Adventures with Friends Fanmade (HALLOWEEN! 44-48)

Chapter 8: The New Guy

It was another sunny day in Oakside, and the friends were gathered at their usual spot in the park, working on their latest comic. As they brainstormed ideas, a boy about their age approached them. He had dark hair, a confident smile, and a mysterious air about him.

"Hi there," he said, waving. "I'm Oliver. I just moved to town and heard you guys make some pretty awesome comics."

James looked up, curious. "Hey, Oliver. Yeah, we do. I'm James, and this is Cristena, Jack, and Riland."

Oliver's eyes flickered to Riland, and he smiled charmingly. "Nice to meet you all. Mind if I join you?"

Riland, always friendly, shrugged. "Sure, why not? The more, the merrier."

Over the next few days, Oliver quickly integrated himself into their group. He had great ideas for their comics and was a skilled artist. The friends were impressed and welcomed his contributions. However, Riland began to feel sidelined. Oliver seemed to overshadow him in every way.

One afternoon, as they were working on a particularly tricky plot twist, Oliver suggested an idea that everyone loved.

"That's brilliant!" Cristena said, excitedly sketching out his concept.

James nodded. "Yeah, Oliver, you're a natural."

Riland, feeling increasingly left out, stood up. "I'm gonna head home. See you guys later."

As Riland walked away, Oliver watched him with a calculating look in his eyes. He turned back to the others, masking his expression with a smile. "We'll catch up with him later."

That evening, as the friends wrapped up their work, Oliver suggested they visit an old, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. "I heard it's a great spot for inspiration. We could find some cool settings for our next comic."

Intrigued by the idea, James, Cristena, and Jack agreed. They met at the warehouse after dark, but as soon as they entered, the doors slammed shut behind them.

"What's going on?" Cristena asked, alarmed.

Oliver's smile turned sinister. "You fell right into my trap. I've been planning this since I got here. I need your talents, but I don't need you."

Before they could react, Oliver pressed a button on a remote, and mechanical arms sprang from the walls, capturing them in metal grips.

"You won't get away with this!" James shouted, struggling against the restraints.

"Oh, but I will," Oliver sneered. "Once I have your ideas, I'll be unstoppable."

Meanwhile, Riland, feeling uneasy about Oliver, had decided to follow them. He arrived at the warehouse just in time to see the doors slam shut. Hearing his friends' shouts, he knew something was wrong.

Riland circled the building, looking for a way in. He found a small window and managed to squeeze through. Inside, he saw Oliver's sinister setup and his friends trapped.

"Hang on, guys!" Riland whispered, sneaking up behind Oliver.

Riland grabbed a piece of metal pipe lying on the floor and swung it at Oliver's remote, smashing it to pieces. The mechanical arms released their grip, and his friends broke free.

"Riland!" Cristena exclaimed. "You saved us!"

Oliver, furious, lunged at Riland, but James and Jack quickly tackled him, pinning him to the ground.

"Nice try, Oliver," James said. "But you messed with the wrong group."

The friends tied Oliver up and called the police. As they waited, they turned to Riland.

"Thanks, Riland," Jack said. "We never should have let Oliver push you out like that."

Cristena nodded. "We're sorry, Riland. You're a part of this team, and we won't forget that again."

Riland smiled, relieved. "It's okay, guys. I'm just glad I got here in time."

The police arrived and took Oliver away, revealing that he was wanted for various crimes in other towns. The friends felt a sense of relief as they walked home, stronger and more united than ever.

"We've learned a lot from this," James said. "Trust is everything, and we should never let anyone come between us."

As they continued their walk, they knew their bond was unbreakable. No matter who tried to disrupt their group, they would always have each other's backs, ready to face any challenge together.