Blue Ticks

Six: Locker Room Shadows

The guilt hit me harder than the cold wind as I biked toward the hockey arena the next morning. The sabotage note from ShadowPlayer was folded neatly in my bag, written on plain white paper this time no blue stationery for threats. I’d kept it simple and menacing, just like the client wanted.

Message: “Back off the captain spot or the scouts find out about your dad’s gambling debt. This isn’t a warning.”

My stomach churned every time I thought about it. This wasn’t delivering a crush note or a jealous confession. This was real damage. But $80 was $80, and Mom’s prescription refill was due in three days. Blue Ticks had never felt this dirty before.

I slipped into the arena through the side entrance I’d discovered weeks ago while photographing early practices. The locker room area was quiet this early most of the team wouldn’t arrive for another thirty minutes. Perfect timing.

I moved like a shadow down the hallway, heart pounding in my ears. The boys’ locker room door was propped open slightly for ventilation. I listened for any movement, then slipped inside.

The smell of sweat, ice, and cheap body spray hit me immediately. Rows of lockers, hockey gear hanging everywhere, the faint echo of dripping showers in the back. Kai’s locker was easy to find number 17, with his name taped above it and a small captain’s “C” sticker.

I opened it quickly, placed the note on top of his practice jersey, and closed it again. My hands were shaking.

Just deliver and leave. Don’t think about it.

I was turning to go when voices echoed from the hallway. Footsteps. Multiple people.

Panic surged through me. I darted behind a row of lockers and crouched low, the camera bag pressed against my chest like a shield. If I got caught in here, everything would be over.

The door swung open wider. Kai walked in first, followed by Tyler Brooks and two other teammates. They were laughing about something from yesterday’s practice.

“Man, Coach is riding us hard this week,” Tyler said, dropping his bag on the bench. “Scouts are coming to the next three games.”

Kai grunted in response. I could see his sneakers from my hiding spot. He stopped right in front of his locker.

My breath caught.

He opened it. There was a long silence.

“What the hell?” Kai’s voice was low and dangerous.

Tyler walked over. “Another note?”

“Yeah. But this one’s different.” Kai read it out loud. The words sounded even worse in his voice. “Gambling debt… scouts…”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

Tyler cursed. “That’s messed up. Who the hell would dig that deep?”

“I don’t know,” Kai said quietly. I heard the note being crumpled. “But someone’s targeting me. First the love notes, now this. It’s personal.”

I pressed myself tighter against the cold metal, barely daring to breathe. If they decide to search the locker room…

One of the other guys laughed nervously. “Maybe it’s Sienna. She’s been obsessed with you since last season.”

Kai didn’t laugh. “This feels bigger than Sienna.”

They started changing and getting ready for practice. I stayed frozen, knees aching from crouching. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Finally, they grabbed their gear and headed out toward the ice, still talking in low voices.

I waited another full minute after the door closed before I dared to move. My legs were numb as I slipped out of the locker room and practically ran down the hallway toward the exit.

I made it outside and leaned against the brick wall, sucking in cold air. That was way too close. Blue Ticks was supposed to be safe and invisible. But nothing felt safe anymore.

School that day felt like walking through fog. I avoided the cafeteria at lunch and ate in the darkroom instead, developing yesterday’s practice photos. Kai’s face kept appearing in the trays intense, focused, and powerful. I stared at one print longer than I should have.

Maya found me there after school.

“You look like you didn’t sleep,” she said, hopping up on the counter. “Late-night yearbook emergency again?”

“Something like that.” I forced a smile. “Just tired.”

She studied me for a second too long. “You know you can tell me if something’s going on, right? You’ve been weird lately.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just family stuff.”

Maya nodded, accepting it for now. “Well, if you need a distraction, Riley Park from the soccer team asked about you yesterday. Said your photos from last year’s championship were amazing.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Riley Park?”

“Yeah. She’s cool.” Maya shrugged, but there was a slight pink to her cheeks. “Anyway, you should come to the victory party this weekend. The team’s throwing one after Friday’s game. Might be fun.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said, even though I already knew I’d probably go. Blue Ticks business had a way of following Kai wherever he was.

Later that afternoon, I was packing up when the door to the darkroom opened again.

Kai stepped inside.

He looked tense shoulders tight, jaw set. The locker room note had clearly gotten to him.

“Lila,” he said, closing the door behind him. The small room suddenly felt even smaller. “Got a minute?”

I nodded, setting my camera down. “What’s up?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Someone left a really messed up note in my locker this morning. Threatening me. About my family.”

I kept my face carefully blank. “That’s awful. Did you tell anyone?”

“Not yet. I’m trying to figure out who’s doing this.” He stepped closer, eyes searching mine. “You were near my car yesterday. And I’ve seen you around the arena a lot. You notice things, Lila. Be honest with me are you seeing anyone suspicious?”

My heart raced. “I wish I could help, but I haven’t seen anything.”

He studied me for a long moment. The air between us felt charged. “I believe you. But… I don’t know. Something about you feels familiar lately. Like I can trust you even though I barely know you.”

The sincerity in his voice made my guilt flare even hotter. I looked away. “You shouldn’t trust people so easily.”

“Maybe not.” He gave a small, tired smile. “But I want to trust you.”

Before I could respond, he reached out and gently touched my arm. The contact sent electricity through me. “Come to the game Friday? I’d like to see you there. Not just behind the camera.”

“I… maybe,” I whispered.

He nodded, then left as quietly as he’d come.

I sank onto a stool, hands shaking.

This was spiraling. The sabotage note was delivered. Kai was opening up to me. And I was falling for the one person I should stay far away from.

That night, back in my room, the Blue Tick app lit up again.

New Request – $200

Sender: IceQueen17

Target: Kai Rivera

Message: “Meet me behind the arena after the game Friday. I’ll prove I’m the one you really want.”

Two hundred dollars.

I accepted it.

Some rules were clearly meant to be broken.