Unable to contain her shock, Roselle let out a scream that could have woken the neighbors, and she leaped out of the chair, landing several feet away in a panic. She stammered, "W-what...how did I end up in your lap?"

  Jess laughed playfully. "Well, I saw you deep into this and I wanted to see you were up to, but I guess I got a little carried away. You're so cute when you're flustered, Roselle."

  Roselle stood there, flustered and blushing, still trying to catch her breath. "Jess, you can't just sneak up on me like that! It's not... it's not…not nice."

  Jess chuckled. "I didn't mean to startle you that much. But hey, I like seeing that blush on your face."

  Roselle, still catching her breath, managed to compose herself. "Jess, you can’t just sneak up on me like that. It’s... not right."

  Jess's face shifted to one of concern. She could see that Roselle was being genuine, and nodded, giving her full attention.

  "Jess," Roselle began, "did you see all the chatroom messages?"

  Jess shook her head. "Nope, I only saw the one with that CipherMystery08 person. I didn't get into the chatroom this morning."

  Roselle let out a small sigh of relief. "Okay, let me explain what's going on…” She quickly recapped the events of the day: the mysterious phone call about Michigo, the strange behavior in the chatroom, and the revelation that someone was using Michigo’s account to manipulate them. Roselle also mentioned the doppelganger theory and her planned meeting with CipherMystery08 at the arcade.

  "This sounds serious," Jess said, crossing her arms. "You really think this CipherMystery08 person is going to help you?"

  Roselle hesitated for a moment. "I don't know, but it feels like the only lead we have right now. And if there’s any chance that it can help Michigo, I have to take it."

  Jess gently grabbed Roselle's head and rubbed the top of it affectionately. “You know, Roselle, we're going to figure this thing out, and Michigo will be safe."

  Roselle took a deep breath and said, "Jess, you know what will happen if this plan doesn't work. If the CipherMystery08 person isn’t who they claim to be… I’ll have to follow through with what they said. That means you would have to leave."

  Jess scrunched up her face. Then she shook her head gingerly. "If you want me to leave, Roselle, all you have to say. I'll respect your decision."

  Roselle’s eyes met Jess’s with sadness. “No, Jess. I don’t want that, and if CipherMystery08 is trustworthy, we might not even need to go that far.”

  Jess’s pulled Roselle into a genuine hug. “You’re taking on so much, Roselle. It reminds me of Risebelle. Like…the only thing is… you’re a lot less serious than she is. You’re cute and lovable.”

  Roselle smiled. “Thanks, Jess.”

  While the two were still in embrace, the door to Roselle's room burst open, and her mother, Mrs. Magenta, stormed in with a face full of anger.

  "I heard screaming!" she exclaimed. "What is going on in here?"

  Roselle, wide-eyed and flustered, tried to explain, "M-mom, this is not what you think..."

  But Mrs. Magenta was having none of it. She dashed up to Jess and pointed a finger at her. "You! This was the last straw! I've had enough of your shenanigans!"

  Roselle attempted to intervene, pleading, "Mom, please, it's not what you think. Jess was just--"

  Mrs. Magenta interrupted her. She turned to her daughter and declared, "Roselle, this girl has brought nothing but chaos into our home, and it's time she goes! I won't have it anymore!"

  Jess, with a resigned sigh, stepped towards the door. She turned to Roselle with a hint of a mischievous smile and said, "Well, Roselle, it seems I've overstayed my welcome. Hey, there are still lots of places left for me to go and explore. There’s a lot of ‘fun’ to be had between me and you Roselle… I’ll see you again really soon."

  Roselle's face turned a shade of red that even Mrs. Magenta couldn't help but notice.

  Mrs. Magenta gave Jess a stern look, "Just go already, Jess. It's time for you to leave."

  Jess stepped out of the room. She went downstairs to the front door. Jess gave one last “Goodbye” which the duo barely heard.

  Once the front door had closed, and Jess was gone, Mrs. Magenta turned to Roselle and, with a softer tone, asked, "Are you okay, Roselle?"

  Roselle’s face was still flushed from anger. “Mom, I didn’t need to kick Jess out anymore! I had a plan. Jess was just comforting me. You...you didn’t have to do this!”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Mrs. Magenta’s eyes widened in surprise. “I heard the scream and panicked. I thought maybe it was a good opportunity to have her leave before things got worse. I—I’ve never done anything like this before.”

  Roselle’s anger softened upon hearing her mother’s words. “Mom, I understand you were worried, but it was a mistake. Jess was just here to support me through something serious.”

  Mrs. Magenta’s eyes welled up with tears. “I’ve never done anything like this before, Roselle. I just…I wanted to protect you, but now... I feel awful….”

  Roselle frowned. “Mom, she’s not a close friend, but even so… she didn’t deserve this.”

  Mrs. Magenta wiped her tears away and put on a serious look. “I’m going to find Jess and bring her back. She shouldn’t be out there alone because of my mistake.”

  Mrs. Magenta’s face hardened with concern. “That sounds dangerous, Roselle. You need to be careful. Make sure to bring something for protection. You don’t know what you might be walking into.”

  She quickly grabbed a few items from the kitchen and handed them to Roselle: bug spray, pepper spray, and a bottle of bleach. “Here, take these. They might not be much, but they could help you stay safe if things get out of hand.”

  Roselle accepted the items, nodding appreciatively. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll be careful.”

  Mrs. Magenta placed a comforting hand on Roselle’s shoulder. “I’ll still go after Jess. I need to make this right, no matter what. I have every hope that things will turn out alright.”

