The boys came to a halt in the park and stood in silence, panting.

“What the hell was that?” Nerdy said with his hands on top of his head.

“He just poofed in front of our eyes, man!” Richie said in a distorted panic.

“He finally did it,” Noobie said with a chortle.

“Huh?” Nerdy asked in pure confusion of Noobie’s calm state.

“He went into another dimension like he always wanted,” Noobie added.

“Oh pish-posh, this is a prank!” Nerdy said letting go of his blonde hair and sticking his finger in the air intuitively.

“It’s not a prank, dude,” Noobie said smiling, “you saw him disappear and the flakes.”

“Well I can’t explain how but if a portal really did exist then it would take science to achieve that not this Indiana Jones stuff,” Nerdy said in a proud voice still in a state of panic.

“Do you think he found out how to do that, in the dark web?” Noobie asked Richie in an attempt to ignore Nerdy.

“Obviously, he’s been on it for months now,” Richie said while scratching his chin.

“We have to go in after him and save him,” Noobie said to Richie.

“Are you insane?” Nerdy said abruptly but softly.

“What else do you suggest?” Richie said

“This is a trick!” Nerdy pronounced each word as loud and slowly as he could.

“Okay, we’ll wait 24 hours. If he doesn’t show up, we go in after him, okay?” Richie said staring at the ground with his hand on his chin.

“Sounds plausible enough,” Nerdy agreed to the plan.

“Okay it’s settled, I’ll try to keep my mom out of headquarters, tomorrow let’s meet at headquarters at 1400 hours, understood?” Richie commanded. They all nodded in adherence.

“Only if it isn’t a prank, which it is,” Nerdy interjected.

“Whatever, dude,” Richie said as he turned and walked away. The others walked towards their homes besides Vic. He caught up to Richie and walked with him to his home.

“Where are you going?” Richie said as they walked. Vic didn’t answer, he just kept walking looking forward. Richie looked at his feet and immediately got it.

“Oh, skateboard,” he paused for a bit to study Vic. “Why don’t you talk? And where do you live, while you at it?”

Vic looked at Richie like it was obvious and shot a subtle chuckle at his question. Obviously, he was laughing at his effort to ask him a question knowing well he wouldn’t answer. They reached the house then went straight to the basement.

“Open it,” Richie said standing back on the stairs for safety. Vic looked at him and gave him a condescending grin for his cowardice.

He went to the door and pushed it open, everything inside was normal except the markings were still there and the salt was uninterrupted. Vic bent down and picked up his skateboard then the printout then he put it in his bag and threw it on his back.

They walked outside and he threw the board on the ground and jumped on it then gave it a couple of pumps then headed South of Bettisonville. Richie took time to study their mysterious friend and noticed his love of dark clothing. He was wearing a black shirt with the words “Quite Looney” written in the chest in white Courier New font, charcoal black jeans and black skating shoes with white lining.

“Maybe he’s an emo,” he ruled then went into his room to take a nap.

Tell us: What do you think about Vic?