Risebelle slowly began tain sciousness. Her eyes fluttered open. She looked around and realized her location: A hospital room. ‘What happened,’ she thought. Turning her head, Risebelle saw Jess asleep in a chair beside her bed. She looked exhausted but peaceful, as if she hadn’t left Risebelle’s side for a long time.

  Weakly, Risebelle tried to speak. “Jess...”

  Jess stirred, her eyes slowly opening, and she turo look at Risebelle with a relieved smile. “Risebelle, you’re awake! How are you feeling?”

  Risebelle tried to move but winced. “Like I’ve been hit by a truck. What happened?”

  Jess gently helped her friend sit up, propping her pillows for added fort. “You were in a really intense fight with Rosebelle, and the police arrived just in time. She escaped, but you’re safe now. You’ve been unscious for three days.”

  Risebelle rubbed her temples, trying to piece together the events. “I remember the fight, but everything’s kind of fuzzy after that.”

  Jess’s eyes filled with relief. She held Risebelle’s hand. “I’m so gd…. We were all so worried about you.”

  Risebelle managed a weak smile.“Thanks, Jess. You’ve beehe whole time?”

  Jess’s gaze met Risebelle’s with a pyful glint in her eyes, but there th to it that hadn’t been there before. “Well, I had to make sure my heroiight in shining armor woke up to a smiling face, didn’t I? Plus, who else would I have to keep me eained in this b hospital room?”

  Risebelle noticed the subtle shift in Jess’s tohere was a bit of siy detected in her words. She felt a warmth in her heart. She smirked, giving Jess a knowing look. “Oh, is that what I am, your ‘heroiight’ now? Not just some knight in shining armor?”

  Jess chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Well, maybe just a little.”

  They both ughed. Their ughter filled the hospital room, and it was a wele sound for them after the tes of the past days.

  Jess leaned in to give Risebelle a kiss on the cheek; however, she noticed the somber look in Risebelle’s eyes, and her affeate gesture paused.

  Jess cleared her throat. “Risebelle, there’s something I o tell you. When Alex had us tied up, Roselle was busy trying to find one of her missing friends. Her name is Tina, and she’s been forced into some really dark and dangerous stuff... stuff that I’m into, but Tina shouldn’t be involved in any of that. Alex is the one in Shadowcroft who’s been making all these moves. He’s repced three of Roselle’s friends without her knowing it, and now he’s kidnapped Michigo and Roselle’s best friend, Sarah.”

  As Jess spoke, Risebelle’s eyes widened with reition. She had heard the name Sarah before. The mention of her name brought back memories of the arcade.

  Jess tinued. “Risebelle, I’m not good at the whole iigation thing, but we o find them. I need you, and not just because you’re a fantastic fighter. I need your sharp mind and your witty ents.”

  Risebelle let out a sigh before looking at her with amusement. “You know, Jess, you’d be pletely lost in an iigation without me. I’ve always been the brains behind our little duo. t me in.”

  Jess nodded, grateful for Risebelle’s unwavering support. “I knew I could t on you.”

  Risebelle folded her arms, “So, what’s the pn then? And what about Harty? He’s the one whht us all together. What’s he been up to?”

  Jess’s face darkened, and she spoke with a solemn tone. “Harty... He’s been missing sihe day of the i. We’ve tried reag out to him, but there’s been no response.”

  Risebelle’s eyes widened. Harty, their detective’s club leader, missing? It almost seemed impossible. Harty was always the oh a pn, always well put together.

  “Harty... missing?” she repeated. “This ’t be happening. He’s always the one who keeps things under trol, who knows exactly what to do.”

  Jess nodded. “I know. It’s like the ground has been pulled out from under us. Without Harty, we’re going to be stumbling in the dark.”

  What could this mean for them? Without Harty’s guidaheir ces of successfully finding Sarah and Michigo, let alone dealing with Shadowcroft, seemed slim.

  “We’ll find him,” Risebelle said firmly. “And we’ll get Sarah and Michigo back. We ’t let Shadowcroft tear us apart. They want us to lose hope, to give up. But we won’t. I’ll fight, even if I have to lead the team myself.”

  Risebelle leaned ba her hospital bed and gnced upwards. “I say that, but it’s starting to sound like we have our hands full with all of this...”

  Suddenly, a Doctor ehe room. The doctor who ehe room had a f presence. He was a middle-aged man with a kind smile and an air of professionalism. His white b coat huly over his attire, and he wore wire-rimmed gsses that gave him a schorly appearance.

  He approached Risebelle’s bed and spoke with a reassuring tone. “Risebelle, your brain activity has been a bit unusual, but everything looks clear now. You seem to be doing just fihough you look a bit weak. Given the improvement, we should be able to discharge you ter today after running several physical examinations.

  Risebelle felt a sense of relief at the doctor’s words, and she nodded appreciatively. “Thank you, Doctor. I’m eager to get back to work and help my friends.”

  The doiled kindly. “It’s always good to see a healthy looking patient. We’ll prepare the discharge paperwork, and you’ll be on your way shortly.”

  Risebelle and Jess walked together after Risebelle was allowed to leave the medical ter. They exged stories about their ret experiences. Risebelle was eager to catch up with her friend and hear about the progress in their mission to find their missing friends. However, something was b her, and it slowly began to show on her face.

  “Jess,” Risebelle began while raising a hand under her , “I just realized something. I didn’t eve a ‘get well soon’ card or anything from my parents while I was in the hospital. you believe that?“Risebelle pouted.

  Jess chuckled, “Aww, it’s a rare sight to see Risey being cute like this.”

  Risebelle rolled her eyes.

  “This is serious, Jess! I mean, who doesn’t send their daughter a ‘get well soon’ message? It’s practically a crime.”

