WHO AM I

NIGHT WATCH

The days passed slowly as we continued to work on our mural, but the threat of vandalism loomed over us like a dark cloud. Each time I walked into the art room, I felt a mix of excitement and dread. I was determined not to let fear overshadow our creativity, but it was hard to shake the feeling that we were being watched.

One afternoon, as we were wrapping up for the day, I turned to Eli, who was still staring at the mural with that same intense expression. "We can't just wait for something to happen," I said. "We need a plan to protect our work."

"I agree," he replied, finally breaking his silence. "How about we have a night watch? We can take turns staying here to keep an eye on things."

"That's actually a great idea," I said, feeling a surge of hope. "If we can catch whoever is planning to vandalize our mural, we might be able to stop them."

The others were on board, and soon we set a schedule for our night watch. We each took a night, armed with flashlights and snacks, ready to defend our masterpiece.

The first night, it was just me and Noah. As the sun set and the shadows grew longer, we settled into the art room, surrounded by paint cans and brushes.

"This is kind of cozy," Noah said, plopping down on a beanbag chair. "Just us and the mural. What could go wrong?"

"Famous last words," I replied, chuckling nervously. "I just hope we don't turn into those horror movie characters who hear a noise and go investigate."

"Relax, Lila," he said, pulling out a bag of chips. "We've got snacks. We'll be fine."

As the night wore on, we shared stories and jokes to lighten the mood. But every creak of the floorboards made my heart race, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone.

At around midnight, I decided to step outside for some fresh air. The moon hung high, casting eerie shadows across the school grounds. Just as I was about to head back inside, I spotted movement near the mural.

"Uh, Noah?" I whispered, my heart pounding. "I think I see something."

He jumped up, wide-eyed. "What? Where?"

"There!" I pointed toward the dark figure lurking near the mural. "It's someone!"

Without thinking, we dashed back inside, grabbing our flashlights. "What if it's them?" Noah said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Only one way to find out," I replied, adrenaline pumping through me.

We crept toward the mural, the beam of my flashlight cutting through the darkness. As we got closer, the figure turned, and I froze. It was none other than Phillip, looking more startled than guilty.

"Whoa! You scared me!" he exclaimed, holding up his hands defensively. "I thought you were... you know, the bad guys!"

"Phillip! What are you doing here?" I asked, feeling a mix of relief and confusion.

"I wanted to check on the mural, but I didn't want to disturb you guys," he said, his eyes darting nervously. "I thought I saw someone creeping around earlier. I was trying to be sneaky!"

"So it was you we saw," Noah said, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "We thought you were the vandal!"

"Right? That's what I thought!" Phillip laughed, though his eyes were wide with fear. "But seriously, I'm glad it was just you guys. I don't want to be out here alone at night!"

"Join the club," I said, shaking my head. "This night watch is getting crazier by the minute."

Just as we were about to head back inside, a loud crash echoed through the hallway. We exchanged worried glances.

"What was that?" Noah asked, his voice trembling.

"I don't know, but we should check it out," I said, my heart racing again.

We moved cautiously toward the noise, our flashlights illuminating the dark hallway. As we turned the corner, we found Jasper, sprawled on the floor, surrounded by art supplies.

"Jasper! What are you doing?" I exclaimed, stifling a laugh.

"I was just... trying to sneak in and surprise you guys!" he said, grinning sheepishly. "But it looks like I surprised myself instead."

"Good job, stealth ninja," Phillip teased, helping him up. "You definitely need some practice."

As we helped Jasper collect the scattered supplies, I couldn't shake the feeling that the night was just beginning. Was there something—or someone—still lurking in the shadows?

With our laughter echoing in the hall, I felt a mix of anxiety and camaraderie. Whatever challenges lay ahead, we were in this together. But in the back of my mind, I knew the real danger was still out there, waiting.