The Elevater by Gobbles15@aol.com

The Elevator: Part One Shawn and Belle were at the Penthouse Grill with with their parents. They didn't know why their parents had dragged them there, but there they were. Bo, Hope, Marlena, and John had been acting lovey dovey all night long, making both Shawn and Belle sick. When the night finally came to an end, Belle and Shawn were grateful. "We'll meet you downstairs," Shawn told them as he dragged Belle to the elevator. He pushed the button and as it opened, Belle asked him what that was all about. "I wanted to get away from them. The only good thing about tonight is that you were there." The doors closed. It was just the two of them in the elevator. The elevator started its journey down 27 floors. Suddenly, there was a jolt as the elevator stopped. Shawn and Belle jumped into each others arms. When they realized they were holding each other, they immediately separated. "The elevator's stuck," Belle said. "My, you have a keen sense of the obvious," Shawn laughed, infuriating Belle. "This is not the time for jokes," Belle snapped. "Nor is it the time for fighting," Shawn reminded her. "Point taken," Belle agreed. Shawn pushed the emergency button, but nothing happened. "Great," he muttered. "Here, I'll call my dad," Belle suggested as she whipped out her cell phone. "Dad, it's me, we're trapped in the elevator...Oh, you know?...Yeah, we're both fine....No, it's just us in here...Are you serious?...We will, it's not like there's anywhere else to go...Okay. Bye." She hung up and gave Shawn a look. "What's wrong? You look as though you're living a Greek tragedy." "Close enough," Belle said. "My dad said there was a mechanical problem. It looks like we're going to be here for at least two hours." Two hours alone, with Belle Black? Shawn thought as a grin crept up on his face. Interesting. Part Two "Oh, you are so childish!" Belle exclaimed. They had only been in the elevator for 10 minutes and he was already getting on her nerves. "But you love me," Shawn laughed. Belle rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right." "Admit it. You can't resist me." It was Belle's turn to laugh. "Oh, I could resist you, and you know it." "Well, you CAN resist me, but you don't WANT to. Because I'm-" "Egotistical," Belle interrupted. She sat on the floor. "I can't BELIEVE I'm stuck here with you!" Shawn laughed again. "Belle, you know I am just kidding. Actually, in all seriousness there is something I have been putting off telling you. I like you. A lot. For a long time. I have just been to afraid to tell you." There was a moment of silence as Shawn and Belle stared into each other's eyes. Then Belle burst out laughing. "Oh, that was a good one!" she laughed. "You had me there for a minute." Shawn recoiled to the other side of the elevator in surprise and hurt. "Yeah, a good one," he muttered. He sat down and put his head in his hands. He couldnt' believe it. He had finally told Belle how he felt and she took it as a joke. The only time he ever remembered being so hurt in his life was when he had believed that his mother had tried to kill him. "What's wrong?" Belle asked him. "Hmm? Oh, nothing, I'm just tired," Shawn lied. Belle looked at Shawn suspiciously. Had he been joking? Was he really serious?" "Oh, okay," Belle said. "You could probably sleep for a while, we'll be here for another 2 hours almost." "Oh, I'm fine." So he was serious! Belle thought. He's not tired, I hurt his feelings! I didn't know he was serious! Wow! Shawn likes me! The Elevator: Part Three Oh my gosh! Belle thought! What am I supposed to do? What should I say? I am such an idiot! "Um," Belle muttered, forcing a meek laugh. "How do you get a hankie to dance? Put a little boogie in it!" She forced a big laugh. "Isn't that hilarious? I got it from that movie, Bicentennial Man. Oh! I got another one! Why did-" "Belle, stop," Shawn cut in. He did look tired come to think of it. "Please." "Fine. EXCUSE ME for trying to lighten the mood. You know, Tough Boy, we're going to be here for a while and I didn't really want things to be tense." All was quiet and awkward for about ten to fifteen minutes. Finally Belle spoke up. She looked at the ground while she spoke, making a point not to look at Shawn. "Ok, Shawn, I have to tell you something. I know you weren't joking around. At least, now I do. I'm sorry, I feel like a such a fool. And, to be honest, I feel the same way you do. I have since we were six. And when you came back from boarding school