[COLD OPEN – 1986 / VHS FOOTAGE / MIDTOWN HIGH]
Grainy camcorder footage plays:
A group of students in old-school uniforms laughing outside Midtown's front steps. The camera pans slightly…
A boy with dark curly hair sits silently on the bench.
Beside him? A girl—Abigail Thorne.
She leans into the boy, whispering:
"They're watching me again."
The boy replies:
"Just don't go near the science wing tonight."
The footage sputters, distorts—
And then:
A flicker of a black mask, behind the trees.
[Darkness]
Watchtower High Volume 1 Chapter 6: Faculty Ties
———-——-——
[MORNING / SCHOOL HALLS - HAYDEN & AMBER]
Hayden and Amber walk fast through the halls. Hayden clutches the mysterious note that was in his room from the last chapter.
"Do you have any ideas why someone would give that to you?" Amber asked.
"I don't know, but what I do know is that its not random." Hayden says.
Amber takes the paper from Hayden and stares at it.
"You know you could've just asked…" Hayden says woefully.
"Five names. Two of them worked here in the 80's. One transferred in the '90s. Hawthorne came in 2005." Amber said.
"You seriously learned all of that and memorized it? well whatever. So what this means is either they're connected to the original murders—or they covered them up." Hayden says.
"And if they did… that means knew about abigail. And they never said a word." Amber says with a odd face.
"One thing I don't understand is, they were all kids. Teenagers, like us. So how in the world did they cover it up? Unless.. maybe they did something with her body..?" Hayden says with a horrified expression.
Amber's face gets smoother after he says that. "But they wouldn't.. right..?"
They pass Principal Hawthorne in the hall. He nods, tight-lipped. Eyes cold.
After Hayden and Amber got away, they have w sugh if relief. "What are the chances he's right there when we're talking about him..?" Hayden questioned.
"Yeah, that was pretty.. odd." Amber replies.
[TEACHER'S LOUNGE / DETECTIVE CROSS & KENSLEY]
Cross walks into the teacher's lounge. She holding a stack of papers in her hands, Cross turns her head around, indicating that she might be looking for someone.
She sees Ms. Kensley and walks towards her desk. Cross throws down the stack of files she was holding in her hand.
"You know, that was kind of rude. Especially since i'm working here." Kensley says.
"Listen, I don't have a lot of time so lets hurry up and get over this." Cross says.
"What do you mean?" Kensley asks.
"Each death had something in common—The Victims were found near surveillance blind spots. It's kind of odd how they just knew where to strike, it's almost impossible to get the son of b*tch on camera." Cross says.
"So, what you're saying is that the killer knew the school layout. He knew where to not be seen, and by that logic you can determine that.." Kensleyis cut off by Cross
"This can't be a student, it has to be someone who has been familiar with the camera locations for years. Someone who works here, or worked." Cross says finishing Kensley's sentence.
Kensley says nothing. Her eyes flicker.
Cross watches her and narrows her eyes.
"You were here in '86, right?" Cross asks.
"I was a senior." Kensley says.
"I was reading some of the old articles. Those articles were hard to find, so I had someone look into the school archives. There was a girl named Abigail Thorne. Witnesses say, you were her best friend. Were you?" Cross says.
Kensley's heart skips a beat.
"She didn't die in the fire. That's what the papers said. But I know she didn't" Kensley said.
"That wasn't even the question I asked you, and I was going to get to that in just a second but before I do. What do you mean you know she didn't die in the fire? Is there something you didn't tell the police?" Cross questioned.
"No. I worded it wrong, and yes. She was my best friend. But I know deep down that she didn't die in the fire.. even years later, I still refuse to believe that she died, not until I see a body. One they never found." Kensley said while a small tear leaves her eyes.
Cross puts her right hand on the table and her left hand on her hip. "She has been missing for 38 years. You have to accept the fact she's gone, unless.. you know something, something you're not telling me, and something you never told the police."
Kensley's hands start trembling. "No.. i'm seriously telling you everything. I truly believe she didn't die in the fire."
"Well if she didn't die in the fire, then where is she?" Cross asked.
"She.. disappeared." Kensley said.
Crosslooks a little glum. "Listen, just come into my office later toady for questioning. We aren't done here."
Cross picks up the stack of files, and turns around then walks toward the entrance of the teacher's lounge.
Cross whispers to herself. "She knows something."
Meanwhile, we go back to Kensley. Under her desk, we can see her hands visibly shaking. She grabs onto her wrist to try and stop it, but even that doesn't work.
She turns back to her computer screen and begins going back to what she was doing before Cross came to her desk.
[LIBRARY BASEMENT / AMBER, CHELSEA & TY]
"Ok, it seems like we're all here." Amber says.
"I cannot believe I actually let Hayden talk me into doing something so stupid.." Ty says.
"Sorry, Hayden told me you could help?" Amber asks.
"Yeah lets just hurry up and get this over with. I have homework." Ty says.
"Hey, i'm Chelsea by the way, nice to meet you!" Chelsea says.
"You're the one who is always at that table sitting with Amber and Carmen. Nice to meet you too." Ty says whilst shaking her hand.
