Page 100 of Camera Stays On

I wasn’t sure how long I slept, but my stomach tightening in pain woke me. After the hunger cramp faded, I got out of bed and reluctantly put my wedding dress back on, forgoing the panties. It was bad enough that I had to wear clothes covered in dirt and blood, I refused to wear the underwear I’d peed in a little when Gavin was murdered.

Another hunger pain came, causing me to hunch over and clutch my belly. I breathed through the pain and stood when it went away. Damn it, Asher. He still wasn’t back, and I needed to fill my stomach. Even if I wanted to stay put, I couldn’t anymore. I had to search for food.

I placed my hand on the cold doorknob and found myself hesitating, even though I knew it was necessary to leave. I yanked it open, inhaled, and leaned my head out, looking side to side. Feeling somewhat safe, I stepped out and began making my way through the room, past the large sheet-covered furniture. My shoulders tightened as I walked, curling in on myself to shrink as much as I could. I didn’t want to think about what was under the covers or risk bumping one again like I had on the way down here. I shuddered when I saw large red clown shoes peeking out from under a particularly tall statue.

Finding the stairwell that would take me back the way we’d come, I paused, still slightly unsure whether to go back up. What if it really wasn’t safe? Sawyer or Juliet or Mick, even, could be waiting just outside the door with—God, who even knew anymore. Gavin had been shot, Lux suffocated, Mick stabbed with scissors, and Bea’s ankle mangled in an animal trap. I—still very much injured—could be attacked by anything and everything, and the many options running through my mind were less than ideal. I swallowed down my nerves and glanced around. I would never see what Ash saw in this stuff. A chill went down my spine, thinking of all the things underneath the sheets, and then, as I glanced around, I saw something to the right. Squinting, I turned fully to see what it was.

An old rusty metal door, blocked by some cardboard boxes.

In any horror movie, this would be the door you stayed away from. It was hidden deep in the shadowy corners of a basement, with a giant lock on it. But, something in my gut told me there was something behind the door, so I walked over to it and began to move the boxes. They were surprisingly light, and stacking them off to the side went quickly. Once the door was unburied, I could see that the lock wasn’t actually locked.

My heart raced, and fear rose up my spine. Alarm bells went off in my body. My nerves screamed for me not to go toward it—but then another hunger pain twisted my insides, and I took it as a sign. Brushing past the props, I went to the creepy door and reached for the rusted handle. Turning it caused a sound so sharp and shrill it echoed throughout the room, and I almost stopped. But the need to find fuel had me turning the aged handle, the rust hurting my palm as I did. With one quick jerk of my arm, I yanked the door open and braced myself for stale, warm, foul air, but...nothing.

Opening the door wider, I peered in. Lights were already on, illuminating a light blue hallway. It was...clean.

What was this?

Steeling my nerves, I went through the door and started down the curved hallway. There were no doors, but I heard a soft humming of electricity. Hoping it was a refrigerator, I pushed past the sirens my mind was trying to use to get my attention.

Where the fuck had Asher gone?

Had he been hurt? Kidnapped? Killed?

The last thought made my insides twist, and my hunger took the opportunity to complain at that same moment, causing me to double over in pain. I remained in that position for a moment until I was able to keep walking. Standing straight, I caught sight of what looked like flickering light spilling from a source on the left side of the hall. Was that a door opening?

Excitement drove me forward. I moved faster, letting out a rush of breath when I found the open door. Another bunker! Only...

My happiness faltered as I took in what I was seeing. This looked very similar to the bunker I’d just left, only instead of yellows and browns, the décor was blues and greens. The furniture looked older, too, as if taken from the 1960s, instead of the nineties like the other unit. Everything in here was more cramped, as well, and made me feel a bit claustrophobic, despite it being twice the size of the other one. Walking deeper in, I noticed the first room was a bedroom, and after opening the door to the second, I saw it appeared to be for storage. My stomach pleaded for me to go to the fridge and see if there was anything inside. Opting to quell my roaring gut, I went to the fridge and opened it, finding it fully stocked with what looked like fresh groceries.

Why would this be stocked? My stomach growled, cutting off the warning sounds going off in my head.

I pulled out a plastic bag filled with pre-cut summer sausage and cheese and tore it open, stuffing the food into my mouth. A groan escaped my lips as I chomped down on the sharp cheddar. Taking the bag of food with me, I walked back and stood in front of what I’d passed in my haste to eat.

A dozen large computer screens, all on. Each screen was separated into fourths, and each fourth was another camera. Some were placed in rooms upstairs—the set wing, for example. Gavin’s body was still at the table. Bea hadn’t been lying. Sawyer had so many more cameras than we’d been led to believe. He even had them in our private bedrooms. Sawyer really was watching our every move.

I couldn’t really identify exactly where the cameras outside were placed—it was a lot of trees—so I returned to the feeds inside the house and studied them.

Where were all the others?

Had they already been killed and disposed of? If so, why hadn’t Gavin been removed too?

I eventually found Juliet passing through the set. She purposely avoided the dining room, but I noticed she was carrying around a large kitchen knife. Next, I found Darius in his room. He was reading a book—a Bible, maybe? It was thick, and he appeared to be praying. Now to find Mick, Sawyer, and hopefully, Asher.

Before I could spot any more movement, the door behind me slammed shut. I jumped and spun around, only to freeze utterly and completely.

Sawyer.

Chapter 45

Asher

EACH STEP FELT like an earthquake. The boom of my boot hitting the wooden floor was like a thunderclap. I moved slowly, looking every which way as I worked my way through the estate. Pulling out my pocketknife, just in case, I crept onward, silently praying I didn’t have to stab my little brother—and yet I would if I had to.

In between the amazing moments I had tangled with Andi last night, my feelings twisted. Guilt had flooded my veins and thoughts as I wondered how we got here. Sawyer had never been a cruel man. Pushy, sure. An asshole, of course. He was the youngest child in my family, a spoiled brat. But he wasn’t violent.

I was the violent one growing up.

I was always getting into tussles at school, mostly defending Andi. She wasn’t often privy to what was being said about her or her mom, but I made sure anyone who tried to open their mouth wasn’t gossiping long.