The Strange Case of the Jackson Building

Chapter 27 - Violence

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Violence

"Kyle?" she whispered. She couldn't believe her eyes. Kyle was there, standing next to her, inside the tiny, dark maintenance room.

For a blessed moment, she felt relief, happiness, comfort, protection. She wasn't alone. He smiled at her, that friendly, charming smile that always warmed her heart, only this time it was tainted with sadness and tragedy.

And she knew. He was there, but gone. Kyle couldn't save or heal her anymore. She really was alone. The disappointment... the death of her hope... it just made her cry harder. The cold and ruthless realization of her loss was cruel.

"I thought I should tell you goodbye," he told her. Petra moaned, in pain. She wasn't afraid of Kyle. How could she?

Kyle, or whatever was left of him, sighed before fixing his kind eyes on her.

"You know, I never got to tell you... I liked your new hair. I thought it really suits you. It's chaotic, impulsive and unpredictable. I like that." Kyle raised his hand, as if he was about to caress her cheek, but thought better of it and let it fall. "And I liked you," he continued.

Petra could only cry, in silence. It was a strange mix of joy and misery, what those words made her feel.

"I can't do this, Kyle," she whispered. "I can't do this alone."

Why did he leave her?

"You can," he encouraged, smiling again. "Go to the elevator, the right one. Eli is there, he won't let anyone but you inside."

The footsteps were closer than ever. The creature was on the ground floor as well. It was only a matter of time before it found her.

"You have to go," he whispered, with urgency.

Petra nodded. "Kyle-"

"Now! Go! Go!"

Without wasting another second, Petra ran out of the room, away from Kyle and quickly opened the door to the elevator on the right. She didn't take any time to look around or see the creature, but knew it had seen her, for she heard it running towards her. Frantically, shaking, she quickly got inside the elevator, pulling and forcing the door to close right behind her. A second later, something slammed against it, but the elevator was already travelling up.

Petra took a big, long and deep breath of relief.

"Great. Now it's pissed off."

Despite her horrible situation, Petra couldn't help but smile at the sight of Eli.

"Hello, Eli," she said, trying not to cry when she faced him, the memory of the blood in their house still very present.

He returned the smile, though not for long. Soon, he looked just as pained and miserable as Kyle did.

"You know what pains me the most about being here?" he asked, anger and frustration evident on his voice. "There is not a single living thing around. Nothing that grows, nothing to care for... Nothing green and beautiful, nothing worth creating. And I'm stuck here! Forever."

"I'm sorry, Eli," she said, her heart aching for him. She should've been stronger, she should've saved them.

Eli sighed. "I told that fool we should've gone to live downtown."

Before she could reply, the elevator stopped abruptly, shaking like an earthquake.

"You have to go," he warned. "Leave, now!"

Petra obeyed, getting out of the elevator. Before the door closed, she could still hear him wish her good luck and she had to focus to not cry again. Once the door closed, she was surrounded by darkness and couldn't help but feel terribly lonely again.