Hello everyone, i present you chapter 18, once again i apologize for the delay, i'm trying to do my best to write something good, i hope you'll enjoy. As i mentioned in the previous chapter, This fiction means a lot to me because it is my first, and i intend to finish it. Personally i can't wait to see the result of the ending myself! so i'm gonna require your full patience and comprehension, it is still hard for me to write but i try to as much as possible. Thank you.


Thursday, November 28th. 5:00pm. Amanda Rollins's apartment.

Fin, Nick and the CSU techs in Amanda's building, were actively searching for the computer, that Miller used to store the recordings he collected from the camera that he placed to watch Amanda's movements.

Eventhough Fin was trying to stay calm and professional, he couldn't stop glancing angrily at Nick every time he passed by.

Nick was mortified but had to keep his focus to find that computer. Deep down he knew that he messed up by not staying with her that night, he knew that the kiss ruined everything. Nick was submerged by a tremendous layer of guilt.

"If it wasn't for that kiss, it would have been different, none of this would have happened... She would still be here... dear lord..." Thought Nick silently while walking through a hall taking him into the building's basement.

Nick reaching for his flashing light, pushed the basement's door with his other hand while walking slowly down the stairs, he didn't know what he would find down there. his heart was beating at a fast pace. He kept making up insane images in his mind while thinking "What if she's in there... Dead? How could i ever live with myself...". This last thought made Nick sick to his stomach.

Still walking slowly, a Part of Nick wanted him to find her in that basement "Maybe she's in here but she's okay, and everything will be finally over...", he kept thinking to reassure himself.

Nick flashing his light down the stairs leading to the basement, kept moving down carefully while pointing his gun ahead of him. Once down there, he found a switch on the wall to his left side. Anticipating the worst, he took a deep breath before flipping the switch on.

The basement was clear. No sign of Amanda, which made Nick kind of relieved not seeing her lifeless body lying there. Few minutes later, Fin appeared at the basement's entrance without saying a word.

"Found something! The computer, in here!" Yelled out Nick while looking up at Fin.

"First smart thing you did today." Replied Fin dryly without taking off his attention from the computer.

Nick silent, rolled his eyes away, then released a heavy sigh in despair.

Olivia appeared shortly followed by two CSU techs, Rubens Moralles and Judith Siper.

"There are cigarettes remains all over the floor. He might have been here for quite a while..." Suggested Fin while looking at Olivia.

Olivia glanced at Fin then asked "Does anyone else have access to the basement?".

"According to the concierge, no. Nobody else has the keys except him, and he hasn't been down here for a while." Replied Fin.

"Then how the hell did Miller get in here without nobody noticing?!" Asked Olivia with astonishment in her voice.

"Same way he did with Amanda's apartment..." Replied Fin while gazing at Nick.

CSU tech Judith Siper approaching Olivia, interrupted her questioning "Sergeant, the lock to the basement has been forced... But there are no prints on the door knob.".

"Son of a bitch..." Whispered Olivia under her breath.

"I'm gonna collect the cigarettes remains for a DNA test." Continued Siper ignoring Olivia last comment.

Olivia nodded in agreement then walked towards Moralles who was working on the computer.

"Got something?" Asked Olivia impatiently.

"I found all of the recordings. He'd been watching her entrances for over a month." Moralles Replied.

"Dear god..." Replied Olivia in despair.

"Guys! Over here!" Yelled out Judith Siper.

Olivia rushed to the back of the basement followed by Fin and Nick.

"There's a exist door, leading to the back of the building, that's why detective Amaro didn't see him coming out..." Explained Siper.

"He used the back door to get her out, without nobody watching." Said Liv Interrupting Siper's reasoning.

"That's right, sergeant." Replied Siper.

"But why didn't he take the computer with him? that doesn't make sense!" Asked Nick showing his annoyance.

"Maybe he didn't have the time, or recklessly forgot to take it..." Deduced Siper.

"Or maybe he left it on purpose... for us." Replied Olivia while looking horrified at Nick and Fin.

