The trio began to think separately. Each of them tried to come up with ideas on how to escape their predicament. Risebelle considered the layout of the hidden arcade, Jess thought about the interactions she had witnessed, and Harty tried to analyze their current situation.

After some time had passed, Harty turned to Risebelle and asked, "Risebelle, I've been wondering... why you shout out like that when you heard the name 'Rosebelle'? It's almost like you knew her or something."

Risebelle hesitated for a moment, contemplating how to respond. She decided to be honest with Harty. "I uh... I heard a similar name before..."

Harty's curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned in closer. "Roselle? You mean like 'Roselle,'?"

"Roselle," Risebelle repeated softly. "Yes, it's similar to 'Roselle.

"That explains it. I actually met someone named Roselle the other day. She and Sarah agreed to be part of our investigation team."

Risebelle looked confused. "Roselle is a student at our school? Why would she even be involved in something like this?"

Harty held his head down. "Yeah, about that… it's complicated. Roselle has been going through a tough time. She claims she's been seeing a doppelganger who's been ruining her life. Last week, there was a fight between Roselle and Sarah, her best friend, which left Sarah in the hospital. The strange thing is, both Roselle and Sarah insist that Roselle would never do something like that to her. But because of this incident, Roselle was expelled last week, and her friends have been treating her poorly ever since her return this week."

Risebelle's mind processed this information, and a sense of unease settled over her. "A doppelganger... It sounds like Rosebelle might be connected to what's been happening with Roselle."

Jess, who had been listening intently, chimed in,"So, if I'm understanding this correctly, Rosebelle, or someone like her, has been impersonating Roselle and causing all these problems?"

Harty nodded while bringing one hand up to his face. "That's the working theory. I’m shocked to find Sarah had a hand in this though… It looks like she’s no longer going to be a part of the investigation team."

Risebelle's took in this new information, and a sense of urgency began to take hold. If Rosebelle was impersonating Roselle and causing harm to her and others, they needed to uncover the truth and put an end to these manipulations.

"Jess, Harty, we need to find a way out of here and then confront Rosebelle and her companions. We can't let this deception continue, especially if it's affecting innocent people like Roselle and Sarah."

Jess nodded in agreement. "You're right, Risebelle. Let's focus on finding our way out first, and then we'll deal with Rosebelle."

Harty added, "I'll keep an eye out for any hidden passages or clues that might lead us to an exit. We can't afford to stay trapped here."

The trio resumed their search for an escape route, but to no avail. They could not find much in the darkness. After what felt like hours, Harty, Risebelle, and Jess exchanged weary glances.

Harty let out a sigh and then kicked the side of a machine. "I can't believe this!”

Risebelle continued to look around but her eyes didn’t see anything different. "It's as if the passage we used to enter this area has vanished. This is highly unusual."

Jess crossed her arms and frowned.

Harty's words echoed through the hidden arcade as he leaned against the spot where the passage should have been. His frustration showed as he spoke, "How could they set this up so fast? It's like they knew we'd be following them and planned this escape route in advance."

Risebelle nodded in agreement, her mind analyzing the situation. "It's possible that Rosebelle and her companions have been using this hidden arcade as a base of operations for some time. They might have had multiple escape routes prepared."

Jess decided to take a bold approach, leaning in closer to Harty and playfully rubbing her hands on his arm. She flashed him a flirtatious smile and teased,

"Harty, darling, why you don’t show off those impressive muscles of yours and knock down this wall? I'm sure you've got the strength for it."

Harty's cheeks turned several shades of pink as he stammered, "W-Well, I mean, I'm not sure if that would work, and, uh..."

Risebelle, who had been observing the exchange with lowered eyes intervened. She "Jess, this is not the time for this. We need to stay focused on finding a practical solution to our current predicament."

Jess pouted but said, "Fine, fine, you're such a buzzkill, Risebelle."

Harty cleared his throat and attempted to regain his composure. "Let's think logically. There must be a reason the exit seems to have disappeared.”

Risebelle turned her attention to the area where they had entered the hidden arcade. She searched for any clues or anomalies that might be able to help them.

Stolen novel; please report.

After a moment of careful observation, Risebelle noticed something unusual. She pointed towards the wall where the entrance had been and said, "Look closely, everyone. There's something peculiar about that wall."

Harty and Jess followed Risebelle's gaze, squinting to see what she was referring to. It took them a moment, but then Harty noticed it.

"There's a small little seam in the wall, like it's a hidden door or panel of some sort."

"You think that's how we got trapped in here? Maybe it's some kind of mechanism that conceals the passage."

Risebelle nodded. "Exactly. I think if we can find a way to trigger it, we might be able to reopen the exit."

Harty's analytical mind kicked into gear. "We should search for any buttons, switches, or triggers that could activate this hidden door. It could be well-concealed, so we need to be thorough."

The trio began to investigate the area around the hidden entrance, carefully examining the walls and any potential mechanisms that might reveal the exit.

As Harty and Risebelle searched the area, their eyes met, and an unspoken understanding passed between them. They both had the same idea, and without a word, they began to move towards a row of old arcade machines.

