nutter...probably both, considering I actually am a nutter."

"I don't think you're either, actually," Penelope said quietly, studying her kitten heel pumps for a moment, "I've already said so, and I meant it then as much as I mean it now. I've seen insanity, Daniel, and you are not insane at all. I..." she huffed out a sigh and met his gaze with fiery determination, "...Well, I don't exactly know what you are, but I do know that I trust you and care about you... and if you're leaving to protect the students, then I'm going with you."

Danny was taken completely aback by Penelope's bold statement, "What?! No, Penelope, ye can't! The people I'm running from are dangerous, and ye've got a promising career ahead of ye here. If I am to go, then I must do so alone. I cannae risk anyone getting injured or worse on my account!" When Penelope continued staring at him unflappably, he stepped forward and chafed her arms. "For what it's worth," he murmured, anguished yet hopeful tears glittering in his eyes, "I do appreciate the offer. I dunno if we'll ever see each other again, but I promise to write...if I can."

"Daniel," she sighed, shaking her head wearily, "I don't give a damn who's after you! I'm not leaving your side until this entire affair is sorted. You mean more to me than a silly career, Daniel MacDougal, so like it or not you're stuck with me indefinitely!"

Danny gazed at her with awe and deepest respect, along with a hint of confusion, "Ye... Ye would drop everything and risk your own life...for me? But... But why? Penelope, I don't underst-" She cut him off suddenly by standing on tiptoe, grabbing his face, and bending his neck down to draw him into a deep, passionate kiss. Electricity seemed to crackle between them for a moment, until the embrace ended just as abruptly.

"I'll talk to headmistress Carlisle," Penelope grinned breathlessly, her brown eyes sparkling with adventure, "You get some sleep, then start packing. Meet me back here at suppertime, and we'll leave tonight... Say, around eight-ish?"

"It's a date," Danny smiled, clearing his throat to hide a slight crack in his voice.

Penelope gave him one more quick, spicy little kiss, then jogged back toward the stairs, "Excellent! See you tonight, Daniel."

Danny felt as light as a breeze as he walked into his apartment. As exhausted as he was, he was far too wound up to sleep at all. He thought a hot shower first may help soothe his nerves, or at the very least soothe his aching bones and wash off the flop sweat that caused his shirt to cling to his body mercilessly. He stood in the shower cubicle for a good hour, letting the steam soak into his pores, and when he stepped out he did, surprisingly, feel a little more at ease. All that changed in a heartbeat though when he wiped the fog from the mirror over the sink, uncovering the Phantom's grinning face looking back at him. Danny nearly hit the ceiling in fright, then glared at his reflection, "Not this again! I know exactly what to do with ye!" His reflection's cruel smile widened a little with a rumbling, sinister chortle.

Aw, isn't that cute? We think we're a big boy now that we've found our wings. Are ye beginning to believe yet, or do ye still think I'm merely a figment of your imagination?

Danny scowled at his reflection then huffed out a sharp breath. He decided he wouldn't dignify the Phantom with an answer, considering it didn't even exist except within the confines of his psyche, and would instead take a sedative. He needed the sleep anyway, and the added peace and quiet would just be a bonus. When he closed the medicine chest again, he startled - again - to see his distorted reflection had moved closer to the glass, leering at him and flicking its forked tongue out like a reptile.

Ye have no idea, Danny Boy, of the horrors coming your way. If ye're wise, ye'll take my advice and start believing in monsters again...because she is far worse than I!

A chill ran down Danny's spine at the Phantom's words. He wanted to ask what it meant, but stopped himself when he realized the foolishness of the action. He was tired; his fractured brain was playing tricks on him, trying to cope with the fact that he really did have wings. He ran a hand across his shoulders, wondering how he'd come to possess the magnificent appendages and why he never knew about them until that moment. Surely, something like that was not something one would just forget. Thinking back upon his youth, he had always enjoyed sitting up in high places - rooftops, any tree tall enough to climb, large rocks, etc. - and looking down across the landscape below him. Something about feeling the breeze in his hair and smelling the breath of the wind always calmed him when his thoughts were dark and filled with fear...that, and of course Dr. Horace always provided needed comfort and support as well.