Fin and Nick glancing at Liv, kept quiet. When all of a sudden, Rubens Moralles yelled out "Guys... he's... streaming live.".

Olivia, Fin and Nick staring at the computer screen, were speechless.

They were looking at Amanda, who was unconscious, tied up to a chair with a knife implanted inside her right thigh.

...

Thursday, November 28th. 5:30pm. A warehouse.

Miller kneeling in front of Amanda's chair, was holding a portable camera in one hand while caressing Amanda's hair with his other hand.

"Baby... It's time to wake up, we have visitors!" Said Miller while showing his crooked smile.

Amanda unable to hold her head up, opened her eyes slowly.

"Say hi to your friends!" Said Miller while pointing at the camera, then added "Oh they can't hear us... they can only see you! It's better this way, don't you think?".

Amanda hardly processing the things that were happening around her, started regaining her focus back.

Miller pointed the camera to the wound on Amanda's thigh then said "Does that still hurt?".

Amanda gazed at him with cold eyes, trying to hide her fear and remained quiet.

"Good girl! You're obeying me now! ahh... i think i've been a little tough on you, haven't i?" Said Miller while pointing the camera back close to her face, then added "You know what? since... well... both you and i know that you are not going out of here alive... so i should accord you one question... Go ahead ask me whatever you want, You have my permission now.".

Amanda trying to bare the horrible pain she felt in her thigh and her broken shoulder, kept looking at him.

"Come on! ASK!" Yelled out Miller still holding the camera in his hand.

Amanda holding still, didn't jump up from Miller's sudden outburst.

"It's over... God... this is it... i never thought this would end up like that... he's trying to overpower me, and it's working..." Thought Amanda while looking at Miller intensely, then all of a sudden, something happened inside of her, she didn't know what it was, but her fear was gone and Miller noticed it in her eyes.

Miller's impatience got ahead of him and slapped Amanda very hard with the back of his right hand while holding the camera with his other hand, making sure the viewers wouldn't miss a second of the show that he was enjoying so much.

Amanda shaking her head was emotionless. She kept staring at Miller blankly with a straight face, no tears in her eyes, no screams coming out of her, nothing. She knew him better than he thought. Miller was turned on by the fear he triggered on his victim's eyes, and Amanda knew that very well, he used to trigger that same fear in her, but that belonged to the past.

Amanda was not afraid anymore, her eyes were filled with emptiness, maybe because she thought that it was the end for her, and she didn't want to let Miller think that she was still afraid of him.

Miller completely destabilized by Amanda behavior, was furious.

"I've been watching you for a while now... very closely actually." Said Miller trying to keep his calm to intimidate Amanda, then added when he saw that she was definitely not intimidated "Let me tell you the whole story, sweety... You're gonna enjoy it so much... i promise".

"I placed a tiny camera, like this one, in the vent that's in the corner of your floor, about... hum... a month ago? yes that's right, a month. Then i made sure to be in the perimeter everytime, just in case it was the right time to get you... i had that syringe the whole time in my pocket, waiting to be inside your veins... ahh but it was never the right time... until last night ! I saw your partner holding you... mhh... and he walked you to your apartment, You looked really smashed down, very weak and so vulnerable. So i knew that it was that night. I hid in the basement of your building... though i didn't know if your partner was gonna leave your apartment... i got pretty lucky i guess..." Said Miller while smiling.

Noticing Amanda's passive state, Miller approached his hand to caress her face then added "And oh my! That special moment when he left your apartment! i was so thrilled, then i got inside your apartment to see you...".

Amanda totally blank from Miller's recital, was motionless, and that made Miller out of himself.

"Oh something else, you should probably lock your door and be more careful ! It's really dangerous! You know, there could be some bad men outside who would want to hurt you!" Said Miller sarcastically while pointing the camera at her thigh, then he started taking the knife slowly out of the wound.

Amanda feeling the knife slowly lacerating her leg again, swallowed down the pain and remained quiet.

Miller approaching the knife to her face, rubbed the blade on her cheeks, leaving her with blood stains on her face, then hysterically laughed while pointing the camera on her "Say hi to your friends! they're watching you!".