The Queer Rebels

Chapter 37: Saving

"Eli, we've got a problem," I say, trying not to shout.

"I hear it, too," he says and then curses. He stops moving, and vibrations travel down the rope as he readjusts his stance. There's a click, and a beam of light momentarily blinds me.

I turn my face, following the light down to see a square block rising.

Fast.

"Should I jump?" Panic clenches my throat.

"No, wait..." Eli's voice trails off. "I think it's stopping."

I heard a ding as the elevator comes to a standstill on the floor below us.

"Now?" I ask.

"Slow and steady, remember?" Eli cautions, his voice low. "See if the roof will hold your weight first."

"Okay." I continue to rappel down the shaft until I reach the elevator's roof. I step onto it tentatively, still gripping my end of the rope. When it doesn't budge, I ease the rest of my weight down.

"Good?" Eli asks, the beam of light again blinding my eyes.

I squint and give a thumbs up. "I think there are people inside," I whisper.

I can't see Eli, but I feel the rope jostle once more, and a moment later, he's next to me, Harry still tied to his chest.

"Stay as close to the center as possible," he whispers.

I nod.

We sit there for several moments. "Whoever rode this up here has gotten off," I say. "Do we just wait for it to go down?"

Eli exhales. "Risky. This is all so risky."

"I know," I agree, "But, what–"

"Turn your halo-mask back on," Eli interrupts. "You hop into the car, take this key card, bring us to the basement."

"The basement?"

"Yes," he says, pressing the plastic card into my hand.

I think of the guard's face again and call up my disguise. Then I lift the roof access panel and slide it over, glancing down into the brightly lit elevator to ensure that it's empty. Then I lower myself over the edge and drop down, bending my knees with the impact.

I press the keycard to the black box and select the basement.

The whirring of the machinery starts up again as the elevator slowly moves downwards.

But too soon, it slows down again and comes to a stop.

Above me, the access panel slides back into place. The elevator lights flicker from his movement.

My insides churn as I wait for whoever is about to enter. Are they guards? Maybe even the guard, whose face I'm borrowing for my disguise?

Should I change my features again? Maybe to a bland, forgettable face. Something that matches this custodial outfit that I'm wearing.

But before I can decide, I catch sight of the tape on my palms and I shove them into my pockets.

The door slides open, and I stuff my bubbling fear down. Look bored. Overworked and ready to go home.

I adjust my stance and stare absently at the chrome plating as a middle-aged man in a brown business suit steps on, nods at me, then presses for the first floor.

Without a word, the elevator continues to go down.

At the first floor, the doors slide back open, and the man steps off without a word.