Vance and Derek had both suffered humiliating defeats at Anthony's hands, but they refused to learn their lesson. Instead, they decided to team up. Two against one. Surely that would be enough to bring the 'genius' down a peg.
They waited near the restrooms after school. The hallway was quiet, the floors polished to a mirror-like shine.
"When he comes out, we jump him," Derek hissed, cracking his good knuckles. "We'll grab him, hold him down, and dump his head in the water fountain. That will humble him. That will show everyone he's just a normal boy."
"Yeah," Vance nodded, still looking a bit pale from the food incident. "And this time, I won't eat anything he gives me. We'll just use force."
They saw the door open. Anthony walked out, humming a cheerful tune, hands in his pockets.
"Got you now!"
Both boys roared and lunged forward. Their hands reached out to grab Anthony's shoulders, their faces filled with malicious glee.
But their hands grabbed nothing but air.
They stumbled forward, confused. They looked at Anthony. He was standing right there! They could see him! He was looking straight at them!
But when they reached out, their hands passed right through his shoulders like he was made of smoke or light.
"What is this?!" Derek panicked, swinging his fist wildly. "Illusion magic? Are you a ghost?!"
"No," Anthony's voice came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It sounded like it was coming from the ceiling, the floor, and right next to their ears simultaneously. "It's called refraction and light bending. You are looking at me, but your brains are processing the image wrong. You are actually reaching for empty space."
Anthony chuckled. "By the way, you two look really funny right now. Flailing your arms around like drowning chickens. It's quite entertaining. Maybe you should take up dancing instead of bullying?"
"Show yourself! Fight me properly!" Vance screamed, throwing a punch directly at Anthony's face.
His hand went straight through Anthony's head. And then Vance felt a gentle tap on his own shoulder.
"Behind you," Anthony whispered.
Vance spun around frantically, hitting nothing but air again. He was getting dizzy. His eyes were straining trying to focus.
"I can't take this anymore!" Derek groaned, holding his head. "My eyes hurt! My brain hurts! Stop it!"
"Fine," Anthony said.
Suddenly, the image stabilized. Anthony reappeared instantly, solid and real, standing right in front of their faces, inches away from their noses.
"Boo."
"AAAAHHH!! DEMON!!"
Both boys screamed like little girls, tripped over their own feet, and fell backwards onto the wet floor with a loud splash.
Anthony straightened his uniform. "Clean up on aisle three," he muttered to himself, walking away calmly, leaving them lying in their own confusion and fear.