My name is Robert Jeffery Hill, but everyone just calls me Bobby. I am a fifteen year old freshman at Arlen High, recently my life has gotten quite a positive turn, first I had completed the ancient puzzle my grandpa gave to me, then shortly after completing it I was given the one thing I always wanted; friends.
It had been over a week since Bobby had completed the artifact, he was getting ready to leave when his mother, Peggy Hill stopped him before could get to his bike.
"Robert Jeffery Hill," Peggy shouted, "you're not leaving for school without eating a nutritious breakfast, young man."
Bobby groaned as he forcefully dragged himself into the kitchen where he saw his father eating breakfast while reading the newspaper.
"Morning, Bobby." Hank greeted his son
"Morning, dad," Bobby greeted back, "mom making you eat breakfast too?"
"You don't become manager of Strickland Propane on an empty stomach."
"Yeah, you become manager after your boss is arrested for rigging dog races in Arkansas." Bobby thought
Bobby hurried and devoured everything on his plate hoping to make it to school before classes start for Jason had something to tell him. As soon as his breakfast was gone so was he, he biked passed the home of Dale Gribble, one of his father's best friends who owns a successful exterminating business all thanks to the money he got after his wife Nancy divorced him six years ago when she confessed to having an affair with John Redcorn which resulted in Joseph's birth. She shortly moved in with John Redcorn and had her and Joseph's last name legally changed. Bobby greeted Dale a good morning as he headed off to school not wanting to wait another minute to hear Jason's news.
(Arlen High.)
"It was garbage." Jason shouted as he and Bobby stood near the bike racks causing some passing students to stare
"What are you talking about?" Bobby asked
"The thing I was wanting to tell you about is that the movie that Redcorn let me borrow is garbage."
"What's wrong with it?"
When Redcorn told me that he had a copy of Gore Ogres III, the bloodiest of the trilogy I was excited," Jason explained, "but when I went to watch it all the good parts were all blurry and pixilated."
"Did you try squinting your eyes?"
"Come on, Hill that doesn't work."
They talked about the movie some more which Jason admits that despite his previous statement about the movie being garbage was mostly aimed towards the blurred scenes and the movie itself wasn't bad, the best part was the outstanding performance from Alice Thorn, the movie's main actress. The two of them were getting ready to enter the school when they spotted a news van parked nearby.
"What's a news van doing here?" Jason wondered
Bobby was too surprised to see a news van especially one from Channel 84, the station where Joseph's mother works. The only reason he could think of is that somebody famous could be coming to the school. After sharing this thought with Jason he suggested to Bobby to take a look inside to see if anyone was in there. Bobby walked up to the drivers side window to try to get a peek inside but to his luck he couldn't see anything.
"I think it's a one of those one-way window things for I can't see anybody." Bobby informed
However there was someone in the van and they were more than excited to see Bobby's face smushed against the window.
"That face, so naive, so pathetic looking, so helpless," the person said quietly enough that Bobby couldn't here, "he's the perfect choice to star in the project that will win me an award."
An hour later after school started the person in the van was setting up the equipment to begin filming the story. The man's name was Conrad Portis (the guy who filmed the reality show with ZZ Top in season 11), he was getting to film the intro to his latest project along with his assistant and a pretty female news reporter fresh out of journalism school. The story focused on an increasing problems in schools across America and had become more frequent in Arlen High in the last few years, Bullying. Portis was delighted on how the opening intro went and now the only thing they need to make this project a winner was to catch a student being bullied on film. The chances of someone getting bullied that day were slim but Portis had an idea brewing in his head. He called over to his assistant and handed him a photo which was a snapshot of Bobby from earlier with his face pressed against the van's window.
"Man this kids looks like he gets bullied on a daily basis" joked the assistant
"That, young man, is why I've decided to make that kid the star of this story," Portis informed, "now all you need to do is bring him out to the back of the school."
"Why?"
"You're going to give that loser a live beating on camera, it'll be as simple as breathing."
"Won't it be too much to film a kid getting beat up?" the assistant questioned
"Seeing dorks like him getting his ass kicked on camera is what our viewers want," Portis explained, "besides, this will surely boost our ratings."
"Still doesn't seem right."
Portis groaned at his assistant's morality.
"How long have you been in show business?"
"A little over half a year," the assistant answered, "next week."
"Then you're in luck, my friend, for your career in this business is going to sky rocket for this moment on you're my new apprentice."
