Episode 6

¿Como en ESE Oliver?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

The

stairs? Is he

serious?!

I eye the doorway leading to the stairwell warily. The thought of being on those stairs again is unbearable... but admitting my reluctance to Oliver feels to vulnerable.

I hesitate, prepared to call this whole thing off when Oliver smiles.

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Feeling a surge of relief, I nod and release a slow, shaky breath.

If Oliver notices my nerves, he doesn’t say anything. He simply smiles again and gestures “after you,” but I insist he lead the way so that I can keep him in my line of sight. I can’t let me guard down just yet.

We arrive at the elevator. I notice right away that the only button is a down arrow, indicating that this is in fact the highest floor of the building. It fills me with such unease I can only stare at it. Oliver eventually leans forward to press it instead.

We wait in silence for the elevator to arrive. I watch Oliver out of the corner of my eye, gleaning what I can about his character from his outward appearance.

His shirt needs ironing, and his shoes are worn, but his hair looks clean, and his nails are neatly trimmed. I get the impression of someone who’s settled into a routine that prioritizes comfort and practicality over style. His broad shoulders suggest a once athletic build, but the extra weight he carries now makes him look less assuming.

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

DING!

The elevator doors slide open, revealing a compact box with vandalized wooden walls, a stained carpet and flickering fluorescent lights.

...I’m

beginning to see

the appeal of the

stairs.

Oliver looks uneasy as he squeezes inside, his large frame barely fitting through the narrow doorway.

TAK

TAK

The tiny dimensions of the elevator make it impossible to avoid physical contact as I wedge myself in and stand shoulder to shoulder with Oliver. The old doors drag shut, making the already tight space feel even smaller.

I don't

think I've ever

been this physically

close to anyone…

It feels like an invasion of privacy the way I’m acutely aware of him and every minuscule movement that’s shared through the warm press of his arm against mine, how his body heat spreads through my jacket and into my skin while the clean scent of his shampoo mingles with the stale air of the elevator and fills my every breath.

I'm not usually one for small talk, but I find myself grasping for something to distract myself from the onslaught of sensory information that’s all at once overwhelming and awkward.

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Malcolm

is a security

guard too… I remember

seeing his name in

Anne’s notes.

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Oliver shifts uneasily, unintentionally jostling me with the movement.

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

DING!

We step off the elevator. Oliver leads the way down the hall as his words swirl around in my mind.

Why would

he say that? Is he

trying to make me

doubt what I

saw?

Oliver’s deceptively kind face could make him the ideal candidate to charm witnesses into a false sense of security while someone else eliminates loose ends.

A growing sense of unease takes hold of me as I realize I’ve failed to prepare for this sinister possibility.

Maybe I

can still convince

him to let me go if I

just agree to keep quiet

about what I saw...

But what if

it's too late?

should I have played

along earlier?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

Oliver nods slowly. I do my best to look sincere as his eyes search my face.

Mmm... ¿Sí?

TAK

TAK

What

does he mean by

that? Doesn’t he still

not believe I

won't talk?

Mmm... ¿Sí?

The doubt in his eyes tells me I've failed to convince him. I'm so preoccupied with trying to think of something to change his mind that I almost don't notice Oliver come to an abrupt stop in the middle of the hall.