Title: Mind Games

Rated T

Horror/ Romance

Summary: Danny, Sam, Tucker, Val, Paullina, Dash and Lancer are stranded by mistake in an Irish castle for the night after getting caught in a dangerous storm. Once inside the kids decide that they were better off in the storm itself because after the first murder everyone gets an eerie feeling that whoever owned the castle seemed to be. . .expecting them

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom. . . Nor the title. . . This fic isn't going to be exactly like the movie MIND GAMES but it will be similar. . .I hope you enjoy

His name was Tom and he was the current caretaker to the DeVotch Estates, a historical castle built during a massive war just a few miles beyond the outskirts of Amity Park. It's beautiful structure held many Irish traditions. The Irish marble bonded together to form the magnificent outside that seemed to glisten a soiled bottle green when light touched it. Beautiful meadows stretched for miles across the land behind the Estate, with color so full and green and every dawn the morning dew would linger above it, never wanting to leave. At night a sea of constellations would spread across the midnight sky like a celestial blanket. Tom's house was more of a small cottage, at least a mile down the road from the Castle. He lived alone, only going into town for food and supplies. Tom liked quiet though he dreaded his job. Money was scarce these days and Tom needed to pay for food and electricity. A mysterious plague had fallen over Amity Park, where money was needed the most. This plague was so deadly no one could describe it's treachery. It remained unnamed. Tom had no family, so this plague had no effect on him whatsoever. He tried to ignore the cry's and screams of children as the young ones managed to find their mothers or fathers, sitting in a chair as though nothing had happened, dead. Children who were playing after dark often got touched by the evil plague as well and the number of people dead in Amity park were countless. It wouldn't be a surprise to one to see an elderly woman or man lying dead in the middle of the side walk. The sick smell of decay would often be in the air mixed in with the fog as one hurried home to their family from the market. Some never bothered to even go outside yet the plague took their breath first.
Amity Park was turning into a town of tragedy and agony. Food was scarce as well for the plague seemed to be poisoning the healthy and fresh apples that often sat unattended to during the night. Meat was becoming dangerous to eat, for the animals were dying of this dreadful plague as well. Husbands who had lost their wife and children often went mad and began shooting at anything that moved before finally using the last bullet to kill themselves. . .

It had been two weeks since the plague had settled itself into the once peaceful village of Amity Park and Tom was out of food. His electricity was turned off to save power. Sleeping in complete darkness was becoming uncomfortable for the cries of help a few miles north were endless. After completing his evening routine Tom finally decided that it was time to end the day. Settling down in his bed, he noticed through the window the DeVotch Estate, a red glow in the highest tower.

"Stupid teenagers, how did they get in anyway" he mumbled bitterly as he peeled himself out of his drowsy slumber and pulled on his warmest jacket and boots over his checker board pajamas. A cold bitter wind greeted him as Tom opened the wood door with a creak. Not even bothering to turn around as a child's cry grew louder and louder he marched towards the entrance of the Estate. Dark shadows hung over the huge fortress as though permitting Tom to enter. The shadows pleading cry was abolished by the faint howl of the wind. Ignoring the eerie presence that the shadows seemed to be giving off, he turned the key and marched right inside.

"HELLO?"

"HELLO?" his raspy voice echoed against the empty air, making the armor that was on display shake softly.

A crash could be heard in the distance, as though one had dropped something in surprise.

"Who's there? SHOW YOURSELF!"

Tom yelled trying to locate the source of the crash and taking a few more steps inside. Silence filled the stiff air for more than a minute.

"THE GHOST OF GENERAL DEVOTCH HAS AGAIN AWAKENED!" a low voice yelled angrily and suddenly and before Tom could look around he felt the life he had leave his body and slumped to the ground, dropping his bronze key to his side.

The last thing he remembered was a horrid laugh and before fading into darkness, the shadow of an evil man.

"And this students, is a portrait of the great General DeVotch, a soldier who participated in an ancient war that happened in Amity Park ages ago. Most record on this battle was lost in a fire, so the actual date and cause still remain a mystery to this day,"
"YES! FIFTY POINTS! NEW RECORD!"
"Tucker!" Samantha Manson hissed elbowing her best friend to be quiet while Mr. Lancer and the man in the portrait behind him glared at the techno geek impatiently. Tucker Foley glanced up from the flashing screen on his PDA and grinned embarrassedly.

