Having watched from the shadows as the brutal events of the murder of his own parents unfolded before him, he has been forced to make his own way in a dark and unforgiving world with a heavy task handed to him.

Daniel s father was an alien hunter, working his way through a fearsome wanted list of aliens intent on seeking control and wreaking devastation. But as he planned his next target, his own time was running out. Following his parents sudden deaths, Daniel faced an uncertain future: he knew little about his family nor where he came from but a few things are clear, he has inherited the list from his father and with it, a unique ability to create anything that he needs including some very devoted friends to help him along the way.

His life has become dedicated to the mission. Every day has been transformed into a terrifying hunt, watching each step he takes for danger awaits around every corner and lurks within the shadows. His ultimate aim is to exact revenge against number one on his list: his parents murderer. But first he must target the others: each more sinister and gruesome than the last.

Having watched from the shadows as the brutal events of the murder of his own parents unfolded before him, he has been forced to make his own way in a dark and unforgiving world with a heavy task handed to him.

Daniel s father was an alien hunter, working his way through a fearsome wanted list of aliens intent on seeking control and wreaking devastation. But as he planned his next target, his own time was running out. Following his parents sudden deaths, Daniel faced an uncertain future: he knew little about his family nor where he came from but a few things are clear, he has inherited the list from his father and with it, a unique ability to create anything that he needs including some very devoted friends to help him along the way.

His life has become dedicated to the mission. Every day has been transformed into a terrifying hunt, watching each step he takes for danger awaits around every corner and lurks within the shadows. His ultimate aim is to exact revenge against number one on his list: his parents murderer. But first he must target the others: each more sinister and gruesome than the last.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

Little, Brown and Company

PROLOGUE

THAT WRETCHED LIST

One

I WISH THAT I didn’t sometimes, but I remember everything about that cursed, unspeakably unhappy night more than a decade ago, when I was just three years old.

I was taking an ordinary can of Play-Doh down from the playroom shelf when my mom called from the top of the basement stairs.

“Daniel? Dinner will be ready in five minutes. Time to start wrapping things up, honey.”

Finish? Already? I made a face. But my latest masterpiece isn’t done yet!

“Yes, Mom,” I called. “One minute. I’m making Play-Doh history down here.”

“Of course you are, dear. I would expect nothing less. Love you. Always.”

“Love you back, Mom. Always.”

In case you’ve already noticed that I didn’t speak like a typical three-year-old, well, you should have seen what I was building.

I stared at the museum-quality replica of the Lighthouse of Alexandria I was trying to finish.

Behind it, all the way to the edge of my worktable, stood matchless reproductions I’d made of the remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:

I would have liked to do the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Chrysler Building as well, but I was only allowed one hour of playtime a day.

I squinted suddenly as I spotted what looked like a tiny, flat black seed climbing up the side of my miniature lighthouse, and really moving too.

Whoa there, little guy! Where do you think you’re motoring to?

It was an Arthropoda Arachnida Acari Metastigmata, I thought, recalling the phylum, class, order, and suborder of the tiny creature at a glance. A tick. A young male dog tick, to be exact.

“Hey, little fella,” I whispered to the tick. “You on a sightseeing tour?”

Two things happened next, almost simultaneously. Two very odd and unforgettable things.

There was a strange shimmering at the back of my bright, turquoise-blue eyes.

And the tick slowly rose onto its hind legs and said, “Hey, Daniel, my brother, you do real nice work. Cool lighthouse!”