He released a frustrated sound. “She’s shut down the power, Zaira. The touchpad won’t work. It’s wired in with the main line.”
“Well, then turn the power back on and gimme the damn code!”
“Don’t make this harder for me,” Martin almost begged.
“Harder foryou? Are you shitting me?” When he didn’t say anything, I gritted my teeth. “Fuck you!” I screamed. “Fuck. You. Martin!”
“I gotta go. Once again, I’m sorry. I know I’ve gotten myself in trouble for this, but at least the money will help Kira. I…” Silence. “I’m so sorry, Zaira.” And then he was gone.
I pushed away from the door and walked over to the touchpad. I pulled my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and unlocked it. I had no signal, as usual, but I still tried calling Gallan and Shane multiple times before giving up.
I sniffed and turned on my phone’s flashlight. I searched the wall around the touchpad in hopes of finding the code, but came up empty-handed. And when I pressed the numbers at random on the pad and nothing lit up, is when I realized that the entire system was indeed wired with electricity, and because Aubrey had switched off the main fuse, there was no way for the shutter to open until and unless someone powered up the main electricity board and entered the unlock code from the outside.
Sweat dripped into my eyes, making me hiss. I managed to turn around, even though my right leg was aching to the point where I wanted to throw up. I flashed my phone’s light on the vent at the very top of the left-side wall, and then dragged myself around the room in search of a tool crate. Once I’d found it, I grabbed a screwdriver from it and hobbled over to the empty crate I’d used earlier as support. With a cry of pain, I knelt in front of it and began unscrewing the wheels from under it. I then threw the screwdriver, screws, and wheels to the side before slowly getting to my feet. With a huff, I lifted the crate and walked it over to the supply box right below the vent. It took me a while, but I finally placed the crate on the box exactly how I wanted it, and then, with a huge intake of breath, I placed my left foot on the supply box and grabbed the steel bars of the crate before lifting myself up.
“Fucking hell,” I groaned when half my body weight fell on my right ankle, causing pain to almost blind me. White spots obscured my view, and when I shook my head to get rid of them, my glasses slipped off my face and fell on the floor with a sickeningcrash.
“Damn it.” I sniffed and continued climbing upwards.
Once both my knees were on top of the crate, I brought my phone close to the vent and dialed Gallan’s number. The call didn’t go through. I closed my eyes as fresh tears fell on my cheeks. “Please…” I breathed. “Please, please, please…” I tried calling him again, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t even connect to 9-1-1, despite trying more than six times and practically shoving my phone against the vent in hopes of finding signal bars.
With my fingers slick with sweat, I sent Gallan a quick text, and prayed to every God out there that it would reach him.
My head swam all of a sudden. I turned off my flashlight and pocketed my phone. With fatigue tightening my shoulders, I slowly stepped down the crate, the box, and finally landed on the floor. My left foot connected with my broken glasses, destroying them beyond repair.
Out of the blue, my heart began beating rapidly. I trembled a little as I made my way towards the shutter. It felt as if someone had grabbed the nape of my neck in a vise grip, making it almost impossible for me to think straight. I fell on the floor and placed my back against the door. I hugged my knees to my chest and began rocking back and forth as I worked on slowing my breathing.
There was nothing I could do but wait.
There was nothing –no one– who could hear me right now.
Fear wouldn’t gimme aid, and neither would the darkness.
I began counting numbers backwards. Maybe they could help me get out of this mess? Maybe they could show me the way?
One hundred…
Ninety-nine…
Ninety-eight…
It didn’t hurt to try, did it?
Ninety-seven…
Ninety-six…
Ninety-five…
Was it working? I honestly couldn’t tell.
Ninety-four…
…Ninety…ninety…
…Ninety…
What comes next?I asked myself, and the answer – it came only as darkness.
Cold, clammy, and suffocating darkness.
