Human

Chapter 22:

Turing the key in my door one last time, i started towards the elevator. My door was locked and I'm keeping my key. A constant reminded that I was here to help, but they shut me out and treated my like I wasn't there. So now whenever they see my secured door, think of yet another member who was here, but was ignore, and just like they treated me, I am no longer there. Sorry Harry, looks like you lost another one.

Seeing I don't have a ride, I called a cab to pick me up a few blocks away. Waiting in the parking lot of a small corner store, I hummed a little toon. Fortunately I was able to return to my shared dorm, after talking to the house of administrations. Seeing they hadn't replaced me yet. The cab couldn't come fast enough, I had a feeling that somebody was watching me or was coming after me. It was an eerie feeling to have, considering I know what lurks in these neighborhoods.

"You Paris?" The twenty or so cab driver pulled up at the curb.

"Yeah." I lifted my few bags besides me in the backseat.

"There's a trunk you know." He spun his toothpick around in his mouth.

"There's a gas pedal you know." I sassed back.

"Don't need to get all uptight." The guy turned away from me and to the steering wheel.

"Then get going, I'm in a rush and I don't need you slowing me down."

"Feisty, I like it." The guy smirked.

"And I like my boyfriend." I pretended I had a boyfriend.

"Sure you do." The guy started to drive to the address I had given him.

All of a sudden my phone went on a rampage, a flood of incoming text messages and phone calls blew up my phone all at the same time. My ringtone was becoming even more obnoxious than it ever has, and even the driver took notice of it. Names and numbers flashed on my screen and wouldn't stop.

"Can uh, you turn off your phone, it's distracting." The cab driver looked back at me.

"We are two blocks away, I think you can live." I sassed and tried to turn my phone off.

"You know what, just get out now." The guy pulled over.

"Gladly, now I don't have to pay." I proudly took my bags and headed down the familiar sidewalk.

Shoving my phone into my backpack, I rolled my bags into the elevator of the building. It seemed like forever until the bell clicked at my floor. I waited impatiently for forty-five seconds before the doors didn't open. Clicking the open door button like seven hundred times and the damn doors still wouldn't open. My temper grew even more. I wasn't mad at anything or anyone, I was just extremely annoyed. Setting my bags aside, I started to get comfortable in the cramped space. Since my phone was dysfunctional, I tried the phone attached in the emergency compartment. Dialing the building manger, as listed, the phone disconnected with a click. An aggregating hum buzzed into the receiver. My phone continued to vibrate and ring. I was done with this. So I threw my phone as hard as I could at the elevator door, watching it shatter.

"That's better." I rested my head against my luggage.

"Hello? Is anybody in there?" I heard an old mans voice.

"Yeah, I'm in here." I called out.

"Is everything alright in there?"

"Yeah, I'm good." Annoyed, but unharmed.

"Alright, we've called the elevator company and they will be here in a good thirty minutes or so, they will determine how long it will take to fix and get you out as soon as possible." The mans voice came in loud, meaning I wasn't in between floors.

"Sounds okay, just please hurry." I contained my sass, considering the old man I knew was on the other side was trying his hardest to help me. I had seen him multiple times before in the building, always working hard with a smile.

And I guess this just gave me time to think. No one knew where I was besides the man, no one was here to distract me, and no one was here to convince me otherwise.

Analyzing every detail of each event that had happened since the day I met Casper. Trying to think of reasons why I did things. Like how and why I said yes so easily. Clearing if I had been in my right mind I would have said no, but things like that just don't add up. I always was the girl who over thought things and came up with examples or reasons why I should or should not do things, and for that particular event, I had none. And for the first night where I met everyone at the frat home, why was I taken into that dark room to be carved on. Whoever had don't it had some motivation relating to do it, and I would like to know what it was.

"Excuse me miss?" A different voice sounded.

"Yes?"

"The elevator is just about finished, we are going to have to switch the power connected to its server off and then on, in that time the lights will flicker out momentarily. Do not freak out, we've got everything under control. We will get you out of here shortly."

"Okay. As long as you've got everything under control." I giggled, of course they have everything under control, they're professionals.

And then I was proven wrong.The lights flickered out shortly after. Damn, now I wish I still had a functioning phone to light up the room a little bit. But after what seemed like a matter of minutes, the lights didn't turn on like the man had promised. And I couldn't hear the murmur of voices like I could before. Then all of a sudden I felt my stomach drop.

"Ahh!" I screamed an ear piercing pitch. The elevator fell.

My bags tipped and flew around, bumping into me and the wall. Pieces of my shattered phone pressed deeply into my skin. And then my stomach launched all the way up to my throat. The suspension cord didn't snap luckily, cause I was jolted upward near the ground I had assumed. And finally after bouncing around, the elevator stopped. I heard voices sound from throughout the building. The lights remained off and the security I had before was next to nothing.

"Miss? Miss? Is everything alright? Are you injured?" The panicked mans voice sounded distant.

"I don't know. Just get me out of here!" I shouted, my heart still beating like a drum.

"We're trying to do everything we can, just stay calm! We have the fire department and more mechanics on the way here. We will get you out soon, I promise." The man assured.

"You already fucking said that, and here I am!" I let he adrenaline and anger get to me a little bit.

"I'm very sorry for all of this, but I really need you to call down miss." The guy defended.

"Yeah, I'll be calm, as soon as the mechanics and fire department show up and get me out of here." I yelled out, my head and foot were really starting to irritate me.

The man didn't respond, allowing me to know I was right and this was all on him. And so I waited for another ten minutes before I shouted back at him. I knew it had been ten minutes exactly because I had been counting, every second, and every minute. Just waiting for a call to tell me I was in good hands, or for the lights to be turned on. I could literally feel the elevator rocking back and forth, and it's an unpleasant feeling to have.

