Gemotions

The steel doors slammed shut with a clang that echoed in Amelia's chest, a sound that seemed to compress the already limited air supply. She gasped, her breath hitching in her throat. Beside her, David, ever the stoic, calmly pressed the button for the lobby. It didn’t light up.

Panic seized her. She flailed at the control panel, punching every button in a desperate bid for escape. A cold sweat slicked her palms, making the metal surface of the buttons seem impossibly slick. “We’re trapped,” she squeaked, her voice trembling.

David sighed, rubbing his temples. “Amelia, calm down. It’s probably just a power outage. They'll fix it soon." But the way he avoided her gaze didn't inspire confidence. She started pacing the tiny space, her movements jerky and erratic, each step a testament to the rising tide of alarm threatening to engulf her.

Her vision blurred. The fluorescent lights overhead began to buzz, amplifying the sudden silence of the elevator. She felt the inside of her cheeks begin to burn and the urge to scream clawed at her throat. “No, no, no,” she whispered, over and over, clutching at her chest as if she could physically hold the feeling back.