Chapter 23: The Good, The Bad And The Imposter Part 1 (1/2)
A Streamer's chat can be a mixture of many things. Diehard fans begging for attention copying and pasting their comment over and over in the hopes the streamer will respond. The followers who just copy whatever the masses put in the chat in hopes of being apart of the action. The Moderator banning spam and spiteful comments and lastly the troll, the one who hopes to trick the Streamer into slipping up for a good laugh or to get a reaction for their complication channel. These group of people come together to make the average Streamer chat. However, it's the ones that go against this norm that will change everything—a plea for help.
Team Rhapsody had been streaming for little over an hour now. Although they had yet to foil a crime being too caught up in what to do, they had managed to keep their small audience of just over 100 people entertained till then. Readying their next move Zinnia was cooped up on her phone half on the chat the other half on the web as she began looking for their next big hit. ”Yo, Zinnia! We're heading to the bowling alley. Move your ass.” Alton barked hopping side to side down the street, preferably in a much better mood than usual.
Zinnia glossed up, seeing her friends on the move. As she was about to head off with them, she looked down at the chat thrown off by a single comment. Help me. Before Zinnia could even click on the profile of the individual, the statement was automatically deleted by the auto moderator. Lost in confusion, she quickly gave up running after her friends.
****
Gale lined up the bowling ball perfectly. Eyeing down the alley, he closed one eye with his tongue stuck out adjusting his targeting. Everyone else was bored out of their mind forced to watch Gale perform this motion for the past ten minutes. Eventually, he went with the flow, throwing the ball straight ahead. The ball rolled to the side, missing each pin. Gale jumped up, letting a huge celebration. ”Beat that loser.”
”Gale, do you even know how to play bowling?”
”Pfft, what sort of question is that? Umm, of course, I do. You're not meant to hit any pins duh.”
”Jesus Christ…”
Percy's turn was next as he leaned back smirking as a clone of Vanguard appeared readying the ball. Like expected from Percy's hero, he got an easy strike. ”Unlucky man, there's always next time.” Gale mustered up.
Alton grumbled slightly annoyed. ”Using our powers is kinda unfair…” He stood up letting the barriers go up as Alton threw the ball entirely off only hitting three pins. This didn't get much better as he only managed another two pins on his second go. The barriers dropped, and he walked back to his seat in shame. Zinnia chose not to play. She was far too caught up with the comment she read. It was probably nothing she thought, but she couldn't help but wonder if it did mean something. Alton flicked Zinnia's head whinging to himself. ”Is there a reason you're not playing? I hate being in dead last…”
Zinnia looked up frowning. ”Just have something on my mind. Earlier I was reading the chat. Someone called out for help. Before I could look into it more, the comment vanished. It's probably nothing, but it's just bugging me, you know.”
”Probably just spam, a bot trying to troll us. It was removed and for good reasons. Don't let it bother you.”
”But what if someone is calling out for help? They might need us, and we are here just bowling.”
”Oi, Gale mind helping Zinnia grabbing drinks?”
”What? I'm not…”
Gale smirked getting zero pins again as he nodded. ”No problem. I think my crazed skills could use a break. I will only drink fruit pop, though!”
Zinnia walked over to the vending machine as Gale was in the middle of choosing his drink. She looked down at her phone her heart skipping a beat seeing the comment again, this time a link to a video. Before the comment could be deleted furthermore, she snapped open the link as a separate video popped up. The moment she saw the clip sent her blood began to boil. She recognised the streamer without a second doubt, the cluttered and expensive jewellery, heaps of detailed tattoos and the well-groomed and looked after yet scruffy blonde hair. It was no doubt the man who put her and Alton in the circumstances. Monty Montague. She watched the short video in disgust as the Montagues were harassing strangers in public taking money and whatever else they wanted. ”Gale, look at this…”
Gale peered over her shoulder, watching the video also ticked off. ”What a prick… I know my days as a stream sniper is over but this! I want to beat the ever-loving shit out of this guy.”
”That's Monty Montague.”
”For real?! The git who got you and Alton arrested? Didn't he blackmail you into paying him?!”
”That's the one. He's a real monster. Using his fame and the family name, he does whatever he wants to only his greed and self-gain.”
Gale snarled seeing Monty bullying a shop into giving him free stuff. ”We take down corrupt streamers, he ticks every box. Why not take this fucktard down?!”
”I've put the idea forward to Alton. But he turned down the idea. Said it was far too risky with the dirt he has on us.”