The hallway had never felt so quiet.
Naomi stared at the photograph in the evidence bag while her mind struggled to process what the principal had just said.
She's next.
The words echoed inside her head like a warning.
"Where did you find that?" she asked slowly.
"In the records room," the principal replied. "The same place someone broke into earlier this morning."
Naomi felt everyone in the hallway watching her.
Whispers started immediately.
"Is she in trouble again?"
"Why does someone have a picture of her?"
"This is getting weird..."
Naomi clenched her hands.
"I didn't do anything," she said firmly.
"We're not accusing you," the principal replied. "But this situation is becoming concerning."
He turned to one of the security officers.
"Escort Miss Nelson to the office. I want to review the security footage."
Naomi's heart sank.
Again.
As she started walking down the hallway with the officer, Ethan stepped forward.
"I'm coming too."
The principal shook his head.
"That's not necessary."
Ethan's voice stayed calm.
"It might be."
For a moment the principal studied him.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
Inside the office, Naomi sat across the desk while the principal replayed footage from several hallway cameras.
The screen showed students moving through the corridors that morning.
Then the video paused.
"There," the principal said.
The image zoomed in.
Naomi saw herself standing at her locker earlier that morning.
Then the camera continued playing.
Someone walked past behind her.
A student wearing a dark hoodie.
The same figure Naomi had noticed the day before.
Naomi leaned forward.
"That person again."
"You've seen them before?" the principal asked.
"Yes. Yesterday during the fire alarm."
The security officer frowned.
"That's strange. We didn't identify anyone matching that description during the evacuation."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"They're avoiding cameras."
Naomi looked at him.
"You think the same person is following me?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
But his silence said enough.
After the meeting ended, Naomi walked out of the office feeling overwhelmed.
She leaned against the hallway wall.
"This is crazy."
Ethan stood beside her.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"You're being watched. Someone broke into the school records room. Someone left a threatening photo."
He looked at her seriously.
"That's not normal."
Naomi rubbed her forehead.
"Why me?"
Ethan didn't answer.
And that worried her even more.
That afternoon, Naomi sat in the library trying to focus on homework.
But she couldn't concentrate.
Every time someone walked past, she glanced up.
Every sound made her tense.
Finally she closed her notebook.
"This is impossible."
Across the table, Ethan watched her quietly.
"You're scared."
Naomi sighed.
"Wouldn't you be?"
"Yes."
"So what do we do?"
Ethan leaned forward slightly.
"We find out who's doing this."
Naomi blinked.
"That's your plan?"
"Yes."
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is."
Naomi studied his face.
"But you're still going to do it."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
For a moment Naomi hesitated.
Then she said something surprising.
"Then I'm helping."
Ethan frowned.
"No."
"Yes."
"This person might be dangerous."
Naomi crossed her arms.
"They're already targeting me."
Ethan couldn't argue with that.
Finally he sighed.
"Fine."
Naomi felt a small spark of determination.
"Where do we start?"
Ethan glanced toward the library computer desks.
"With the security logs."
