The Elevator | A Horror Story

-5-

A crackling sound jolts me awake.

My heart races.

Crackle. Crackle.

The dim lights flicker.

I fire my gaze around the room.

"Who's. . .who's there?"

Crackle. Crackle.

I shove one of my hands into my pocket.

Maybe there's something I can use as a weapon.

I pull out a lipstick. I frown.

Something about it disconcerts me.

I glance at it a moment.

It's brand new. There's a price tag still on it.

Thirty dollars? I'd never spend that much on a lipstick.

Crackle. Crackle.

Who cares about a lipstick?

I throw it aside and it clangs off the wall.

Then I hear the voice.

Crackle. Hello? Crackle.

I jump and pull my knees close to my chest.

"Who's there?" I demand.

Crackle Hello? Crackle.

It's faint. Far away. A male voice.

I spin around the room.

"Hello?" The voice is slightly louder. "Can anybody hear me?"

Then my heart leaps.

The speaker!

It's coming from the speaker!

I throw myself towards it.

"Hello?" I cry out. "Can you hear me? Can you hear me?"

There's a pause, then a crackle, then

"Yes."

I could almost cry with relief.

"Listen," I say. "I need help. I'm trapped. I'm in an elevator. I don't think I'm alone. Please...please send help."

There is a pause on the other side of the speaker.

"You're stuck in an elevator?" says the faint voice.

"YES," I shriek back. "Now please. . .please. . .send help."

There's silence for few moments. Then another crackle.

"I can't."

Anger blazes up inside me. I pound against the button again.

"WHY? WHY? GOD DAMNIT. WHY?"

Another pause.

"Because I'm stuck in an elevator too."