And all of a sudden, it dropped again. Throwing me around the cramped space with my bags colliding with me. Then the elevator started climbing floors again and stopping at a high level. It was like the Tower Of Terror at Disneyland, but in a real life where there are no safety precautions in order.

"Is anyone down there?" A deep and broad voice shouted.

"Yes! It's just me!" I stood up, hopeful that was a fireman talking.

"The fire station and I are going to attach a connection cord to the elevator and lower you to the nearest floor before we start to fix the elevator. Now I just need you to stay balanced, you are a swinging pendulum in a very tight elevator shaft." The fireman conducted.

Being as clumsy as I am, while trying to steady myself and sit down, I may have stumbled over one of my items and fallen, knocking the balance out of line. The sides of the elevator smacked into walls and grinned into metal. The force of all the movement was enough to throw me about and hit my head pretty hard on something.

"Shit! We just attached the cable and will be escorting you to the ground." The fireman's job grew more intense.

Soon enough I was descending at a steady and safe pace. After hitting ground level, I silently prayed my elevator fiasco was over and that the worst hadn't been done. The doors were pried open and a flood of light burst through the cracks. It was an overwhelming amount of light all at one time, seeming I had just been trapped in darkness for hours. Just as the doors opened wide enough for my belongs and I to be recognizable a group of hisses and gasps were heard. A few people clapped while others just stood and took in my condition.

"Ma'am, I'm going to help you over to the paramedics and when you are taken care of I need you to talk to a few police for me." A strong firefighter lifted me onto a stretcher and wheeled me over to an ambulance.

"Guys, I really don't think I'm too bad." I tried to unstrap myself one brought to the back of the ambulance.

"Sweetie, you are in terrible condition. You are need stitches on your arm, you have gashes on your forehead, you collarbone is pretty swollen, and we need to bring you in to test if you for a concussion." The large African American paramedic stood by me.

"No, no. This is nothing, I've been in worse condition. Just give me those butterfly bandage things and some ice for my collarbone. I'm okay, I didn't even hit my head hard." Bluff.

"I'm sorry sweetie but I can't do that. You need medical-"

"Fine." I cut her off and hopped of the stretcher, stumbling away from her towards the crowd of people.

"Paris!" Casper squealed once she spotted me. She sprinted past all the police and ran into my arms, giving me a tight squeeze. "Oh my god, are you alright? We all rushed over as soon as we got word." Casper holds me in her trembling hands.

"We?" And out everyone emerged.

"Paris, we need-" Harry started approaching me.

"Niall!" I called out and stood behind Niall. "Get Harry away from me."

Niall just gave Harry a look, causing Harry to slowly back up and turn away. "Are you alright?" Niall squeezed me, hurting my shoulder even more.

"I'm okay." I shifted uncomfortably.

"Good, cause tomorrow we have Easton's wake."

Damn, that stung my heart a little.

"T-tomorrow?" I stuttered.

I was not emotionally or physically ready for this. So much chaos has been going on since his departure and I don't think I was given enough time to prepare myself. Loosing someone is hate, especially when they were your only real friend.

"Don't worry, Lou has clothes and rides covered, we just need you to come with us tonight. I know all about the shit Harry just out you through, but the wake is tomorrow in his hometown, which is kind of far away. I know how close you two were and I couldn't allow myself to let you miss it. I promise to keep Harry as far away from you as possible." Niall spoke.

The thought made me a little dizzy. Resting against the ambulance I thought it sell through. Was it a fair trade? And do I really want to be with theses people after I made a clear exit? But on the other hand, it's for Easton.

"When are you leaving?" I crossed my arms.

"About an hour." Niall sounded hopeful with a shrug.

"You've got to get this nurse to stop heckling me. I want to be in a car with you, Harry should not know about that. And I want there to always be someone with me. I don't want to be alone and have a 'surprise' encounter with Harry. Afterwards, I want nothing to do with any of this. I said I was done, and I mean it."

"Deal. I'll distract the nurse and you can fetch your bags, I'll pull my car around and we can grab a small dinner before we hit the road. I'll text Lou to meet us here." Niall sound happy but still dull considering I would be pretty annoyed if he were to be overly cheerful.

Hopefully we would be able to stop at a local convince store so I could get myself some medicine to deal with the pain I'm facing. My head throbbed while my arms were tingling and smeared with blood. Before I ditch this truck I might as well snatch some of those special bandages. They could come in handy in the future also.

Swiping a few medical items, I cautiously tip toed away from the scene and towards Niall's car. For the amount of ambulance workers and cops in one place you think they would watch out for victims, such as myself, to see if they were properly cared for end stories recorded.

"Took you some time." Niall commented as I slid into the passenger side.

"Well I got a few safety items we may need in the future. I just feel something rattling my bones." I set the small make shift safety kit down on the car floor.

"You alright?" Niall looked me over.

"Yeah, just a little shaken up. " I rested my head against the window.

Even with the possibility of having a concussion, that didn't stop me from sleeping. Whatever was in that 'water' the nurse got me has me getting groggy. Within minutes the relaxing countryside blurred and faded off into the distance, replaced by a solid darkness.

Notes

I'll admit, I have no idea where the heck I got this idea from. So please, don't question it, I don't know either.

Thank you for all the comments, reads, and votes! It means a lot! And I apologize for all of my error in my writing. I never have a chance to edit each chapter so bare with me. If I make a spelling error or mistake just look past it and continue on. Thanks!

xoxo
-E