"You think winning game is good thing? You just go home and be bored and neglected, same as always. We will listen to you, and laugh with you. If you stay here, you can have whatever you want...always."

-Other Mr. Bobinsky; from Coraline (2009)

Casper High

Marlowe felt her heart jump in her throat. Every single eye in the classroom was looking at her with such intensity, that Marlowe nauseas. She hoped she didn't outwardly show how anxious she was starting to feel. While Casper High wasn't the biggest public school Marlowe attended, it certainly wasn't small. She noticed right away the number of students just before school started, and that alone could intimidate anyone. And in that moment, looking at all those students — even the teacher, who was looking Marlowe's way — there was a growing bubble of anxiety and uncertainty in the pit of Marlowe's stomach.

She felt overwhelmed with her emotions, she hardly heard the teacher's voice, calling for her attention. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Marlowe jumped a little. The teacher was in front of her, looking almost concerned.

"Are you OK?" she asked, her voice hushed. There were some murmurs among the students, which caused Marlowe's stomach to knot up.

"I'm fine," she murmured, avoiding all their gazes. She tried her hardest to tune out the growing number of whispers.

A small smile came across the teacher's face. "Why don't you introduce yourself?" she said softly. "Would you like to do that?"

Marlowe only shrugged in response.

"I've got an idea." Gently leading Marlowe to the front of the class, the teacher looked over her students, who continued to whisper to themselves for a moment longer before silencing. "Class, this is our new student, Marlowe Masters."

As badly as Marlowe tried, she couldn't help but cringe at the sound of her last name. If she had managed to learn her mother's maiden name, she would've gone with that. But Vlad had been adamant on keeping specific details about her mother under lock and key. Vlad's determination on belittling Marlowe's mother and keeping valuable information hidden seemed to add on to the growing dislike she had for him.

"Now, Marlowe," the teacher exclaimed, looking at her with what looked like somewhat forced enthusiasm, "I'm Mrs. Moore. If there's nothing you'd like to add, why don't you go find an open seat, OK?"

With a silent nod, Marlowe found the first open seat she could find and sat down.

. . . .

Did I make the right decision, choosing to live with the Fentons? Sure, they're nice; but what if they figure everything out? The thought made a shiver of uncertainty run up Marlowe's back. I can't let them find out I'm half-ghost. I can't let them find out Vlad's my father. God, how stupid do I have to be to think living with Danny was a good idea?

But had Marlowe really expected Danny's family to be somehow linked to Vlad in some way? Her mind kept reeling over how she had picked the one family Vlad seemed to hate the most. With his obsession with Maddie and his utter hatred for Jack, Marlowe could only assume he'd be furious if he ever found out Marlowe was living with them. The real question, though, was what Vlad planned on doing with them if he ever found out?

Pursing her lips, Marlowe felt an overwhelming sense of dread fill her.

Flashback

Panting, Marlowe tried regaining herself. She'd been fighting Skulker for what felt like a lifetime, and he proved to be a pretty strong ghost in her books. Vlad had really outdone himself, looking for someone like Skulker.

"Already getting tired?" The sarcastic lilt in Skulker's voice made Marlowe grimace. She was; the ghost hunter had electrocuted, blasted, and hit, kicked, and punched his way through a majority of Marlowe's attacks. Sure, she managed to land some strong blows, but she couldn't land an effective enough hit to knock him out. At any rate, she'd lose the battle and God help her if Vlad found out she lost her little battle. A sickening feeling came in the pit of Marlowe's stomach, working its way up into her chest. She couldn't understand how Vlad was so willing to throw his daughter to fight ghosts and monsters, how he seemed so willing to throw whatever negativity had been eating away at him in her direction. She didn't ask to have him as her father; she didn't ask to be the way she was, or to be treated the way she was.

What did it matter, anyway? It wasn't like Marlowe had any way of contacting anyone. Vlad made sure to have a watchful eye on her at the best of times, ensuring she didn't do anything to endanger his reputation. He had to hold the title of the wealthy single father, the loving and devoted dad to his "little girl". And she had a role, too. The loving daughter who absolutely adored her father. The grateful only child who would support her father in any way possible. If Marlowe went around saying her father experimented on her, had her fight evil ghosts, and did all kinds of emotional abuse, who would believe her? They'd chalk it up as imagination. There was no escaping Vlad.

"That's enough, Skulker." The voice interrupted whatever attack Skulker was planning on executing, and Marlowe had to admit she was relieved. But she recognized that voice, and it filled her with dread. Coming through the door was Vlad, his hands clasping behind his back as he looked between his daughter and the ghost hunter, looking rather unimpressed. "Go back to the Ghost Zone," Vlad instructed, looking at Skulker with a condescending expression. "Or do I need to make myself clear?"

A frightened look swept across Skulker's face before he flew off to Vlad's Portal.

Marlowe looked at her father anxiously for a moment. He looked at her for the longest minute in Marlowe's life, and that anxiety only seemed to grow. She had no idea what his look was supposed to mean; it was so stoic it was borderline expressionless. Was he mad? Marlowe did her best to win the battles she found herself in. That had become instinctual. Winning meant she was improving, which meant Vlad would be a little more pleasant. Her battle with Skulker had been the first in a while that had ended badly.

"You've disappointed me, Marlowe," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Here I was, thinking you were improving. You're still the useless girl I always saw you as." Those words caused Marlowe to flinch, despite how many times she heard it before. "How are you supposed to be beneficial to me if you can't get basic fighting out of the way?" he sighed.

"What kind of father even does this to their kids?" Marlowe exclaimed. "None of this is normal! I just want to know what it's like to be normal."

"Enough," Vlad barked. "You are the child! You are here to obey me! Understand?"

The harshness in his voice caused such an explosion of fear in Marlowe that she found herself incapable of breathing for a minute. Her eyes were wide and it felt like her heart dropped into her stomach. Swallowing thickly, Marlowe gave a slow nod. If she couldn't rely on someone to help her get out, she'd have to figure it out for herself.

(A/N):

What'd you think? Was it good? Was it bad? Was it meh? Let me know in the reviews! Not a lot of people are reviewing and it's breaking my heart, honestly. I can't let get better if I don't get feedback. So leave a comment; give some constructive criticism. If you think I can improve somewhere, don't hesitate to let me know!

DANNY PHANTOM isn't mine. Do I really need to keep doing these disclaimers, though? You guys know I don't own anything aside from my OCs and subplots.

Speaking of OCs and subplots, if you guys have an idea for characters and side stories you'd like added in, don't hesitate to let me know. Leave a review or a PM and I'll add it in as soon as possible. I'd like to think that reader contribution is important, right?

That's about it, I guess.

Let me know if there's any confusion.

Thanks.

Kaia Milligan