Jamie's New Interest

The mysterious X on the secret map had led them to an old storage shed behind the football field. Inside, they'd found a locked metal box with no key. Detective Rivera had taken it away for evidence, but three days later, she called with bad news.

"The box was empty," she told Jamie and Elliot. "Someone got there before us."

Now, a week after the Winter Showcase, Jamie sat in the back of the art room, a camera in his hands. It was his mom's old digital camera, but it worked fine. Ms. Chen had let him join the photography option mid-semester after he begged.

"Just point and shoot for now," she had told him. "Find what speaks to you."

What spoke to Jamie was Elliot. Especially when they didn't know they were being watched.

Like now.

Elliot sat by the window, working on a new picture. The morning light made their hair glow golden. Their face was serious, focused on every brush stroke.

Jamie raised the camera and took the shot.

"Got you," he whispered.

The Winter Dance was tomorrow night. The fear from the snow globe still haunted them. But they had chosen not to hide. Detective Rivera would be there, along with other cops. They would face whatever came.

"That's a good one," Ms. Chen said, appearing behind Jamie and looking at his camera screen. "You have a natural eye."

Jamie smiled. Photography had become his getaway this past week. When he was looking through the camera lens, he could forget about masked stalkers and murder films. He could just focus on catching beautiful moments.

"I've been thinking," Ms. Chen continued. "You and Elliot could collaborate on a project. Your photos and their paintings, side by side."

"That sounds awesome," Jamie said. "I'll ask them."

As Ms. Chen walked away, Jamie took more pictures around the room. Other kids working. The view from the window. Close-ups of paint tools and color palettes.

Then he noticed something strange in one of his shots. In the background, barely visible through the art room door window, was a face watching them.

Principal Garcia.

Jamie zoomed in on the picture. The principal's face was hard, angry. Not the fake smile he usually wore.

When Jamie looked up at the door, Garcia was gone.

After class, Jamie showed Elliot the picture.

"He's definitely watching us," Elliot said. "But why?"

"I don't know," Jamie answered. "But I'm going to find out."

Ms. Chen approached them in the hallway. "Elliot, Jamie, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you about a special project."

They followed her back into the now-empty art room.

"I've been so impressed with both of you," she said. "Elliot, your paintings keep getting better. And Jamie, you've got a real talent with that camera."

She pulled out a flyer from her desk. "The city is hosting an art exhibition called 'Dual Visions' next month. Artists working in pairs, showing how the same subject can be seen in different ways."

"Like my paintings and Jamie's photos?" Elliot asked.

"Exactly!" Ms. Chen smiled. "I'd like to enter you two. The winners get a scholarship prize and their work displayed at the city museum."

Jamie and Elliot traded excited looks.

"We'll do it!" they said together.

"Wonderful!" Ms. Chen clapped her hands. "The theme is 'Hidden Truths.' I'll need your concept by next week."

As they left the art room, Jamie had a thought. "What if our project is about all the weird stuff that's been happening? Not obviously, but like... showing there's something dark under the surface of our school?"

Elliot's eyes widened. "That's brilliant. And maybe working on it will help us figure out who's behind everything."

"Speaking of which," Jamie said, "I want to take some photos around the school. Places where strange things have happened. The field, the bridge, Coach Wilson's office..."

"I'll come with you," Elliot said. "Safety in numbers, remember?"

They started with the abandoned field where they'd first become friends. Jamie took shots from different angles – the spot where Ryan had bullied Elliot, the tree line where the mysterious footprints had led, the place where they'd built their snowman.

"This feels good," Jamie said, reviewing his shots. "Like we're taking control of our story."

They moved to the old bridge next. As Jamie captured the rushing water below, Elliot kept watch.

"Jamie," Elliot said suddenly, their voice tight. "We're being followed."

Jamie dropped his camera and looked around. About fifty yards behind them on the walk was a figure in a dark coat.

"Act normal," Jamie whispered. He raised his camera again, but instead of shooting the bridge, he zoomed in on the figure and took several quick shots.

"Let's go to Coach Wilson's office next," Jamie said loudly, for the follower to hear. "I want to get some shots of his trophies."

They walked quickly back toward the school, the figure maintaining distance but clearly following.

Inside the building, they hurried to Coach Wilson's old office, which had stayed locked since his arrest. Jamie tried the door, but it was still shut with police tape.

"We need to see what's behind that door," Elliot said.

Jamie checked his camera, looking at the pictures he'd taken of their follower. In most, the person's face was hidden by a blanket. But in one, the wind had blown it aside just enough...

"Elliot, look!" Jamie showed them the screen. "It's Ms. Chen!"

"What? Why would she be following us?"

Before they could figure it out, they heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"Hide!" Jamie whispered. They ducked into a close classroom, leaving the door cracked open.

Ms. Chen appeared, looking around. She approached Coach Wilson's office, pulled out a key, and quickly slipped inside.

"She has a key?" Elliot whispered. "How?"

"I don't know, but I'm getting a photo." Jamie raised his camera to the crack in the door and took several shots of Ms. Chen inside the office. She was opening drawers, looking for something.

Suddenly, she looked up, straight at their hidden spot.

"She saw the camera flash!" Jamie gasped.

They backed away from the door as Ms. Chen came out of the room. But instead of coming toward them, she hurried in the opposite direction, talking frantically on her phone.

"We need to tell Rivera," Elliot said.

Jamie nodded, scrolling through the pictures he'd just taken. He stopped at one that showed what Ms. Chen had found – a small black notebook.

"That looks like Coach Wilson's playbook," Jamie said. "The one Principal Garcia had in that photo."

"This is making less and less sense," Elliot said.

They left the classroom and were going for the exit when Jamie's phone buzzed. A text from Ms. Chen:

"Meet me in the art room. I need to explain."

"It's a trap," Elliot said.

"Probably," Jamie agreed. "But what if she's being forced to do this? What if she's not the real bad guy?"

They chose to go together, carefully approaching the art room. The door was closed, the lights off.

"I don't like this," Elliot whispered.

Jamie raised his camera and took a picture through the door window, using the flash to light up the dark room.

When he checked the picture, his blood ran cold.

Ms. Chen was in there, tied to a chair, a gag in her mouth. And written on the whiteboard behind her in what looked like red paint:

"SMILE FOR THE CAMERA, JAMIE. YOUR NEXT PHOTO WILL BE YOUR LAST."

As they stared in fear, both their phones buzzed with the same message:

"Art project deadline moved up. 'Hidden Truths' reveal party at the Winter Dance tomorrow. Bring the camera and the real map, or your favorite teacher dies. Don't tell Rivera or anyone else. Remember, I'm always watching."

The message included a photo – Jamie and Elliot hiding in the classroom just minutes ago, taken by someone standing right behind them.

Someone they hadn't seen.