Amber's leading the group through a restricted access door she unlocked with a stolen faculty key.
"Hey, are you sure this is a good idea..? We are going to get expelled for this, maybe we shoukd turn back. Also how did you even get your hands on that key?" Chelsea asks.
"I have a trusty and resourceful friend named Naomi, and theres no turnung back now we're already here." Amber says while unlocking the door.
But before she opens it, she pulls her phone out, and goes to the phone app calling someone.
"Do you know who's shes calling?" Ty asks.
"No idea." Chelsea Replies.
"Listen, I held up our end of the deal, now deactivate the cameras from the security room." Amber says to whoever is on the phone.
We see who is behind the line, it's Noami Briggs, sitting next to Ethan Zhou. "Yeah, I already did a while ago, you guys do know there are many secret cameras throughout this entire facility? Also if it weren't for our deal, I wouldn't have risked my my security status."
"Thank you, I owe you a ton." Amber replies.
"Ethan here will be watching the cameras to make sure nobody walks in on you guys while you do whatever it is y'all are doing." Noami says.
Amber hangs up and puts the phone back into her pocket.
"I'm going to say this one more time. We're going to get expelled for this." Chelsea says.
"You won't, we're ok down here, and if you get expelled, you'll get expelled alive." Amber says while open the door.
Ty holds up a flashlight. They reach and old storage room: covered in cobwebs, dust, and torn files.
Hey lets split up, i'll look over here. You two find somewhere else to look.
Ty goes towards the left of the room, he sees a drawer and opens it. Inside are old student records. One name in peculiar is recognizable, "Amber Smith."
Ty rubs his eyes, to make sure he is seeing this correctly. "Hey, uhm. Guys, I think I found something."
"Lets all look at the things we find after we're done here." Amber says.
"No uh, I think you're really going to want to see this like right now." Ty says.
Amber stops what she's doing and walks over to Ty, Chelsea does the same thing.
Ty shows her the old student record, the same one with her name on it. After squinting her eyes, Amber grabs it out of his hands.
Amber REALLY looks at it. "But, that shouldn't even be possible.. I transferred this year…"
"Then what in the world is going on..?" Ty says, visibly shaking.
There's a note stabled to the folder:
"Daughter of subject 06. Keep her close."
Chelsea looks even more confused than Amber is. "Amber, what the hell does that mean!?"
Amber is speechless, she can't even answer the question. "I-I don't.. know.." She says.
Amber stares at the folder—Silent.
[HAYDEN'S DORM - NIGHT]
Hayden stares at a wall he's covered in photos, pins, and newspaper clippings. His own mini investigation board.
He seems to be lost, he wrote down every possible thing he knows, from the very first killings to the recently discovered Abigail Throne girl.
Hayden then hears a knock on his dorm door. He quickly turns his head, skeptical he opens it, and there we see Carmen Rojas. "Oh hey, I was expecting you. Come on in." he said
"You said you had something on the girls that were killed? Amber told me you guys were workung together.." Carmen says crossing her hands and with a not so happy face.
"Yeah, Amber told me you would be coming here. Question, why are you interested in this now?" Hayden Asks.
Carmen's eyes widen as we see a flashback of the man in the black mask standing outside the dormitory.. watching her and seeing her through the window."I guess you can say I just.. had a change of heart."
Hayden narrows his eyes, but doesn't go further into it. "Alright well come over here, I developed some clues as to what you wanted to see."
Carmen sees his investigation board and opens her mouth a little bit, shocked by what she's seeing. "You really got the whole story down don't you..?"
He pulls up a picture of her locker. The number: 22.
"Look." Hayden says.
"What exactly am I supposed to be lookung at? it's just my locker." Carmens questions.
"Right, I assumed I had to explain it. Every girl who died… even the ones back in the 80's their locker numbers added up to 4." Hayden says.
Carmen still looks confused, like shes trying to understand what he's saying but she just can't get her mind on the right track.
"2 + 2. 2 + 1 + 1. 3 + 1. Do you see the pattern?" Hayden said.
"Ok so, what you're saying is my locker is cursed?" Carmen asks.
"I'm saying the killer is playing with numbers. Patterns. Obsession.."
"So by what you're saying is, The Killer, he gets obsessed with his victims before he kills them..?" Carmen asks.
"It's purely speculative, but the evidence is there." Hayden says.
"But I don't understand.. why 4?" Carmen asks
"It took me hours to dig up but I found something. In some cultures, particularly in East Asia, The Number 4 is associated with death, particularly in languages like, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese."
Hayden flips over a piece of paper—
"4 is the number of death in some cultures. The 'Tetraphobia' thing."
Carmen starts shaking. "So.. if 4 is stacked up to your locker than theres a good chance it means.."
"That you're next to die." Hayden says finishing Carmen's sentence.
"So that means i'm next.." Carmen whispers to herself putting her head down.
"And again, this is all just theories of mine."
Carmen lifts her head up. "I'm sorry. I have to go." Carmens says while walking towards Hayden's door.
"Alright well, good meet. I hope we see each other again soon." Hayden says.