"Foley what did I tell you before I gave out permission forms for this trip?" Lancer's eyes narrowed as he gave his pupil a cold, hard look.

"That we couldn't bring our cd players but Mr. Lancer, just let me point out that a PDA is not a cd player. . .it happens to be. . ."
"A disruption to the wonders of true art! I said no technology for this trip! I expected that rule to be followed! Do you think I wanted to spend my Friday helping a bunch of teens earn credit for slacking off in the first place? No! Hand it over Foley!" Lancer demanded angrily while a couple walked by and looked over in shock at the angry outburst .

"Aw man!" Tucker grumbled as he surrendered his third PDA of the month. Mr. Lancer took it with a glare and pocketed it before turning around.

"Now this, is a fine painting, symbolizing. . ."

"I guess you don't have another one on you huh?" Danny said grinning as the three teens followed their bald headed teacher. Their teacher's voice seemed to fade as the three friends started up their own conversation.

"No, and this sucks! How many paintings of dead guys have we looked at since we got here?" Tucker grumbled sulking as he put his hands into his empty pockets. Sam yawned. "I lost count at thirty four,"

"Oh but looking at pictures of ancient dead guys are the best part about this entire museum!" Valerie stated with strong sarcasm as she walked up to the trio.

Danny grinned as did Sam, while Tucker just moped, depressed over the fact that his sweet technology had been taken away from him.

"I'm glad you think so Ms. Gray, at least someone can appreciate the meaning of true art!" Mr. Lancer called loudly over his shoulder missing the sarcasm completely and shooting a final glare at Tucker who returned it graciously. He turned around.

"Good lord! Where have Ms. George and Mr. Baxter gotten too?" Lancer cried out with frustration as he noticed the absence of his students.

"Last I heard Paullina said something along the lines of 'Like, there's this cute little gift store on the first floor and I am so buying one of those souvenir teddy bears with the pink shirt that says It's all about me! Don't you dare rat on me you Goth looser!'" Sam replied shrugging.

"And Mr. Baxter?"
"Who knows, maybe he hitchhiked home," Danny answered hopefully.

"Yeah you wish Fenton!"

"Speak of the Devil," Val muttered under her breath as the two missing students hurried towards the group. Mr. Lancer looked furious.

"How do you children expect to earn extra credit if you don't pay attention to the assignment?"

"What assignment? I just thought we had to come to this tacky museum to raise our grade. . .no one ever said anything about looking at art," Paullina pointed out as she clasped a small gift bag tightly.

Tucker snorted as he tried to suppress his laughter and Lancer slapped a hand to his forehead. The kids were on an extra credit field trip, in order to improve their grades from the last Biology Exam that apparently they had all received poor grades on. Mr. Lancer had rented a bus driver and a bus for the day to take them to Amity Museum, an art museum which was not located in Amity Park at all, though a few miles from it.

"All right, that's it! You kids can fail for all I care! We're going home!"

"Yes! I'll be home in time for tonight's huge game!" Dash grinned shoving Danny to the side as he made his way towards the exit. As usual Lancer didn't notice.

"At least we get to leave, and the weather guy said this morning that tonight was going to be cool but no rain. . .we can go to the amusement park later on if you want," Sam offered smiling as she tried to stop her best friend from launching a mini ghost ray at Dash from his finger. Danny sighed, his best friend was right, the amusement park was having a free night. Instead of going to the park for free and paying for all the rides and food, one could just go to the ticket stand and pay for fifty percent off tickets and enjoy the many roller coasters and food the park offered.

"Yeah I think that's a good idea, besides my parents are off on some third honeymoon in Canada this weekend and Jazz is probably going to be busy with her new boyfriend. . ."
"Are there ghosts in Canada?" Sam asked raising her eyebrow as they neared the exit. Valerie, Paullina, Dash and Lancer were already outside.

"Apparently, otherwise they wouldn't travel so far for their third honeymoon,"

"Hey guys! Before Lancer took up my PDA I was watching this commercial for the amusement park deal! They've put up at least three new intense roller coasters in each corner of the park!" Tucker exclaimed as he raced to catch up with his two best friends. "Tonight's going to be great!" Sam declared. Her parents of course did not even find out about the poor grade she had made on her Biology exam, in fact like Danny's parents, they were out of town as well leaving Sam alone with her amazingly cool grandmother.