Jess, sensing their non-verbal exchange asked, "What's going on, you two? Why the secret looks?"

Without uttering a word, Harty and Risebelle simultaneously moved towards a nearby row of arcade machines. They knelt down and began examining the area behind and underneath the machines, searching for any hidden triggers or switches that might reveal the exit.

"Found it!"Harty shouted. His shout echoed off the walls breaking the tension that had hung in the air. His discovery had led them to a particular arcade machine, and he wasted no time in explaining their next step.

Gathering around the chosen machine, Harty directed their attention to the floor beneath it. He pointed to a small, inconspicuous switch hidden underneath the machine, almost blending into the worn-out carpeting of the arcade.

"It's here," Harty declared, "The switch to open the exit is right under this machine. We just need to activate it, and we should be able to leave this place."

Risebelle and Jess leaned in to get a closer look, their eyes fixed on the hidden switch.

"But none of us are small enough to squeeze under that machine. How are we going to activate the switch, “Jess questioned.

Harty furrowed his brow. The switch was in a tight space no doubt, and their current sizes made it impossible for any of them to reach it. He muttered,

"She's right. Risebelle, got any ideas?"

Risebelle held a grin which was both mischievous and hopeful as she considered the problem at hand. She instinctively reached for her bag, a place where she often stored handy things for various situations; however, her face became fearful and her worries turned to panic. Her bag was nowhere to be found.

An empty feeling washed over her. She went to a corner of the area and sat in the fetal position. “Emptiness just filled my soul."

Jess raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Risebelle, what are you talking about? Do you have something that can help us or not?"

Risebelle sighed and explained, "I did have something that might have helped, but it seems my bag is missing. I must have lost it during all the commotion earlier."

Harty's shoulders slumped, and he glanced around the arcade. "This just keeps getting better and better. Without something to reach that switch, we're stuck here."

Jess, however, refused to give in to despair. She looked around and noticed a nearby broom that had been carelessly left leaning against the wall.

"What about that broom over there? It might be long enough to reach the switch," Jess suggested, her optimism shining through.

With the broom in hand, Harty carefully maneuvered it to reach the hidden switch beneath the arcade machine. It took a few awkward attempts, but he managed to tap the switch just right. As he did, a low rumbling sound filled the air, and the passage they had been searching for revealed itself.

The trio exchanged relieved glances as the hidden passage became visible. Harty set the broom aside, and they wasted no time in making their way towards the exit.

"Thank god for the slacking janitor and his forgotten broom. Let's get out of here!"

When they exited the hidden arcade and stepped back into the main area, they couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had surrounded them in that secluded space.

Harty, Risebelle, and Jess stepped back into the main area of the arcade. The once lively arcade had become deserted and looked run down without any guests. There was not a single person in sight. But why?

"Guys, you won't believe this," he stammered, "its midnight! We've been stuck in that hidden part of the arcade for hours. The door is probably locked..."

The realization of how much time had passed left them all feeling disoriented. They had spent a significant portion of the night exploring the mysteries of the hidden arcade; however, with a stroke of luck, the trio discovered that the door leading outside of the arcade had been left open. The security and manager's negligence had inadvertently provided them with an easy exit.

Jess smiled. "Thank god for the slacking security ANNND the manager. Looks like luck is on our side tonight!"

Risebelle let out a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. "Finally, we can get out of here. I was starting to think we'd be stuck forever."

Jess turned to Risebelle, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "And after all that excitement, I think we deserve a little treat. How about we grab some ice cream? Maybe we can share a sundae, just the two of us... and then maybe we could head over to my place for a movie night? I've got that cozy blanket you love and—"

Risebelle lowered her eyes, the smile fading. "Did you forget my parents are about to flip? My Mother's gonna kill me..."

Jess chuckled, undeterred. "Oh, come on, just sneak out after they calm down. You know you want to. I'll even make us some popcorn, the buttery kind. And then we can wear those matching pajamas you secretly love. And then... maybe..."

Risebelle sighed and then karate chopped Jessed in the forehead. "Behave."

Harty, who had been watching the exchange with a bemused expression, finally spoke up. "Are you two always like this?"

Risebelle lowered her eyes and folded her arms. "She's just on her -funny- pills today."

Jess pouted dramatically, then wrapped one arm around Harty's shoulders, pulling him closer. "Harty, can you believe how mean Risebelle is being? All I wanted was a fun night together, but now she's just crushing all my dreams."

Harty laughed awkwardly, clearly caught off guard by Jess's antics. "Uh, I guess?"

Risebelle smirked, shaking her head. "Nice try, Jess. You know that won't work on me. You can pout and whine all you want, but I’m not budging."

Jess deeply sighed, but gave Harty a conspiratorial wink. "Well, it was worth a shot. Harty, how about you? Up for some ice cream and a movie night? You can be my new best friend if Risebelle wants to be a party pooper."

Harty chuckled nervously. "As tempting as that sounds, Jess, I've also got to get home. My little sister's probably waiting up, and she'll definitely chew me out for staying out this late."

Jess's face fell. "Aw, reaaaally? Bummer."

The group made their way out of the arcade with thoughts of the mysterious events they had witnessed.