last yeah, those old feelings came up again and I didn't like that. But, with everything we've been through together, and considering how close we've become, I think those feelings have really developed. There, I said it. What do you think? Shawn?" The Elevator: Part Five "Shawn?" Belle looked at Shawn. He was looking at her peculairly. They stared at each other for a moment. "You never answered my question." "I think....wow." "Wow?" Belle giggled. "Wow?!? Hmm, that's an interesting response." She moved next to Shawn and gave him a smile. "I can't believe we actually both felt the same way and we never said anything," Shawn said. "I know. To think we could have been together so much sooner." "It's like that saying, 'face your fear, and it will disappear.'" They looked deeply into each other's eyes. It was all there--the feelings they had both been feeling were finally showing. Neither of them had to hide it anymore. They leaned in for a kiss. The electricity that became as their lips touched took them both by surprise and they pulled apart. "Well, we don't have to rush this relationship," Shawn said. "Yeah, we don't want to ruin it," Belle agreed. "So, are we a couple now, or what?" "I guess so." Belle smiled. Being stuck in this elevator with Shawn wasn't at all like she thought it was going to be. ************* Hope, Bo, John, and Marlena had been waiting on the 27th floor as the mechanics were working on whatever mechanical problem there was. After about half an hour, the mechanics came out. "Well?" Hope asked. "Well, it's more difficult than we thought. The trouble is that there are people in the elevator." "So how are you going to fix it?" Bo demanded. "Well, we have to find a way to get them out first, and soon because the elevator is about ready to fall." The Elevator: Part Four Belle's cellphone rang. "Hello?....Hey, Dad...Um, ok...well, we are pretty bored, and since we've only been in here for 45 minutes, it's going to be one boring night. We were thinking maybe we would just go to sleep until you guys get us out...What? Why...What do you mean FALL!?!?...Well, I guess you'll have to then, huh?...Okay...We will...I trust you, Dad. I love you too...Bye." "What was that all about?" Shawn asked, concerned. "My dad said that the mechanical problem was really bad. Apparently they haven't checked these elevators in a really long time, some supervisor is going to get fired." "But where does that leave us?" Belle looked at him for a cold hard minute. "The elevator is about ready to fall. If they don't get us out of here within the next fifteen minutes, we're going to die." Shawn's eyes widened. "Oh." His heart started beating really hard and fast. There was silence. It was even more awkward then it was earlier. They grabbed hands and squeezed tightly. Neither knew what to say. They couldn't even bring comfort to each other. They were too stunned and too scared to. Suddenly there was another jolt as the elevator dropped about a foot or two. Belle screamed loudly and jumped into Shawn's arms. Shawn grabbed on to Belle instinctively, both to protect her and because he was so scared. They had their heads ducked as they held on to each other. When they realized that the elevator was still up and that they were alive, they lifted their heads. "Oh, my gosh, I thought that was it!" Belle breathed. "Yeah, me too." Shawn took a deep breath and clutched his stomach. "Wow, I should have had a little more to eat." Belle laughed. "You're so cute." Shawn smiled. "I know," he agreed playfully. "They'll get us out of here, they will," Belle said, not sure if she believed it. "I mean, they have to. We can't die, we're only 16." Shawn nodded. "Yeah, I mean, they wouldn't let it happen. Our dads wouldn't. I'm sure my dad is on the phone getting that supervisor arrested as we speak. And making sure that the mechanics do whatever they can as fast as they can. And your dad is probably shouting out orders to everybody." Belle laughed. "Probably." The Elevator: Part Six John and Bo were shouting orders. The mechanics were just then getting to the source of the problem. "Finally, we are going to get them out of there," John told Bo. Bo agreed. Then one of the mechanics came back up with a panicked look on his face. ************* "I don't want to die," Belle stated. "Don't talk like that. We are going to be fine, our parents will see to that." "Shawn, if we are inside this elevator when it falls, there is nothing they can do about it." Shawn was quiet. He knew it was