"So how're are things going, Robert?" the voice on the phone asks while I lounge more comfortably against the wall.

"Fine, mom." I answer back, adjusting my grip on the handset. I get sweaty palms very easily, makes my phone disgustingly sticky after awhile.

"Its always fine this, fine that." my mother complains over the line, "You never tell me anything specific."

"What's there to say? The city is how it has always been." I grunt back, "You don't expect me to start making stuff up now, right?"

"I suppose that's true." Mom sighs, "Just be careful and don't leave the apartment when its late."

"Uh, why?" I ask while checking my watch. Class is already over and my detention is scheduled to start soon. I'm just getting some family time in before more enforced interaction with pretty boy.

"Haven't you forgotten?" Mom reprimands, "There's that bandit running about. Robbing, shooting people."

"Oh yeah, that guy." I affirm, "The media's calling him Skull Grin now, because of that weird scarf he wears over his mouth. Gives him that leering skeleton man look."

"I don't care what people call him," Mom shoots back, "I don't want you taking any chances while someone like that is on the loose."

"He strikes at random, mom." I explain what I heard from the press reports, "One day he's doing a carjacking and driving against traffic. A month later he's robbing stores in the mall. There's no pattern."

"Does he attack people who stay in their homes?" my mother begins to grill me.

"Uh, no?" I shake my head at the unreasonable argument she's making. But I'm smart enough to keep my objections to myself.

"Precisely, so stay at home." the voice on the line insists.

"OK. OK." I give in easily, not wanting to get into an argument.

"Your dad and I are due a vacation in a month's time." Mom changes the subject, "So we'll be seeing each other soon."

"Great. That's really great." I mean it too.

"What're you having for dinner today?" Mom quizzes as I see Paul and Sara leave the classroom with their schoolbags.

"I'll just buy a burger or something." I shrug as both my friends wave at me.

"Eating out isn't healthy, Robert." my mother begins lecturing me again.

"I don't have the time to cook this evening. I've got detention." I explain before immediately regretting it.

"Detention?" my mother nearly yelps at this piece of news. An awkward silence settles between us.

"I knew taking this job in the rift was a mistake," Mom starts whining as if one of our relatives died, "You need guidance, Robert. And the moment we left the city, you've been spiraling in the wrong direction."

"Everything is under control mom." I groan while facepalming, "Will you just relax?"

"You have detention, Robert!" Mom barks out.

"Stop acting its like the end of the world. My grades are still fine." I bite my lip in consternation.

"Fine, I'm almost out of call credits for today." Mom says after a slight pause, "But when your father and I get back home, we're going to have a talk."

"Sure. No problem." I make an embarrassed face as Sara and Paul begin listening in on my conversation.

"Love you, Robert." my mother says right before she hangs up.

"Love you too." I reply and tap the disconnect icon on my phone.

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"Your parents are still in that rift?" Sara pipes up, "Isn't that dangerous for them?"

"Not really. This rift seems stable enough." I respond while cracking my neck, "As stable as any tear in the fabric of reality can be anyway."

"Never thought that your parents were adventurers." Paul rumbles.

"They're not. This rift has been ninety percent pacified. My parents were hired as part of an extraction team to dig out rare materials." I grimace despite myself, "Its still dangerous work, but for different reasons."

No one knows how rifts are formed. One fine day, gaping holes in thin air started opening up all over the world. The first few explorers who took the plunge reported alien landscapes populated by savage beasts. Some of the explorer teams even had the bad luck of the rift closing behind them, trapping them inside forever. Eventually the science people managed to discover a way to calculate a rift's lifespan. Its not foolproof, but the margin of error was acceptable.

Especially when almost every rift represented a treasure trove of resources, all for the taking once the monsters inside were dealt with. So paid mercenaries and adventurers conquer the rift and right behind them the workers move in to hoover everything of value up.

"I heard industrial accidents in rifts are the leading cause of workplace deaths." Paul nods slowly, "Something about the camps having no proper medical facilities."

"Paul!" Sara nudges the giant, probably noticing the ugly expression on my face.

"Sorry." Paul apologizes sincerely, "I just find rifts interesting."