  The outside world was shrouded in cloudy skies. They caused a gray gray hue to take over the city. Roselle and her mother began to search the nearby streets and alleys, hoping to find any sign of Jess. However, the city was vast, and Jess had left in a hurry, leaving no trail to follow.

  Roselle imagined Jess in some hidden alley, perhaps feeling lost or distressed. Her concern grew. She started calling out Jess's name and hoping to catch a glimpse of her familiar face in the cityscape.

  Roselle and her mother had scoured the city streets and alleys to no avail. There was no sign of Jess anywhere. After checking her watch, Roselle could see it was almost noon.

  Mrs. Magenta put a hand on Roselle's shoulder and said, "Roselle, we've been searching for hours, but there's no sign of Jess. I think it's time to head back home. You need to have lunch and get ready for whatever you have planned at 4 pm."

  Roselle she nodded and said, "You're right, Mom. I should get back. Maybe Jess will find her way or reach out to us. I'll make some lunch, and then I need to prepare for what's coming later."

  Mrs. Magenta patted her daughter's back.

  At 2 PM, Roselle and Mrs. Magenta arrived at “La Pizzaz,” a cozy restaurant with the distinct aroma of freshly baked pizza. The chefs greeted them warmly. They found a table by the window, and soon enough, their pizzas arrived. The waiter set down Roselle’s plate with a flourish, presenting a steaming jalape?o pizza. Roselle's face briefly starry eyed. She picked up a slice and began to eat it.

  Mrs. Magenta eyed the pizza with curiosity. “Jalape?o pizza, huh? I don’t know how you can handle that. Isn’t it too peppery for you?”

  After several bites, Roselle maintained her composure and smiled bravely, but the fiery heat was evident in her reddening cheeks and slightly teary eyes. “It’s not too peppery at all!”

  Mrs. Magenta chuckled. She dug into her own pizza—a simple cheese variety with no toppings. “I don’t know how you can handle all those spices. Sometimes plain is just the way to go.”

  Roselle grinned, taking another bite. “I like the kick, but I can see that you prefer the simplicity, Mom.”

  Mrs. Magenta smiled warmly. “Sometimes, you need a little excitement, and sometimes, you just need to enjoy the basics.”

  Time: 3 PM

  Roselle began to prepare for her meeting with CipherMystery08 at the old, abandoned arcade. She wanted to ensure she was ready. She entered her room and went through her routine, selecting her outfit for the day. Today, she opted for something comfortable yet suitable for the mysterious encounter.

  Roselle chose a pair of dark jeans and a light, long-sleeved blouse. She checked herself in the mirror, adjusting her hair and making sure she looked pretty.

  Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she packed a small bag with her essentials: her phone, a flashlight, a notepad, and a pen. She knew she might need to take notes or make quick sketches, and she wanted to be prepared. Finally, she put on her sneakers.

  Roselle stood by the doorway, ready to leave for her meeting with CipherMystery08. Her mother approached her and placed a hand on Roselle's shoulder. She spoke with a gentle tone, "Roselle, I know you have to go, and I trust that you'll be careful. But please, remember that your safety is my priority. If things start to look dangerous or if you sense any trouble, don't hesitate to leave and call for help. We'll find another way to help Michigo."

  Roselle nodded, her own concern for her mother evident in her eyes. "I promise, Mom. I'll be cautious and do my best to handle this situation. But you have to promise me something too."

  Mrs. Magenta raised an eyebrow, curious about her daughter's request.

  Roselle continued, "Promise me that you’ll still try to find Jess. I don't want to leave her out there alone. I know she's caused some problems, but she deserves a chance."

  Mrs. Magenta gave an understanding smile. "You really care about her, don't you?"

  Roselle nodded. "I do, Mom."

  Mrs. Magenta sighed, but she nodded in agreement. "Alright, I promise, Roselle. I'll do my best to find Jess. “

  Mrs. Magenta stepped back. ”Alright, let’s do a quick check to make sure you have everything." She raised an eyebrow. “Do you have your wooden stick?”

  Roselle reached into her bag and pulled out the sturdy wooden stick she kept for emergencies. “Got it,” she said, giving it a shake.

  Mrs. Magenta nodded and moved on. “What about the bug spray?”

  Roselle patted her bag, indicating the small canister of bug spray. “Here.”

  “Pepper spray?”

  Roselle pulled out the canister, holding it up for inspection. “Check.”

  “And the bleach?”

  Roselle retrieved the bottle of bleach from her bag. “All set.”

  Mrs. Magenta looked satisfied with the check. “Good. I just want to make sure you’re prepared. Remember, if anything feels off, don’t hesitate to use these for your protection.”

  Roselle nodded, tucking everything back into her bag. “I understand, Mom. I’ll be careful.”

  Mrs. Magenta gave her a supportive smile. “I know you will. Now go on, and take care of yourself.”

  With that, Roselle left her home.

  Roselle walked past the lively Silver Star arcade. A few blocks away, she found herself in front of the old, abandoned building. It stood as a relic from a different time, a place long forgotten by most.

  The building was an old arcade which was a shadow of its former self. The once-vibrant sign now flickered weakly. Boards covered the windows, and the entrance had no door. The building seemed to sag under years of neglect.

  Roselle entered the abandoned arcade when she heard the sound of someone calling out to her. The sound of that person’s tone, the way they called her name, and even the pitch they used. There was no mistaking this for anyone else. “No way…it’s…you?”

  The person responded. "Impressive, Roselle. You're five minutes early."