true. "Well, just have faith. Just have faith." *************** "Why are you calling the bomb squad?!?" Hope demanded. "We found a bomb connected to the side of the elevator, right where it would be hardest to find it." "We're evacuating the building as we speak," another mechanic said. "A bomb?!?" "Yes, we have twenty minutes before it explodes." "Well what about my son? And Belle?" Bo demanded. "We will try as hard as we can to get them out, but if we can't we will be forced to evacuate without them." "Without them? You WILL get them out, now!" John yelled. "Sir, calm down. I understand your concern, we are all concerned. However, I insist that you and your wife and your two friends go downstairs and outside. Being here, you're in the way. We can't get them out while you're in the way." "He's right," Marlena said. "Let's go." *********** Ten minutes later The mechanics were drilling through the elevator. Finally a hole was big enough to lift Belle and Shawn out. Belle went first. When she was back on the twenty-seventh floor, she was confused to see that her parents and Shawn's were gone. "Your parents and their friends are waiting outside," a member from the bomb squad told her. Shawn overheard as he joined her. "Why?" "We must get out of here, now. We have to rush down the stairs now!" "Why?" Belle demanded. "Miss, please. The bomb is going to go off in three minutes." That was all Belle and Shawn neeeded to hear. They raced for the stairs. Everyone else was right behind them. Belle was two steps ahead of Shawn. They raced down the stairs, tension building as each second passed, knowing that the time was coming soon. They knew they had little chance of making it out in time. They were on the thirteenth floor when all of a sudden, before they even knew what was happening, the ground beneath them was gone and all was black. The Elevator: Part Seven "NO!!" Hope cried as the building across the street from where she was went tumbling up in smoke. Bo caught her but he was watching the building just as fearfully, as were John and Marlena. "Bo, let's go!" John called to Bo. "No, Bo, it's too dangerous! They have search teams, don't go!" Hope cried. "John, do you really think it's a good idea?" Marlena questioned. She was trying with all her might to be calm but it was hard. Inside she was falling apart. "I can't just stand here and wait for them to be found," John said. "Don't worry, I'll be safe." Roman and Abe came running up to the four. "Are you guys okay?" Roman asked. "We're fine, we weren't in the building." "We got a call, they said the building had been evacuated except for about 15 to 20 people." "Yeah, and Shawn and Belle are in there." "Oh my God," Roman muttered. He turned to Abe. "I'm going in there." "So am I," Bo and John said at the same time. "Well what are we standing around here for?" Abe asked. "We're all going, let's go." They got dressed in the appropriate attire and went into the demolished building. **************** Belle felt herself coming back into consciousness. Her head ached a lot. She remembered what happened--she remembered all of it. She was surprised that she wasn't being crushed by something. There was debris all around her but nothing was on her. She guessed by some of her injuries that she had fallen at least a few good feet and landed hard. She hadn't moved much until Shawn crossed her mind. "Shawn!" she called out. She slowly moved to stand up and looked around for Shawn. "Shawn? Can you hear me?" She started to walk around, looking for Shawn. All she could see was the demolished building that surrounded her and some small fires. "Shawn?!? Please answer me. Shawn, this isn't funny," Belle started to cry. "Shawn, ANSWER ME!!!" The Elevator: Part Eight Hope and Marlena were standing outside the demolished building, shaking from their tears. "If they didn't get out of the elevator, there is no way-" Marlena commented. "Don't even finish that sentence," Hope ordered through tears. "I can't believe that my son is dead. I won't believe it." "Can you feel it?" Marlena asked, knowing about her emotional ESP with her husband and son. "I feel that...I don't know, it's all confused. I don't even know what that means." ***************** "SHAWN!" Belle screamed for the fiftieth time. She had been digging through rubble and she still couldn't find him. She hadn't found anybody. "Good grief, how far could you have gone? You were right behind me! Right behind me," she sobbed. It was then that she saw somebody lying on the