“By the way, Risebelle,” Angie began, “I saw you talking to that Harty guy from the chess club. I don’t normally see you two together outside of that and you looked kind of like you were talking serious business. What’s up with that? Is he your boyfriend?”

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Angie’s direess. “Oh, no, no! Nothing like that. We’re w on something important together. It’s reted to a situation Jess is in.”

  Angie’s frustration deepened and she let out a big sigh. “Jess the troublemaker again? Seriously, Risebelle, you’re way too involved in her drama. Bitch always causing trouble and it always affects you too.”

  Risebelle frowned, “Angie, Jess is my friend and she’s in trouble. I ’t just ighat. Besides, she’s not as bad as she looks you know…actually I take that back.”

  Angie crossed her arms and looked away, her irritation evident. “I just don’t get why you’re always so willing to help her out when you know she’s shit. It’s like you’re her personal savior or something.”

  Risebelle sighed, realizing that Angie had strong feelings about the situation. “Look, Angie, I know you might not uand, but helping friends in need is important to me. I hope you respect that.”

  A out a big huff, clearly not satisfied with Risebelle’s expnation. She tio py her game, a scowl on her face. She muttered under her breath, “Friends in need, huh? More like friends causing trouble. Angie’s just like a succubus in a game trying to seduce you into doing her bidding. If I was you, I would ditch her before she ruins your reputation.” Risebelle didn’t press the issue any further but she gained an idea.

  “Speaking of Jess, do you remember her ex-boyfriend, you know, the one she used to game with a lot? I haven’t seen him around tely. Do you know where he’s been hanging out?”

  Angie g Risebelle, her annoyance subsiding slightly while sidering the question. “Yeah, I know that guy you’re talking about. His name’s Ryan. We used to be gaming buddies until... well, things ged.”

  Risebelle nodded, her i piqued. “ged how?”

  Angie hesitated for a moment before expining, “He started getting involved in some shady stuff like underground gaming tours where he peted for cash prizes and stuff but it was always risky stuff like his whole identity was on the line in one of those shitty tours. you believe that crap? I told him ‘I’m not into that’ and like, he kinda got super pissed at me so, you know? And I haven’t really seen him since.”

  Risebelle furrowed her brow. “Shady stuff, you say? That might be reted to what Jess is going through. Do you have any idea where he used to hang out, or who he might have been associated with?”

  Angie shrugged. “Not really but you know, I’ve heard rumors about some of the pces he used to game at. There’s this run-down arcade oskirts of town where some of the underground gaming tours were happening. He might have been gaming down there.”

  “Thanks, Angie,” Risebelle said, her tone appreciative. “I know it’s not your usual crowd but your insights could be really helpful. If you happen to hear anything else about Ryan or the underground gaming se, please let me know.”

  A out a resigned sigh.

  “Fine, I’ll keep an ear out. But seriously, Risebelle, be careful. Yetting into some dangerous….DANGEROUS territory...”

  Risebelle nodded, appreciating Angie’s willio help despite her reservations. “I will, Angie. And I promise, I’ll be cautious. We just want to make sure Jess is safe.”

  As an hour passed and Angie tio py her game while waiting, her phone suddenly rang. She quickly answered it with an irritated look, not b to check the caller ID.

  Angie shouted into the phone, “MOM WHAT THE HELL! You’re so! Freakin! te! I’ve been gaming here fes!”

  Oher end of the call, Angie’s mhed. “Angie, I’m sorry but I won’t be able to pick you up today… I really hope you --.”

  Auro full rage, “Are you being seriht now?! You should have called earlier damnit! I would have started walking home if I knew you weren’t ing!”

  Her mother remained apologetic, “I-I know, Angie. I’m really sorry about this. It’s just one of those ued work emergencies. I hope you find it in your heart tive me. you take the bus or call a friend for a ride?”

  Angie pouted. “Fiiinnnneee, I guess I’ll figure something out...”

  After exging a few more choice words with her mother, Angie ehe call while still being annoyed. She turo Risebelle and grumbled, “Looks like I’ll have to find another way home. My mom’s stuck at wain. This day just keeps gettier aer...”

  Risebelle offered a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry to hear that, Angie. If you need any help or if there’s anything I do, just let me know.”

  Angie waved with a dismissive gesture. “Nah, I’ll manage. I’ll probably just take the bus or something. Thanks, though.”

  Risebelle nodded, standing up from the bench. “Alright, Angie. I’ll catch you ter. If you need anything, just give me a call.”

  Once Risebelle started to walk away, Angie called out, “Yoing baeet with Harty and Jess in that Make-shift detective’s room aren’t you?”

  Risebelle paused for a moment.

  “How did you know about that, Angie?”

  Angie rolled her eyes and folded her arms, her irritation repced with a hint of amusement.

  “e on, Risebelle. You’re ly subtle when it es to your friends in need. Plus, you were asking about Jess’s Ex. I’ve heard some rumors about that shady guy. You’re up to something, and I figured it had to do with Harty and Jess.”

  Risebelle chuckled, realizing that Angie had a knack for putting the pieces together. “You’re smarter than you look.” she actly blurts out.

