Locked Away

 Locked Away

Sarah McCormick

What do you mean? “This is all my fault!” Well, you said you wanted to go to the escape room in the haunted house at the museum. And you said you felt we were drifting apart and needed some more time together. Yes, I did, do you not agree? No, babe, I think we’re doing ok all things considered. Besides, you said your friends had the keys to this place. They do! It is not my fault that the entire block lost power and the vault door locked! Ok, so again, HOW AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE? Babe, I’m so sorry, but when the power went out, the locking mechanism reset and can only open on a timer.  I AM NOT SPENDING ALL NIGHT LOCKED INSIDE A VAULT! We’re waiting for the authorities to let us know how quickly they can get you out. Please try to stay calm, we don’t know how much oxygen is in there and if you start hyperventilating, it will not help. Sid pinched the bridge of his nose trying not to notice the headache that was forming.  Taking deep breaths, he tried to calm himself until his friends figured out a plan to rescue him.

Sid and Brecia met during their last year in med school. They had been dating for the past three years. In between, MCATS, licensing exams, and deciding which internships to choose from their time together was getting fewer and further between.  To make matters worse, while they both secured paid internships, Sid did not get accepted to Brecia’s hospital, so he had to take one on the other side of town, and they rarely saw each other.

They both somehow managed to get the same day off and decided to go to the Montessori Museum. This evening, a portion of the museum was reserved for a special event. An escape room/ haunted house. Sid and Brecia always wanted to go to an escape room. He suggested one in the middle of town so neither would have to travel too far. Brecia suggested the one down the street from her apartment since she had an early shift in the morning. One section of the rooms was down a dark smoky corridor. Once you get into the room, it is pitch black but there was a simple puzzle that turned the lights on. When the lights came on, the first door closed and opened the second. Unfortunately, Sid and Brecia got separated, and as Sid was attempting to find his way to her, he stumbled upon the dark room, and into the vault. Just as he figured out the first step and the lights came on, within a few moments, the lights went out. He soon found out that a transformer had blown down the street which took out the entire city block.

Penny and Arthur, who were on a double date with Sid and Brecia, were outside with her. Penny, who worked as an employee of the panic room turned haunted house helped evacuate all of the patrons when the lights went out. It was only when Brecia came out alone that she realized Sid had not yet come out. “Where’s Sid,” asked Brecia? “I thought he was with you,” replied Penny. “Oh no! He must be lost inside!” Brecia called him on his cell, thankfully he had not lost his signal. Sid, “Where are you”? “I don’t know. I was looking for you when I saw a short path with a door that said do not enter. I thought it was a part of the house and just decoration.” Penny gasped; “he went through the door with the do not enter tape”? “Yes, from what I can make out, is there something wrong with that door”? “Yes, it was near the end of the house but that is why the tape was up; it was not decoration, it was a warning.” The room has two doors, one has an escape room puzzle where when you solve it, it turns on the lights and opens the second door. Once you get through the second door, the first one closes. “Ok, what’s the issue, asked Brecia”? The issue was that someone needed to be outside the puzzle because the second door was an old bank vault but was set on a timer so once it locks, there is no way out from the inside. With an attendant outside the combination can be reset, but it runs on an electrical current. WHAT??? Brecia exclaimed; are you saying he is stuck in there until the power comes back on? “Unless we can figure out how to get some electricity in there long enough to crack the vault, I don’t see any other way,” replied Penny. Brecia takes a deep breath in, then explains the dilemma to Sid. 

Sid was already a little claustrophobic, and now is feeling more so. An argument ensued, with each blaming the other.  I AM NOT SPENDING ALL NIGHT LOCKED INSIDE A VAULT! Please try to stay calm, we don’t know how much oxygen is in there and if you are hyperventilating, it will not help. 

The police, fire, and the local power company were all en route. With power out in a large grid within the city chaos broke out. A few vehicle accidents occurred as stop lights were out. People were trying to find their way out of that area in the darkness. A few hours passed before they could get to the museum. Officer Latchkey approached and asked, “What are you kids still doing out here? Penny explained her company reserved the museum as a fundraiser but one of their patrons was trapped inside. The firefighters arrived on the scene a short while later, found Sid, and attempted to break into the vault to no avail. The vault vendor rented it out for special occasions, but at this time, could not be located to explain how to get into the vault in this instance. The firefighters were able to drill a small enough hole to get some oxygen into Sid, but the vault was so thick that it took three hours just to do that so it was going to be a long night and it would take all of their resources to get into the vault. 

Eight hours in, Sid and Brecia agreed to reserve their cell batteries, so they called once an hour to check in. Brecia, you have an early shift, you can just go home and get some rest. No way, I could rest, here or at home knowing you were stuck in there. How are they coming with the power? They had to make sure the power was totally disconnected, and then get another transformer in place. That is what the hold-up is, they had to bring in another one from the main facility which is almost an hour away so now that it is here, they are getting it in place, in the dark. How many people are without power? They are estimated to be about 5,000. Wow. Brecia. Yes, Sid. I’m sorry I yelled. I understand and what is most important is getting you out of there.

Hour nine. The sun is rising, and the utility workers are about done. Sid? Sid? Sid! Yeah, yeah, I’m here. I fell asleep. Ok, sorry for waking you. The sun is starting to rise, and they are almost done. Thank you for staying with me. Just then, the utility worker said, “ok ma’am we have fixed the issue, and the power should be on shortly.” Within the hour the power came on, and the museum workers were able to get in and reset the electricity breakers to allow power back into the building. They were able to input the combination on the lock, get Sid out, and he was checked out by the paramedics. Just a little dehydrated, as expected. You owe me breakfast, miss ma’am, Sid said. There’s a restaurant across the street, let’s go. Brecia, “At least we spent all night together, even if it was locked away.”