"Someone was just here," he whispered to Elaine, not even noticing that her nails were being dug so far into his skin that blood was being surfaced.
"Oh God! They're probably still in the room!" Elaine whispered. "Taylor! What about Isaac?" Elaine proclaimed suddenly.
"Huh?" Taylor asked.
You left him! He's gonna bleed to death!" she shrieked. Taylor pryed Elaine's nails out of his arm and faced her towards him.
"Shh! Calm down! He stopped bleeding," he told her. "Now all we have to do is wrap both of their wounds."
"What about the killer?"Elaine shrieked.
"We'll be okay. You'll see. Now let's go take care of Ike and Brooke," he said. Taylor started to walk back over to where Ike and Brooke lay.
"Taylor, I don't want to die," Elaine said. A few tears started to fall from her face. Taylor came back over to her and took her in his arms in a comforting hug.
"Don't worry. I won't let you," he replied, gently stroking her hair. When she finally calmed down the two of them went to work of ripping Taylor's shirts and cleaning and wrapping Brooke and Isaac's wounds.
"Here, see if this fits," Taylor said, handing Elaine one of the left over shirts once they had finished.
"Okay," she replied, taking the shirt from his hands. She went into the bathroom and changed her shirts. She felt realieved to have on a fresh shirt. She threw her bloody shirt into the trashcan then she walked back into the room.
"Do you think we should try to get them on the bed?" Taylor asked Elaine.
"I doubt we can do it," she replied.
"Wanna try?"
Elaine nodded. After all, what did they have to loose? They picked up Brooke fairly easily since she was a pretty petite person to begin with. They layed her on the bed as comfortably as they could, putting a pillow under her head. Isaac was more of a challenge on the other hand. They tried to lift him but failed. Instead, they decided to drag him over to the bed by picking up his arms. This worked fairly well untill they actually had to get him on the bed.
"God, I didn't realize he weighed so much," Elaine said, struggling to lift him.
"Me neither," Taylor agreed. Somehow, someway they were able to lift him up onto the bed beisde Brooke. Elaine sat down on the bed beside Brooke.
"God I hope they wake up," Elaine whispered softly.
"Come on. Let's go look for Zac," Taylor told her softly, reaching for her hands.
"We can't leave them here. Wat if they come back?" she asked.
"We don't really have a choice," he replied. Elaine sighed and took Taylor's hands. He pulled her to her feet.
"I really wish we had a weapon," Elaine stated.
"Me and you both," Taylor replied, letting go of her hands. They headed out the door. They both looked back one last time at Brooke and Isaac lying soundly on the bed. Then, they started down the hallway.
"Well, I guess we can't use the elevator," Taylor said lightly, trying to make a joke. Elaine gave a pathetic smile. Taylor grabbed for Elaine's hand. She happily gave it to him. "Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand. She nodded. They proceeded down the hallway, peeking in every room.
"Why are all the doors open?" Taylor thought to himself. He felt Elaine's grip tighten. They walked over to the stair well.
"Up or down?" he asked Elaine. She shrugged. "Okay, we'll go down." The two of them proceeded down the stairs and down to the next floor. They opened the door to the stair well and walked down the hall side-by-side. Taylor could feel Elaine shaking. He gave her hand a tight squeeze. She gave a comforted smile. They checked all the rooms on that floor and came up empty. They did the same on the next several floors, coming up empty each time.
Finally, after about an hour of searching they reached the 13th floor. They proceeded down the hallway and searched the rooms. Near the end of the hallway there was a closed door. Taylor muttered something then pushed the unlocked door open. They walked in. Elaine squeezed Taylor's hand so tight that it became numb. Once again, he didn't notice. Their hearts pounded in their chest. It felt as though they would come right out of their chests. Elaine began to shake. Taylor started to prespire. They went over to the bathroom and walked in. The bathroom door closed behind them. Elaine screamed.
