Calling Out Mayday Chapter 02 (Early Preview) (Patreon)

Updated: 9/2/25

Chapter 02: Spring Broken Part 2

The party had settled down a bit. With the concert on intermission, guests mingled. Whatever tension had lingered between Danny, Vortex, and Loona had eased. While Danny had many questions about the alleged demon, he decided to hold off until later. Danny even spotted the band off near the bar, sipping martinis.

Then came the rumble. Low, distant, and deep enough to vibrate through bone. Danny stiffened. He turned toward the ocean just in time to see something enormous rise from the water. A grotesque, tentacled creature heaved itself into view, seaweed clinging to its limbs.

The Kraken.

The beach was still, and then the screaming began. People abandoned their drinks and bolted, stumbling through the sand, knocking over coolers and folding chairs in the scramble to escape. Near a row of port-a-potties, a white flash lit up the corner of Danny’s vision.

A deafening roar split the air. The Kraken’s tentacles whipped toward a man reclined in a beach chair. Before the limb could strike, a streak of white and black snatched the man.

Danny Phantom hovered just above the chaos. His eyes glowed with a cold, focused light as he set the man down near a dune and pivoted to face the monster. The guy didn’t stick around to say thanks. He took off at a dead sprint, slipping on his own flip-flops. Around them, the beach continued to spiral into madness.

Danny scanned the crowd and caught sight of Vortex and Loona disappearing into the distance. Verosika and her band hadn’t moved yet, but their expressions were wary. Some of them had noticed him, too.

The Kraken roared again. One of its limbs swung low and snagged a small figure teetering near the water.

“Ooooh! Kraken,” the imp slurred. Moxxie hung upside down from the tentacle like a caught fish, laughing with drunken delight.

Danny hesitated. That was new.

“Weeeeee…” Moxxie giggled, eyes half-lidded, completely out of sync with the danger around him.

Farther down the beach, a blade caught the fading light.

Millie was already in motion, charging at a human spring breaker chugging a neon drink, blissfully unaware of the destruction behind him. Her knife was aimed for his spine, no hesitation, no warning.

She never made it.

A hand in a white glove appeared between her and the target, gripping her wrist just before the blade connected. Danny floated between them, holding her back without effort. His brow furrowed, his tone sharp.

"What are you doing?"

Millie thrashed in his grip, eyes blazing. "That guy's got what I need! My husband's about to be Kraken chow!"

Danny looked over. The man she'd been about to stab was now blinking dumbly at the sand, still holding his vodka. With a tired exhale, Danny yanked the bottle away and ripped the guy's shirt off in a single, efficient motion. That finally got a reaction. The man shrieked and bolted, shirtless and flailing toward the bar.

Danny turned back to Millie and handed her the shirt and vodka. "You were making a Molotov?"

Millie took the items, face flushed. "Yeah. It's faster this way."

He raised an eyebrow. "You know it might not work, right?"

"Oh, it'll work," she said, already stuffing part of the shirt into the neck of the bottle.

Flame licked at the cloth as she lit it. With one smooth motion, Millie hurled the Molotov at the Kraken. The bottle hit squarely, shattering against its glistening hide. Fire bloomed across its flank in seconds, spreading rapidly across the wet flesh.

The Kraken reared back, limbs jerking, a guttural scream shaking the shallows. Waves surged inland, the ocean itself reacting to the creature's agony.

Then a tentacle slammed into the shoreline, scattering debris and water in all directions.

Danny didn't hesitate. He phased out just as another tentacle smashed down, the impact throwing up a wall of foam and sand. In that same breath, he grabbed Millie mid-leap and yanked her out of the shockwave's path. She twisted in his grip, using the momentum to land light on a nearby boulder.

The moment her boots touched stone, her knife flashed. She lunged, slicing deep into the nearest tentacle. Flesh split, green-black fluid sprayed, and the Kraken bellowed in response.

Another limb came for them. Danny ducked and veered sideways in midair, the wind shrieking past as the massive appendage carved a trench in the sand.

Millie grinned fiercely. "Come on, you overcooked noodle!"

She darted forward, slashing the membrane between two ridges of a flailing tentacle. The Kraken howled again, lashing out with brutal speed. A huge coil curled toward her position.

