The man pounced on them cackling as he fell from the ceiling. Still holding Travis, Jessie rolled over on his side catching the side of his head against the wall, barely dodging the man as he landed with a thud next to them. He winced and dropped Travis from his arms. The man now turned towards Travis who was laying on the floor beside Jessie and jumped at him holding out his hands in an attempt to grab Travis' throat. Jessie stared in awe as the man fell through Travis and slammed his head on the lockers behind him. Travis seemed nearly translucent, confused by what happened he returned to his normal state. Taking advantage of the situation Jessie ripped off his backpack emptied its contents and slammed the bag onto the man's head.

"Run!" He yelled as he tried to grab his hand only for his own to pass through Travis'. They looked at each other confused.

"That hurt!" The man shrieked as he clawed at the bag around his head tearing it to shreds. He turned to face them and was met with the heel of Jessie's boot sending him crashing into the lockers behind him again. Jessie tried to grab Travis' hand again feeling it connect this time and pulled his friend to his feet.

Both of them bolted towards the gym where they saw the door Jessie barricaded melting in what looked like a pool of green sludge.

"We need weapons!" Jessie yelled.

"Where are we gonna find weapons in a school?!" Travis replied.

They turned to look at each other and in unison said "The supply room!"

Running to the door opposite the locker room they opened it revealing a wide variety of sports equipment. Grabbing what they thought was useful they headed out with a baseball bat, a lacrosse stick, with Travis wearing a batting helmet. The man threw open the door laughing.

"Well, well, well, I've never had this much resistance from kids before it makes me even more hungry."

He started running and leaped onto the wall behind them, sticking to the wall. He started running circles around them on the surrounding walls cackling, as if playing with his food before he ate it.

Jessie could feel his knees shake as the man circled them and breathed heavily as the panic started to rise dramatically inside him. Small wisps of black smoke escaped from the corner of his lips.

Finally deciding on a spot the man lounged on his back staring at them.

"So you've been exposed to the smoke too huh. The only way to explain that little magic trick you pulled." He asked amused.

"What smoke what are you talking about?" Travis yelled back. He stood tall and firm but his legs were shaking. The man noticed this and smiled.

"The smoke, the mist that gave you these abilities. Your friend is making some right now as we speak." The man said as he picked at his teeth with his pinky.

Travis turned to look at Jessie with confusion on his features. A wave of embarrassment washed over him as his friend stared at him causing a stronger stream of smoke to escape.

"Is that what it does?" Jessie asked the man.

"Ooh, so it looks like your friend doesn't even know what it is. That's hilarious!" He laughed completely entertained by the children.

"What the is he talking about?' Travis asked turning to face Jessie.

"In the locker room when we were hiding, I was starting to panic and I may have accidentally exposed you to it. After that he jumped straight through your body." Jesse explained.

"You let me inhale some weird smoke from your body? Dude what the fuck."

"Wait I remember now!" The man exclaimed suddenly serious. He leaped from the wall to the floor and stared at Jessie with curiosity in his eyes." You're the same as him, so your Jessie."

Confused by what the man said, he was too stunned to react fast enough barely dodging a lunging attack. Having missed his first attack the man landed on his feet with a sort of grace and swiveled facing the boys and charged at them at full speed.

Travis readied his makeshift weapon and prepared to attack, but right as they were about to swing he jumped. Midair he spat on Travis' helmet. Hearing a loud sizzle he yanked it off just as its top completely melted away. Staring in astonishment at the helmet they didn't notice him land on his feet and launch himself at Travis. Almost by instinct, he vanished, completely disappearing from Jessie's field of view.

"Aghh! Let me hit you!" He roared venom dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"What the fuck was that?! You melted his helmet with your spit?!" Jesse asked stunned.

The man stood tall and smirked. He made a disgusted gargling noise and spat on the floor. The puddle of green colored grossness started to steam as it corroded away, creating a large hole in the floor. "My spit is a highly volatile acid, they call me venom." He cackled as he charged at Jessie. Before he was able to leap again his head hit a solid object with a solid crack.

Revealing himself once again was Travis holding a broken bat. "That's a fucking stupid name." Disoriented from the hit he tried to jump away from danger but failed his dismount and fell onto the bleachers. Rising he roared in anger.

"No kid is gonna get away with shit talking me, I'm gonna eat you alive. Invisible or not, I'm gonna kill you!"

Readying themselves for another assault they were suddenly surprised by a ring tone coming from the man's coat. He sighed and held up a finger as he pulled out a phone, he answered angrily.

"What do you wa- oh I'm sorry sir I was just in the middle of a- yes your right it doesn't matter. Yes, I'll be on my way soon." He hung up and put away the phone disappointed." It looks like you two got lucky today. The boss wants you alive, For now."

He stepped down from the bleachers and began to walk away hands in pocket whistling as he made his way to the exit he carved in what used to be the gym's doors. Jessie was relieved that they had lived but failed to see Travis seething.

"So that's it? You try to kill us, say Jessie's name as if you know him and run to your boss like a dog!" He screamed.

The man turned around facing him with pure hate in his eyes, then he relaxed and laughed his cynical laugh. He started to remove his coat.

"You must want to die kid but fine if you want it to be this way. He just said he wanted Jessie alive, he said nothing about keeping you alive."

He dropped his coat on the floor revealing scaly arms and a tank top. He flexed and spat at Travis.

Unable to defend himself with the broken bat he held his hands up. It once again phased through him, angry that he couldn't hit Travis he turned his attention to Jessie. He sprinted towards him and leaped into the air preparing to launch a volley of acid.

"I'll make you come out of hiding boy! Even if I have to hurt your friend to do it!."

He was suddenly blasted by a ball of fire and slammed into the bleachers again.

"Leave them alone you lizard freak!" Yelled Rose triumphantly.

She was standing by the locker room door with her arms on fire pointing them towards venom. Travis reappeared staring at her in amazement while Jessie became even more worried. He was content with fighting as long as she was safe but now she was here and in harm's way.

Why is she here! She should have stayed where she was safe!

The trio's reunion was broken up by the grunt of pain that came with the man rising from the bleachers. He was clutching his arm which looked badly burned. He hissed and ran towards an air vent spat his way through the grate and disappeared. All was silent for a moment until Rose ran and hugged Travis.

"I'm so glad that you're okay." She said in a sweet tone.

Red in the face Travis stuttered a thank-you while Jessie sat down, his legs finally giving out. They had just escaped death because of Rose, never had he been happier. That's when they heard the phone ring again.

RIIIIIIIIING......RIIIIIIIIIING

"Anyone gonna pick that up?" Jessie said as he pointed at the jacket on the floor. The other avoided his gaze and he sighed as he stood up weakly.

Jessie rummaged around the pockets of the jacket, finally finding it he pick it up to his ear and answered it. "Hello?"

"Hello, Jessie. Long time no talk."