Chapter 10

The first person to suspect something was Jane. Cami knew she’d dug that grave herself, first by dragging everyone back to her house again, and then by all the whispered conversation between her and Olivia. It was in the way Jane kept catching Cami’s eye from across the bus aisle, brows knitted and face tight, like the whole thing was some kind of puzzle to solve.

And then she texted Cami the following: Hey, you aren’t upset or anything, are you? I know you’re totally allowed to hang out with other people and all, but you’ve been kind of distant all week. Ever since sushi day. Did something really bad happen in the woods when you passed out? Do you not feel safe at home anymore?

Cami risked another glance over. Sure enough, Jane was staring out the window, biting her nails. That put her at about halfway to an anxiety attack.

Really, Cami couldn’t blame her. She had been distant, constantly thinking about Olivia or Trintio or whoever-slash-whatever had killed Abigail. That plus what probably had looked like a traumatic experience gave her friend more than enough reason to worry.

Olivia followed her gaze. “What’s up?”

“I’m just gonna defuse something,” Cami said absently, reaching for her phone.

Everything’s fine, she texted back. Well, not really. But it’ll make sense soon. I promise.

It wasn’t the most reassuring thing she’d ever sent, but it’d have to do. Jane didn’t text her after that, so maybe she’d done a good job.

~

In fact, it took until they were in Cami’s kitchen for her to say anything.

As Rachel clambered onto the island countertop and Helena went for the chips, Jane stood up straighter, took in a breath, and said, “I think we need to talk.”

“About what?” Cami asked, trying to sound composed. Like she hadn’t been keeping a secret from her best friend all week. This was easier said than done.

“You tell me.”

Olivia, who’d mostly been sulking in the corner of the room, sighed and detached herself from the wall. “Okay, okay, I’m going to handle this. I’m a--”

“Afraid this conversation will have to be outside,” Cami interrupted. “Don’t wanna bug my mother, do we?” She jerked a thumb to the living room. Her mom didn’t have to know about any of this. All that would bring was more stress. “Besides, there’re a couple of things to deal with. Let’s build up to the big one.”

Olivia cocked her head to the side, frowning. “I thought the bunker was the big one.”

“Bunker?” Helena and Jane echoed.

“Bunker?” Rachel exclaimed, beaming. “Oh, that’s a step in the right direction.”

Cami groaned. What little plan she’d had for this was crumbling. “Fine. We’re already here, so fine. Bunker first. Come on.”

“Wait, did you two find this bunker together?” Jane asked. “Did she come here earlier this week?”

Rachel threw her hands up. “Who cares? There’s a bunker!” Cami tried to shush her, but she leapt off the counter, racing for the back door with a skip in her step. She threw it open and made a grand, sweeping gesture. “Lead the way, Cami. Or Liv. One of you.”

“Don’t call me Liv,” Olivia hissed, stomping out into the backyard. Cami followed, and the others came after.

The forest was a different animal under sunlight, with fewer shadows for tired minds to distort. For this reason, they didn't immediately find the door. There was a frantic moment where Cami worried the whole thing had been a shared delusion. What had Jane called that, again…? The phrase was on the tip of her tongue.

“Hey, Jane?” Cami turned to ask, and that was when her foot hit the ground with a distinct, metallic clang.

Jane looked up, meeting her eyes, but Rachel leapt in front of her. “That’s gotta be the door, right?"

Sure enough, it was. Cami dropped to her knees, grabbing the door handle. It was warm to the touch.

“What are you waiting for?” Rachel pressed. “Open it!”

“If the murderer lives here, I better not die first,” Cami muttered. But before she could let that fear sink its teeth in, she pulled the door open.

The first thing that hit was the blast of warm air. Then the low, droning hum of electricity. Cami waited to hear a more human accompaniment: breathing, footsteps, anything to indicate they’d intruded on someone.

Nothing came.

“And you’ve never noticed this door?” Helena asked, peering down over Cami’s shoulder. “Or any kind of construction being done in this general area?”

Cami shook her head. “This might as well have appeared out of thin air.” Wouldn’t be the strangest thing that’s happened, would it?

Before anyone could stop her, Cami grabbed the rungs and began her descent. The bunker wasn’t that deep down, so a few steps in she just leapt. She landed with the distinct thud of rubber soles on wood, but it was too dark to be certain of anything else.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Jane exclaimed, her hands in her hair. “Cami. Cami, that could be a murder-den. You could be getting your DNA all over a murder-den.” She whimpered.

Rachel gave her a look. “Aren’t you curious?”

“I’m--”

“Yeehaw!” Rachel cried, leaping down to join Cami. She landed less gracefully, but stayed standing. “Don’t worry, this is all how things are supposed to go.”

“How do you know that?” Cami asked.

Rachel just smiled at her and threw a thumbs-up at the girls still above. Reluctantly, they came down one by one: Olivia, then Helena, then Jane. Soon, they all stood in a cluster.

"I’ll get the lights,” Rachel declared.

“What, like you’ve been here before?” Cami tried to scoff at her confidence, but Rachel found and flipped the switch with ease.

Cami had never been in a bunker before. She’s seen pictures, sure, but that simply didn’t compare.

Plus, this didn’t look like anything she’d seen before. It was as if someone had taken a treehouse and built it underground: The walls and floor were shiny red wood, so flawless and warm Cami felt like she’d tumbled into a treasure chest.

Also, the place was furnished. At the end of the room lay a TV and a fridge. In the centre sat a table, with five chairs.

“One for each of us,” Helena remarked, following her gaze. “Do you think we’re expected company? This just got really weird.”

Rachel strolled over to the table, taking a seat. She had such a natural air to the whole thing, like she owned the place.

Maybe she did.

“Why do I feel like this is about to get weirder?” Jane muttered. Despite all the tension, she’d drifted over to stand at Cami’s side. “Like, if anyone else has any freaky shit to get off their chests, please do it now.”

Olivia laughed, of all things to do. Everyone turned to look at her, and her smile fell. She looked at Cami, who gave the slightest nod.

“Here goes nothing,” she said, a slight tremor to her voice. “Guys, I’m a vampire.”

Helena and Jane looked at her, doubt clear as day on their faces. The former wore a look that was equal parts pity and bafflement, and Cami knew the look her best friend had, the ever-classic I want to dismiss this as irrational, but my brain won’t let me.

Rachel spoke before anyone else. “I…” She paused, composing herself. “I knew it.”

Olivia looked at her, head tilting to the side. “Were you theorizing about me being nonhuman?”

“What? No, oh my gosh!” Rachel giggled, slapping a hand onto Olivia’s shoulder. The other girl shrank at her touch. “I was waiting for someone to say something, is all. So, what’s everyone else?”

Silence. Cami looked between Rachel and the others, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of relief that everyone else was equally confused.

“Guys,” Rachel groaned. “The jig is up. We’re Awakening. It's safe to come out.”

“Does that mean you aren’t human?” Jane asked, looking her up and down. “Because you look pretty human.”

Rachel laughed, the pitying kind of laugh you did when a child said something incredibly wrong. “Well, duh, that’s the point. I guess I’ll come out next: I’m a mothwitch! Or, well, just a witch, but our magic gave us these... y'know... uh.”

It was then she realized no one else was laughing.