Ric entered the room alone. The panels slid shut behind him and that was when Steph jumped him. His yell snapped her out of her mood and she realised who he was.
"Ric! What did I tell you about leaving the room!" she said, her shock getting the better of her.
Ric, surprised himself, didn't fail to notice the terrified look on Steph's face however. "What happened? The lights went out suddenly." He said looking a trifle scared.
"I don't know. Must have been a blackout. Go into the bedroom and check the streetlights are not on. Actually, wait, don't go out there. I'll use the security cameras to check outside." Steph said worry filling her voice. She hopped off the bed and went to the tv screen, switching it on then walked over to the computer and punched a series of numbers in, which brought up a range of colour images headed with the word 'camera' and a number. Ric, seeing that there were forty cameras in total, started to feel a bit worried himself. 'Forty cameras?' he thought to himself. 'Even most security patrolled businesses don't have that many cameras'. Steph sensed his insecurity and said calmly "there are actually 150 cameras here in total, and im getting another 50 installed soon. There are also around 100 sensor detectors ranging from heat to light, sound, change of air pressure and movement, body temperature and more. There are floor sensors, wall sensors, ceiling sensors, invisible trip wires all over the damn place. I left them off because I was afraid you may accidentally trip one of them and then the cops would be called. Basically the bedroom, ensuite and this room are the three rooms that haven't got booby traps set up. The garage is wired like an atomic bomb. You can't even stick a hair through the door, that's how secure it is. Anyway, yeah the lights are out. I thought maybe someone had cut the power, but it's dark out there as well." She stood up and went to the window and stood there staring out until the lights began to flicker back on in the street.
Ric looked somewhat relieved at that. He crossed the room and stood behind Steph, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, while pressing close to her. Steph leaned back into his embrace, relaxing and letting all her worries subside.
Ric sighed deeply. Steph turned around to face him, worried something was wrong. "Are you okay Ric?" she asked concerned. "Yeah im fine, baby, but im worried about you, having to hide from everyone just because you faked your own death." He said slowly. Steph sighed quietly and bowed her head. "Yeah that was a stupid idea. Oh well it is done now" she said quietly. Ric nodded and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. Steph tilted her head upwards and Ric leaned in and kissed her. They stood like that for several minuted before they pulled apart. Suddenly Steph's phone rang. She picked it up, and stared at the number flashing on the screen. It was Belle. "How does she know im alive?" Steph asked no-one in particular. Ric looked at her quizzically. "Who's calling?" he said. "Belle" was the answer he got.