Jack In The Box

"Wait," I yell. I rush forward my shopping bags bashing against my
legs. Then the door closes. I hate lifts when they're this crowded. I
adjust my hair in the mirrored walls then look at the other peoples
reflections. There's an old couple, a young mother and her son, and a
man standing at the back. My heart gives a flutter; did he just wink at
me?
"Mummy can I see what presents you got me?"
"No they're for Christmas."
The old couple smile and chuckle. The lift stops and they shuffle out.
The lift door closes.
"I thought Santa brings my presents."
"He does but I help him out."
The lift doors open the mother and boy walk out and the lift rumbles
up. Suddenly there's a jolt, the sound of metal against metal grinds
and scrapes at my ears. Then the lift stops. My heart races and my
stomach feels like I've got a feather trapped inside me. "Oh god," I
say, "It's stuck. How do we get out."
"Try the emergency button," the man says, "It's only us now."
"I'm trying. The buttons don't work" I said, mashing my index finger
into the yellow bell picture. "I wish they installed some new lifts for
this shopping center."
"I know. These have been here since I was a boy."
I turn on him scowling. "How long do you think we'll be stuck up
here?" I say. He really is handsome; even now I can appreciate his
looks. Black hair parted in the middle, slender face, murky blue
eyes.
"It will only be a few minutes. They probably know the lift's broken
and are fixing it right now."
"I don't want to rest all my hopes on probably," I snap."Oh god," I
say, as I try to prise the door open.
"I wouldn't do that," the man says.
"Have you got a better idea?"
"Listen, we're probably stuck between floors." I feel the knot tighten
in my stomach. I take a deep breath then breath out, a loud whoosh. I
then sit down, my head in my hands.
"Don't worry." The man places a hand on my shoulder. I feel
uncomfortable. "I'm Ok," I murmur. "What makes you so calm
anyway?"
"Because I know I'm going to get out. We may as well not get upset
over it. I hate it when girls get upset."
"Why. Have you made a lot of them cry?"
The man frowns at me, "I'm Andy," he finally says.
"I'm Kristen," I reply, "you don't look like an Andy, you look more
like a Oliver."
"Ok, I'll take that as a compliment."
"Are you sure we'll get out of here. What if we're stuck here all the
night?"
"We'll be fine," Andy says. We sit in silence for a few minutes. Andy
broke the silence.
'Did you buy anything interesting?"
"No. A dress for me and a computer game for my nephew. What about
you?"
"A book. Can I see the dress."
I feel my eyes widen in surprise. Then a stab of worry. The hairs on
my arms prick up. "Sure," I say. I hand him the bag. He opens the bag
like a child unwrapping a christmas present, then pulls out the dress.
He runs his hands over it slowly, his eyes burning holes into it. He
smiled, "I'd love to see you in this."
"Yeh," I reply. I feel the hole dig in my mind a little. Like when an
animal knows its being watched. I sense something wrong here.
"Where do you work?" Andy said. The tone in his voice had
changed.
I could not answer. I could tell him to mind his own business but I
humour him. "At the moment I'm working as a waitress down at Riverview
Hotel. It's not much but I'm taking English Lit degree at the
university."
"I think I recognize you. I've seen you walking to work from my
car."
I feel a tidal wave of fear crash over me. I bite my lower lip
"Your uniform is sexy," Andy says smiling.
I feel my stomach give a gut wrenching twist. Who was this guy, how
does he know about me? I have to get out. I stand up trying to look
casual; why is he looking at me like that.
"Don't be frightened, I watch you from my car. It's that battered old
Peugeot parked up the street," he says, chuckling slightly, "I know
where you live. It's that house with the red garage."
"What?" I murmur. although I know what is happening I feel sick. The
anxiety feels like my stomach's lined with glass. Help me God Im stuck
in this lift. I turn away from his eyes but I can still see him looking
at me; like a dog wanting to know what you're going to do next.
Curiosity and something more. I feel my mouth open and close. I want to
speak, to say something to get me out of this situation. The anxiety
coils round me like an electric cable. "You know where I live," I say
quietly.
"Don't be frightened," Andy says. He climbs to his feet and takes off
his jacket. "Phew its hot in here," he says then I feel him touch my
hand with his. I let out a cry and feel myself beginning to shake. My
mouth is dry. My breath comes out in gasps. I mash the emergency
button. "Help," I scream.
"Don't scream, I don't like that," he says. I detect a hint of venom
in his voice. "I think I love you," Andy says. He laughs a nervous
chuckle. "I really do I'd be much better than that arrogant prick whose
your boyfriend."
"No. Leave me alone," I whimper. My face feels burning hot.
"Leave me alone," I repeat. It's meant to sound stern but it comes out
weak and trembling."
"Don't get upset," Andy says through gritted teeth. I see his
reflection in the wall - he's smiling still - no he's leering. He comes
closer to me. I wish I could run but I mustn't show my fear. My heart
seems to be lodged somewhere in my throat. I can feel his body against
mine. I let out a weak cry, I feel his breath, warm, down my
neck.
"Get off," I scream as he wraps an arm round my waist. Suddenly the
lift roars back to life. Andy holds his face against mine his breath is
hot and sour. I can see individual droplets of sweat on his forehead.
Then the doors open. I wait, him holding me, then he releases me. I
walk out slowly, tears welling in my eyes. The lift door starts to
close. "Wait," he yells but the lift has gone. I don't know what he
wanted when he called out wait, I don't want to know. I run back to the
car and open the boot. Then I remember that I've left my handbag in the
lift with my keys inside.