A few rounds of Uno later, our annoyance has faded to enjoyment. The thought of actually getting trapped in an elevator, especially since we have games, decent company, and food, has become almost comedic and a great anecdote to tell people later (or even include on me and Impulse's podcast).

But, several rounds after that, I start losing count. The pizza's running out, we're short on conversation. I note how we haven't heard a single repair guy here.

2 hours in, we're back to boredom and annoyance. We ran out of pizza, we're bored of Uno. Tango told me it was getting late and he had to send the guests home. I doubt that Oli's stupid elevator song will ever leave my mind after hearing it so many times on repeat. We've run out of conversation topics. The whole time, we never hear the sound of any handymen that Concorp claimed to send over.

'Another round?' xB holds up the deck after our billionth Uno round. I sigh.

'I never want to play Uno again in my life, dude.'

'Neither...' Jevin glances up. 'Is anyone even coming to help us?'

'Surely they will. We can't just get trapped here forever. Concorp would face a huge scandal.'

'They've got enough money to cover it up.'

'GOOOOD?! Are you there God? We're waiting for you to return!' Oli belts, hammering on the keyboard. I bury my head in my hands, trying to remain calm. But I've heard that stupid piano too much this evening. And Oli's been annoying me this entire time.

'Can you please stop that?' I plead. 'It's really not helping.'

'Have you left us forever?' Oli continues, the song only getting more on my nerves at the thought. What happens if we're never found? Or never rescued? 'Will we allll suffocate! Or run out of water? Are we all going to DIE, GOD?'

It's the last straw.

'I said QUIT IT!'

In one movement, I've stood, picked up the keyboard, and hurled it into the wall. Oli screams as it smashes, falling backwards off his stupid little chair into the corner. I stand over him, panting, furious. He looks up at me, eyes wide, pale, before starting to cry. Impulse is at my side in seconds.

'What the HELS man?!' Jevin yells. I barely process the words, still trying to come to terms with what I've just done. 'Why would you do that?!'

'...Skizz?' Impulse speaks. I'm still staring at Oli weeping, the broken keyboard. xB creeps over to Oli's side, hugging him. I still don't move. Impulse tries to get me to look at him. 'Skizz?'

Tears blur the mess I've caused and I have to look away, hugging Impulse as I start sobbing.

'Right... Skizz... here, sit down.' Impulse forces me to sit against the edge of the elevator, joining me there. 'Calm down. Deep breaths.'

'What if no one finds us?' I murmur. 'What if Concorp are lying about sending people here?'

'Then we fix the elevator ourselves. We get Tango to help, he'll know what to do. I know a little about electronics. And ConCorp can't afford to forget us.'

'Yes, yes they can. Their CEO Captain Jack is the richest man in the city, there've already been horror stories about customer safety. That employee we heard? That's Scar. He's been granted planning permission to build a second home in a volcano. And have a theme park based around his cats. And a zoo. And the guy he mentioned? Cub? Have you seen the allegations about him on the news? That death arena 'Total Chaos'? The Sculk? Impulse, our lives are in the hands of people who couldn't care less what happens to us. And might even enjoy watching us slowly run out of air.'

'That's not going to happen, Skizz. We'll escape ourselves before then if those ConCorp guys don't show.'

The elevator jolts again. Downwards. Impulse grabs my arm.

'Uhh, slight hitch,' the voice I recognise as the far too concerned Cubfan Vex comes through the speakers. 'The ConCorp drones have just made things worse. But don't worry, they will be incinerated, as will every other drone of that model, and a human being is on the way to help. This unfortunate setback is of the highest concern to us here at ConCorp, and every one of ConCorp's qualified employees is working as hard as they can to free you.'

'Also, as an apology from all of us here at ConCorp, all of you will be given a free tour of ConCorp!' Scar speaks, as if it's any kind of reparation. 'I repeat, a free tour of all our company premises. ConCorp thanks you for your patience.'

'Oh great I feel so relieved we're definitely safe here.' I murmur. Impulse hugs me tighter 'Yeah.'

'Also, no internet in here. We can't even send complaints,' Jevin adds, holding up his phone.

'My friend said some of the ConCorp employees eat people who send complaints. But you didn't hear that from me.' BigB, who's been mostly silent, decides to say. I slowly turn to him.

'What.'

'Hmm? What? I said nothing.'

'No... no you just said ConCorp employees are cannibals.'

'What are you talking about? Of course I didn't. Guys, are you hearing this? Skizz is blackmailing me!'

'WhAt?! First I lose my precious keyboard, and now I'm going to be eaten by the meanie ConCorp people?!'

'I never said that. I don't know why Skizz is pretending I said that. I'd never say something like that,' BigB frowns, appearing almost hurt and very concerned by the suggestion he made.

'Am- am I being blackmailed right now? What's going on? Is everyone screwing with me today? Is this mess-with-Skizzleman day?'

'We should all just stay calm. Maybe find another game to play... maybe an alphabet game?' xB's attempts to cheer us up don't help.

'I'm going insane. Is this us running out of oxygen? Do you go insane when you're running out of air?'

'No, it's not. You'll be fine, Skizz. We'll all be fine.' Impulse takes my hand. But I can see he's growing uncertain. I glance around at the others. Oli's still sobbing in xB's arms, Jevin's lying down to try and sleep. BigB's sat against the wall. I keep my eyes on him a moment longer. Why is he pretending he said nothing? When everyone heard him say it? Is he part of this?

A clunk above, loud enough to make me jump. Jevin opens his eyes.

'You mind? I'm trying to sleep here!'

'Is that... an actual handyman? Is someone here to help us?' Everyone attentions turn to the clanking and moving above the elevator, and then the panel crashing down. A face appears.

'Hello? Elevator people?'

They've got long blonde hair and goggles over their eyes.

'Freedom?' Oli asks.

'There's a way onto the lift, and then a rope up to the nearest floor. You- what happened to that piano?'

'I happened,' I explain.

'Ah. Well, I'm False, I'm supposed to fix this thing, come on up. One at a time.'

xB's closest, accepting False's help out of the elevator. Then the tearful Oli stands, saying goodbye to his keyboard one last time.

'Here ends the great adventure... farewell fellow adventurers!'

'Look, Oli.' Before he can leave, I stand, a hand on his shoulder. He turns to me. 'I'm really sorry. I was a jerk. A really, really big jerk. Here's my phone number...' I scrawl out my number of a scrap of paper. 'Call me later so we can start working out how I can buy you a replacement.'

'That's so sweet of you! Thanks.'

And Oli leaves. Then Jevin, deciding the food storage bag is a good pillow and that he'll keep it too. Then BigB, who turns to me, tell us that 'if anyone asks, I wasn't here', and leaves. Just me and Impulse are left.

'You go first, Dippledop.'

'Alright.' Impulse climbs out. I look around the elevator one last time, and then climb out to freedom.