Stuck in the Elevator Again | ONC 2022

Loop 4.3

Last edited: 25/4/2022
[Roselyn]

An unfeigned grin cracks open my obviously fraudulent demeanor.

"Ok. First, I think we should break the fake ceiling above and see if we can find anything. Most likely we won't be able to get out from above since we don't have the key to the hatch. I've heard that there are no trapdoors on top of elevators, and I don't think it is possible to pry open the lift doors...?" I pause as that question lingers in the air for a moment, "I prefer not to get crushed or fight against mechanics that are meant to keep doors shut. So that just cuts off our only possibility to not jump out of the elevator into a nest of zombies."

I pause again as I notice the stolid expression on my audience's face.

To convince Mr. Soft-Cheeks that I really hoped for an alternative possibility but am frustrated that there is none, I let out a loud sigh, put my hand on my forehead and dramatically throw my head back in despair. "Oh my, I wish there was another solution."

Mr. Uburg replies with a somber look. "Says the one who suggested the suicide idea in the first place."

I widen my eyes drastically. "You say?"

He briefly closes his eyes as he crosses his arms. "Drop the act. Focus on our plan."

I roll my eyes, but quickly mask it by feigning hurt. "Please, you're no fun."

As a sudden wave of boredom washes over me, I stretch back and yawn, ignoring whatever image I might form with my unladylike actions. I mean, why should I care about being a cute little obedient girl? It's doomsday already, just let me be free from those stupid expectations that the world has made to manipulate women. Dobby is a free elf, no?

I blink back the tears that are threatening to fall off my eyelashes. A lightning-fast idea suddenly flashes through my mind, but disappears in the blink of an eye. I immediately stop to ponder for a moment, and as I finally locate the thought and grasp it back, I decide to execute it.

I dig into my purse and fish out my phone. As I click on the flashlight button, I turn towards Mr. Humorless. "Give me a lift. I'm going to try to remove the fake ceilings and inspect the inside."

"They're called ceiling panels," Mr. Ubu Wubu mutters under his breath as he hoists me up from my armpit.

"Hey! Put me down! Don't hold me... like that!" I yell with a flushed face, throwing daggers at the man underneath. His palms burn through my blouse and sear my skin, setting it on a shameful fire. His long and well-defined fingers skim across my cladded breasts and settle on my shoulder, leaving pleasant tingles behind.

Tears start to fill my eyes. Fuck him, I'm sweating! And he's... holding me by where I sweat the most!

"You're heavy. Be quick."

He just has to add salt to my wound, doesn't he? Humiliation floods me to no end as tears well up, causing my eyelids to swell and redden at an abnormal rate.

I release a small choke as I bear the exertion to curb my emotions. Stray tears run down now and then as I raise my head, instructing my distressed mind to focus on the ceiling panels.

Weak dunce. This is the consequence of not controlling your mouth. This is the repercussion of not setting barriers. He is taking revenge, so let him—

I shut the intruding and self-doubting thoughts from my mind. I use the hand which is holding my phone to shield the dazzling light from the fluorescent tubes, while my other free hand pushes at the dusty ceiling panel. I shove the panel aside aggressively, revealing a rectangular hole where it previously sat.

I kick my legs back as a sign for Mr. Mean to lift me higher. He lets out a painful hiss as he snaps, "do not kick me!"

I blink my tear-brimmed eyes rapidly. "Sor— sorry, I just wanted to tell you to lift me higher."

Sweat collects in my palms and my phone threatens to slip from my grasp. I exchange hands as I wipe my palms onto the hem of my blouse.

Quickly peeking my head through the hole and shining my phone around, I scan the dark surroundings. Not much, just tons of wires, metals, and such.

I am about to politely yell at him to put me down, but a shimmer on the far end catches my attention.

"Hey, put me down and then lift me again at that corner." I point to the corner where the set of elevator buttons lie. "I think there's something."

He hums, a signal for me that he heard me. However, his arms suddenly let loose. I flare my arms a bit in fear, the flashlight of my phone shining everywhere and hitting him right in the eye.

He hisses as his arms retract in reflex to shield the bright light, this time really releasing me, and I land on the floor with a big fat thump.

"Jaxtyn Uburg!" I scream as steam fumes out of my ears, flushing my face into an unusually angry shade of red. Pain sears up from my butt to my spine as I collect myself from the remnants of the hit, my eyes glowering at the culprit with the utmost fury and hatred I can rally.

Jaxtyn Uburg backs off immediately. He raises his arms into the air, eyes flirting anywhere and everywhere except my direction. "I'm... I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? Then why the heck did you drop me like that? Hmm?" I shriek, "do you think it's fun to humiliate a woman by scaring the shit out of her and probably hurting her in the process? Oh, I know, it is revenge."

Jaxtyn Uburg's face darkens and an intimidating scowl wipes away all the contrition on his face. "Oh, so you think it's acceptable for a woman to deliberately push a man? You have no right to accuse me when you were the one who offended me more than once!"

Disgust is written all over his face as he studies me from head to toe. "I'm sorry for 'scaring the shit out of you'. It's just that your sweat made my palms slippery, and I had to change my position for a bit or else you would fall. I apologize for dropping you when you blinded me. I beg for your forgiveness, your majesty, for foolishly pardoning you, again and again, every time I receive an insult from your highness."

Tears spill down my cheeks. My lips wobble as I make an effort to pronounce something to rebut, but all the words I know have deserted me, leaving me to face the chilly air alone.

Jaxtyn Uburg takes a deep breath as he perceives my damaged state. A disappointed sigh leaves his lips as he quiets down from his outburst, "I have no idea why you have the guts to act like you're the queen and no one, apart from you, matters. Why are you so narcissistic?"