  Jess tried to hold back a ugh. “Well, I ’t rete. I lost my parents and live alone, remember?”

  Jess pced a reassuring hand on Risebelle’s shoulder and gave her a warm smile. “Risebelle, I’m sure your parents were just so relieved that you’re okay, they fot about the card. But hey, you’ve got me, and I’m the best ‘get well soon’ message you’ll ever need.”

  Risebelle grinned, “You’re right, Jess. Who needs a card when they have you?”

  Jess pyfully wi her. “Exactly! And you’re looking eveer now that you’re out of that hospital... like girlfriend material...”

  Risebelle’s cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, and she blinked in surprise. The words she had just said registered. “Wait Jess I... I mean, not that I meant it that way! I just meant you’re a great friend, Jess. Like, really great!”

  Jess chuckled at Risebelle’s flustered rea. “Oh, Risebelle, don’t worry. I know what you meant. You’re blushing like a tomato! Ahaha! But yeah, you’re a great friend too.”

  Risebelle ughed at herself. Jess Joined in.

  Risebelle and Jess finally reached Risebelle’s house. They stood at the front door and Roselle took her time pting something in her mind. She turo Jess with a ed look. “You know, Jess, I just realized... it’s been three days sihe i at your pce. You do have somewhere else to stay by nht? I mean, your pce is kind of a crime se.”

  While saying those words, Risebelle noticed Jess was frozen in pce. “Jess?” Risebelle called out, waving a hand in front of her friend’s face. “Are you okay?”

  Jess shook her head. “Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I, uh, I just got lost in thought for a moment.”

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Lost in thought, huh? About what?”

  Jess hesitated for a moment before answering, “I was just thinking about where I could stay for now....”

  Risebelle arched an eyebrow, her curiosity growing. “So, where have you been staying for these past three days?”

  Jess sighed, looking somewhat exasperated. “I was staying at Roselle’s house, but her mot really mad at me. She thought I was, like, flirting with Roselle, and she was not happy about it.”

  Risebelle chuckled. “Jess, you and your flirting habits, even with Roselle’s mom?”

  Jess pouted. “I ’t help it, Risebelle! Roselle is just so adorable and i. I ’t resist being friendly with her.”

  Risebelle smirked. “Well, try not to get into too much trouble with other people’s parents, Jess.”

  Jess nodded. “Yeah, I’ll try to be on my best behavior. But anyway, I really don’t want to go back to Roselle’s pd get yelled at again.”

  Risebelle chuckled and pced a hand on Jess’s shoulder. “Jess, you crash at my pce for a while. As long as it doesn’t interrupt my studies, she won’t mind. Besides, you didn’t see her e by, did you?

  Jess shook her head. “Not even once.”

  Risebelle snapped her finger.” Exactly. There’s been no sign of a ‘get well’ card or anything. I’m pretty sure she won’t have much say over me right now.”

  Jess hesitated before speaking. “I appreciate it, Risebelle, but I don’t want to impose on you. Your mom might e bad not like me staying there.”

  Risebelle shook her head with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it, Jess. My mom’s absence is a blessing right now. She’s been... distant for a while. I doubt she’ll even notice you’re there. Besides, we’re going to need all the help we get to find our friends and take on Shadowcroft. You staying with me just makes sense in this situation.”

  Jess finally rexed, her gratitude evident. “Thanks, Risebelle. I really appreciate it. Let’s find our friends and make those people pay for what they’ve done.”

  The pair ehe house. Risebelle’s eyes fell upon her mother, who seemed pletely unfazed by her daughter’s absend ret hospitalization. Her mother simply said, “Risebelle, you’re back.”

  Risebelle’s mother didn’t even aowledge Jess, which didn’t go unnoticed by either of them. She tinued, “Your schoolwork has piled up while you were away. I took it upon myself to gather it for you.”

  Risebelle lowered her eyes. “Gee, Thanks a lot...”

  Jess, trying to be polite, said” hello” to Risebelle’s mother, but the woman simply turned back around without a word.

  Risebelle’s eyes followed her mother with frustration bubbling up inside her. She squared her shoulders and took a step forward. “Mom, we o talk.”

  Her mother paused, slowly turning back to face Risebelle with a bnk face. “What is it, Risebelle?”

  “Why have you been ag so weird tely?” Risebelle asked with narrowed eyes,“And why didn’t you e to visit me in the hospital? I was there for three days, and you didn’t even send a ‘get well soon’ card.”

  Her mhed, looking momentarily unfortable. “You know how I feel about distras, Risebelle. Your studies are important, and you have to stay focused. I didn’t want to interrupt your recovery with my presence.”

  “Interrupt my recovery?” Risebelle echoed.”I was lying in a hospital bed, seriously injured, and you think your presence would have been a distra? I could have used some support, Mom. Jess was there the whole time, and she’s only crashing here for a while because she has nowhere else to go.”

  Her maze flickered to Jess, who stood silently by the doorway, then back to Risebelle. “Your friend is wele to stay, but I expect you to keep up with your schoolwork. I won’t tolerate any excuses.”

  Risebelle crossed her arms. “I’ll still get straight A’s, Mom. You don’t have to worry about that, but be respectful to my friend. Jess is helpih something important.”

  Risebelle made her way to her room upstairs, feeling exhausted. She turo Jess and said, “You’ll have to sleep here, Jess. It’s not the most fortable, but it’s better than Roselle’s mom thinking you’re flirting again.”

  When Risebelle entered her room, something immediately caught her attention. Her room which she expected to be in a mess due to her absence was tidy. On her desk was a stack of schoolwork waiting for her. But what drew her focus the most was a letter sitting promily on her puter table, addressed from “Sleuth of Shadows.”