Harty cleared his throat. “Ladies alemen, I believe we are all aware of the strange happenings in our town tely. Mysterious doppelgangers, abdus, and an expnation for everything: a game we all love, Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows. What I am about to show you is the data we have found...”

  Harty pulled up a presentation on a s, dispying images of doppelgangers and the game.

  “Doppelgangers have invaded our lives, and at the moment, their iions are a mystery. But there does tend to be some pattern like the one in the game. They are repg people just like in Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows and messing with events.”

  Harty tinued, while everyone else seemed to give serious looks. “But here is the big discovery. We ain’t victims iory at all. We have a ce to ge the ending. We, uniquely, possess this advahat will help us know the truth about these doppelgangers and put ao their sinister pns.”

  Harty pced a photograph on his presentation s with a photo showing three question marks.

  “Now, we have here an informant in this pce who has followed these doppelgangers. They know more about them than any other man alive. That somebody is here, amongst us, today."

  He then dramatically swung towards the door, revealing Angie, who was eavesdropping.

  “Angie has been doing re and has some very valuable insights to share. She has key knowledge for defeating this threat. Angie, if you will, please join us.”

  The room fell silent as Aill engrossed in her game, slowly looked up from her devid walked inside.

  The surprised looks on Roselle and Michigo’s faces were hard to miss as Arolled into the room. They reized her from their ret enter in the hunt for Tina.

  Roselle and Michigo exged uain gnces, recalling the favor they owed A was a plicated situation. Risebelle couldn’t tain her surprise as Angie, one of her frieered the room.

  “It’s Angie,” Risebelle whispered. “It actually makes sense now. She’s always warni to get in too deep with Jess… I thought she might have been jealous or something, but she was hiding all of this.”

  Angie looked up from her game, a sly smile on her face. “Well, it’s simple,” Angie began. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you all, mainly because I knew something was amiss with your involvement in this whole mess. You’re dealing with dangerous stuff, and you didn’t even know it.”

  She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in before tinuing, “I found out about Shadowcroft and their is in Roselle and Risebelle. They want te them into some super being, right? So, when I learhat Jess was getting closer to you, Risebelle, and possibly Roselle too, I decided to step in. You see, they were usio get to you. I couldn’t let that happen, even though I’m not too fond of any of you.”

  Jess was shocked by Angie’s revetion. “Wait, you’ve been helping us this whole time?”

  Angie nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been keeping helping by keeping you away certain individuals and trying to protect you, in my own way. That being said, I don’t want yall to think I’m suddenly your best friends. Also, two of you here have a bill with me.”

  Michigo and Roselle exged gnces momentarily before small smiles came to their face. Roselle spoke up first, “We uand that, but you helped us, Angie. reciate it, even if you’re not doing it out of the kindness of your heart.”

  Michigo chimed in, “Yeah, we’ll honor our debt to you, Angie… “

  “Alright, here’s the pn,” Angie began. “We know they want te Roselle and Risebelle into oy, right? But they also o capture Risebelle to make it work. We’re going to use that against them.”

  Angie tinued, “We’ll set a trap for Shadowcroft, making it seem like Risebelle is an easy target. We’ll use Roselle as bait, and Michigo, you’ll act as her protector.”

  Roselle nodded, uanding the pn. “And when they e for Risebelle, we’ll be ready to catch them by surprise. But how do we ensure our safety in all of this?”

  Angie smirked, “That’s where I e in. I’ll be monit everything from a distance, ready to step in if things get too dangerous. You t oo have your backs.”

  Michigo raised an eyebrow, “And what about Jess? She’s beeing closer to Risebelle. Won’t she be in danger?”

  Angie’s face darkened. “Jess may be more involved in this thahink. I’ll keep an eye ooo, but you two o be careful around her until we figure out her true allegiance.”

  Jess’s eyes narrowed. “Shittalker Angie… you’ve always been trying to make me look like the bad guy. You’re just trying to turn everyone against me, aren’t you?”

  Angie’s face remained calm, almost smug. “Oh, I beg to differ, Jess. Jess, I’m n to make you look bad. But your clothes speak for themselves. They scream ‘I’m up to no good.’ A’s be ho, we all know what kind of pces those dark clubs lead to.”

  Jess crossed her arms defiantly. “Proof? Show it. Show everyone how I’m doing something that would hurt them.”

  Angie smirked. “There’s o provide proof. Your attire speaks for itself. Where else would you go dressed like that? Dark clubs, hanging out with bad guys, using your body.”

  Jess growled. “You think just because I wear these revealing clothing that I’m a slut? Well, guess what? It takes more than just a pretty fad a tight dress to get me into bed.”

  Risebelle stepped forward and pce a hand on Jess’ arm and then turo fagie. “Angie, you ’t just accuse her based on her clothes. We need facts, not assumptions.”

  Jess’s anger fred. She pushed Risebelle’s arm away and stepped up into Angie’s face. “You’re not fooling ah your calm act, you little bitch. I know you’ve got something against me. You’re using this situation to take it out on me! Don’t even try to deny it!”

  Angie remaioic. “Jess, this isn’t personal. I’ve got my reasons for being cautious. We’re dealing with a dangerous anization here, not kids from door, you know.”

  Jess’s anger fred even more. “Isn’t personal my Ass! You judged me just by how I looked a while ago! Do you really think I’m gonna believe that shit!?”

