My Words Are Law

Games of Fate (1)

Five seconds into the elevator and the lights suddenly dimmed. Another five seconds later, the light completely disappeared, leaving her in complete darkness.

The elevator, too, had stopped moving.

"...No..." Not the elevator, too!

As soon as the emergency lights sputtered to life, her fingers shakily pressed the button for the ground floor.

It didn't work.

"Oh no... No, no, no. You can't do this to me." She repeatedly pressed G, hoping at least one of the many presses she did would somehow work, but the elevator remained still.

It really happened. She can't believe it really happened... She stood motionless for a while, at a loss for what to do.

What floor is she on right now?

She raised her eyes, and the sight of the indication above the elevator doors projecting a perfect P almost drained the strength in her knees. Is this a joke?

She laughed humorlessly.

Come on now, this must be a joke.

She closed her eyes for three seconds before opening them again, but the P was still there.

...It's not a joke.

What now?

Will she get stuck here for the whole night? What about dinner? What if she needs pee break? What if-

No. Stop it, Amaryllis. The more you think about it, the higher the chance of it happening... Stay positive! She nodded at her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she cleared the pessimistic voices in her head before waiting patiently for the elevator to descend normally, but it never did.

There must be something she could do other than destroy the buttons with the increasing pressure of her finger. The second she thought of that, her eyes caught sight of the emergency pager.

She slapped her forehead. Goodness. How could she have missed that? Stupid Amayrllis. She hastily connected the line and spoke with a clear voice. "Hello? Can anybody hear me? I'm stuck in the elevator. Please send help. I'm at the Pent House..."

Static.

"Hello?" She tried one more time, but the response remained the same.

...What kind of crappy high-end condominium is this!? Even the emergency lines are glitchy! Surely, she can't be this unfortunate? She anxiously called for help countless times until she remembered she had a phone.

Why, of course! She cackled stupidly at the realization.

Grabbing the object from her back pocket, she quickly turned the screen on, but the usual light that should have leaked out of the screen by now was nowhere to be found. The small screen remained black, seemingly mocking her demise.

She groaned in frustration as she crouched down and sat on her heels helplessly.

Of course, it was going to be like this... Stupid elevator, stupid phone, stupid projects!

She can't help but wonder. If ever... If and only if she calls for Chryses... Will he come?

She sighed. As if.

And even if he could hear her, he's not feeling well. How could he possibly help her in his condition? Honestly... He needs more help than she does.

She stared at the doors and prayed that it wouldn't take too long for the elevator to work again. Or that at least the doors would open so she wouldn't sleep here for the night.