Danny moved first. He hurled a glowing ectoblast that struck the tentacle just off center, diverting its arc wide. Millie didn't waste the chance. She sprinted up the coiled limb, boots slapping against slick flesh, each step carrying her higher toward the monster's core.

Danny shot forward at an angle. Twin ecto-bursts hammered into a second tentacle swinging across his flight path, knocking it wide. He weaved through the barrage of limbs and phased cleanly through the space behind the Kraken's massive eyes.

Two more tentacles surged up from below, trying to snare him. He flipped backward, gliding just out of reach. Below him, Millie launched herself from the Kraken's back. Her blade carved a jagged gash along a thick arm as she passed.

On the other side of the creature, Moxxie clung desperately to a thrashing tentacle, his pistols clutched tight against his chest.

"I hate spring break!" he shrieked as the limb whipped him through the air. "I hate the beach! I hate seafood!"

The Kraken spasmed, and Moxxie lost his grip. His small body launched into the air, arms windmilling frantically.

"BLITZOOOOO!" he screamed, arcing high above the battle.

Danny caught Millie mid-air and spun, redirecting her with a burst of momentum. "Go for the eye!"

She soared upward, flipped once, then dropped knife-first. The blade punched through the top lid of the Kraken's main eye, drawing a screech loud enough to rattle windows up the block. The eye spasmed and shut, leaking thick ichor.

The Kraken thrashed, wild with pain. Tentacles whipped the air in every direction. Chunks of debris and seawater flew everywhere.

Danny raised his hands and conjured a glowing barrier. Broken driftwood and jagged glass splintered against it, slowing just enough for him to reposition.

Meanwhile, Moxxie plummeted toward the shoreline, still screaming. His trajectory took him directly toward Blitzo, who stood watching with arms crossed.

"Sir! CATCH ME!"

Blitzo glanced up, sighed dramatically, and held out his arms at the last possible second. Moxxie crashed into them with enough force to make Blitzo stagger back three steps. "Seriously?" Blitzo grumbled, but kept a firm grip on his employee.

Moxxie sputtered, clinging to Blitzo's neck. "That thing tried to eat me!"

"Yeah, and you made its stomach turn, clearly." Blitzo rolled his eyes. "Stay here while the adults handle this."

Back at the battle, Millie landed hard, crouched low, then rolled as a limb swung overhead. She ducked behind a stone outcrop, wiping brine and ichor from her sleeve, still grinning.

Danny flew low now, skimming inches above the surf. He cupped his hands, gathering a blinding orb of ghost energy, the charge humming between his fingers.

"Millie! I need an opening!"

Without missing a beat, she whistled, sharp and loud, then grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it into the Kraken's beak. The stone clanged off cartilage and teeth, and the creature recoiled.

Danny fired. The blast hit dead center in the throat. The Kraken gurgled, smoke curling out of its mouth as the beam exploded inward.

Millie had already taken off again, scrambling up a fresh tentacle. Danny intercepted her halfway, caught her with one arm, then spun. He let go, launching her through the air.

She landed squarely on the Kraken's head, knees bent, knife braced. With one clean stab, she drove the blade between two plates of scale near the skull's crown.

The monster went berserk.

Limbs slapped at the water, slamming into the sea with enough force to send columns of spray into the sky. Danny darted forward, grabbing Millie before she could be flung into the surf. He pulled them both into the air, steadying her with one hand while shielding them with the other.

The Kraken's screech weakened. Tentacles fell still, then drooped, trailing back into the water, lifeless and heavy.

Danny let out a low whistle. "Brutal. But hey, it worked."

Blitzo grinned, watching proudly. "Damn right it did. Get wrecked, seafood."

Behind them, the Kraken gave one last, rattling exhale. Then it sank, black blood bubbling up through the waves.

Millie was returned to shore soaked in seawater and gore. Her eyes scanned the beach, searching for her husband.

"Is Mox okay?" she asked, already halfway to him.

Blitzo waved her off. "Yeah, yeah, he's fine." He dropped Moxxie onto the sand without ceremony.

Millie scooped him up, hugging him tight. Moxxie beamed at her with unfocused eyes. "This is funny. I'm sooooo... drinky."

Millie just laughed and held him closer. Despite the blood and sand and smell of burning Kraken, her world had narrowed to just the two of them.

Blitzo watched for a moment before groaning. "Okay, this is officially too wholesome," he muttered. He turned away and grimaced.

