text: My heels spoke with every step. Thoughts bounced off the walls as I ran, reflecting back onto me. I halted in front of the cage and pounded on the small black button like a barbarian. To anyone else at any other time I would have looked insane, but this was a far from sane time. Come on...come on.. God! Just open! *Ding* Ugh finally! A small can of pepper spray in one hand, along with stacks of paper in the other. My heart was hammering out of my chest. I stuck my left foot through the door, almost tripping on my other. Then I heard distant yelling of what sounded like someone racing almost as fast as I was to get to the second floor. The door closed. I was safe. For now. *Ding* 9... *Ding* 8... *Ding* 7... *Ding* 7... Wait. *Ding* 7.. *Ding* 7.. huh? The dinging ceased a few seconds later as I was just about to cover my ears from the incessant noise. I felt the cage stop with a loud thud. No! No! No no no no! This isn't happening. Not now. Not with him battering against my mind. I searched the numerous buttons lined against each other and my eyes eventually landed on an button outlined in red, with what appeared to have a small phone on it. My finger rapped against it. No answer. Of course! This had to happen now! I thought with disdain. After a few more minutes I eventually gave up. My feet were already sore from what seemed like miles of running. I came to the conclusion that I was going to be here for awhile, and might as well get comfy. My papers floated to the ground and I pocketed the small can. *Ticktock* *Ticktock* I looked around the cage and searched for the sound. *Ticktock* *Ticktock* As I was starting to tire from the din. I nodded my head up, closed my eyes and heaved a long awaited sigh. A slight shine of white gripped my eyes. My eyelids fluttered open. A clock on the top? I pondered. What is this? The Ritz-Carlton? I clocked my head and peered at the two arrows. 11:22 PM. 38 minutes is fine. I stepped to the side of the cramped cage and crouched down. It felt surprisingly soft. Carpet. Carpet? Strange. Well I suppose that's the least of my worries. It was a shade of light purple, adorned with a seductive gold trim. I plopped down once more with my knees against my chest, I wrapped my willowy arms around and began to contemplate what to do next. Let's go over what we know. I was running. I was waiting. I was stuck. I buried my head into my small frame and dug my nails, well more like claws, into the carpet. Just then a thundering *Boom!* shattered through the floor. I've always hated rain. At least the lights remained. Claps of thunder and lightning could be heard from the south wall. I glanced to the door hoping someone. Anyone. Would somehow magically pry open the doors. However, I knew deep inside the only thing prying those metal doors was that wretched creature. My spine crept over as I brushed a loose strand of hair from my face. Exhaustion was holding my hand, I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to escape this prison. God knows how long it's been. I glanced up at the oval timepiece. 11:37 PM. I took a glimpse of the entrance of the enclosure. A small vent caught my eye. I crawled over to it, careful not to send my papers sprawling, and perched in front of it. My eyes skimmed over the uneven surface, I trailed my delicate fingers across it. It was opened, but only just enough to hear sound, not to see anything other than the tan panels. I gently put both hands on it and pushed. Other than the slight creak it made, it was silent. Good. Silent is good. I pushed with more force, but nothing. I pushed a final time as another creak escaped its lips. It wasn't giving anytime soon. I took my hands off feeling a bit defeated, but was soon cut off by a *Pitter patter* The rain lightened up, a gleam of hope ran rampant across my vision. This way I can hear his steps. I took my hands up to the wall and stood up feebly. Fatigue consumed my body. A sudden high-pitched scream echoed through my bones. The walls started to rattle, causing the small clock to come crashing down. I yelped, but quickly covered my mouth with my hand. Afraid to cause any more ruckus. I hoped the previous noise was enough to dull my own commotion. He’s getting closer. I bent down and carefully picked up the shards. Once I had picked up almost all of them -the others to small to see- I set them down in the corner opposite the vent. Afraid to cut myself, I looked down and cautiously crossed the floor to the other side. At first it was barely noticeable but then it started to rock me. The rattling was back. From what you ask? Well, it could be an earthquake, but I had an inkling it was much worse than any natural disaster. I squatted down and laid my body there as best as I could. The elevator being quite small -even for me- was a challenging task to do. The rattling stopped. Then the two lights at the entrance burst. My hand reached up to my face to block it. I felt glass piercing my fragile skin. A piece dug into my leg and through my navy blue jeans. I clenched my jaw and waves of agony rolled out from under it, across my entire head, and even down my neck. There were multiple small shards stuck in it. A few even managed to catch on my cheek. As an unearthly cry filled the room, I let out my own cry of dread. I was too terrified to care if he had heard. Just as sudden as the cry the rattling begun once more, but this time I felt the elevator start to drop. He was climbing the ropes. Each tug could be felt across my entire being. I started to count each one. At about fourteen I heard a what sounded like faint breathing. I held my breath terror-stricken. At nineteen he stopped. A breeze shifted through the room, and with that sent a bitter shiver up my spine. He was here, and there was no denying it.