The Camera Must Not Stop

This was a common three-story house in Massachusetts: a large living room and kitchen on the first floor, a yard, bedrooms on the second floor, and an attic on the third. Houses like this usually also had a garage filled with tools, and there might even be a fairly well-hidden basement nearby.

In a country with vast land and a sparse population, many people had been heavily influenced by apocalypse movies. They would usually build some kind of civil-defense shelter in their homes, allowing them to cling to life underground for a while even if zombies attacked.

James and Wes arrived at the door of the house. They did not rush to knock, but called out twice first.

At night, in the heavy fog beside a deserted highway, anyone who dared to live here had to have some ability. In this country where guns were legal, knocking rashly on someone else's door could very well end in disaster.

Lu Ban also got out of the car. Through True Sight, he could see the two people walking in the fog. Their calls echoed across the empty world, but the owner of the house gave no response.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

James called out twice more. Clearly, there was no answer.

Wes took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. The fog had made even his clothes damp, and his eyes felt uncomfortable. After putting his glasses back on, Wes went to the door and knocked.

"Hello, is anyone there?"

Wes tried pushing the door.

To his surprise, it was unlocked.

"Hey, the door isn't locked."

As he spoke, Wes pushed the door open and walked inside.

"I don't think this is a good idea."

James tried to dissuade him, but Wes had already entered the house.

"Is no one living here?"