Chapter 10: The glass eye

Jaxson stepped back toward me, his boots scuffing the concrete floor. He leaned in, his face inches from the wooden frame, his entire body went rigid. He didn't say a word, but I saw the muscles in his neck tighten like iron cables. He reached up, his large fingers trembling slightly with a mix of fear and fury, and ripped the small device off the wood with a jagged crack.

It was a wireless spy camera, no bigger than a coat button, but it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

"Is it... is it recording?" I asked. I felt a cold sweat break out across my forehead, the damp hair sticking to my skin. My mind flashed back to the closet—the way our chests had been pressed together, the way he had looked at my mouth. If that camera saw that, my life was over.

Jaxson turned the device over in his palm. A small blue light on the back flickered once, a mocking little pulse, then went dark.

"It’s a live feed," Jaxson said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, flat tone. He looked at the door, then back at the dark hallway we had just walked through. "Whoever has the receiver for this just watched us. They saw us hiding. They saw... everything we just did."

The silence in the basement suddenly felt heavy, like the walls were leaning in. Every shadow in the corner of the arts building seemed to move. I felt like there were a thousand eyes on us, peering through the cracks in the ceiling, watching from behind the stacks of old canvases.

"We need to get out of here. Now," Jaxson said. He grabbed my hand—not a gentle touch this time, but a firm, protective grip that sent a jolt of electricity up my arm. He led me quickly toward the side exit, his pace so fast I almost had to run to keep up.

We burst out into the cool evening air. The sun had finally dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky a dark, bruised purple. Jaxson didn't stop or slow down until we reached his car, a sleek black SUV parked in the deepest shadows of the student lot.

He unlocked it and practically shoved me into the passenger seat before climbing in and slamming his door. He locked us inside, the thunk of the deadbolts sounding like a finality.

"Give me that note," he commanded, holding out his hand. His palm was still sweaty from holding the camera.

I reached into my pocket with shaking fingers and handed him the crumpled yellow paper.

Jaxson stared at the handwriting, his eyes narrowed as if he could set the paper on fire. "The camera was in the door frame, Maya. It was hidden at eye level. It wasn't a coincidence. The note was bait."

"Bait?" I asked, my heart still racing like a trapped bird. "You mean Miller didn't drop it?"

"I don't know," Jaxson said, rubbing his face with his hands. He looked exhausted. "Maybe he did. Maybe he’s being used too. But think about it. If we followed him there, and we saw him go in, the first thing we’d do is stand right in front of that door to see where he went. We stood right in front of that lens. They wanted to see us together. They wanted to see us that close when reading it.

"And they saw us in the closet," I whispered. I looked out the window. I could see the reflection of my own scared face in the glass, framed by the dark trees of the school grounds. "They saw how close we were. They saw how long we stayed in there."

Jaxson didn't say anything for a long time. He gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white, the leather creaking under his strength.

"They’re trying to build a story," he finally said. "The thief and the king.They don't just want a photo of us in the gym. They want proof of a romance. They want to make it look like I’m throwing my career away for a girl from the flats who steals jewelry. It’s the perfect scandal for the scouts."

"I didn't steal that charm, Jaxson," I said, my voice rising with a desperate edge. "You have to believe me. If the Principal thinks I’m a thief and a distraction for the star athlete..."

"I know you didn't," he snapped, finally looking at me. His eyes were intense, searching mine with a look I couldn't quite name. "I know. But the shadow doesn't care about the truth. They care about the fire. They want to burn my career and your scholarship to the ground."

He started the engine. The car roared to life, a low, powerful growl that vibrated through the floorboards.

"I’m taking you home," he said. "We’re done for tonight. No more detective work. It’s getting too dangerous. I can't have you caught in the crossfire of whatever game they are playing with me."

He drove fast, the streetlights blurring into long streaks of yellow light against the black sky. We didn't talk for the rest of the ride, but I kept on thinking about how close we were in the closet.

"Maya," he called.

I turned back. The dashboard lights cast a soft blue glow over his face, making him look young.

"If the shadow texts you anything screenshot it and send it to me. I have a guy who can trace digital footprints. We’re going to find out who bought that camera."

"Okay," I said, my hand on the cold plastic of the door.

"And Maya? I'm not letting them take your scholarship. I promise. If it comes to it... I'll take the fall."

I got out of the car, the cool air hitting my face. I watched him drive away, his red taillights disappearing into the night. I walked the rest of the way home, keeping my head down, my ears ringing with his promise. I’ll take the fall.

I slipped into my house. The TV was flickering, and I could hear the hum of the old refrigerator. I hoped Leo was already in bed, but he was standing in the kitchen, a glass of water in his hand. He looked at my messy hair and the mud on my sneakers.

"Late study session?" he asked. His voice was deep and suspicious.

"Yeah," I said, avoidng his eyes. "Biology is a lot of work this week."

I hurried to my room and locked the door. I sat on my bed, my heart still thudding. I pulled my phone out and saw a notification. It was an email. My stomach dropped.

FROM: Principal Miller

SUBJECT: Urgent: Scholarship Review

I felt sick. My hands were shaking so hard I almost dropped the phone. They did it, I thought. The Shadow sent the photo. It’s over.

I clicked the email, my eyes blurring with tears.

Dear Maya, Please come to my office on Monday morning before first period. I would like to personally congratulate you on your mid-term grades. Your performance is the highest in your year, and we want to discuss your early application for the Excellence Award.

I let out a breath so loud it sounded like a sob. I fell back onto my pillows, staring at the ceiling. It was just an email about grades. A boring, normal school email.