"Hope you didn't count on rain," Danny groaned as the trio caught up with the rest of the group. Sure enough as soon as they stepped out side an enormous clap of thunder greeted them mockingly as though the storm had intended to ruin their perfect evening on purpose. Lightning cracked loudly and illuminated the black rain for a split second. From the right, Paullina shrieked as a car nearly splashed her in a desperate attempt to get out of the storms path.

"All this rain is going to ruin my perfect hair!" she cried as though the world were about to end.

"Aw man, so much for the perfect evening," Tucker grumbled as he stuffed his hands into his pockets sulkily once more.

"They're going to cancel the game tonight for sure now!" Dash cried angrily.

"Maybe it isn't raining so hard in Amity Park, you never know," Sam said quietly looking out at the thick sheets of rain that were falling down heavily from the dark shadowed clouds.

"Hey where's Lancer?" Danny asked as he noticed the absence of their teacher.

"The bus driver bailed on us, Lancer's bringing the bus around here so we don't have to walk in the storm," Val replied as thunder sounded strongly once again.

"How could anyone walk home in this?" Tucker declared loudly over the howl of strong wind.

"Hey there he is now!" Sam pointed to the faded headlights of the yellow bus, coming towards them. It's windshield wipers were moving rapidly, trying to allow the driver to see out in the awful weather and Lancer pulled up to the front of the museum, opening the door.

"Moby Dick, hurry up and get inside everyone! This field trip is turning into a nightmare!" Lancer shouted over a roar of thunder.

"I don't get it, it was clear and sunny thirty minutes ago," Sam muttered as she and her friends made their way to the back seat.

"I expect you guys to have a ride home waiting for you because I'm not offering any!" Mr. Lancer called to everyone as he closed the door and began driving towards the main road.

"I can't believe we're actually driving in this! Don't you think it's a little dangerous Mr. Lancer?" Valerie asked as she stared out at the pitch black sky, once and a while being enlightened by lightning. Though Mr. Lancer did not reply for Valerie's voice was lost within the mixture of deafening thunder and lightning.

"Man, it looks like night time out there and it's only what? Four o'clock!" Tucker exclaimed, wiping fog off the window so he would be able to gaze out at the darkness and the storm.

Sam stared out her window as Tucker was doing only her gaze was set upon one certain lightning bolt that seemed to be coming closer and closer towards the bus every few seconds.

"Mr. Lancer! Maybe we should just turn back! This storm is getting really bad!" Valerie yelled again, trying to make her voice overpass the sounds of the earsplitting storm.

One strike. . .two strikes. . .Sam couldn't help but notice why this lightning was acting so strangely from the rest.

"I can't get cell phone reception to call Jazz," Danny muttered beside his distracted friend while he repetitively hit it gently enough against the seat so the battery would work.

"FENTON! WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT ALL TECHNOLOGY!" Lancer yelled over another deafening clap of thunder.

"Hey how is it that you can hear him muttering and not me. . . .WHAT THE HELL?" Valerie cried as lightning struck the bus's side.

Paullina screamed as the side of the school bus caught on fire and Sam's eyes grew wide with panic. Blazing flames in the night rain. . .why did this scene seem so familiar to her?

"Mr. Lancer! We've got to get off of here!" Valerie shouted again as the bus tipped to one side, the engine fire growing.

From up front fear filled his eyes as Lancer tried to get the bus to lean the other way but no luck. It skidded against the muddy road, the fire growing steadily while the thunder sounded, as though mocking them once again.

"EVERYONE OUT! NOW!" He yelled opening the door with difficulty.

"ARE YOU CRAZY? WHAT ABOUT MY HAI- AGH!" Paullina wailed as her teacher yanked her out of the seat with force. Dash followed them and the three of them jumped out side.

"COME ON! LETS GO HURRY!" Valerie shrieked making her way towards the front with difficulty. Tucker followed her, the color drained from his face as they both managed to jump off the moving bus.

"Sam? SAM! Snap out of it and hurry!"
Sam was still staring at the front of the bus, which was blazing fire, and allowed her best friend to lead her to safety.

"Come on! JUMP!"

