[DISCONTINUED] The Elevator

Chapter 3 - Part 2 of 2

"It's Candice," I reply, attempting to smile. "Thank you for saving me earlier."

Astrid exhales through her nose. "You're very welcome, although Ethan was quite the helping hand and brain there too." Suddenly her face drops. She looks at me with heavy eyes. "None of this makes any sense."

Suddenly we are interrupted by a crackle from above. We look up at once to find another pair of black speakers in the corner of the bathroom. A harmony of trumpet notes begin to play again. I instantly recognise it from the first time we were all spoken to. Outside the door are numerous loud shushes and exclaiming. Astrid and I don't move. My heart pumps rapidly, while I feel my breath rising in my chest.

"Hello, hello! Congratulations for those who survived their first level. To the others...well, that's your loss! Assuming you are all still alive, you have found the first aid kits. These kits provide antidotes for practically anything thrown your way, since we need every single one of you physically well for the next level."

"That's not okay," Astrid whispers to me, I hear in her voice she is scared. I see that her complexion is washed out. I am frozen, unable to move as dread promptly courses its way through my veins.

"As these antidotes may fix your scratches, bruises and broken bones so to speak, they unfortunately do not satisfy exhaustion or hunger. Each day you are here, you will be provided with two meals. For now, eat the meal provided and get a good night's sleep for tomorrows level! That's it now."

The trumpets sound once more before leaving us in a disturbing silence, and me in a sick heaviness. Astrid and I push the door open, re-entering the elevator and trudging down the metal ramp. The lights have brightened and everyone is now crowded around the panel of buttons near the main elevator doors. 

"What's going on?" I ask Slone when we reach the group.

She looks up at me, confusion plastered across her face. "Food." A few begin walking back from the front, carrying a tray of food in their hands. I see containers and packets. When most of the group clears I see a chute beneath the button panel. Sticking out of it is a tray with proportions of food, a ring of blue fluorescent light peaks through from behind, lining the inside of the chute.

Logan takes the tray, and immediately another fills its place. Smells of fresh bread and steamed greens flood the air soon enough. Ethan takes the next, then Sloane, then the mohawk boy.

"Go," Astrid softly urges when the two of us remain. I place my hands on the sides of the tray and pull it loose. While Astrid takes hers, I catch someone's eye from the other side of the doors. They wear all black and have grown out black hair. I smile, they look away.

"Are you okay?" Sloane asks me when we all sit back in the group. The others look at me.

"Fine." I shrug. "I'm loving the imprisonment vibe."

The mohawk boy snickers.

"Hey," Ethan says to him with a dark tone, "why are you laughing? This is serious, we're still trapped in here."

"At least we have food," Astrid adds. We all look down to our trays. There's a small sealed packet of bread on mine, along with a round container that when I open the lid is filled with steamed beans and broccoli. Last is another container with hot rice and chicken.

"Think it's safe?" Logan questions.

Sloane turns her bread packet around in her hand, then looks around the room at everyone else scoffing down their food, then back up at him. "They did say they wanted us physically well for the next level."

"Think Squid Game," the mohawk boy says, "we wouldn't be much fun for them if we were killed by the food."

Killed. My stomach flips at the word. It's a terrible thought, but he is probably right.