  Angie, unfazed, popped a lollipop into her mouth and leaned back casually. “You know what, Jess? You o chill out.”

  Jess shouted, “Stop being so smug, Angie! You’re always ag like you know everything!”

  Aook another leisurely lick of her lollipop. “Here’s what you need,” she said, and before Jess could react, she shoved the same lollipop into Jess’s mouth.

  Jess spat the lollipop out. “That does it!” With a growl, she tackled Ao the ground, sending the chair toppling over.

  Aruggled against Jess with her calm demeanor now turning to anger while Jess’s rage seemed to fuel her strength. Roselle and Michigo quickly joined Risebelle, helping to separate the two.

  “Enough!” Risebelle shouted with a stern look at both of them. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. We have a bigger issue to deal with, and bickering among ourselves won’t help! Angie, if you’re here to help, fine, but don’t accuse Jess without evidence!

  Aook a deep breath. She relutly said, “Alright, I apologize for singling you out, Jess.”

  Jess gave Risebelle a thankful look, but when she saw the stern gaze directed at her, she shrank a bit. “I know, I know,” Jess muttered, “I shouldn’t let Angie provoke me like that.”

  Risebelle face softened slightly. “Exactly. We o keep it together, not fight like a pack of wild animals.”

  Jess sighed. She tried to speak with a sweet tone. “I got hot-headed too fast. I’m sorry, lovely.” She gnced up at Risebelle. “Five me?”

  Risebelle nodded.

  “You may tinue, Angie,” Harty said.

  Angie nodded. “Right, back to the pn. We’ve got some advantages on our side. Risebelle has already seen a doppelganger of herself, so we assume Roselle might have a simir experience soon. This could be our ce to find out more about these doppelgangers and maybe even Shadowcroft’s operations.”

  She paused for a moment to let her words sink in before tinuing, “I’ve already tacted some of my gamer friends who specialize in hag and gathering information. They’ll help us keep tabs on any digital traces Shadowight leave behind.”

  Angie gnced around the room at her audiend cluded, “Our mission is to stay vigint, gather information, and, most importantly, protect Roselle and Risebelle from being the victims of this shadowy anization. ”

  Aook a deep breath and then handed out slips of paper to the group, each taining a web address and a chatroom password.

  “Here’s how we’ll stay in touch during this operation,” Angie expined. “Use the web address to access our encrypted chatroom. It’s a secure ptform, and only those with the password will be able to join our discussions. This way, we share information, coordinate our efforts, and stay oep ahead of Shadowcroft.”

  She looked around at the group, making sure they all uood the importance of this unication el. “Remember, this is crucial for our safety and success. Don’t share this information with aside of this group. We ’t afford to have any leaks.”

  The group nodded in agreement. Ahen spoke, “Now, let’s all ehe chatroom with your assigned usernames when you get home. We have work to do, and the clock is tig.”

  With the chatroom information in hand, the group members felt a renewed sense of purpose.

  Risebelle and Jess walked home together. Jess leaned in close to Risebelle, her arms ed around her pyfully as she normally do, but this time, Risebelle’s demeanor had ged. She didn’t focus on Jess as all a on the move.

  “Risey, what’s wrong?” Jess asked with . “You’ve been ag different ever sihat whole Ahing. Did I…did I do something wrong?”

  Risebelle sighed. Her eyes were lowered. “Jess, it’s not about you. It’s just... this whole situation with Shadowcroft and everything, it’s a lot to handle. I need some space right now.”

  Jess pouted slight with a frown. “I get it, but I don’t want us to be all weird with each other…. I…I care about you, Risey.”

  Risebelle gave her a small smile. “I care about you too, Jess, but right now, we have a bigger problem to deal with. Let’s focus on that, okay?”

  Jess relutly loosened her grip on Risebelle. She pced her hands behind her back. “Okay, I uand. I’ll be here whenever you need me.”

  Risebelle grinned. “You know, Jess,” Risebelle started in a light tone, “For someone who’s always so busy flirting with everyone, you sure know how to be serious every on a while.”

  Jess raised an eyebrow. Her lips curled into a grin. “Hey, I be sincere sometimes too, you know!”

  Risebelle chuckled softly. “I know, Jess.”

  Jess nudged Risebelle with her elbow. “Well, I guess you’ve got me figured out, Risey. But don’t fet, beh all the flirting and teasing, there’s a genuine friend who’s always here for you.”

  Risebelle’s smile broadened. “Yeah, I know that better than anyone else… I appreciate you, just... let me hahings my way for now. “

  When they arrived Jess’s house, Jess made her move. She pulled Risebelle closer to her and whispered, “Why rush home, Risey? We’ve got the whole weekend ahead. How about we stay and have some... fun together?”

  Risebelle, however, quickly pnted her feet on the ground and struggled against her grasp. “Jess, you’re crazy! I know your tricks. If I go inside, you’ll lock the door, and who knows when I’ll escape from your evil ir!”

  Jess chuckled at Risebelle’s rea and released her. “Alright, alright. I guess you have a point. But remember, I’ll be online, so we chat and figure out the pn.”

  Risebelle, with a hint of a smile, replied, “Sounds good, Jess. I’ll catch you oake care.”

  Jess watched Risebelle walk away. After a moment, she suddenly realized a signifit detail she had overlooked.

  “Wait,” Jess muttered to herself with a gigantic frown f on her face. “I don’t even know what her online name is. How am I supposed to find her in the chatroom!?”