By now most people had fled, their screams growing distant. Smoke rose from the remains of the fight. Driftwood and beach chairs lay overturned in the sand.

With the fighting done, Verosika and her crew emerged from their hiding spots, sticking close together as they approached. Some still clutched cocktails while others looked more annoyed than afraid.

Verosika moved with her usual confidence at the front. Her eyes landed on Blitzo first. "Blitz-o..."

Blitzo cut in. "Oh, perfect. That must be the whores."

Her gaze shifted. Her smirk faltered as she took in the black-and-white figure hovering just off the sand. The new guy. Lean frame, sharp shoulders, clean lines in that suit. Under all that was something that made her tail twitch. The aura about him seemed untouched. Innocent. She didn't need to sniff to know it was genuine. This was interesting.

Her lips curled upward. Beside her, Milky and Kiki exchanged a glance, then stared openly at Danny, practically licking their lips.

Danny, still floating a few feet off the ground, gave a friendly wave. He didn't seem to notice the hungry stares, or perhaps didn't understand what they meant.

He glanced around. Loona and Tex were still off somewhere, probably missing whatever this was about to turn into.

Danny frowned and dropped to the sand, stepping forward with both hands raised. "Okay, let's take a breath. Anyone want to explain what the hell I just walked into? You two know each other?"

Verosika gave a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately."

Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but if these guys are demons." He motioned to Blitzo and Millie, then gestured toward Verosika and her crew. "I'm guessing you all are too. I'd guess a special kind, judging by that hypnotic voice of yours."

One of the backup singers raised a brow. "You could tell?"

Danny shrugged. "Not my first time meeting sirens."

Verosika's smirk deepened. "Succubi, actually."

Danny's eyes flicked over her, then to the others. The allure was obvious now that he was looking for it. Everything about them shimmered in that slightly-too-perfect way. He nodded. "Yeah. That tracks."

She crossed her arms, smug. "Anyway, we were doing just fine. Collecting that sweet sexual energy for our boss until the murder squad showed up." She jerked her chin toward Blitzo.

Danny blinked, trying to process the bizarre situation. "Right..." He turned to Blitzo and his crew, eyebrows raised. "And why are you guys here?"

Blitzo puffed out his chest. "We came to win the bet and get back our parking space."

Danny frowned, not following. "What bet?"

A sly grin spread across Verosika's face as an idea formed. "They bet that they could kill more people than we could seduce."

Danny's eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry! What?!"

Blitzo glared at him. "No thanks to you, we only got 13."

Danny's expression hardened as he glared back at Blitzo. "You were killing people for a parking space?!"

Blitzo didn't flinch. "It's a really good spot."

Danny looked like he might punch something.

Millie stepped in before that happened and yanked Blitzo back. "Oh, please," she snapped. "Don't act like that whore's a saint."

She tossed a flask, and Verosika reached for it.

Danny caught it mid-flight before she could grab it.

He brought it to his nose and gave it a cautious sniff. It smelled really good.

Millie crossed her arms and fixed Verosika with a glare. "Would be a shame if anyone found out you guys were behind a giant monster in the human world."

Danny raised a brow at the drink. How did this cause a monster?

Moxxie, still swaying and pink in the face, let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, Satan, you're gonna be so... FUUUUUCKED!" He immediately collapsed into another round of drunken giggles and nearly fell over.

Danny turned his attention back to Verosika. He wasn't smiling. "Was this an accident or on purpose?"

She faltered slightly under his gaze, the realization settling in. Things could've gone way worse. Verosika quickly shook her head. "I wasn't trying to hurt anyone. We all just wanted to have a good time like usual."

Danny continued staring her down until he sighed. "You're lucky I stopped that thing before it killed someone."

Verosika flipped her hair with a huff, trying to regain her posture. She turned back to IMP. "Yeah, well, you three nasty-ass gremlins will be in shit for not being in disguises!"

Moxxie, still sprawled in the sand, groaned and pushed himself up. "A human called me a possum. I am not a possum!" He tried to gesture for emphasis and immediately faceplanted again.

Danny couldn't help the short laugh that escaped him. The resemblance was starting to feel earned. He looked back down at the flask in his hand. One little taste shouldn't hurt.

Before anyone else could speak, Danny dipped a finger into the flask and brought it to his mouth.

Millie and Verosika shouted in unison, "Wait! Don't!"

But it was already down his throat.