"Oh God. Taylor! They have us," Elaine cried. Taylor became very weak. Elaine rushed over to the door with Taylor. She still held his hand tightly. Someone or somethng was up against the door. Taylor and she pushes against the door.
"Please, please let us go," Elaine begged. They heard heavy breathing on the other side of the door. Taylor and Elaine combined their strength and slammed up against the door, opening it abruptly. They saw a figure laying on the floor, scrambling to their feet. Taylor let go of Elaine and tackled the figure down to the gorund.
"Please don't kill me. Please," a girls voice whimpered. Taylor crawled off of her. She turned over on her back and sat up.
"Stay there. Don't move!" Taylor commanded.
"Wait! I know you!" the girl proclaimed. "You're Taylor Hanson. I guess you wouldn't kill me, huh?"
"What are you talking about?" Elaine asked, stepping forward. She could tell the girl was very shook up.
"I thought you were the killer," she replied.
"We thought you were," Elaine replied.
"Me? You actually think I could kill a few hundred people?" the girl asked. "I watched my parents die!" the girl screamed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know," Elaine replied. The girl stood up. "How did you escape?"
"I was in the room with my parents. We were getting ready to go out. We're on vacation. Anyways, there was this knock at the door. My dad went and looked out the peep hole to see who it was. He said he didn't see anyone. Then the knock came again. My parents seemed to have had suspicions about something. They told me to hide under the bed. How they knew I don't know. I looked at them funny but crawled under the bed. My dad then opened the door. I heard my dad's voice say something then my mom screamed. It was the most horrible scream I've ever heard in my entire life. I'll never forget it.
"So then I saw my dad drop to the floor. He was bleeding from his chest. He didn't move. My mom kneeled down beside him and sobbed. Suddenly my mom fell to the floor too. I realized that they had been shot. I saw the person leave the room but I never saw anymore than their feet. The door closed and I came out from under the bed to see my parents dead. I was in shock. Somehow I got the guts to leave the room to find that everyone else was dead too. I stayed in here and have been here ever since." The girl sighed.
"I'm sorry. We didnt know," Elaine replied. Taylor stood there with a blank exression on his face. "I'm Elaine."
"Hope," the girl replied.
"There's something we need right now," Elaine said. "Have you seen Zac around here by any chance?" The girl shook her head.
"Can I umm... stay with you guys?" Hope asked.
"Sure!" Elaine answered.
"Elaine, can I talk to you for a second?" Taylor said. Elaine nodded. The two of them stepped over to the other side of the room.
"Are you crazy?" he whispered.
"What do you mean?"
"She's probably the person."
"Is not!"
"How do you know?"
"Cause."
"Bad reason! She could be hiding Zac under the bed in little pieces for all we know."
"Oh please Taylor. We can trust her! Look at her," Elaine told him. He glanced over at Hope.
"Fine! Whatever! But if she tries anything...."
"We'd be more than happy if you stayed with us. We could use an extra person," Elaine told her. Hope smiled.
"Thank you," Hope said. Taylor just nodded.
"We better check the next floor," Taylor said, starting out the door. Elaine rushed over to him and took his hand. Taylor shoved his free hand in his pocket so Hope wouldn't grab it. Hope walked on the other side of Elaine.
They went down the next flight of stairs to search the hallway. They once again went through the routine of opening all the doors, peering in, closing the door then moving to the next one.
"Zac!" Hope yelled as the walked down the hallway.
"Shut up!" Taylor snapped. "Are you crazy? You want someone to hear you?" Taylor whispered devilishly.
"No," Hope whispered. Elaine dug the nail of her middle finger into the back of Taylor's hand as a warning. He bit his tongue. They proceeded down the hallway. They came to a door that was closed. Hope tried to turn the knob but soon found out that the door was locked.
"Maybe Zac locked himself in here," Elaine suggested. Taylor agreed.
