Maya's Next Step

Part 2

Elva's POV

"Get in there now!" Maria yelled, throwing me through the attic doorway.

I didn't bother trying to stop her. I've been here before and know exactly what happens if I do attempt to get away. Being locked in an attic is far better than the alternative. I've actually become accustomed to the alone time, at least up here there isn't anybody to bother me or shout at me or hurt me. Although I don't like the feeling of being trapped, I hate the feeling of the walls closing in on me

I can't even remember what I did to get myself locked up this time. I probably didn't clean the dishes well enough.

Once I heard the door lock, I threw myself down in the gap between a tall wooden wardrobe and a large chest of draws. Leaning against the wall, I pick up a book that I'd hidden. After the first few times of being locked up here, I decided it would be worth hiding a few things to keep me occupied as I never know how long I'm going to be up here.

After a few pages, I could feel my eyes getting heavier. I don't sleep very well downstairs. I don't like not knowing what's going on around me.
Giving in, I shut the book and let myself drift off.

I wake up to sounds of shouting and screaming. There's no windows up here so I don't know what's going on. All of a sudden, I begin to smell something strange. It was getting stronger. My eyes turn towards the door, smoke is starting to come through the gap at the bottom. Running towards the door I grab the handle stupidly thinking it would be unlocked. Banging on the door and shouting, I quickly realise that either nobody can hear me or nobody wants to save me.
I choose to believe it's the latter, of course nobody would come and get me. This was probably their plan. Rather than just throwing me out they'd start a fire. Makes sense.

I'm not even panicking, I don't have the energy to fight and I don't think I've had the energy for a long time. Crawling back into my reading corner I sit and wait, for what I don't know.
I grab my bear that I've had for as long as I can remember and squeeze him to my chest.
"It's ok Bobby, I've got you," I tell him.

A few minutes later the smoke is starting to fill the room and there is a lot more noise going on outside. I can hear people shouting, not angrily. I think it's a lady. She's telling people what to do.

Next, I hear voices shouting inside the house.

"Kids! Hello! We're from the Seattle fire department. We're gonna help you!"

"In here. I'm in here!" I shout as loud as I can.

The attic is almost fully black now, I can hardly see a thing. Suddenly, there's a loud noise, I look up and see beams from the ceiling caving in on the side of the attic. I scream and turn to try and avoid the falling furniture. Even if somebody did come to help me, there's no way they could get to me. I was trapped.