An ear piercing whistle erupted from the fire and the moment the two friends we're on the muddy ground it exploded with a loud bang causing the rest of the bus to skid over towards the other side and fall to pieces with a sick crack. Smoke filled the air heavily while the two teens ducked there heads down and out of the way of the debris. . .so not to inhale too much.

"GUYS! ARE YOU OKAY?"

Danny had his arms protectively around Sam, who was breathing very hard and coughed quite a bit as well. She didn't want to look up and see their destroyed bus and she didn't want to look up to darkness. The raven haired teen thought that Sam's coughing was a result of her inhaling too much smoke and instinctively rubbed her back soothingly.

Rain fell even harder. . . Continuously falling with a rhythmic beat. To Sam, it felt as though someone was throwing small pebbles at her from above.

"Sam?"
She felt Danny pull her up off the ground shakily and held her close as the rest of their class caught up with them.

"NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?" Paullina wailed over the storm as the six of them got back into a group. The howling winds demolished her wail within seconds.

"We need to find shelter! We can't stay out in this storm for too long!" Valerie shouted to her.

"And where do you suppose we find shelter in the middle of no where?" Dash snapped at her, causing her to glare back at him.

"THERE!"
Everyone turned and looked at Danny, except Sam who just had to lift her head up a bit, and saw him pointing at something hidden in the dark rain.

A flash of lightning illuminated all for but a second and everyone was able to see the outline of a huge castle.

"COME ON! LETS GO!"

The group broke out into a run as the rain tried to prevent them from reaching their destination. Danny half carried half supported his still shocked friend the entire way.

"Good lord," Mr. Lancer said under his breath in shock as they came to the enormous door of what seemed to be some mansion of some kind.

Valerie and Dash ran for the door and with a bit of pressure and a grunt they managed to get it to open.

"Thank god it was unlocked," Valerie said with relief as everyone made their way inside.

A musty odor and a thin blanket of misty dust greeted them, giving off an odd feeling towards everyone's senses.

Taking one last look at the storm behind them, Lancer slammed the door shut making the sound echo against the walls.

"Phew, It stinks in here! Oh no, my hair's ruined!" Paullina cried. Everyone else ignored her.

"Are you okay? Sam?" Danny asked quietly while leading his friend to sit on the magnificent staircase that spiraled up towards another floor.

Once seated he held her close, knowing that she was still sort of in shock about the fact that they all were almost killed.

"Where are we? What is this place?" Tucker asked with a frown as he glanced around at the castle like room.

"It feels like one of those medieval castles, you know like the ones we learned about in history?" Valerie said softly admiring the metal knight armor and wonderful paintings on display.

"Now how is it that you children pay attention to Mrs. DuCott's history lesson yet when it comes to biology you know nothing?" Mr. Lancer snapped at the girl. Valerie let his remark slide past as she glanced above towards the tall ceiling.
"HEY IS ANYONE HOME?" Tucker shouted, his voice echoing back countless times.

"HELLO?"
"Hello. . .Hello. . .Hello. . ."

A monstrous clap of thunder sounded in response.

"Sounds like no one's home," Mr. Lancer observed while Valerie rolled his eyes at his turned back.

"What are we going to do? How are we going to get home?" Sam whispered though no one except Danny had heard her. She leaned against him shakily, allowing him to hold her ever so softly. Danny always seemed so caring towards her, he was the only person besides Tucker who ever understood her. Tucker did care about her but their was something about Danny's close friendship that set him apart from Tucker's.

"Man, this place looks like something off of one of those horror movies. . ." Dash gulped glancing towards his teacher as though waiting for an order or a rule.

"Looks like we're staying here for the night kids," Lancer said slowly after several long moments of silence.

The room grew silent so all one could hear was the thunderous downpour beyond the safe walls of their newfound shelter.

"We can't stay here! This place is far from being acceptable for company! It's all filthy and creepy! I don't want to spend the night in this creepy dump!" Paullina declared forcefully as though whatever she decided was the way it was going to happen.

"Ms. George, will you think for a second! Our bus was burned to the ground! We nearly died! And now as annoying as this may be we are indeed stranded! We're actually lucky Fenton found shelter at all!"

Danny looked up in surprise as his name was called. Yes, he was aware of the situation and yes he knew that the six of them would have to be roommates in an old castle that seemed to come out of some old black and white Dracula movie, but that didn't stop him from becoming deep in thought.