He shook off his rambling thoughts a moment later, and administered a half-dose of sedative. The Phantom's face rippled and changed back over a matter of seconds to his own, and soon after that the familiar blanket of lethargy began creeping over him. Despite the drug's fast-acting effects, however, he still found just enough time to crawl into a clean set of pyjamas and set a timer before crashing into bed. In retrospect though, a half dose was still far too much. He slept through the alarm he set for six p.m., not even stirring until after half-seven. Luckily he didn't have much to pack, and it was just enough time to get dressed and throw what few belongings he had into a suitcase. Once they were packed, he started rooting around for a handful of snacks from the pantry. He didn't know where they were going after all, and neither of them had very much money, so he thought it was a good idea to grab a few things to munch on in case they got peckish on the road.

As he ducked into the bathroom for his toothbrush and shaving kit, he wondered if Penelope even owned a car. He didn't own one himself as he always rode the bus to Dr. Horace's for their sessions, and upon thinking it over he was almost positive she only had a scooter. Dr. Horace owned an old Mercedes though, he knew, and his trusted friend had allowed him to borrow it a handful of times. He decided then their first stop was to be Dr. Horace's, both to ask for the car and some much-needed advice. When he took his toothbrush from the medicine chest, he paused when he saw his various medications lining the shelves. He thought back to Penelope's adamant declaration that he wasn't insane, and for a moment he almost left the pills and pens behind. At the last second though, he thought of the Phantom as well. He grabbed a vial of pills and two syringe pens just in case, as he didn't fully trust his ability to control the Phantom without them whether or not it actually was real.

As he closed the medicine chest, he froze when he saw someone else standing behind him in the reflection. There was a woman in his apartment. He thought it was another hallucination for a moment, but then a strong, sweet musk of perfume tickled his nose. He had never hallucinated a scent before to his knowledge, and even his wild imagination could never conjure an aroma so exotic and purely intoxicating. He was studying her cautiously in the mirror, wondering if this was the same woman who worked with Kane, when he finally noticed she wasn't alone. Barely visible above the bottom edge of the mirror was Penelope's terrified face. The mysterious woman was holding the much smaller woman close to her body, with an arm across her throat and a pearl-handled Daringer pistol pressed against her temple. "Turn around," the woman purred, "...slowly."

With a gulp, Danny dropped his items in the sink and obeyed, holding his hands up and palm-side out in a non-threatening gesture, "Alright... A-Am I correct in assuming ye work with Kane? If so, then please...don't hurt her. I'm the one ye want, aren't I?!"

He blinked as he took in the woman's appearance again. The longer he looked at her, he realized he recognized her cerulean eyes, coppery hair, and flawless alabaster skin. For all intents and purposes, this woman was a carbon copy of the one he'd seen in his vision in the Medical Ward. To be certain, she seemed just as bewitching and seductive. The only differences were that this woman wore a short, cranberry red cocktail dress and heels instead of the kilt and tunic of the one in his dream, and the wild mane of ringlets and braids he recalled had been neatly arranged in a sleek bun under this woman's left ear. "I... I know ye," he mused, dropping his hands slowly as she transfixed him with her piercing gaze, "...from a dream. Have... Have we met...somewhere before?"

The woman's coral painted lips curled in a smile, but there was no warmth or joy in it. "That is indeed an interesting question," she murmured, her soft brogue sending shivers down Danny's body, "...but all questions shall be answered at the proper time, Danny Dearest."

"Daniel," Penelope whimpered, but whatever she was going to say was silenced by the Darringer's hammer being pulled back. The red haired woman grinned again, but the more she smiled the more menacing it seemed to become.

"We have much to discuss, Danny," she stated, "very much, indeed."