I walked slowly inside the office as the glass door opened before me. The hustle and bustle continued as the murmuring of people echoed through the office.

Scanning the whole place, a large sign on the metallic doors in one corner caught my eye. My eyes twinkled with glee. I was over the moon!

Reassuring myself by rubbing my eyes, I again focused my vision and caught a glimpse of it.

Yes, “For employees only”, read the sign. It was an elevator. Finally, after waiting for years, an elevator was installed in our office building, which was considered among the tallest in the city.

Seeing the glossy, metallic elevator, my jaw dropped as my bag lazily slipped off my shoulders. I rushed towards it, as if fearing someone might snatch it up before I got there. Luckily, there was no one getting in at the time, and I was the only person to enjoy it. I smiled.

I hopped on the elevator and poked the glistening button for the fifth floor, where my cosy, comfy chair was waiting for me. The elevator doors closed slowly. I was excited.

Inside the elevator, slow music was on and a painting hung, casting sinister vibes. I shook the thought from my mind and smiled again, because I was happy I didn’t have to use the stairs and get exhausted.

However, the next moment, a sense of anxiety washed over me. I stood steady, but kept noticing the metallic cube I was in. A subtle tremor passed through my skin. The melodious music with eerie painting seemed very ironic.

The lift slo­wly went up with a ticking sound. There was a strong smell. As it rose, a creaking sound startled me. And then the lights started flickering. I began shivering with fear. All my happiness vanished and my nightmare began.

The elevator creaked and halted, producing screeching sounds like a deafening roar. For a second nothing moved, everything was hushed.

I was all wet with sweat in a matter of a few seconds. My heart was pounding out of my chest, my knees turned to jelly. I began fidgeting with my hand as I popped my knuckles and bile rose up my throat. A sense of panic blanketed me. I felt uncomfortable to the core.

Unable to sort my emotions, I began to scream at the top of my lungs and started banging the metallic, hard door until my hands turned sore.

I felt as if it was the end of my life. I missed the stairway. My reclined back slid downwards as I clenched my frizzy hair with my frigid finger. A sense of regret burdened my frail shoulders. Grasping my head, with my shaking hands, I sat down on the floor waiting for a miracle. Minutes felt like hours, and then, I heard a clattering sound. I looked towards the door. A thin ray of light flashed into my eye. I covered my eyes and caught sight of a man who stretched his hand inside to rescue me.

The door was jammed and it opened only a few inches with the help of a machinery, and outside it I could see the rescue team.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 27th, 2024