"Really, sir, that is amazing."
"You bet it is," Portis agreed with a slight chuckle, "your first job as my apprentice is to star in this project as the school bully."
Meanwhile inside one of the classrooms Jason and Bobby were telling Jade and Sarah about the news van outside. However neither one of the ladies believed them.
"You can't be serious," a skeptical Jade asked, "I doubt there is a celebrity in the school."
"I'm just saying it a possibility, LaRue," Jason said, "it's odd that a news van is sitting outside when nothing interesting has happened at this school."
"Jade has a point," Sarah admitted, "besides they would have informed us about a celebrity being at our school."
"Unless she's undercover."
"Now your being ridiculous."
"It's a good thing Joseph is sick today," Bobby stated, "he would be going around to every girl trying to figure out which one is the celebrity."
"Then he would have a lot of explaining to do to an angry mob." Jade remarked
"Point is that I agree with Jason that there is something going on with that news van."
Soon Bobby would find out for in the hallways of the school someone was searching for him. It's was Portis' apprentice who had searched the whole school for the kid in the photo until he talked to one of the students who gave him the answer he needed.
"Yeah, I know him," the student said, "that's Bobby Hill, he is a freshman."
"Thanks," the assistant said before walking off, "alright, Bobby Hill, all I have to do is get you come out to behind the school, which if i can't help Mr. Portis by beating this dweeb up then I might as well search for a new job."
As he started to struggle with his conscience he then spotted two more students heading down the hall and one of them just happened to be Bobby Hill.
"Forget what LaRue and Argentina said before," the students with Bobby said, "we're going to find that celebrity, get pictures and autographs, and most importantly I get to rub it in Redcorn's face when he comes back."
"You probably should consider what they said about how the news van is probablt here for something else."
"Seriously, Hill, you're taking their side?"
"I just agree that they have a excellent point."
"Figures you would side with two pretty faces and not your best friend."
"That's not why I'm siding with them."
"Suit yourself, Hill, I'm going to track down the celebrity myself."
The assistant watch as the student ran down the hall leaving a bummed out Bobby by himself.
"Time to get things started," the assistant thought before approaching Bobby, "excuse me, Bobby Hill."
"Yeah?"
"Hi, my name is Franklin," the assistant introduced himself, "I couldn't help but overhear your friend saying something about a celebrity in the school."
"Jason's imagination can run wild sometimes." Bobby explained with a slight chuckle
"You should listen to him for I know for a fact that there is a celebrity in the school."
"Really?" An intrigued Bobby asked
Franklin smiled as he couldn't believe how naive this kid was acting.
"Man, beating up this kid will be easier than opening a door."
Bobby listened as Franklin told him how he was actually friends with the celebrity and that they're behind the school waiting to meet one lucky student, so if Bobby wanted to be that student then he would need to go there to meet them in a few minutes.
"I can't believe I'm about to meet someone famous." Bobby thought as Franklin walked off to get everything ready.
However what Bobby didn't know is that behind the school, hiding in the bushes was Portis and a cameraman who were getting ready to film Bobby being bullied. Franklin soon arrived then after ten minutes Bobby had yet to show up. Both Portis and Franklin began to fear that Bobby could've figured out the whole thing was a lie which caused the latter to worry about the future of his job.
"If that kid doesn't show up soon my career in television is over."
As they waited for their target to show up, we go to the men's bathroom inside the school where we see a nervous Bobby pacing right to left.
"What do I say to somebody famous?" Bobby asked himself as he checked his appearance in the mirror
After a few more minutes Bobby finally mustered up the courage to go and meet the celebrity. He walked out of the bathroom and down the hall where he walked by Jade who said hello but Bobby's attention was focused more on the celebrity then anything else.
"What's going on with him?" Jade wondered
Later he reached the back of the school where he saw Franklin waiting for him.
"It's about time you made it." An angry Franklin shouted
"Sorry, I just got nervous about this meeting and had to take a moment to relax."
"Well, Bobby, you're out of luck, the celebrity left," Franklin informed, "but don't worry there's another star here."
"Really, who?" Asked Bobby
Suddenly he got caught off guard when Franklin struck him with an uppercut followed by a few hard punches to the face all while a satisfied Portis watched from the bushes with a sinister smile on his face.
"I can't believe someone as dumb as this kid exist," Portis thought, "only a gullible nitwit would fall for such a half baked story."
