A Collection of Short Stories

Elevator

    I frantically pressed the elevator button over and over, glancing at my watch. My foot tapped against the wood floor as I heard the ding of the elevator door. It opened and I rushed in, not looking at any of the other people.

I pressed the button for floor five and let out a sigh. I took a minute to glance at the people around me. Five other people. Two women, two men, and a little girl. I could tell this would be an awkward elevator ride, due to their stiffened postures.

I took a step forward, not wanting to be near strangers. I tilt back a bit as the elevator came to a sudden stop. I looked at the floor number and saw we weren't on my floor. I was waiting for the door to open and for someone to walk out or someone else to walk in.

The door never opened. I looked around at the other people, who seemed just as confused. I jumped when I heard the sudden voice of a man coming from in front of me. I looked forward as did everyone else. I glances around and realized this man hadn't been on the elevator, he wasn't one of the five awkward people just wanting to get to where they were going. It was like he had been summoned.

"So, I bet you are wondering why I've gathered you here" The man spoke. He reached his hand over towards the buttons and pressed the emergency stop button. Now, everyone spoke up.

"What's your problem, man?" A man asked.

"Some of us have places to be" A girl snapped. He simply smiled and with a snap of his fingers, he was gone. He had vanished.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"Where'd he go?" People pushed forward, almost crushing me.

"Everyone calm down!" I shouted. There were a few murmurs, but otherwise, it was silent. "I'm sure there's an explanation for all this"

"That man just disappeared into thin air, what's your explanation for that?" A girl sassily commented.

"A hologram, maybe" I suggested. "But, crushing each other isn't going to solve anything. He pressed the emergency stop button, correct? So, the door should be opening soon"

"Well, what was that man going on about?" The girl asked.

"How should I know?"

"You seem to be Miss. Know-It-All, that's why" A man said. I rolled my eyes at his comment but did my best to ignore it.

"He said he gathered us here, Miss" The little girl piped up. "What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure" I sighed. "Maybe, it's one of those pranks that they do on people and put on TV"

"No, those are all faked" The other man debunked.

"How do you know?" The girl asked.

"It's obvious. Their acting is terrible" The man stated.

"Why won't this door open?" The second girl slammed her fist on the elevator. "I have a meeting to get to"

"Yeah, shouldn't it be open by now?" The man agreed.

"Let's get to know each other while we wait" The little girl suggested.

"That's stu-" The man began.

"Hey!" I cut him off. "It wouldn't hurt to know each other's names"

(That's all I got)