My Collection of Short Stories and Poetry

A deal with the devil

Taking a sip of my coffee, I enter my work building and am immediately greeted by the secretary.

"Good morning Audrey." She says with a smile.

I just nod and step onto the elevator, watching the doors shut as Darla from accounting rushes in late and the doors close in her face. Haha good.

The elevator ascends and I drink my coffee while tapping my foot impatiently. The elevator beeps with each passing floor. 35...36...37...

It's about to turn from 39 to 40-the penthouse- when it hitches and stops.

Fuck.

I press the red help button but it's stuck and won't work. Fuck.

I try not to panic, and press the doors open button. That won't work either.

I look around wildly trying to find a way out. Noticing the hatch at the top, I push and push in vain. I facepalm myself when I remember it's locked from the outside so rescuers can get in.

I check my phone to see if I can call for 911 or at least the secretary. No signal.

Fuck me. My heart begins racing while I try pressing the help button but it still doesn't work and my palms get sweaty, panic settling in.

All of a sudden, I hear people talking on the other side so I do what I can. I set my coffee down and take a deep breathe.

"AHHHHHHH HELP I'M TRAPPED!" I yell as loud as possible even if it's in vain. I even bang on the does with my fists as hard as possible, biting through the pain.

"Wait. Did you hear that?" Someone asks very close by.

"YES HELP ME!" I yell and lay my forehead on the doors, sighing softly while I sink to my knees. "Help me." I whisper as I can't hear anything on the other side anymore. "Shit." I breathlessly say and sit cross legged on the floor, sipping at my coffee and giving up hope.

I hear loud commotion and people rushing around. Maybe they heard me after all!?

"Hello?" I hear a voice call out from floor 40.

"Help! The elevator is stuck." I call out, relieved someone finally heard me.

"Ma'am a rescue team is on the way. Just stay calm and don't panic."

I roll my eyes at the obviousness in his words and reply with a curt "Its a little too late for that."

How would I be expected to not panic in a situation like this?

As soon as I have that last thought, the elevator hitches and drops down faster than I can comprehend and I let out an ear piercing scream, my hands braced out on the floor beside me.

My heart is pounding in my chest and I can practically feel my organs lodged in my throat from the quick drop and the fear that's locked inside me.

I hear running and panicking on the other side of my metal cage. Great, they tell me to stay calm then they panic? Idiots. I hope the rescue team knows what they're doing.

"Are you okay!?" Some new voice asks and I breathe heavily, trying to slow my heart rate to a normal pace.

"I'm fine!" I yell and look down when I feel something cold touch my hand. My coffee spilled when the elevator dropped and I scrunch up my nose in disgust, moving away to sit in the corner.

I sit with my knees to my chest, my head between my knees and my eyes shut tightly.

As if by magic the metal contraptions doors begin to open, slowly but surely. The metal squeaks and grates against my ears but I look up and relief floods my entire being. There's firemen on the other side prying the doors open. The doors are jaws reluctant to open for it's prey to escape it's trap. They finally open the elevator enough for me to get out.