THEM

Chapter 24

Sitting inside the small space of the elevator, all I could hear was my own heavy breathing. The sound seemed to bounce off the fours walls of the enclosed space which only seemed to be getting smaller as time passed, growing louder with each breath I struggled to inhale and exhale.

Besides the sound of my breathing there was also the distinct sound of guttural growling and the sharp clawing of talons against the metal doors that came from outside of the elevator.

The growling and clawing that belonged to the creature that was currently trying its best to get inside to shred me into ribbons. The only thing separating us were these metal doors.

I stared at those doors for what felt like an eternity before both my brain and body seemed to come alive again.

I had to move. I had to do something. Otherwise I was just sitting prey waiting to be killed.

Letting out one last shaky exhale, I reached out with trembling fingers and pressed the button for floor two praying that the doors didn't just open back up.

There was a slight pause after I pressed the button and then... I felt the movement as the elevator began to move upward.

I couldn't stop my body from collapsing back against the wall as a wave of relief washed over me.

My feeling of relief only lasted for a second though as another thought crossed my mind as the elevator continued to slowly ascend.

I had no idea what would be waiting for me once the doors opened again. For all I knew another one of those things could be waiting right outside the doors once they opened.

The thought sent an icy shiver of fear running through me and I quickly stood up. If another of those things was waiting for me when the doors opened I was done for.

There wasn't much I could do to defend myself. I had no weapon, there was no where I could run, and even if I could, this close up they'd catch me in a heartbeat.

My eyes were glued to the doors as I heard the telltale ding that meant I had reached floor two and the doors were about to open.

I clenched my hands into fists, feeling the small bite of pain as my nails dug into my palms as I watched the doors slowly slide open and I came face to face with... nothing.

I wasn't even sure if I was still breathing as my eyes frantically shot back and forth in front of me searching for any sign of movement.

It felt like an eternity before my brain willed my legs to move and I slowly inched forward until I was standing at the threshold of the elevator.

I swallowed hard and as slowly as possible stuck my head out a little further so that I could see out onto the second floor.

After checking for the fourth time and assuring myself that there was nothing there, at least nothing that I could see anyway, I allowed my self to take the smallest step out of the elevator.

The minute both feet were out I watched as the doors slid closed again. I knew that staying inside the elevator could only keep me safe for so long and that I'd eventually have to come out at some point but there was something about those doors closing and me being out in the open that made me want to press the button again and run back inside.

You've got to find the others and get out of here.

I reminded myself over and over as I took yet another step forward.

I could do this.

I just had to make it to the escalators, go back down to the first floor, find the others, and then we could all get the hell out of here.