The Elevator.

Chapter One.

“You’re crazy Elle, absolutely insane” Kieran said, sitting up in his chair and staring directly into my eyes, trying to read whether I was telling the truth or not.

I averted my eyes to the floor, quietly saying “Kie, I need the money-”. Before I could finish, he cut me off, beginning to raise his voice “nobody needs money that bad! I can pick up some extra shifts at the warehouse if you need some extra money. But what you’re not going to do is get on that death machine.”

I rolled my eyes, over the conversation already. “Who knows, maybe I’ll win”. He scoffed in response, “you won’t make it past floor 50” I pushed myself up off the twin bed narrowing my eyes at him and rolling my neck. It was still sore, it always is. The springy twin bed I found at a dumpster was not doing wonders for my sleep quality. But it was better than the floor, and it’d be gone when I got the wishes and wished for money.

“Good to know you believe in me” I called out while exiting the small studio apartment I shared with my best friend Kieran and my mother. I didn’t bother to see if he followed me or not. As much as I loved him, he wasn’t going to change my mind. Kieran moved in with us after his Dad died in a tragic explosion at the oil rig, and his mother then took her life atop his father’s grave. I always hated her for that. How could she be weak enough to leave her only son alone, grieving the loss of both parents? She should’ve been there for him, but I’ve always been more than happy to pick up the pieces for her.

I went down the rickety stairs of the apartment building blackened by smoke. After The Government had imposed the elevator as a solution to the growing population problem, no building was allowed to have an elevator. In all my 19 years of living, I’ve never ridden one, and I only know one person that has.

“If it isn’t Ellie Belly” a deep, raspy voice calls. “Murr, I thought I told you I was too old for that” I said while pivoting to face him. He chuckled lowly “yeah, doesn’t mean I won’t do it though”. Don’t get me wrong, I love Murr. He’s like a… great-grandfather to me. But I truly don’t know how he’s managed to live this long in his crappy apartment. For Pete’s sake, he doesn’t even have a door. When Kieran tried to build him one down at the warehouse, he’d say “ain’t nothing I’m doing in there that nobody can't see”.

“Well Ellie Belly, where ya going?” He said, though he was interrupted by his own dry, hacking cough that lasted almost a minute. I wanted to tell him the truth, Murr is not someone you lie to. He’s so earnest, and that cough makes you think that he’ll keel over any minute, and a lie is not something you want him to carry over to the afterlife. But even though I knew I shouldn't, I lied.

“Just to the pharmacy at the square to get Mom’s medication.” He shook his head at me. “Ah, come into some money, I see.” I chortled. “Something like that” I said, looking down. “Well listen Murr, I gotta go…” I trailed off. He inhaled deeply and I winced, waiting for the cacophony of coughing to rise again, but it never did. “Alright now, Ellie Belly, don’t be too long now.” I rolled my eyes at the affectionate nickname, “Bye Murr” I said as he waved me away.