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That summer break between junior and senior year! That blessed time between school years when teens can let loose and enjoy the last vestiges of their childhood. Staying out late into the hot summer evenings, taking road trips out of town, or simply lounging around the house, there's nothing quite like it. The Bad Kids were no exception, and the very first thing they did the weekend school was out was take a trip out to Bastion City to visit the Boardwalk and beach where they could unwind after killing yet another faculty member and celebrate Kristen's presidency.
Riz was beat, the already-blazing June sun made him concerned for the rest of the summer, and he was wilting in the heat. So while the girls stood in line for the wooden rollercoaster and Fabian challenged Gorgug to the hoop game, Riz peeled off from the group in search of an ice-cold slushie and some shade. He made his purchase and as he wandered the arcade area searching for Gorgug and Fabian, he felt a prick against his back and hot breath in his ear. It smelled of cat food.
“Hey kiddo, long time no see, huh?” purred Kalina. “Ah-ah, I wouldn't turn around unless you think you'll fare well with only one functioning lung. I'll have this knife in your back faster than you can draw that pretty little gun of yours- Oh! Is the ever-vigilant Riz Gukgak unarmed? Tsk, tsk, I guess they don’t let firearms in here, do they? Or swords.” She leaned casually on Riz, placing her free arm over his shoulders so it looked like they were two friends having a casual conversation.
“What do you want, Kalina?” he growled through gritted teeth.
“What, I can’t check up on my favorite little guy?”
Riz began to hiss at that, but the prick dug just a fraction deeper and he bit it back.
“Good boy. …No, I just thought I’d come and see how you’re faring. Looks like you’re all just having a nice, care-free day, huh? That’s good. When you take a break it gives us a chance to catch a much-needed breather as well, you know.”
“Are you trying to goad me into spiraling over where you and Buddy have gone and what you’re planning to do? Make me spin my wheels and waste my energy on some wild goose chase? Because I won’t let that happen and I won’t let you spoil my fun. I’m a teenager! I deserve… this, not saving the world time and time again!” he said under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear.
“Aw, kiddo, that’s not the Riz Gukgak I know! You’re letting your so-called friends convince you that solving the mystery doesn't matter! I’m disappointed in you. Nothing like your old man who would go at the truth like a terrier after a rat, or some young upstart private eye I once knew who would dig and dig for the truth until his hands literally bled. So disappointed.” Riz could practically hear her roll her eyes.
“I’m not going to get wound up. I’ve switched to tea, you know. You’ll have to do better than that, Kalina.”
At that point a muscly half-orc sauntered up to them, wearing a crop-top and booty shorts. “Hey, kid, is that lady bothering you?” she asked.
Riz ignored the ‘kid’ comment as the knife pressed harder into his back and he could feel it cut the flesh. He forced a smile on his face and waved the lady away. “No… we’re cool. We… we have a history, that's all.”
The half-orc looked over Riz warily, but he continued to smile at her so she shrugged and walked back towards her own group of friends. The condensation of Riz’s slushie dribbled over his hand and dropped to the hot ground where it evaporated almost instantly.
“Uh-oh, looks like I’m making someone waste his little treat for being a hero,” Kalina teased. “I’d better let you get back to it. But before I go, I just want to tell you that Bakarath…” She leaned in close again and Riz could feel her whiskers brush against his ear and he had to suppress the urge to shudder in revulsion. “...Has more followers than Ankarna and Cassandra combined. Chew on that.”
“What!?” Despite his instincts telling him not to, Riz spun around, but the press of the knife was gone and so was Kalina.