Chapter Time: Let the fun begin...I own nothing.

-Miaulin

Chapter 3: The Lab and the Portal (What Not to do)

I attended school the following day, and told Sam and Tucker everything. It was a normal day, getting stuffed into lockers and all. It was my birthday, but I failed to see how it was different from any other day of the week. I got home, but it was clear that Mom and Dad had, yet again, forgotten my birthday. However, today was not a normal day, because of what happened later. Jazz convinced Mom and Dad to go buy something, some sort of dinner to make them feel better, even though she didn't bother to tell them it was my birthday. They would only forget again. They took her suggestion, and she left, so she told me, to read books at the library. I had the house to myself. An idea occurred to me.

Why not call Tucker and Sam and take them down to see the portal?

I called them, informing them that I was capable getting them into the lab without suspicion, or older sisters who were overprotective. Needless to say, they were happy. Sam told me that she would have to sneak out, or convincingly lie. I just told her to tell her parents she was doing her homework at my house. She agreed. Tucker didn't need an excuse; unlike Sam's parents, his were perfectly fine with him spending time with me.

"Hey", Sam and Tucker both greeted as they entered. Tucker was slightly later than Sam, but I was ready. We carefully walked down the stairs to the lab.

"Here the portal is, guys." I gestured to the aforementioned portal with pleasure. Tucker ran straight to the electronics, and promptly started to quiz me on what they were. Unfortunately, I had to disappoint him with the information that I had slept through most of Dad's lectures on equipment, on the (many) occasions that lab equipment found its way to the kitchen, living room, or other places that were not infrequently visited. Sam somehow glided in combat boots of all things, a feat I was unsure of whether to be bewildered or proud about. She commented on how wonderfully creepy and gothic ghosts were and how odd the toxic-green, glowing, eerrie ectoplasm looked. We took several pictures of the portal and ourselves.

The portal looked rather inviting, and I realized, it was an un-operational portal to another dimension. I felt almost that it called to me.

"You should go inside. It is, after all, your parents' portal" Sam urged.

"I can take a video! Where no Man has Gone Before!"

I only needed that nudge, and had already posed for several pictures in front of the portal, at both Tucker and Sam's insistence. Even camera-shy as I was, it wasn't that bad. I did, for argument's sake, put up a protest, but only minimally. I was about to step in after putting on a hazmat suit, and Tucker had started the video, but Sam walked to me, and I, half expecting a delay of some sort, paused. She reached forward and pulled off the sticker I didn't even realize was there. Well, I did know it was there, but I had forgotten it. The sticker was a picture of Dad's face, and it was plastered across my chest. I thanked her, and stepped up into the portal.

Slowly and carefully, I placed my feet well away from any wires that might trip me, and then looked up. I stepped forward again. That was all it took. That one, minuscule step.

My first cliffhanger. For the people who've watched Danny Phantom, you know what happens. The rest of you? You can probably guess.

-Miaulin