Pop

Maxine Portman’s day had been quite possibly the most boring in her entire life up until that point.

Just the day before, she’d lost it all gambling Moon Tokens, going all in on a bet with some weird new carny from Venge City. She was an ace at the game he offered- all games, really. It’s all she did and all she’d really ever done ever since she found out that when you went to bed at night the sun always rose the next day so that you had to do the same damn boring process of eating and going to school all over again. When it came to competitive recreation, she’d been a prodigy her whole life.

Yet somehow he beat her.

The guy had to have been cheating, but the staff wouldn’t even talk to Maxine like usual. Whatever he was paying them, it probably wasn’t anything to scoff at. 

Left empty, forced to give up her primary source of enjoyment, she considered everything. Maybe she’d just go rob people until she made her earnings back or go smash that carny’s rigged game and take back all his stolen chips. All that stopped her was the opportunity of overhearing a family of four discuss their park activities for the day.

“Well, the first key was easy to get to once we figured out the clue.” The little girl said. “There’s probably a way to climb up the watchtower and get to the crow head if we try.”

Her brother was staring at a pair of old, grainy images- one a boy on a slide, and the same boy in a swinging bench,

“Yeah, here’s hoping those girls don’t beat us to it. Mom, why can’t we run?”

“It’s against park rules, kiddo.” The matriarch claimed. “Not to mention etiquette. Those girls will be apprehended, I’m sure of it. Then they won’t be able to reach that rainy place at all, much less the treasure.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to get that treasure!” Her husband cooed in response, clasping his hands as he walked onward. “200 tokens, all for the four of us! Just think how jealous we can make everyone.”

It didn’t matter the number. Hearing about a game of hidden treasure was all it took to push Maxine so far off the edge of normalcy that she would’ve killed to participate in that game.

“Uh… Can I help you?”

In front of the mother, she looked at Maxine like a stray animal, and not a cute one. She hadn’t considered how much trouble she was in.

Phshhhh

The bright red bubble expanded from her mouth like a great big rude clown nose growing out of her face.

“Excuse me-“

Pop!

The staff wouldn’t have time to stop those two running girls. Every competent member nearby headed to the screams as fast as they could. Trying to stop the public from witnessing the sight, they made a circle around Maxine and the crying, shrieking, frenzied family as they tried to ascertain the cause of the unnatural outburst.

“What’s going on?”

“…”

“Oh. It’s just Portman’s girl. Leave her be.”

“Want me to…”

“Yeah, compensate the family. They’ll be alright, they just don’t realize it yet.”

The guards parted for Maxine as she passed, returning to chewing her store-bought gum.

“Don’t pull that again, young lady. Your daddy wouldn’t like it.”

“Mm.”

Maxine spun the mossy key around her finger, making her way to the rain clouds.