When the men came out, Mr. Lander barked the order, "Call the police!" To which, panic ensued. Those who managed to actually attempt to use a phone were quickly reminded that calling anyone was not an option.
The elevator doors at the end of the hall opened up, and a few people came in looking shaken, "The doors downstairs are blocked by water and debris! We are flooded in!"
"There's a killer in the building!" Someone yelled frantically. "We need to get out!" Everyone was pushing past each other. All fleeing to get downstairs and out of the building.
"Stop!" Mr. Lander was yelling, "We have to wait for the police! A woman has been murdered! Don't any of you care!" They cared more about saving themselves. They flooded the stairwell, and others piled into the elevator.
I leaned against my desk as all this information was hitting me at once. I really, really, should have stayed home today.
"Tucker." Bea was hugging herself, looking frightened, "We should get out of here, come on."
It was no surprise when the door to the stairs flew open and people came right back in. They were all yelling and speaking over each other. But the words all amounted to the same thing. "We're trapped."
"Everyone!" Lander climbed atop a desk to shout above the chaos. This man certainly had a loud and commanding voice. People simmered down to look up to our fearless leader. "Remain calm! The more we panic, the more people will get hurt! This is a time to come together! Not to divide! If we all just stay together and wait for the police, everything will be alright."
"There is a killer here!" A woman cried out, "He could be anyone!"
"Or she!" Interjected Daniel. He raised his fist into the air and shouted, "Empowerment!"
"People!" Lander called out again, "Please. There is safety in numbers. They can't attack anyone if we all stay together. We are stronger as a whole. So, for your own safety, stay together. No wandering off. If you must leave the floor for any reason, go with a small group."
A man spoke up, "The police aren't even on their way! We can't report this! No one's coming! And we are stuck here with a madman!"
"Or a madwoman!" Daniel saw the need to speak up.
A woman was suddenly offended now, "What's your problem? You keep trying to throw this onto a woman! Sus much?"
"No, just the facts." He shrugged. "A dead woman was found in the women's bathroom. Besides, are you saying women aren't capable of murder?"
She snapped, "I'm just saying that men are recorded to be more violent than women! Are you saying that you know for a fact that a man didn't do it?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, "I'm not saying anything without my lawyer present."
Lander had to regain control of the room, "Let's not tear at each other's throats. Leave the investigation to the police. As soon as we get a signal, we will call for help. Until then, everyone bundle into groups of six. Stay together. We will wait this out."
"What about the departments downstairs?" Someone asked, "They need to know there is a killer on the loose!"
"You're absolutely right!" Lander agreed, "a designated group will warn the second floor. A separate designated group will take the first floor. Do we have any volunteers?"
No surprise, there wasn't exactly a wave of hands flying in the air. Lander was right about one thing, there was safety in numbers, and no one was eager to leave the herd. Bea looked to me. I am not sure what kind of madness came over me. I was no hero. As if by impulse, my hand was in the air.
"Tucker!" Lander pointed to me. "You'll be team one. Go to the first floor. Anyone else?"
"I'll go with him!" Daniel announced boldly.
"I need twelve brave men." Lander continued.
"Or brave women!" The woman who argued with Daniel sneered at him.
"Thank God for you, Debra." Daniel smiled at her, "How stunning and brave!"
"I'll go with them!" Bea threw her hand into the air. I looked to her quickly as she gave me an encouraging smile.
Doug and Randall stepped forward to join our six man- person- squad team. Team two was assembled shortly afterwards, and all of us departed down the stairwell. Team two exited out on the second floor while team one continued to the ground floor. We could already see all the water below us. The building wasn't exactly watertight.
Doug shook his head, "If it's flooded down there, you'd think they would all be upstairs by now." He was the first to step into the water, which went well up half his calf. That was all it took. He jerked around violently for a few seconds before falling face first into the water.
"Oh my god!" Debra screeched and started to run back up the stairs.
"Stop!" I called out to her, "We have to stay together!"
"Is he dead?!" Randall reached out for Doug.
Daniel snatched his arm and pulled him back, "There's a live line out there. Anyone on the first floor who was in that water is dead by now."
"We have to tell everyone upstairs." Bea could only wrap her arms around herself for some amount of comfort.
Daniel put his arm over her shoulders, "Come on. Let's get back to the others." Now was not the time to punch him or squabble over petty things. People were dead. I would overlook him touching her for now.
When we got to the top of the stairs, we found Debra crying in a pitiful heap by the door. "We're all gonna die, aren't we?"
"Probably not." Daniel reassured her.
Bea held her hand down to the sobbing woman. Thankfully, she took it, and we were able to return to deliver our grim news.
