The Night Tournaments

16 - Flynn

"Attention, students of Seaside Heights," Ethan spoke into the school's loudspeakers as I scowled into empty space. "This is Ethan Whitlock, president of the Student Council, and I am announcing that the Junior Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council are calling all 9th and 10th graders to our office to go through an urgent examination process. I repeat, all 9th and 10th graders, please report to the Student Council office. This is an official order from the Academic Council."

Bree had informed the rest of the JDC and the Student Council that Thea's stalker had, indeed, struck again yesterday night, just like we had anticipated. But, of course, there had been a twist: instead of falling for our brilliant trap, he had left an ominous note inside her locker, and now, there was a good chance that he could actually turn out to be one of us. As a result, I was in quite the foul mood at the moment. Why wasn't anything going our way these days? Robert Canterlot and the Balenciaga Twins seemed like nothing compared to this cunning stalker.

A few minutes after Ethan's announcement, a couple of students began to file into the Student Council meeting hall and office room. Bree, Scythe, Nadya, Ethan, Anna, Kimberly, Rori, Arielle, Archer, Claude, and I were all scattered throughout the space, each of us holding a special UV light that would allow us to detect any signs of contact with the UV powder that had been sprinkled in Thea's locker. Most people were grumbling that we were wasting their lunchtime, but if I was being completely honest, I did not care. The stalker was among them, and we weren't just about to let him get away with everything that he had done.

"Everyone, please hold out both of your hands while we shine these lights on them!" Bree called as lines began to form in front of each of the JDC and Student Council members stationed around the area. "Thank you for your cooperation!"

Obviously, checking everyone's hands with a UV light proved to be a painstaking process, but with every person that proved to be innocent, my heart sank just a tiny bit more.

What if we never find out who the stalker is? I found myself thinking. Just because we saved a summer camp from doom doesn't mean that we're going to be able to do the same for Seaside Heights.

Just then, I looked up and saw Bree narrowing her eyes at a tall, athletic guy with jet-black hair and blue eyes when he stepped up in the line. He had a smug expression on his face, and that was when I realized that he was probably Ryder Williams - Thea's supposed 'older boyfriend'.

What's he so confident about? I thought, squinting at the vice-captain of the football team. It's almost like he knows that he won't be found guilty - in fact, he seems rather amused by this whole situation. What a buffoon.

I closed my eyes in defeat when I aimed the UV light on the hands of the last person in my lineup and observed that he wasn't the culprit, either. I exhaled, dejectedly returned the light to Ethan's massive desk, and glanced around. All of the other members were still finishing up their examinations, and from what I could see, none of them were having much luck, either. Was it just me, or was everything a false lead with this case?

A few minutes later, the last couple of 9th and 10th graders shuffled out of the Student Council office, and my friends and fellow members joined me by Ethan's desk, shaking their heads.

"It's just as I suspected: the stalker knew about our trap in advance and made sure not to get any UV powder on his hands," Bree said, hanging her head. "Checking the security camera footage won't help, either; we already tried that last time, and it's obvious that the culprit would have been just as careful about hiding his identity when he struck yesterday, if not more."