floor. It was one of the people who had pulled her and Shawn out of the elevator. She rushed to him, praying he was alive. She reached for a pulse. She closed her eyes with dread and turned away sadly. "Shawn, please don't let me find you the same way," she whispered, tears rapidly falling down her cheek. "Help," came a moan. Belle knew it wasn't Shawn but she knew she had to help the man anyways. She rushed to where the sound came from and she started lifting up rubble. It was a slow process. I mean, Belle is no Hulk Hogan. But eventually, a man was revealed. He looked terribly weak and was bleeding a lot. "Just lay there, okay?" Belle told him. "Help will be here soon." She looked around. "Or at least it had better be." "Is there anyone else here?" Belle called, hoping to hear any voices. She would have been especially happy to hear Shawn's, but she wanted as many people to be alive as possible. "Over here!" came another voice. Belle ran over towards the sound. She had to dig her way through the rubble some more but she found a man whose leg was being crushed. She tried her best to lift the rubble that was crushing his leg, but she wasn't strong enough. "I'm sorry, I can't lift it," Belle told the man helplessly. "I'm so sorry. Help will be here soon, I promise." Belle started digging some more, searching for more survivors. She uncovered one more survivor, who was able to get up and he lifted off the rubble for the other survivor, and two people who had died before she found Shawn. "Shawn!" she exclaimed. She rushed to his side. "Shawn, are you alive?" She reached down for a pulse. The Elevator: Part Nine Roman and Abe were with the other searchers in the huge pile of rubble that was the remains of the building. They were digging, looking for people who may or may not have survived. "It could be days until we find them," Roman hissed. He wanted to find his nephew as soon as possible, before it was too late. "Yes, but just keep looking, don't give up," Abe said. Bo and John were way ahead of them. The two looked as throroughly and yet as quickly as possible. So far, no one had found anyone. But they kept going. The fear kept them going. ****************** Hours passed. Belle held Shawn in her lap, tears rapidly falling down her face. She refused to move. It was that way that John and Bo found them. Bo stared at Belle crying with Shawn in her lap. From the way it looked, he thought for sure that Shawn was dead. Fear paralyzed him for a second. He prayed to God, he begged that Shawn was still alive. Part Ten John led let six paramedics to where Belle and Shawn had been found. Two of them immediately went to work on Shawn, trying to stabilize him before he could be transported to an ambulance and to the hospital. The other paramedics were working on the other survivors. When the paramedics pushed Belle out of the way, she ran straight into John's arms, crying with all of her might. Bo just watched the paramedics work on his son. "Daddy, I couldn't do anything," Belle sobbed. "I mean, I knew he needed help and I couldn't help him. I hope that he'll be okay." "He'll be okay, he's a fighter. Hey, what makes you think he can go down so easily?" "I sat there forever with him in my lap, just waiting for you to find us. I prayed and prayed that he could just hang on." "And so far you've gotten the answer you wanted. Shawn is still alive, he still has a chance." "How could he be so hurt while I'm just fine? He was right behind me! I don't understand." "There are a lot of things that we don't understand, that we might never understand. But we just have to accept it. Just concentrate on praying for Shawn." ************** As soon as Shawn was stable, he was rushed to the hospital. Bo and Hope rode with him in the ambulance while Belle, John, and Marlena rode behind the ambulance. When they got their, the doctors wisked Shawn away to a trauma room. Another doctor convinced Belle to get checked out herself. When Belle came out, she told her parents she was declared to be fine except for some bumps and bruises. Then she asked how Shawn was. "Well, he's in critical conditon, but he's stable. Bo and Hope are with him right now." "Is he going to be okay?" "The next few hours are definitely going to be critical, but if he can make it through those, he probably will be okay." "That's great!" Belle exclaimed. "And then everything will be as it should be," she whispered to herself, remembering the things that they had told each other while trapped in the elevator. tbc