"I don't see how?" I fold my arms critically, "All the stories I've heard from my parents make the rifts sound unpleasant to live in."

Paul's gaze becomes cloudy and distant, "Its a life of independence, Robbie. At the end of the day, an adventurer only answers to himself. If he doesn't like the job, he can just pack up and make a living hunting mutants. Not everyone has that luxury."

"Sounds dangerous. Living in a place like that." Sara delicately points out.

"If you had luxury, you wouldn't be in a rift." I add. There's a reason why my parents were driven to take rift work in the first place. And it wasn't for the charming environment.

"That's why I'm working to get stronger." Paul's face becomes grim, "I know it'll be a challenge. That's why I'm learning how to fight and use magic."

"That sounds strangely romantic." Sara muses.

"Guess women like steadfast men." I hint at Paul, but he's got his mind on something else right now.

"Robbie, I need your help with something." Paul says after taking a deep breath, "Could you accompany me for a bit before heading home?"

"Will there be trouble?" I grow concerned about how Paul is acting. He's not the type to be so hesitant usually.

"Yes, I think there will be trouble." Paul looks downcast, "But not the type of trouble that can be solved with our fists. I just need some emotional support."

"I would love to back you up, boss," I scratch my chin, "But I've got detention today. Could your meeting be rescheduled?"

"No. It needs to be done today." Paul's lips are a thin line, "I've put the matter off long enough. And if I delay again, I don't think I would be able to go through with it."

"Sounds serious." I mutter.

"I'll go with you!" Sara chimes in, tugging at Paul's sleeve.

"I don't know ..." Paul shakes his head, worry clouding his brow.

"This meeting of yours, its not physically dangerous right?" Sara tilts her head.

"No, but a girl shouldn't be -" Paul tries to come up with an excuse but Sara's having none of it.

"Then let me help you." Sara looks Paul right in the eye, "That's what friends are for. To help each other."

"I suppose..." Paul's voice wavers but he's still unsure.

"Unless you don't see me as a friend?" Sara's expression clouds over for a moment briefly, afraid of Paul's answer.

"No! You're a friend, Sara. I mean it. A good friend." Paul snaps to attention, desperately trying to reassure Sara.

"Just accept her offer, boss." I pat Paul on the shoulder, "She's going to be joining you whether you like it or not."

"I suppose." Paul deflates in defeat while Sara pumps her tiny fist in victory, "Good luck with your detention, Robbie. We'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'm not going to be going anywhere." I raise an eyebrow, "I'm more worried about you, from how that conversation went."

"I'm staying right here. At Rutger's." Paul suddenly clenches his fist with surprising ferocity, "And we'll be friends and graduate together. All three of us."

"No need to make a big deal about it." I quirk my mouth at how exaggerated Paul is acting. Of course we'll graduate together, we go to the same school.

"We'll be there for you always, Paul." Sara cheers brightly with a smile.

"Thank you. Both of you." Paul nearly bows at Sara and I, "Let's go, Sara."

"Bye Robbie!" Sara says as she departs with the boss man on whatever quest that's been bugging him so much.

Well, that whole event was strange. While my curiosity has been roused, I'll have to wait for tomorrow to get the low down from either Sara or Paul. Right now I've got problems of my own to deal with.

"Good. You're here."

I suppress the urge to click my tongue at the cold voice coming from behind me.

"I'm not going to skip out of detention." I turn around and point out to Carl.

"I never expected you to." Carl answers with perfect indifference, "You don't strike me as the type to wander outside of your box."

Carl looks as immaculate as ever, no small feat given that he's currently carrying a pair of mops and a large bucket filled with cleaning supplies. I can hardly believe it, but pretty boy actually makes floor detergent look sexy.

"Are we going to get started now?" I swallow a tight wad of irritation back down my throat.

"I spoke to the janitor just now." Carl gently places the bucket on the floor, "He has vacuumed the classrooms yesterday."

"Oh, joy." I droll back, the prospect of spending time with Carl still managing to annoy me.

"So take up your weapon warrior." Carl's face spreads into a humorless smile.

"And gird yourself for battle."