VOL. 2
Story 5
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ELEVATOR
I enter the elevator, intending to ride up alone. At the last second, a hand shot in between the closing doors, tripping the door switch sensor and the doors slid open once more.
A young man hurried in, half out of breath with a backpack slung over one shoulder, and a bag of fast food that reads Johnny Tacos clutched in his right hand.
"Didn't think I was going to make it," he said, his breath smelling like the lunch he's carrying. There's an oily smell to him also, but the food masks most of that oily smell. "Hey, will you hit eleven for me. The 22nd floor, huh, you're going to the top."
"Eleven, you say?" I ask to get him off of the subject of my floor.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks." He opens his taco bag and takes out one of the wrapped food prizes. "Would you like one?" He holds the bag out my direction as the elevator starts up.
I shake my head, indicating no.
"Johnny's is the best tacos in the city. You sure?" He shakes the bag like that'll make them more appetizing.
I'm about to move forward and break his neck when the elevator pulls to a stop, chimes and the doors open on the second floor. I didn't move or stop the man talking about tacos, as two women step into the elevator. The doors slide closed to continue on our way.
"It'll only take us a couple of extra minutes, we'll make the train on time, promise," the one woman says to the other one. "Six, please," she asks me, and in the same instant she looks from the control panel, glances at me, and turns her attention back to her companion.
I lean forward to touch the button, as did Mr. Taco. Our hands touch briefly. "Man, your fingers are cold."
"I get that from my father's side of the family," I offer, as the elevator is in motion again.
"It didn't take," says the brunette of the two women.
"What didn't?" Mr. Taco asks her.
"You both missed the number six button." She points to the control panel, which glows with his eleven and my twenty-two, but not the six. The display reads 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as we all watch the elevator move beyond their destination.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Mr. Taco apologizes, stabbing at the number six button.
"We're trying to get somewhere. Now we'll have to ride it up and back down."
VAMPIRE LINE Vol. 2 is currently available only in paperback, but will be available soon on Kindle.
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