the elevator of faith

The clock hits seven. Chimes of the bell tower radiate throughout the city releasing those who work beside me. Finally! I get up from that annoyingly familiar desk, wishing I didn't need to come back here. But I have tomorrow off at least. A long weekend, that doesn't happen very often. I wave to my fellow coworkers, and hurry away. it's New Years Eve, why would I want to stay here another moment. I run out the front door into the busy street, the cool winter air nipping at my nose. I wrap my jacket around myself a little tighter and cross the busting street. 

I walk the block to my apartment building. The hub of Toronto is so lively on days like this, it amazes me how businesses can trick people into believing there is actually something to celebrate. People are so hungry for something to look forward to, something to celebrate. At least I’m not in Los Angeles anymore. A slight wave of sadness brushes over me, last year I spent New Years with Jonathan. It’s been over a month and a half since we broke up, but it still hits me hard some days. I hit the button for the elevator, waiting beside a couple other people for the electric box to bring us up to our lonely homes. They all look deep in thought as the doors slowly slide open. I slip in first, and all six of us squish into the metal cage. We all hit our numbers, three, six, four, sixteen, and eleven. We wait in silence as the doors begin to close behind me. Suddenly someone slips in between the doors, I let him past me and we all shift slightly around the small space. Couldn’t you have just waited for the next one? There are two elevators for a reason! 

The door once again slides close and just as the elevator starts to move up the man that sneaked into the elevator at the last moment speaks, “So,I'm sure you're all wondering why I’ve gathered you all here again.” he pushes on the button panel, it pops out slightly and he swings it out of place. He hits a hidden button and the elevator joltes to a stop, sending my small figure soaring into a younger guy beside me. He grabs my arm, stopping me from flying even further. “Sorry” I mutter. He nods. This is strange, what in the world. They all look at the man, I notice he has shoots of grey in his dark brown hair and beard. “Mr Burns, you said it wasn’t safe to meet like this.” one of the younger women says. Mr Burns? Like Burns' aesthetic? “Exactly, but now we have this,” He says hitting another button. The elevator yet again jerks, and lowers. What? I thought we were on the bottom level already? This place doesn’t have a parking garage either. 

As the elevator lowers Mr Burns continues speaking, “So, we have to stop the apocalypse before midnight, that’s your goal. Are you prepared?” he asks, looking at each of us. I do not think i’m supposed to be here. An apocalypse?! “That’s only five hours.” The young guy beside me says. He looks about my age, twenty one or so. “Yes Alex, good counting.” The girl says. Okay so Mr Burns, Alex and that one I know. The guy across from me, he’s… Shawn! I don’t know how I remembered that. We did a baking competition together a couple months ago when I was visiting my parents here in Toronto. It was fun, I beat him too. Apocalypse, right. Focus Amelia.

The elevator stops suddenly, this time I remain on my feet. Mr burns turns, now facing the doors as they slide open. Revealing a high tech room of some sort. I look around as I follow the others out. White wash walls, concrete floors, no windows. But a huge tv looking screen, a long desk covered in computers. Oh and, the left wall is covered in weapons and tech. What is this, some kind of spy base. One of the girls notices me looking around, “Who are you?” She asks, all sassy and disgusted. Everyone turns and looks at me, I smile nervously. Mr Burns puts his hand to his forehead, “You're not supposed to be here, are you?” he asks. It seems like this isn’t the first time. “I don’t think so.” I say, glancing around. “Wait, Amelia?” Shawn asks. “Yeah, the baking contest.” I respond, nodding. “If you can beat Shawn at baking then, welcome to the team.” Mr Burns says putting out his hand to me to shake. “Thanks?” I say, tentatively shaking his hand. What have I gotten myself into this time? 

“This is Sophia, and Alex.” Mr Burns says introducing each. The short sassy, blond is Sophia, then Alex, which I already knew. And then Ryan, tall, black hair, and I mean really black hair. And then lastly is Ava, she seems nice, and she’s got good taste in clothes. After everyone is introduced Mr Burns speaks again, “Well we had better get going.” he says hitting a button on his watch. The screens all turn on, the big TV thing shows a map of the city and the computers all have numbers and information on them. “Here is the research center,” he says pointing at a large building on the map, on the corner of Walton street and Ross drive. “The experiment failed and the creature thing got out. He’s somewhere in this zone. Find him before he turns everyone into zombies like him.” he says drawing a three mile circle around the research center. Wait, zombies are real? “Like brain eating, dead flesh monster?” I ask. Sophie rolls her eyes, “No, they don’t eat brains. But when they bite someone they transfer the disease, it’s very fast acting and there is no cure.” she states, looking at me like I’m an idiot. Yeah, cus everyone knows that! 

I’m handed a star wars looking blaster thing, “put the trigger and it shoots things with a shocking beam.” Alex says showing me. I nod. Okay so at least I don’t have to kill anyone, just knock them out? I guess. We are sent back up the elevator and out into the city, all with the blaster things. This is not strange at all. Why would they want me to come? When I asked Mr Burns simply said the more the merrier. At least I have something to do tonight. 

I follow Ava down an alleyway. “The tracker says he should be nearby.” she says looking down at her phone. “Why are some of the people that way then?” I ask as we cautiously turn the corner. She looks back at me, raising an eyebrow. “You have no idea what’s going on do you?” I shake my head, “Not a clue.” Well at least I can admit it. “The people who get him get out of here, they can leave. We are stuck here under Mr burns. We are free to move around, but we will always be under his control. Unless you get this guy.” she says. It’s a competition! What have I gotten myself into?! Suddenly this bloody, disfigured, pimple looking creature runs around the corner at us. I scream, loud. It’s disgusting looking! I raise my shooty thing and pull the trigger. A light flashes from it and hits the zombie thing directly in the chest. Oh my goodness. The thing drops dramatically. “Hm, good job!” Ava says turning back to me. She looks surprised, there is a good reason for that since I screamed at first. I’m still shaking as the...thing takes off a mask. What in the world is going on? Ava laughs as she sees my confused expression. “Well done Amelia. That was… impressive?” Mr Burns says walking around the corner with the rest of the people from the elevator. “Um, what?” I ask, very confused. A cameraman comes from around the corner and the ‘zombie’ now without a mask smiles at me, an actor I'm sure. I shake my head, “You got me!” I confess. “You’ve been pranked!” everyone yells around me. What a way to end the year.