With a watch on his wrist, no memory of his past, and a puzzle-filled room, Atlas tries desperately to escape the elevators.
Upon waking to darkness, Atlas stumbles into the white room. His desire for answers driving his feet to move. In the firs...
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Atlas complied with her pleas and attempted to move his leg to the right. His heart threatened to beat out of his chest. Their combined weight was too much for them. He felt his body sliding down further and further as gravity tried to claim them both.
--
No! No! No!
They were so close. This couldn't be it! Freedom was just to the right. Atlas dug his nails into the floor. The pain was muted by the adrenaline pumping through him. His labored breath was tense as he moved his leg. There was double his weight pulling him down now. The beautiful girl's terrified eyes silently screamed for help, and he knew that she was too exhausted to speak.
I have to save her. I have to keep her safe. I promised!
Although he had no recollection of such a promise, Atlas knew that it was true. This was what he was made for. Protecting Hope. He couldn't let them both die. Not here. Not now. Not ever. He mustered all of his strength and willed his aching leg to move. Still sliding down, he felt his shirt rising off of his abdomen.
He closed his eyes and prayed that his exposed skin would give him enough traction to bring Hope to safety. The small girl was shaking as she held onto his leg.
Atlas moved his leg to the right. He moved it left, right, left, right, and left again. They were small, subtle movements, but that was all the momentum he needed. The weight and velocity would take over from there. Finally, Hope was being lifted towards the ladder. Pain consumed Atlas' body. His skin searing with the friction.
"Jump!" he managed to eke out the words with no small amount of effort.
Hope seemed more than happy to oblige. As he swung her form to the right, she jumped. Atlas felt the weight fall from his body and quickly pulled himself and his foot back into the elevator. His breathing was still heavy as he stuck his head through the hole.
He hadn't seen Hope stick the landing, but he had heard a metal clang sound from below. Whipping his head around, he spotted a head of fiery red hair grinning at him. She did it. She had grabbed hold of a rung and was now resting on it as she watched him. Her green eyes were brimmed with tears. Atlas couldn't even imagine the terror that must have ripped through her body. He could see the pulse of her neck as she breathed in relief. Hope was tough.
Now it's my turn.
Pulling his head back up, Atlas slung on the bag Hope had made him. He would have to make it over without the help of momentum like Hope had been provided. He lowered himself through the metal and made sure to keep his elbows above its surface to brace him, his heart thudding hard in his chest. It was time to move. He took a second to curse at the rooms he had ventured into while searching for freedom and then moved so that he was supported by his hands. It was a very free feeling, dangling above the emptiness; seeing how far the shaft tunneled. The dim yellow lighting was providing just enough to see that it was endless. Atlas got his breathing under control and willed himself to stay calm. His grip was sturdy.