Franklin held Bobby by the collar of his shirt getting ready to deliver a punch to Bobby's stomach when an unknown force pulled him back causing him to drop Bobby to the ground. Franklin and Portis were surprised for the force that stopped Franklin was a red haired girl. She ran over to Bobby who was lying on his back, she checked him for any signs of bleeding before gently lifting his head up.
"Bobby, are you okay, come on, answer me."
Bobby slowly opened his eyes and smiled when he saw Jade's face. Franklin took this as his cue to leave but before he could get far he felt himself being slammed into a nearby wall with a furious Jade in front of him.
"You jerk," Jade shouted as she pinned Franklin to the wall, "what gives to the right do to this to him."
"I had no choice." Franklin explained
"Don't give me that crap, now tell me why you hurt my friend before I remove something."
"Mr. Portis, the director, forced me to harm him."
"I doubt a director would sink so low."
Portis decided it was time to make his presence known.
"Alright, young lady, let Franklin go."
"I guess he was telling the truth, but why did you make him hurt Bobby?"
Portis only stood there with a dirty grin on his face as Jade ran over back to Bobby. She calmed down momentarily when she saw that Bobby had started to recover from the beating Franklin had given him.
"Take it easy, Bobby," Jade ordered as she helped him up, "how did this all happen?"
"I tell you what happened," Portis said as he walked towards them with the cameraman in tow, "your dumb little friend here was so eager to meet someone famous that they were willing to trust someone that he just met."
"I'm such an loser." Bobby moaned
"Hey," Jade said as she turned Bobby's head to face her, "you're not an loser, these scumbags however, they're the losers."
"Please, I'm a successful television director," Portis, "I was offered to film several reality series starring some pretty big names."
"Yeah, and I bet they rejected you once they found out how far you were willing to take just to get better ratings."
"True, the footage I have of your pal getting the snot beat out of him will increase my ratings but it will also make him a star," Portis stated, "people will line up all for the chance to be Bobby's friend simply for the fact that they feel sorry for him."
"I don't know what's more disgusting, your directing or your views on friendship."
"It's not my fault that the kid always gets a bad roll in dice game of life but face it he can't make friends on his own."
"I bet he has more friends than you'll have in your whole life."
"Look, girl, you're wasting my time with all this garbage about friendship, I got a film to finish."
"Think again."
Portis turned around and saw that cameraman was on the ground but he was more concerned about the broken camera on the ground. He ran over, fell to his knees as he tried to piece together the remains of the camera in a desperate attempt to fix it. He looked up to see the person responsible, standing before him was Jason Lamar.
"A little bird named Franklin told me everything you had him do to Bobby and why, which I must say you, sir, infuriate me."
"You think you scare me, kid, well guess what, you don't."
Before anyone could blink Portis struck Jason in his stomach with an impressive strike with his knee, not only did this cause Jason a great deal of pain but it made Bobby forget about his own injures to aid to his friends.
"I don't get why your helping him, Bobby, he ruined your only chance at stardom.
"That maybe true," Bobby agreed, "but I rather stick by my friends then become a star because of your video."
"Well, if you change your mind about becoming famous come find me and I'll make it happen," Portis offered before he left, "if you don't come by tonight then I'll just blur all your faces and you'll regret your decision for the rest of your days."
Bobby just sat there on his knees looking down at Jason's body without any idea on what do to about this whole mess. Jade came over and sat next to him.
"Bobby, it's okay, that jerk and his lackey are gone." she said
"I wish there was something I could've done." Bobby cried out
"It's over, Bobby, the best thing for you to do is help me get Jason to the nurse."
She put her hand on Bobby's shoulder to comfort him, unaware that that the puzzle around his neck had been glowing as did the Eye of Anubis on his forehead. Suddenly Bobby stood up and began walking away which was an action that confused Jade.
"Bobby, where are you going," Jade shouted with no response from Bobby, "Bobby!"
Later as dusk approached, several employees at Channel 84 were getting ready to go home for the evening, this include Conrad Portis, who was getting praised for his video (that he managed to recover) by a coworker.
"It's the most brutal video yet, keep up the good work." The coworker said
"Thank you, it wasn't easy to watch but somebody has to show what's happening in the schools," Portis stated, "I should film a bank robbery next, there's always some sap who gets killed, that will no doubt increase our ratings."
