Mark of a Friend

9th grade welcomes Mark Morgan with open arms...because it's throwing a punch. Eamon Adler steps up his game, blowing away the jerk level he achieved the previous year. He goes after Mark again by taking his friends. Including Vijay Okai.Meanwhile, Todd Symsmith's cowardice takes over his life, thanks to Mr. Nice Guy Eamon. Todd's all-conquering EXROCK robot? Junk. Just like his friendships. One friend receives the brunt of his misery because it's easier than blaming himself....
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9th grade welcomes Mark Morgan with open arms...because it's throwing a punch. Eamon Adler steps up his game, blowing away the jerk level he achieved the previous year. He goes after Mark again by taking his friends. Including Vijay Okai.Meanwhile, Todd Symsmith's cowardice takes over his life, thanks to Mr. Nice Guy Eamon. Todd's all-conquering EXROCK robot? Junk. Just like his friendships. One friend receives the brunt of his misery because it's easier than blaming himself. Shockingly, that friend isn't Mark. Todd's girlfriend, Shana Oliver, looks to have the world on her shoulders, and Mark doesn't know how to help her. Or even if he should.Then there's the creepy, medieval Door of Doom in the Pirate's Den with how many locks and braces keeping it closed. The one Mark has no keys for and doesn't want any. The way he sees it, why go to the trouble of installing locks on a door two floors underground unless something hides behind it nobody should let loose? Not one to question keeping unknown, scary things locked up, he is totally good with leaving the door alone. Which means he can't.Grendel tasks him to go through it for who knows what reason. Possibly just to risk his life because that seems to be a national pastime. He hopes opening it reveals a clue to finding his friend. If he can figure out how to do it. After convincing himself that he should.While trying not to discover what could possibly be that dangerous...Trigger: off-panel abuse.