Page 85 of Camera Stays On

“Don’t!” Andi flew forward with her hands out, but Juliet snatched her arm and yanked her back.

“You can’t get your dress dirty,” she told her. “Let me go get a hand towel and some tape.”

Gavin, still fully conscious, began to panic. “Please, don’t do this,” he pleaded. “Call an ambulance. My mom...” Blood continued to drip from his mouth.

“We can fix it here, just like we did with Andi’s leg.” Juliet waved off his concerns as she returned, holding a roll of duct tape and a stack of wash rags. “We’ll need to get you a new dress shirt, though. This one’s ruined.” She looked to us, expecting one of us to leave and go get him fresh clothes, but none of us moved. Rolling her eyes, she went to Gavin, set her tools to the side, and pushed between his legs.

“This might hurt, but it’ll teach you not to just go wandering around between scenes,” she said as she curled her hands around the handle. Swiftly, she yanked, and with a sickening slice, the weapon flew out of the wound. Juliet dropped it and quickly grabbed the rags, shoving them against the hole in his body.

Gavin screamed and sobbed. He didn’t look good. Sweat poured from his brow. He kept trying to open his mouth, and Juliet ended up shoving a towel in there, silencing him.

“Look, the blood is already stopping. Okay, hand me the tape.”

Sawyer came forward, and she peeled Gavin’s shirt off, keeping towels pressed to his chest. Everyone watched silently as the two of them attempted to seal him with tape. Finally, Juliet decided it was good enough and stepped back.

“I guess I’ll go get him a new shirt. Then we can start.” She rolled her eyes as she passed us, as if we were the ones being ridiculous for not leaving.

Sawyer pulled Gavin to standing, and despite looking pale and on the verge of vomiting, he was able to walk himself to set. He was slow and wobbly, but he managed.

Any semblance of this being okay was officially gone. Everyone was scared. No one wanted to step out of line, and we certainly couldn’t run. Bea, Gavin, and Andi were living proof. And Lux was...

I couldn’t even think about her right now. Pushing the memories of Lux away, I hurried after Gavin and Sawyer, and everyone else followed.

On set, we discussed how we’d change the scene to adjust to Gavin’s injuries. Juliet handed him a new shirt and brought food out as everyone else took their seats. Per Sawyer’s directions, the scene adjusted to me taking the camera from Gavin and setting it up on a tripod at the end of the table. Everyone forced smiles and laughter as we sat and were served dinner.

“To the newlyweds!” Juliet toasted, lifting her glass and, unwillingly, everyone joined in on her toast with low murmurs.

“So, what’s next for you two?” Mick recited his line. He sat next to Darius, with Gavin on his other side. He was a terrible actor. The panic was clear on his face, despite trying to keep things moving.

“Well.” Sawyer reached for Andi’s hand. She was trying to stay in character but was visibly shaking. She was scared, and I didn’t blame her. I was too. “I was thinking, since our parents don’t know yet, maybe we can take a little road trip and come back for Christmas. Doesn’t that sound fun, sweetie?” He turned to her.

“L-L-Lovely.” Andi sniffled.

Gavin laughed, blood staining his teeth. “Mom and Dad won’t be happy about that!” His volume was so loud the entire table flinched.

Sawyer scowled. “Let’s try that again—and don’t fuck it up this time, Gavin.”

He frowned, seemingly confused. His head wobbled, as if all the blood loss was making him woozy. My stomach tightened as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. We ran the scene again, and this time his tone was strained. Sawyer was not pleased and had us do it again, and another time. Gavin grew exhausted, and a single line of blood began to slowly leak from his mouth.

“Jesus Christ, Gav. Get a grip,” he snapped.

“He’s dying, Sawyer!” Darius slammed his fists on the table, the cutlery ringing as the table shook. “Because of you!”

“Me?” Sawyer turned his head. “How so?”

“You set that trap,” I said, keeping my tone as calm as I could. If things got too heated, we risked him pulling out his gun again.

“What makes you think that?” Sawyer snickered. “When would I have had the time?”

“You wired the whole house!” Andi exclaimed, then slapped a hand over her mouth. Looking around, she locked eyes with me. I bit down, forcing myself not to reach out to comfort her. I gave her my best reassuring look, and she must have understood. She straightened in her seat and removed her hand from her mouth, continuing. “And the woods. Bea told me—before she tried to leave. She warned me you’re watching us even when we’re not filming. There are cameras everywhere.”

“Is that true?” Mick asked. “That you’re watching us?” He looked up, searching for cameras.

“It’s my movie.” Sawyer gritted his teeth. “And you’re all shit actors. I had to get some honest-to-God reactions somehow.”

“Is that why you set the traps? To see us scream for real?” Mick continued. “Did you lock Lux in that box?” He stood. “I want to see the cameras.”

“That’s not happening.” Juliet crossed her arms. “Only those with clearance can see them—and you’re not one of them.”