Beneath (WIP)

The Cameras

To my fortune, nothing else crazy had happened during the day. No other suspicious activity had been reported, and my daytime front desk workers had nothing unusual occur, just the normal people checking in and out of the inn. A lot of my guests, especially families with children, had checked out due to the break-in report last night. I don't blame them. I would leave too if I was in their shoes. I wish there was something I could have done about this incident to prevent it, but the case as a whole was just so mysterious. This incident no doubt taints the name of my business now. I just hope that it can change.

I came into the inn the next night at around 11 PM to check all the camera footage myself. I trusted the investigators, but I wanted to see what happened with my own eyes. It would give me a better insight into what happened. I walked through the doors to see Margaret sitting at her desk, reading a book. I greeted her and walked around the desk in order to gather my materials.

"How is everything?" I asked her. She set her book down for a second and nodded her head.

"It's been ok here...so far. I'm still very uneasy about last night." she said.

"I don't blame you. I am too. I'm actually coming in tonight to check out the camera footage for myself. I want to see everything." I explained as I opened a drawer beside her and dug out the security room keys.

"Alright, well....I'll be out here if you need anything." she said.

I nodded and walked over to the door around the corner behind the desk. I shoved the key into the lock and opened the door. The heavy door closed behind me with a slam, instantly locking behind me. Don't worry. I could get out if I had to. I had the keys, and the door always opened from the inside. It never opened from the outside without a key. I sat down in the creaky swivel chair and observed the current screens. Nothing seemed to be happening, so I went back through the system and found the footage from last night.

I sat and watched empty hallways for what seemed like decades. It was like watching paint dry. I was just waiting for something unusual to show up, but it never did. I kept clicking through all of the cameras trying to find a glimpse of the suspect, but I never did see him, not once. I even watched all the footage from the day and did not see anyone who remotely resembled the suspect. After getting nothing from the daytime footage, I sighed and clicked back to that night and watched the empty hallways and lobby again. The only action I got was at around 2:05 AM where Hannah ran out from her room as fast as she could and out into the lobby. I looked closely to see if anyone was chasing her through all of the cameras, but she was the only one who left her room. She was also the only one who entered her room. The officers were right. This didn't make any sense. I re-watched the footage again and again making sure I watched it right the first time, and I did. Watching those tapes was the most boring activity I had ever done.

Impatient and confused, I clicked the previous footage off, and that is when I saw him. A man. Standing in the second floor hallway near Hannah's room. He was wearing all black and just looking down at his feet. I stared at him, wondering if I had seen him before, but I couldn't see his face. I thought that maybe I should confront him and ask him what he was doing, but I felt safer in my locked office space. I had a microphone option on my camera so I could talk to whoever I felt was unwanted, but I chose against using it. I didn't want him to know I was watching him.

I watched him until approximately 1:54 A.M. I didn't know exactly how long he had been standing there for, but I had watched him stand in perfect stillness for about 50 minutes. I didn't know why I let it go on for that long. I was getting kind of freaked out, and I didn't know if the man I was looking at was alive or if it was someone trying to play a prank with a mannequin or a life size doll of some sort. I wanted to tell Margaret about him, but I didn't want to leave the room and risk him leaving. It was just my luck that if I got up, that man would be gone. I knew it would happen. I should have just called the damn cops, but I started to text Margaret about it. I figured she had her phone on her, and I had her number. I shot her a text and waited for her reply.

Hey, don't freak out or anything, but are you aware of a guy just standing around upstairs? He's wearing all black, and he's been staring at the floor for god knows how long. I see him now on the cameras. Don't go upstairs and confront him. I don't want him to know he is being monitored.

I waited while staring at the guy and turned my notification sounds off just in case I accidentally turned my microphone on or something. I didn't want to make a mistake. My phone vibrated, and I saw Margaret's text.

No. Is this happening right now or is this from last night?

I typed her back.

Right now. This is live.

She took a long time to respond this time. I hoped she hadn't left the desk. She usually never did, but people can make mistakes. A knock came at my door and then her voice.

"Can you let me in?" she whispered.

I got up to open the door, but then suddenly my phone buzzed again. I stopped to look at it. That was strange. It was a text from Margaret, but she was right outside. Or....what was this?

MARK. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THAT IS NOT ME.

Then another one came in.

THERE IS A WOMAN OUT HERE WEARING A WHITE DRESS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE SHE CAME FROM. I TRIED TO TALK TO HER, BUT SHE WON'T RESPOND. SHE KEEPS STARING AT THE DOOR. I AM CALLING THE POLICE AND GETTING OUT OF HERE.

As soon as I got that text, I wasn't going to mess around with this. I know Margaret called the police, but I sure as hell dialed them too. What the hell was going on around here?