[DISCONTINUED] The Elevator

Chapter 3 - Part 1 of 2

"Grab the first aid kit!" I hear the yell but I have no clue who it is. I think a snake bit me down in the pit, both my thighs burn like fire.

"Hey!" A whisper comes from behind me. "Are you okay?"

Astrid. And She's the one I landed on. I force myself up at once.

"Hey," I grunt, unable to open my eyes anymore. The pain is unbearable, though I still attempt to get up. "Sorry I'll get up– "

Loud chatter and worry fill the elevator, I can hardly hear anything, but I need to get up and see if anyone is alright.

"No don't move!" Astrid exclaims. "Focus on my voice, don't worry about anything else. We are getting you help now. Can someone past me a kit please!?"

Finally I can peel my eyelids apart. First aid kits are being past around. Then I see Sloane and the mohawk boy and my mind shatters.

They are slumped up against a side wall, their bodies bloated beyond belief. Logan kneels to the side, hastily sifting through a red first aid kit with the biggest hit of confusion on his face. The side of his arm where the arrow was shot is also bleeding and swollen.

It's not...normal. Bodies don't do that, they don't react like that.

Then I look down to my own thigh, where the arrow still sticks out. I raise a shaking hand to the shaft and clamp it in my fist. Piercing fire courses through my veins.

I press my lips together, taking all my might not to cry out.

A red object flies across the air and Astrid catches it from behind. Ethan has knelt down beside me and helps her open it with a loud zip, then they both begin rummaging. My eyes still are half closed, frozen on Sloane and the mohawk boy. Tears effortlessly spill and roll down my cheeks.

Ethan turns to me, then looks at my hand clamped around the arrow shaft. "Do not take the arrow out, let me see it." Reluctantly, I release my hand from the arrow and squeeze my eyes shut when I feel Ethan lightly poking it.

Logan suddenly yells. "Yes!" I open my eyes again. He has something in his hand, a small grey plastic bottle. Frantically, he unscrews the lid and tips out two white pills in his hand, then forces one into each of the mouths of Sloane and the boy. I see them swallow.

"Oh my god," I hear Astrid from above. She must be watching them too, then she talks to me,
"hey," she calls, "you doing okay?"

"Good, good," Ethan answers still inspecting the arrow. "These specific arrows release possible poison and alterative blades into the flesh making it impossible to yank out without bringing most of the tissue and muscle up, therefore bleeding to death. Though most likely blacking out way before you get it out, due to the pain."

The thought makes me even more nauseous.

Ethan continues after hearing the silence, glancing up at Astrid. "Oh sorry, you meant her."

"Fine," I force out weakly, still eying the two. "What's in the bag?" 

"They're antidotes," she answers rapidly and urgently, and it all clicks in my head, "it's weird and I don't understand it, but it looks like it works and they're our only choice, here, it says on the bottle there is a button on the shaft to retract the blades."

"Ah yes," Ethan exclaims, "found it." Before I turn to him, he's already pressed the tiny black button on the side. White searing pain like I have never imagined shoots from my thigh and through my body. Black corners the edges of my vision. I scream out in agony, shutting my eyes as I bring a hand into my hair.