Stuck in the Elevator Again | ONC 2022

Loop 2.2

Last edited: 25/4/2022
[Roselyn]

"Hey."

Who's that? Why is everything shaking?

"Wake up."

Ok... nope, no thanks. I like being asleep. Sleep is the best thing in the world.

"The zombies are coming."

No... wait, what?

The handsome face of Mr. Uburg comes into view. His puffy eyes and his red nose are quite a sight, to be honest. I find myself staring at his face like a creep.

"Hey." Mr. Uburg's tired voice is finally anticipated by my mind.

I blink the fog away from my sight.

"Um... hi?" I respond, cringing at my scratchy voice and swallowing non-existent saliva into my parched throat. This is awkward.

"Thank goodness you're not dead or anything of that sort," Mr. Uburg mumbles.

Huh?

"You fell asleep for almost three hours and I couldn't wake you up at all," Mr. Uburg explains, a frown etching on his forehead, ruining the beautiful calmness that once masked his face.

"Sorry, Mr. Uburg. I didn't know what happened. I just... let sleep take over," I apologize.

"It's fi... wait. You shouldn't know my name."

We both freeze in place. I feel a cold chill running up my spine.

"You're Jaxtyn Uburg... right?" I look at him straight in the eye.

His sophisticated gaze lands on me. "Yes."

Our eyes connect. Both contain only one emotion: fear.

I close my eyes and pronounce the most-stylish word in my vocabulary, "fuck."

"Yeah, this is bad," Mr. Uburg utters, "so that means... what we thought was a dream, is real. We are experiencing a... repetitive encounter? There are real zombies outside the elevator wandering around, and they are more than willing to eat us as soon as the elevator door breaks open."

My attention darts to the elevator door immediately. It is still in one smooth piece, thankfully.

"A time loop. We are in a time loop," I gasp, "like Reset!"

Our eyes meet.

"We have to get out of here," we concur concurrently.

I let out a scoff, "copycat."

Mr. Uburg scrunches his eyebrows. "I'm not interested in being one. Thank you for the offer, though."

I roll my eyes. "Thanks for stealing my line."

Mr. Uburg doesn't respond. He checks his watch, fear invading his visage again.

"What is it?" I whisper, an ominous presentiment filling my guts.

"11:58..." Mr. Uburg slurs.

"Pardon?"

He snaps his head towards me. "We got in the elevator at around 9:01. Then, we are stuck in the elevator for around three hours, with you falling asleep for two to three hours. And last time I checked, I mean, from the last... loop, the zombies started destroying our cozy home at 12 sharp."

Oh, boy.

"Does that mean..."

"Yes," Mr. Uburg cuts me off, "and there's most likely no way of escaping."

The lights start flickering again right after his statement, like creatures lurking around, waiting to devour us when the time is right.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I back up against the corner and press myself flat, trying to keep my trembling self in one piece.

Crunch.

I eye the elevator door from the corner of my eye. It is a bit sunken at the bottom and with my amazing eyesight, I make out the shape of a fist.

Just then, the lights in the elevator blackout, leaving me blind.

That is my last straw.

Slap. "You bitch!"

As overwhelming memories start to flood my mind, my consciousness snaps like a twig.

I move my sight away from the fist-like dent with much difficulty. I clamp my eyes shut, slapping my palms onto my ears.

Images of two shadows slamming onto the floor together cross my eyes, and the young girl's angered screams echoes in my skull. I can hear the muted sound of flesh and bone contacting, over again and over again, and the weak, painful whimpers. I want to run towards the girl, but the bonds of my hand are so tight, too tight; the foul napkin in my mouth is gagging me.

I can't breathe.

Why can't I breathe?

Muffled shouts and loud bangs ring in the background. Not long later, growls invade my mind as well, the threesome chorusing with the girl's whispers at the back of my mind, composing a horrendous melody that I can't get rid of. The painful grunts and desperate yells somewhat sound like someone's calling for me from above the water surface. Like I'm the drowning fish, and he's the fisherman who doesn't know how to swim.

"Get... fuck... here!"

No, no, no. I'm safe, safe here. In my world. Not outside.

Wait. To be truly safe, I need to create some noises to block out the images and the outside world. Yes, yes, I remember. I need to scream. That will forbid anything from getting in.

I follow my heart's orders. Yes, this feels much better. I don't hear the treacherous sounds. Now, I will be able to sink slowly to the bottom of my world. It's calm and safe there. No worries. No one will find me. No one will touch me. The monsters can't get through the layers of traps I made to catch me.

As I rock myself into a deep slumber, I barely make out an agonized howl that is accompanied by an ear-piercing screech.

"Damn it!"