Malen'kaya Zemlya [2] [P. Parker]

3.16 Don't Look Down

I thrust my hands out again, strengthening the vines more as the elevator crashed into them, stopping with a crunch.

My arms were shaking as I held them up, but it wasn't enough. The car dropped again.

I screamed in shock as the elevator car filled with my friends, teacher and boyfriend plummeted to the ground.

Then, in a moment of pure terror, a web shot past me, it attached to the part of the ceiling that had been ripped off and the elevator stopped about five or so floors below me.

"Spider-Man?" I called down the shaft, able to see into the elevator a bit. "Is everyone okay?"

"Everyone's fine, Gaia," Peter replied in a strange accent.

I tilted my head but said nothing.

"Yes!" Ned shouted out, pumping his fist and making the whole elevator car shake. I paled and my heart dropped once more. "Yes!"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, big guy, quit moving around." Peter scolded, still using a different accent.

"Sorry, sir. So sorry." Ned replied.

"There is a fire truck and ambulance on the ground when everyone is safe. I would suggest a shock blanket for yourself." Jane told me.

I nodded, my hands shaking. "Yeah. Thanks, Jane."

As Peter pulled the elevator up, I leaned against a wall.

Once the car had passed me, I lifted my hands, helping to push it up slowly.

My muscles burned and my arms shook.

"I'm really out of practice with this stuff," I muttered under my breath.

When the elevator reached the top and people pulled Ned and Mr Harrington out, I loosened my hold on the elevator.

I could just hear what was happening up above me.

"Alright, this is your stop," Peter said to Liz.

"Come on, Liz," Ned added.

There was a metallic creak and I straightened my arms once more to help hold the metal elevator up.

"Go, go, go!" Peter said. "Everybody out! Move it, people. Move it, move it!"

"Are you sure it's safe?" Liz asked quietly. I had to strain my ears to hear her.

Then, the elevator dropped again.

I dropped my arms as it rushed passed, but not fast enough. The edge of the metal box hit my left wrist as it fell.

I clenched my teeth in pain and looked up.

Liz was dangling from a single web attached to her wrist.

"You're okay," Peter said quietly. "You're okay."

I spun on my heel and ran up the stairs in record time, bursting out onto the floor with all my friends just as Liz was pulled up and out of the elevator shaft.

I ran over and enveloped Ned in a hug first, then Liz.

Then I looked at Peter.

"So, uh, is everyone okay?" he asked.

Liz nodded, her eyes wide, rubbing her arm.

After a short moment of silence, Peter's web snaps and he shot down the shaft.

Everyone leaned over the edge.

Ned held one of my arms as I leaned over further and thrust a hand out, growing a bunch of vines underneath him.