Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Christ!” Forest hauls me against his body as the shaking forces him to stumble backward. We slam against a panel then tumble to the floor.
Hollow sounds, as if metal is grinding against metal, make terror ripple through me in icy waves.
The elevator yanks to a stop, and for a moment, we’re suspended in the air. The frightening sensation rips a shriek from me before we’re slammed back to the floor.
I bump my forehead against Forest’s shoulder, but his body cushions my fall. I let out a disorientated groan while everything around us keeps quaking.
“Forest?” I gasp, fear soaking into my bones.
“I think it’s an earthquake,” he manages to groan as he tries to sit us up.
Again, the elevator slips, and the sound of metal and cables popping is distressing, making my heartbeat speed up uncontrollably. “Oh my god!” Terrified, I wrap my arms around Forest’s neck, and I try to press close to him. His arms are steel bands around me while the violent tremor tries to pry us away from each other.
Oh, my God. We’re going to die!
The sound of metal bending, concrete cracking, and the elevator groaning as it plummets makes anxiety close around my insides with a tight fist. It squeezes the blood from my veins until I feel faint and nauseous.
The elevator jerks twice, grating and swaying, and then it feels as if my stomach is sucked out of my body as we fall again.
I let out a petrified scream, but it gets swallowed by the roaring noise of twisting metal and collapsing concrete.
It feels like endless terror-filled hours pass while we plunge to what feels like certain death, then suddenly we’re jolted into the air. I let out a startled shriek while we’re tossed around in the metal container.
Everything shakes violently, and the building groans like a wounded beast.
We’re hammered back against the floor, and before I can think to draw a breath, we’re plunging again. A deafening roar fills the box we’re stuck in, and it tears a hopeless cry from me.
It feels like we’re falling forever, but then we come to a sudden and bruising stop, and our bodies are thrown into the air before we’re yanked back to the floor. The blow is bone-crushingly painful and bewildering.
There’s a ringing in my ears, and I’m totally disorientated.
The violent shaking continues, and dust and debris begin to fill the air around us as the thunderous noise increases. A crushing sound pierces through the stuffy air, and I watch in horror as one of the elevator’s doors bends in half as if it’s nothing more than paper.
“God! Forest!” I cry.
Chapter 20
ARIA
Forest throws his body over mine, covering me from falling debris. I hear a pain-filled groan from him, and it makes my panic-stricken gaze snap to his face. I only see his features for a couple of seconds before the lights flicker, and then we’re plunged into darkness.
“Are you okay?” he wheezes.
I hear my winded breaths explode over my lips. Every banging and creaking noise makes me cringe.
Forest moves into a sitting position, and then he pulls me onto his lap, cradling me against his body. I feel his breath burst over my forehead. “Aria, are you okay?”
I begin to nod but a loud crash yanks a cry from me. I wrap my arms around Forest’s neck and press as close to him as I can. My body is a trembling mess, and tears begin to fall faster than my petrified breaths. “I don’t want to die. Not like this.”
“You’re not going to die,” Forest states as if it’s something he knows for certain.
Deep booming noises surround us, and I cringe tightly against Forest. “Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God,” I ramble in absolute terror.
The metal sheet of the ceiling begins to groan under the weight of whatever is falling on top of it, and I feel the suffocating air move as it’s pressed down.
“Make it stop!” I cry desperately.
Forest holds me tightly with his right arm, and placing his left hand behind my head, he tucks my face under his chin. “We’re okay.” He starts to cough but still manages to reassure me.” Shhh… we’re going to be okay.”
Feeling the strength in his body helps ease the unnerving panic a little. It’s enough that I dare to open my eyes, and I peek out from under Forest’s chin. I still can’t see anything.
It feels like I’m breathing sand. It’s scratchy, making me cough. Within seconds it becomes sweltering hot in the small space.
“Forest? The air?” I instantly voice my concern.
Taking a deep breath, his chest expands against me. “Let’s just calm our breathing.” He coughs again. “Do you have your phone?
I turn my face back to his neck, hoping the air will be a little cleaner as I try to take a deep breath.
I feel him move, and then the light from his phone gives us our first look at the destruction we’re imprisoned in. There are slabs of concrete that have broken through the ceiling and the side of the elevator. Dust and pieces of debris float in the air. Everything is gray and grim, and the elevator looks twice as small as when we got into it.