  Angie’s eyes grew big at Risebelle’s ent and her mouth swung open. She suddenly swung her arm, nding an ued sp on Risebelle’s shoulder with a temporary surge ing fire in her eyes.

  Risebelle wi the ued sp, rubbing her shoulder, “Okay, I deserved that one. Sorry, Angie.”

  Angie’s cheeks turned a reddish color. She averted her gaze from Risebelle and fidgeted her hands together. “You get weird at the worst of times, you know that Risebelle?”

  Risebelle chuckled, “Sorry about that, Angie.”

  Angie cleared her throat. “Yeah, you better be. Now go do your detective thing with Harty and Jess. I’ll see you around.”

  Risebelle waved goodbye to Angie ao meet with Harty and Jess, her thoughts filled with the mysteries and challehat y ahead.

  As Risebelle joined Harty and Jess in their makeshift detective’s room, she could sehe tension in the air. Harty had his notes and evidence spread out on the desk, while Jess appeared anxious, her fingers nervously tapping oabletop.

  Harty looked up at Risebelle with a hint of bitterness in his tone. “I’ve been trying to dig deeper but I haven’t found anything more than what we already had...”

  Jess sighed. “I asked around too but people are being really tight-lipped about it. All I got was vague mention of a few gaming joints. Nothing specific.”

  Risebelle nodded, deg that this was the right moment to share her own findings. “Actually, Jess, I think I might have something that could help. Angie mentiohat Ryao hang out at some gaming Arcade. It might be the same locatiohis meeting is supposed to happen.“Harty perked up, his curiosity piqued. “Ahhh? That could be a lead.”

  Jess’s eyes widened with realization and she perked up. “Yes! That could be it! Do you know the name of what we’re looking for?”

  Risebelle stopped for a moment before answering, “I don’t know the maybe if you bihis information with what you know from your tacts, it could lead us to the right area.”

  Harty was quick to support the idea. “That’s a good point, Risebelle. Jess, anything you remember about the name or location could be crucial.”

  Jess closed her eyes, deep in thought, trying to recall aails that might help. After a moment, she opened her eyes and spoke, “I remember hearing the name ‘Silver Star Arcade’ in some of the versations. It might not be the official it’s a start.”

  Risebelle nodded in agreement. “Silver Star Arcade. That’s something we work with. Let’s focus on that and see if we find more information about its location and any es to tonight’s meeting.”

  Jess’s memory jogged by the mention of the Silver Star Arcade, she furrowed her brow in trati to recall her past experiehere. She leaned forward with distant eyes while she spoke, “You know, now that I think about it, I’ve been there before. It was a while back when Ryan and I were still together. We went there for a date but that’s also when something strange happened.”

  Risebelle and Harty leaned in closer, their i piqued by Jess’s revetion. “What happened, Jess?” Risebelle asked curiously.

  Jess tinued her recolle with unease. “We were pying games and having fun but then Ryan suddenly disappeared. He left me at the ter of the joint without saying a word. I waited for what felt like hours and when he finally came back he had a bunch of s with him.”

  Harty furrowed his brow, processing the information. “s? That’s definitely stra’s possible that he was involved in somethied to this old area even back then. Jess, did he ever tell you where he went or why he had those s?”

  Jess shook her head. “No, he old me. He brushed it off as a surprise and said we could keep pying but I dunno, it felt like he was hiding something. After that day, our retionship started falling apart. Then we eventually broke up.”

  Risebelle exged a knowing gh Harty, realizing that this piece of the puzzle might be crucial in their iigation. “So, Jess, you’re saying that this could be ected to whatever trouble Ryan got himself into. It’s definitely worth cheg out.”

  Jess nodded in agreement. “Exactly. If there’s any ce that this meeting tonight is reted, we o find out more. Maybe there’s a e we’re missing.”

  With the location of the Silver Star Arcade now firmly in their minds, Risebelle, Jess and Harty wasted no time iing to iigate the gamier.

  Ohey approached the building, it became clear that it was just as they said: a run-down and slightly ed establishment. The neon sign above the entrance flickered sporadically and the exterior had seeer days. Despite its somewhat shabby appeara seemed to have a nostalgic charm that drew in visitors.

  Risebelle, Jess and Harty ehe Silver Star Arcade. The first thing that struck them was the surprisingly rge crowd ihe insidewas buzzing with activity and the sound of various games, from cssiball maes to modern digital soles filled the air.

  Despite the run-dowerior, the interior seemed to be thriving with life and energy. Rows of gaming ets were occupied by enthusiastic pyers who were very petitive.

  Risebelle couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “Why is this pce so crowded? Something as low quality as this shouldn’t really attract such a rge crowd, should it?.”

  Harty gnced around in curiousity. “It’s odd when you really think about it. Maybe there’s more to this case thahe eye. Look out for any suspicious things your eyes see guys.”

  Jess, however, was more focused on the s themselves. Her eyes lit up with excitement. She spotted a cssic fighting simutor that she used to enjoy pying with Ryan. ‘Rage of the streets 2’. Jess moves her hands out reag for the game before Risebelle spped it away.

  “Hey, guys, let’s not fet why we’re here. We o find any clues or informatioed to this meeting.”

  Risebelle’s eyes suddenly widened. She gasped in surprise once she saw something out of pce. “What the f...”