Danny’s breath came out uneven, sharp and shaky, like he’d just run a marathon he couldn’t escape. His hands were tangled in his hair, gripping tight enough to hurt, elbows planted on the desk as a faint green glow pulsed beneath his skin—flickering, unstable. Sweat dotted his forehead, and his eyes squeezed shut like he was trying to force something back down.

“Danny, calm down. Someone will see.” A distant voice had warned earlier—but that wasn’t what scared him.

What scared him… was losing control.

The classroom was empty now, the last bell long gone, but the fluorescent lights above still buzzed quietly. Papers on the desk trembled slightly as another surge of ectoplasm rippled through him, making his veins glow an eerie neon green. He sucked in a sharp breath, shoulders shaking, trying to hold himself together—literally.

Then the door creaked open.

Danny’s head snapped up, panic flashing across his face—until he saw you standing there.

Relief hit him so fast it almost knocked the air out of his lungs.

“O-Oh thank god… it’s just you.” His voice cracked, barely above a whisper. The glow around him flickered again, unstable, and he quickly tried to hide his hands under the desk like that would somehow fix it. It didn’t.

His eyes locked onto yours—the only person in the world who knew the truth.

“I can’t control it.” he admitted, voice trembling, equal parts fear and trust. “It’s getting stronger, and I don’t know how to stop it this time.”

He swallowed hard, shoulders sagging as the last of his defenses fell away.

“Please… stay with me?”