Page 62 of Camera Stays On

Could I walk to town?

“There are cameras in here.”

Bea’s voice coming from the darkness caused me to jump.

“What?” I squeaked.

“There are cameras in the woods. He made me put them up the other night. There’s no point in trying to hide.”

She stepped out from behind a tree. The familiar clink of a metal lighter filled the space, followed by a flame, illuminating her face. Her cheeks were swollen and her eyes bloodshot as she brought a joint to the flame and lit it. An instant later she closed the lighter, and we were surrounded in darkness again, minus the small orange dot and smoke curling from the tip of her joint.

“Sorry, it’s been a fucking day, and I need something to relax me for one fucking second,” she said, raising the joint. I shrugged.

“Thank you, for covering for me. Do you really have access to the cameras?” I asked.

She nodded. “I do. I know you’re banging his brother.” Nervous flutters erupted in my belly. Hearing it said out loud made things…real. She continued. “I’m not going to tell him though. That’s not my place.”

“Well, thank you, anyway. If he found out he’d…”

“Shoot you?” Bea snickered, and my flutters stopped.

“Yeah.”

“If it means anything, I don’t think he wants you dead. Just too hurt to run. He’s obsessed with you, you know.”

I stared at her, unsure of what to say. Yes, I did know.

“Do they really think I did it? Kill her?” I asked.

“They are too worried about tossing her in the fire to care about who did it right now. It’s pretty sad. I liked Lux.”

I swallowed, the lump in my throat dropping down into my belly. “I’m so sorry, Bea.”

“Why? You didn’t do it.” She raised an eyebrow and eyed me before taking another hit. She finished smoking and flicked the roach to the ground, smashing it out with her boot. “I’ve watched the cameras.”

I frowned. “How many cameras are there? You said there’s some in here?”

“Just about everywhere. Bedrooms, bathrooms, here.” She pointed up. “Sawyer had me help him hook them up before everyone got here. They’re all over.

My breath stalled.

“Everywhere?” I gulped.

“Just about. He watches them from his phone.”

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Had he seen Ash and me in the set kitchen last night? Or in the woods the night before? I pressed my fingers to my temples and turned away. This was not good.

“I—I don’t know what to do with this information,” I said honestly.

“Run.”

I froze.

Turning back, I stared at her. Bea stepped back into the shadows.

“I deleted the footage of you and Ash in the woods, and the stuff of you two screwing on the set kitchen table. But I’d get out while you can. No one is safe here. Sawyer lied about a lot. I don’t know what his plan is, but we’re all just pawns in his very elaborate game. I’m taking off tonight. You and Ash should too.”