14 Horn

“Why’d you pick this direction?” Chelsea asked warily. She didn’t like being lost in the Ghost Zone.

“It just feels like home, ya know?” Danny answered. “Can’t you feel it? Like the portal is calling us to it?”

“No, I can’t,” Chelsea said, shaking her head. “Have you felt this feeling before?”

“Yeah, I guess I have. I always know where the portal is.” Danny cocked his head. “I also know when other portals are created, like by Wulf. I never noticed before.”

Chelsea stopped. “Wait, wait, wait, you can feel other portals, too? How do you know we’re going to the right portal?”

“I just do, okay?” Danny said, getting frustrated. He didn’t stop flying, and Chelsea caught up to him.

“Okay, okay,” she said.

They flew on in silence for a time. Chelsea wondered what Danny was thinking about, hoping she didn’t offend him. Before she thought of a new conversation topic, he spoke quietly.

“I think it’s because of the way I became a halfa. Did I ever tell you the story?”

“No,” Chelsea said just as quietly.

“My parents built the ghost portal a few years ago, you know that, but it didn’t work at first. Not until I stepped in it.”

Chelsea wanted to ask questions, but kept her mouth shut and let Danny tell his story.

“They put the ‘on’ switch on the inside, so when I stepped in, I accidentally pressed the button. The portal turned on with me inside. It was…” he winced, “painful, to say the least.” He paused, then shook his head. “Anyway, I think I’m connected to the portal because of it. And other portals.”

Chelsea’s mind raced. So, essentially, Danny became a half-ghost because his parents were, what, stupid? Not only that, but they were hunters. How did he feel about his parents after that? He must feel awful!

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“How can you live with them?” she blurted.

“What?”

Chelsea covered her mouth. “Forget I said anything!” she said through her hands. “I talk when I’m nervous. I didn’t mean to say anything–”

“Live with who?” Danny interrogated.

She squeaked and shook her head.

Glaring at her, he stopped flying and put his hands on his hips. “Live. With. Who?”

Chelsea also stopped flying. “Alright, fine. You won’t like it, though. I didn’t mean to say anything, but I was thinking… about your parents.” She rushed on, tumbling over her words, “You know, because they’re ghost hunters, and it’s their fault that you became half-ghost, and–”

“I don’t blame them!” Danny said. Chelsea shut her mouth. “And I love my parents! They’re a little unconventional, but they love me. That’s all that matters! So you can go leave your theories to yourself.”

He zoomed off, and Chelsea hurried after him.

“Look, I’m sorry!” she said. “I didn’t mean to say that–”

“But you were thinking it, so it still counts!”

“I’m sorry–”

“Roooaaarrr!”

Chelsea and Danny halted their flight to investigate what made that sound. They were still in an unfamiliar part of the Ghost Zone. An island with a gaping cave floated nearby. A four-legged creature with two massive horns curving back came out of the cave.

“What is that?” Chelsea asked.

“Who cares! Fly!” Danny answered. He grabbed her hand and darted off, yanking her away from a beam of ectoenergy.

“Thanks for the save,” Chelsea breathed as she flew under her own power.

“It’s not over yet,” Danny warned.

Chelsea looked back to see the creature flying after them, its eyes glowing red. It shot another ectoray at them, and Chelsea created a shield just in time.

“Why do we keep getting chased around here?” Chelsea asked, not expecting an answer.

“Less talking, more flying!” Danny sent his own ectoblasts back at the creature, which used its horns to deflect.

The fight continued through the Ghost Zone, but eventually, the creature gave up. Chelsea sighed in relief.

They were finally in a familiar area. When it was clear the danger had passed, Danny sighed, too.

“I’m sorry for blowing up on you,” he said.

“It’s okay,” Chelsea said. “I was insensitive. Can we just forget about it?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”