Long Way Down — The Elevator Rumbled

09:08:08 a.m.

THE ELEVATOR RUMBLED

and vibrated

and knocked

around like the middle drawer, like something off track.

Scared the hell outta me.

What’s taking

this stupid thing so long?

I asked,

pounding the door

as hard

as my heart was pounding inside me.

This rickety thing has always moved slow,

Buck said, grinning.

Yeah, but this is ridiculous,

I replied, palms wetting.

Might as well relax,

Buck said.

It’s a long

way

down.