Weird Pics

It had been a strange week at J High.

Photos had begun circulating unflattering, edited, or secretly taken shots of Mira, Joy, Zoe, and Mary. At first, everyone thought it was just some immature prank. But the photos kept appearing. Online. In locker rooms. Even printed and slid under classroom doors.

What was worse, each image seemed to have a signature on the back a jagged symbol shaped like a broken fang.

Whispers started.

Rumors of Hostel.

The ones from the Eastern side of the river.

During lunch that Friday, Jace moved quickly. He'd already noticed the pattern. This wasn't random. Someone was targeting the girls around J High and it was escalating.

He gathered Daniel, Vasco, Zack, and Mary in Zack's usual hangout spot: the dim, dusty boxing ring behind the gym. The door creaked when Jalen stepped in last, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the room without a word.

"Glad you came," Jace said. "Just in case things get out of hand."

Jalen nodded once, his expression unreadable.

Mary sat with her arms crossed, clearly annoyed but calm. Zack leaned against the ropes, fuming. Vasco stood stiffly, fists clenched. Daniel was quiet, watching.

"I bought a couple things from someone." Jace said, setting down a small black bag on the floor. "Drinks with these weird symbols."

He pulled out a can of some energy drink unlabeled except for the broken fang mark.

"Thought we could test it. See what these psychos are actually distributing."

Vasco, curious and unbothered, picked up the can.

"Don't," Jace warned, but it was already tilted back.

Vasco drank.

His face twisted mid-gulp. He spat out the liquid, coughing violently.

Zack grabbed the can and sniffed it. He nearly gagged. "Yo… that's… that's piss!"

Everyone in the room stepped back, expressions twisted in horror.

"Who the hell sells this?" Zack shouted, tossing the can across the room.

Mary looked disgusted. Daniel wiped his mouth even though he hadn't even tasted it. Jace's face darkened.

"This is a message," Jace muttered. "It's not about the photos. It's about humiliation. Those punks are testing the waters."

"And they chose the wrong river," Jalen said calmly, stepping forward.

Everyone turned to him.

"You think they're setting up turf?" Daniel asked.

"They're not setting up," Jalen replied. "They already have it. But they just made the mistake of drawing attention."

He looked over at Vasco, who was still trying to rinse his mouth with water. Then to Mary, who was clearly upset but holding herself steady.

"They want attention? I'll give it to them."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Jace said, "So what now?"

"We find out who's leading them on this side of the river," Jalen said. "And then we knock."

Zack cracked his knuckles.

Daniel looked up with a determined expression.

And in the corner, Vasco finally managed to say, "It really was piss…"

They were all ready now.

And someone across the river was going to regret ever crossing it.