Gemotions

The air grew stuffy, and the fear in Laura’s eyes was palpable. She kept touching the call button, which was unresponsive. The flickering lights overhead were adding to the sense of foreboding. Brian, however, found himself observing the scene with a curious detachment. He watched the shadows dance, noting how the light played on the metal walls.

He was aware of the situation and the fact that he was trapped. It didn’t seem to affect him, though. He stretched out his legs, leaning back against the wall. He hummed a tuneless melody, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. He began to trace the patterns of the air vents, counting the openings.

He tried to keep his tone even when Laura asked if he was alright. When she started talking about the important meeting she was going to miss, Brian listened with a nod. He understood how she felt, but he knew that getting upset wouldn't help. He took a slow breath and let it out. He took out a small notepad and pencil, and started drawing, focusing on the shapes of the elevator interior.