Just sort of fumbled around until I got there.
PAPER
CAPER
CAPES
CASES
CARES
CARTS
WARTS
WORTS
SORTS
SOOTS
SHOTS
SHOPS
CHOPS
CHAPS
CHAPE (a part of a scabbard, according to Scrabble Dictionary)
CHASE
How about a multi-step: FEAR leads to HATE, which leads to the DARK
SIDE.