The coworker had left and Portis was getting ready to get inside his car when he spotted something in his car's side mirror.
"Who's there?"
Portis turned to see Bobby standing there with a smirk on his face.
"So, you decided to show up," Portis said, "however I'm sorry to say the offer expired ten minutes ago, so unless you came wanting to get paid for all work then I suggest you go home."
"I'm not interested in your money, I'm here to get retribution for those you have harmed for the sole purpose of fame and glory." Dark Bobby (the spirit of the puzzle's name for now) informed
"Come on, kid, I'm not the only person in the business that things like that." a defensive Portis pointed out
"True, but you were the one foolish enough to cross me, so now it's time for a game."
"You're not serious are you," Portis asked, "you're brain must have got knocked loose after the beating Franklin gave you earlier."
Dark Bobby smirked as he reached into his pocket then pulled out a six sided die.
"What's with the die?"
"In ancient times dice were often used to determine one's fate," DB (Dark Bobby) explained, "such as we are going to do very soon."
"If you're trying to pitch an idea for a game show then I have tell you that you're wasting your time."
"Believe me when I say the game's rules are quite interesting," DB stated, "I'll roll this die, then it'll be your turn and if you can roll a number lower than mine you win, same applies if you roll the same number."
"So what happens if I don't win this stupid game?" Portis wondered
"You better pray that you do or prepare to face a Penalty Game."
Portis couldn't figure out what annoyed him more, how smug the kid acted now compared to earlier at the school or just how ridiculous this game was for odds of him winning were very slim. Dark Bobby dropped the die onto the ground and they both watched as it rolled four times before it came to a stop. Portis grinned for the number Dark Bobby rolled as a six, the highest number on any die.
"You might as well go home, kid," Portis suggested, "I was worried that you would get like a two or something but with a six I won't bother even rolling for no matter what I win."
"You seem pretty confident but the rules state that you still have to roll the die to victory." DB said
Portis muttered as he picked the die off the ground.
"Can this dumb kid admit that he has lost his own game."
Portis held the die in his hand getting ready to toss it when a thought crossed his mind.
"So you want me roll the die to claim my victory, eh, then I guess it doesn't matter how hard I throw it and where."
Portis with a his strength hurled the die as hard as he could straight at Dark Bobby's face, with a clink the die hit its target and fell to the ground where he saw the number he rolled was a one.
"See, kid, I told you it was a waste of time, so go on home and I promise not to tell anybody about this incident."
"It's time for you to pay for your actions." DB said
Portis didn't understand what Dark Bobby meant by this but soon realized that he had blocked the die with the golden pyramid around his neck thus causing it to spilt into two pieces, while one half landed on a one the other had was a six.
"Seven, no, that can't be, you cheated." Portis screamed
Suddenly he saw the Eye of Anubis appear upon Dark Bobby's forehead.
"Mr. Portis, your desire to manipulate events for the camera for personal gain has altered your perception of reality, thus the Door of Darkness has opened, Penalty Game, Illusion of Distortion."
When those words were spoken Portis immediately grabbed his face for a sudden pain shot through his eyes. He fell to his knees almost in tears due to the intensity of the pain, he removed his hands to see that not only Dark Bobby but everything around him was becoming blurry and pixilated.
"AAAAHH!" Portis screamed as Dark Bobby left with a satisfied grin on his face
(Next Morning)
Bobby arrived at school where Jade stood waiting for him.
"Morning, Jade." Bobby greeted
"Morning," She greeted back
She noticed how differently Bobby acted since yesterday, like the whole thing with that director never happened, but seeing Bobby this happy cheered her up and decided against talking about it.
"Hill, over here."
Jade watched as Bobby ran over to Jason who then presented him with a video which they both seemed excited to have in their possession. This made her decide to have some fun with them, she walked over towards them completely unnoticed.
"Turns out that Redcorn gave me the wrong copy," Jason explained, "he promised me that this version has all the good stuff uncensored."
"Sounds quite like a great movie then, mind if I check it out?" Jade playfully asked before taking the movie then ran towards the school
"Hey, LaRue, that's not yours to take." Jason shouted as he and Bobby began chasing her
Jade laughed as the boys tried to catch up to her.
This is not funny, Jade." Bobby shouted as they entered the school
I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Now the next two chapters I'll be skipping ahead a bit to chapter nine of the manga, but some of the skipped chapters will be featured following a chapter written just for this story.
