He was right. She had to get out. Her fear was paralyzing her.
“Okay, okay,” she said. “I can get myself partly up, then you grab me and pull me out, fast.”
He knelt. “Okay. Your call. Tell me when.”
Just do it. Do it, do it,do it, she repeated.
Fear pumped adrenaline in her veins.
Now or never, she thought.
She jumped and grabbed the floor above her, using her legs to push against the cement wall in front of her to give her some leverage.
She heard a pop, the same sound she’d heard last time before the elevator fell.
“Matt!” she shouted and as she pulled herself up, his hands wrapped around her biceps and pulled her out.
The elevator brushed against her foot as Matt yanked her across the floor and into his arms.
The scrape of metal against metal sounded as the elevator plummeted, with a final crunch and thud as it hit bottom.
Her heart pounded as she clung to Matt. He was talking, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying through the ringing in her ears.
“Kara!” He shook her.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she repeated.
Then he hugged her again as they sat in the dark for several minutes. With the elevator gone, so was most of the light.
“What the fuck, Matt?” she finally said.
“What do you remember?”
She thought. “We were eating. I felt odd, and then... Ithink—well, I tried to puke but I don’t think I did.” She rubbed her temples. “My memory is all blurry.”
“You told me we were poisoned, then I felt a sting on my shoulder. I think we were tranq’ed.”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “That would explain this welt. It still hurts. Do you know what time it is? It feels late.”
“My watch. Totally forgot to even check it.” He adjusted, pressed the side of his watch to light up the LED screen. “Well shit. It’s after nine.”
“We were out forninehours?”
“Nine in the morning,” he said.
She sat up. “The whole night? We were out for a fullday?”
“Do you remember anything else? Did you see anyone? Hear anything?”
She thought. “No, but... I sensed something. Right before I felt sick, I thought someone was watching me. But I didn’t see anyone.”
“We need to find a way out.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice. Lead the way.” He didn’t get up. “Matt, are you okay?”
“I need another minute.”
They leaned against the wall and Kara found Matt’s hand, held it.