Elaine pounded on the door with her free hand. "Zac," she called. No answer. "Zac," she repeated.
"Wait! Did you hear that?" Taylor said, grabbing Elaine's hand before she knocked again.
"No," Hope replied. Taylor glared at her.
"Well its there," Taylor replied.
"Where did you hear it coming from?" Elaine asked. Taylor motioned towards the door with his hand that held Elaine's.
"Okay, so the dorr is locked and a sound is coming from it? Is that what you're telling me here?" Hope asked.
"Look, I'm getting sick of you already. Shut up!"Taylor told her.
"Look pretty boy, I've done nothing to you. I can help and that's what pisses you off!" Hope rebutted.
"Guys,god, knock it off! If you guys fight anymore so help me,"Elaine threatened. "We have to work as a team or else we all will be in trouble. Now, let's find a way to get in the door Hope and Taylor glared at each other. Taylor's hand was still in Elaine's. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and gave her a little smile. She returned the nervous smile.
"Why don't we just pick the lock?" Hope asked.
"With what?" Taylor asked, trying to hold back his temper.
"Your pride and joy," Hope replied.
"What pride and joy would this be?" Talyor asked through clenched teeth.
"The one that doens't ever get used," Hope replied.
"Okay! That's it! You don't have to wait for anyone to come kill you 'cause I'm going to right here and now!" Talyor shouted.
"Now Taylor, shut up or someone will hear you,"Hope mocked.
"Look you two, I've had it. I'm not going to stand hear and listen to you two fight. I'm leaving," Elaine said, breaking her hand out of Taylor's.
"Elaine, I'll stop. I promise. I'm sorry. I really didn't mean anyhting I said to Taylor. I was just goofing off. Really, I'm very sorry," Hope told her, smiling.
"Elaine, don't leave. It's not safe," Taylor said.
Elaine sighed and came back over to them.
"Ya know, Hope is right. Maybe we could pick the lock," Talyor.
"Yeah, but how?" Elaine asked.
"Got a hair pin?" Hope asked Elaine.
"No," Elaine replied.
"What about you,Taylor?" Hope asked, smiling.
"No," Taylor said through clenched teeth.
"There's a surprise," Hope said softly.
"I heard that," Taylor told her. Elaine sighed. "Sorry, babe," he said to Elaine.
"Babe?" Elaine asked laughing slightly.
"Yeah, babe,"Taylor said smiling.
"Hello? The door. Remember?" Hope said.
"Wait! What about a credit card?" Elaine said.
"Too young to have one," Hope replied.
"Me too, Taylor said. "Wait! I have my bank card!"
"You have it with you?" Hope asked.
"I said I did, didn't I?" he said. He reached in his back pocket with his free hand. "Where is it, where is it...." he whispered. "Here!" he said, taking it out.
"I'll take that, "Hope said, snatching it out of his hand.
"No you won't," Taylor told her, snatching it back. "Anyone know how to do this?"
"No," Hope replied.
"I do!" Elaine piped in.
"You? Really?"Taylor said, smiling.
"There's some things you don't know I can do. Some you'll find out, others you won't," Elaine grinned.
"Whoa!" Talyor said. Elaine smiled mischeviously.
"Card?"
He gave her the card and watched as she picked the lock successfully. She then gave a heavy sigh. "We're in," she whispered. She tightened her grip on Taylor's hand. Hope walked in first, then Taylor and Elaine followed.
"Hello?" Hope said. No answer. "Check the room fully."
"Ya think? Talyor replied sarcastically.
Hope ignored him and walked to the other side of the room and checked the closet. Elaine and Taylor went to check the bathroom.
"Hey guys, check this out!" Hope said, walking over to the bathroom.
"What?" Elaine asked, turning around to face her. Hope held a long kife in her hand. The knife that had been in Isaac's back.
"Drop it!"Talyor told her.
"No way! I have you just where I want you," Hope told him, backing Taylor and Elaine into a corner.