Carmen opens his door and stand outside his dormitory. She holds on to her head and falls to the ground "God.. God.. God… This cannot be real..!" She shouts while running away, and looking back. Seemingly paranoid.
[FACULTY PARKING LOT / NIGHT – PRINCIPAL HAWTHORNE]
Hawthorne gets into his car. He adjusts the mirror—and finds a photo tucked into the dash.
It's of him, from 2006, standing beside a burned wall.
A message is scribbled across the top:
"The fire didn't kill her.
You did."
He peels it back—there's another photo underneath.
It's him…
standing next to a young Amber.
He doesn't even react. All he does is narrow his eyes, crumbles up the photo and starts his car.
[OUTSIDE DORMS / HAYDEN, AMBER, & TY]
Now night time, Hayden, Amber & Ty are seemingly out past curfew.
Amber is sitting on a stair step, holding her head with both her hands. "A Subject?! What the hell does that even mean!?"
"Maybe that's why they're targeting you. Or trying to scare you off." Ty says.
"Either way, someone's watching us. Moving through the school like they own it." Hayden says.
Ty lets out a big sigh and sits down on the floor. "This is all crazy man. So what do you suggest we do?"
Hayden turns toward Ty and puts his hands in his pants pockets. "We? I didn't know you were apart of the team now." Hayden says while chuckling.
"You dragged me into this, so now i'm in. Let's just make sure we stay alive." Ty replies.
"We watch them back." Amber says.
Ty and Hayden both look at Amber confused. "What?" They both said in sync.
"Security cameras. DIY. We set 'em up around the dorms tonight." Amber said.
"Paranoid much?" Ty asks.
"First of all, there are two flaws in that plan. If the staff find out about that we're 100% getting expelled, and two. Where in the world are we going to get the money to buy cameras!?" Hayden says.
"We don't have to spend a single penny, Naomi is apart of the school's security field, i'm sure they have some mini cameras in some storage area." Amber says.
"Naomi? as in Naomi Briggs? she helps the school with its security in the tech lab doesn't she." Hayden asks.
"Yeah, you know her?" Amber replies.
"No, not directly." Hayden says.
"Alright well, lets do this. We can't waste anymore time." Ty says standing up.
"Amber, how fast do you think Naomi can get us thise cameras?" Hayden asks
"As soon as possible, she still owes me. But she wont anymore after this." Amber says.
"Tyrell, run down to the Tech Lab. Me and Amber will find where we should place all the cameras." Hayden says.
"Dude, its about to be 2 o'clock, we're already out past curfew. Maybe we should try during the day." Ty says.
"You yourself said that we shouldn't waste anymore time." Hayden says.
"You know what I meant." Ty says.
"Oh for gods sake just run to the lab already." Hayden says.
[DORM HALLWAY / 3AM – CAMERA FEED]
All of Hayden, Ty, & Amber's phones are next to each other, each phone has a different camera location on it within the dormitory.
All three of them are sitting on chairs until Ty stands up. "All right, come on we've been looking at the camera feed for an hour now and found nothing. Maybe we should just go to sleep."
"I hate to say it, but Ty's right. We haven't found anything in an hour. We can review the feed in the morning." Hayden says.
Amber just looks at the camera footage with a blank face. "Yeah, you guys are right. We should just look at it in the late morning. I'll go back to my dorm."
30 Minutes After Amber went to her dormitory.
Hayden, & Ty are fast asleep. We switch to Amber and Carmens dorm, they're also asleep.
Then, we switch to the footage of the cameras. The DIY camera catches something.
A figure in the black mask. Walking calmly. Slowly. Down the corridor.
They're in the boys dormitory, they pass by Hayden & Ty's dorm room. Now gone. A few minutes later, they're now in the girls dormitory. Walking for a few minutes, they pass by Chelsea's dorm room. Now, they stop at Amber and Carmen's.
But don't enter.
Instead, they slip a folded note under the door and vanish.
[AMBER'S ROOM / MINUTES LATER]
On the night stand next to Amber and Carmen's dorm, a notification on Amber's phone pops up, and then an alert.
Amber wakes up to the quiet buzz of the camera alert.
No ones there.
So she goes to the door to make sure its locked, and at the bottom of the door is the same note that was slipped under her door by the person in the black mask.
She grabs the note.
"You should've never come back."
"She's still alive."
"Ask Kensley who burned the girl."
Amber replays the feed, only to see the guy in the black mask at his door.
[TEACHER'S LOUNGE / EARLY MORNING]
Kensley sits alone at the window, drinking coffee.
She walks back over to her desk, snd sees something strange, an old yearbook on her desk. Labeled, "Class of 86."
She opens it, and stops at a photo of her, Abigail, and a younger Mr. Hawthorne.
The Caption: "Three of a kind – Senior Memories"
Her hand trembles. "I didn't light the fire… by I watched it burn.." Kensley says as she drops her mug of coffee.
Hayden(Voiceover):
"The ones we trust? They've already made their choice. They protected their secrets. Not us.
The Watcher's not chasing the past anymore.
They're dragging it straight into the present."
[END OF CHAPTER 6]