We stood there, our mouths agape, staring at the macabre scene before us. A chill settled over my bones even as my heart started beating faster. The hunt had begun, and we were already losing. A choked cough startled me out of my panic, and I turned around.
Wallace was shaking as he clung to Nelly, and Erin looked almost translucent in the beam of the flashlight.
DING!
The doors of the elevator closed as it sunk down to God knows where, pitching us again in the comforting darkness.
“What… is…happening…?!” Wallace whispered harshly.
“Didn’t you just see what the hell just happened?!” Erin whisper yelled.
“Enough.” I said, looking sharply at them, “We don’t have time to waste. We need to get out of here. We have to call the cops.”
“Sh… she’s right.” Nelly stuttered as her face settled into grim determination. I nodded at her and gestured to Erin with my flashlight to follow me as I made my way towards the stairs. We all power walked to the stairs trying to be as quiet as possible, expecting the killer to leap out from the shadows and drag us away.
The silence seemed oppressive, and the air hung thick with fear. Poor Julius. Why him? Was it just bad luck? Maybe he couldn’t outrun the killer?
Poor Julius, he was hardly worth the hunt. Crawling, gasping, and helpless. Well, I smirked, at least he’d never need to worry about the stairs anymore.
I was yanked back suddenly. Swinging the flashlight around, I tried to defend myself as I attacked my would-be killer.
“Woah! Woah! Calm down Pam! What the hell is wrong with you?!” Erin said, irritatedly as she rubbed her shoulder where I had caught her with the flashlight.
“Why the hell would you do that?! Are you insane? Trying to give me a heart attack?!” I cried out harshly, holding my chest trying to calm my racing heart.
“Th… that was bec… because she was helping you my d… dear” Nelly said nervously.
“What?” I replied blankly.
“Look.” Wallace said quietly. The stairway was sealed, the heavy iron door preventing us from leaving anywhere.
“You were going to walk right into it.” Erin replied, in a matter-of-fact manner.
“We are trapped.” I said, my voice rung hollow.
“Yes.” They replied.
Erin gasped suddenly.
“What?” I asked.
“If we are trapped here… Then… the killer…?”
The sound of footsteps echoed. Everyone went silent, turning off their flashlights and plunging us into the dark.
We smirked.
….
“Oh no. No, no, no.” Wallace chanted as we heard him back away from the sound of the footsteps.
“Hey. Hey?! Calm down. This is not helping us.” I snapped.
“What’s the plan?” Erin asked.
“Ye… yes the stairs are n…not going to work an…anymore.” Nelly muttered, her voice shaking with fear.
“Is there any other way out of here?” I asked, turning towards Wallace and Nelly.
“How did e even get in?” Wallace whispered.
Erin gasped suddenly.
“What?!” I asked.
“Pam! The fire escapes!” She said, excitedly.
“No! No way! I am climbing down tha’ rusty, old thing!” Wallace protested.
The footsteps sounded closer.
“We don’t have time!” Erin hissed as she grabbed at my hands.
“Wha’ if he’s near our apartments, eh?! You wan’ to die?” Wallace whispered angrily.
“We could go fr…from my ap…apartment.” Nelly said quietly.
The arguing quieted down as everyone thought over this. Somehow, I knew they waited for my answer. Should we? We didn’t have anymore time left. The killer was getting closer, and we were losing time. And I wasn’t planning to die like this.
“Let’s go.” I said, “Nelly get in the front and we’ll hold hands and keep moving.”
Nelly shuffled forward and grasped my hand, I clutched at Erin’s as she held on to Wallace. We shuffled forward slowly as Nelly made her way towards her apartment. My only focus on the muted footsteps as we got away from the killer.
How long before he found out?
Nelly stopped suddenly and opened a door. Her apartment! We made it!
Nelly got in and pulled me behind her. I gingerly stepped inside. It smelled… flowery? Incense perhaps? She shut the door once everyone got in, and I made sure she locked it securely.
“It’s my f…fault!” Nelly sobbed suddenly.
“What…?” I asked confused.
“I k… killed Julius!” She wailed.
We stared at her blankly.
“Wha’ are you sayin’ lady?” Wallace demanded.
“He wasn’t sup…supposed to be h… here. I told him I w…was ma…making lemon c…cake. So, h…he was going to stop b…by.” She sobbed.
“Well now… tha’ is not your fault. Any man would stop by for a piece o’ cake.” Wallace comforted her surprisingly.
“Yea Nelly! It isn’t your fault a psycho killed him!” Erin chimed in.
I ignored them, rolling my eyes, and planned what to do next.
“Nelly, where’s the fire escape?” I asked.
“There.” She sniffled, turning on her flashlight and gesturing towards the lone window in the hall.
“Come on let’s get moving.” I said gesturing towards Wallace and Nelly first. They gingerly walked towards the fire escape and started climbing through it. Me and Erin watched them in silence.
“What if he gets us?” Erin asks quietly.
“You know what to do.” I reply as I reach into my pant pockets and throw the item towards her.
Erin squeals in happiness and hugs me, the lighter held firmly in her hands.
The doorknob starts rattling as we step towards the fire escape together.
Erin laughs, “This is going to be so much fun.”