"Mr. Lancer, If you give me back my PDA I'd be able to get a blueprint of this house so we know were we could sleep and were not to go. . ." Tucker suggested, hoping that his PDA wasn't ruined when the teacher had escaped into the pouring rain.

"Fine Foley, I'm tired of arguing, I just want to find a place where we all would be able to sleep and tomorrow we'll use Fenton's cell phone to get us a ride home. . ."

"Yes! Oh sweet technology, you're mine once again!" Tucker cried dramatically taking his PDA back as if it were his own kid. Valerie rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Mr. Lancer, I have to go to the restroom!" Paullina whined annoyingly as Tucker managed to restart his mapping system on the small advanced computer.

"All right, I have it, oh yeah and Paullina, there's a restroom down that hall over there," Tucker pointed to a shadowed doorway next to the staircase. Paullina gulped.

"Um. . .it's okay, I really don't need to go that bad. . ." she muttered quietly.

"Mr. Lancer, it says here that there are some couches up stairs on the second floor and a sitting room down here on the first. . .but it doesn't look like there are any bedrooms. . .oh wait! A few on the third floor, man this house is huge!" Tucker declared admiring the many rooms and passageways that the castle had. . .it was a perfect place to go exploring.

"I don't think we should go upstairs, we don't know who this house belongs too. . ."
"Actually Ms. Gray, I don't think anyone lives here at all. . . .I've read a lot on the history of Amity Park when I was studying in collage and I came across some facts about an ancient war fought centuries and centuries ago. I've shown you a few paintings of the well known soldiers that fought in it. It was said that a castle was built a few miles from the outskirts of Amity. . . Kids, I think this is the castle. . . ."

"Yuck! Some dead guy used to live here! And we have to spend the night?" Paullina cried yet again.

"Yes Ms. George, we're staying! And besides. . .there really are no such things as ghosts. . ."

Valerie frowned at the comment and the mention of the word ghosts. . .she knew they were real. . .she saw them . ..she knew what happened to them after they died.

Val had only been in the Ghost Zone once, but once was enough.

"I suggest that you all get situated in that sitting room Tucker mentioned earlier. . .and no wandering off again! If anything happens to you kids, I'm responsible and money gets taken out of my paycheck, which might I add is very low. . ."

Danny listened as a loud crash of thunder interrupted his teacher's speech. Silence took over the room and knew that tonight was going to be one long night. . .

Sam felt nothing but fear as she walked down the silent halls. It had been hours since they had arrived at the castle and by now pretty much everyone was asleep in the sitting room on the couches and the floor that Tucker had mentioned. The storm was still strong and violent as it was this after noon and Sam wondered if they were going to be able to leave the next day.

Once everyone had fallen asleep, the room was dark, eerie and quiet. Sam lay wide awake, sleep was not willing to take her at all. She thought she heard someone get up and move around but the storm was so loud outside and the shadows were so dark inside that it was really hard to make out anything. She had to go to the bathroom. . .bad.

She finally managed to gather enough courage to walk out of the safe room to the bathroom that Tucker had mentioned earlier. Danny was asleep beside her, holding her had for Sam had started shivering in fear once the lights turned out. She couldn't help it. . .something about the castle made constant chills go up and down her spine.

With a relief she followed the sounds of water dripping from pipes towards the restroom. A fowl odor of rotting decay greeted her as she stepped inside. The bathroom itself would have been nice if it weren't so dirty.

The dripping noise continued as the storm outside. It didn't take her long to realize that the noise wasn't water from the sink. . .something sticky and dark could be felt under her shoes. . .the familiar odor . . .Sam had an idea of what it was. . . She flipped on the switch and nearly fainted at what she saw. . .

A scream pierced through the still night, matching the thunder of the storm and it wasn't before she nearly faded into darkness before realizing that the scream was actually her own. . .

A/N wow. . .this is the longest first chapter I've ever wrote. . .man I hope I didn't screw anything up. . . .the descriptions of the storm were really what were getting to me so I apologize if it's really bad. . .um. . Please review your thoughts on this chapter. . Good or bad. . .I use flames to roast marshmallows. . . And if I should continue with chapter two. . .thank you for reading! Cheetos to all who review!