"911 what's your emergency" Maddie's voice rang through the phone.
"My nephew and I, we're stuck in an elevator, he's 2 and I'm 28, I have anxiety and hate elevators and I'm trying my best to not freak out."
"Okay Ma'am, where are you and what's your name?"
"We are at the Garden Terrace Apartments on 33rd st. My name is Kristie and my nephew is Levi"
"Okay. Well sit tight and keep talking to me, we are dispatching the fire department to your location"
"118 Respond to Garden Terrace Apartments 33rd street for a 28 year old female and a 2 year old male trapped in an elevator. Be advised 28 year old female has a history of anxiety"
Maddie could here Kristie's breathing over the phone.
"Can we run out of air?"
"No, their are Vents above you that keep air flow going" Maddie answered.
"What if it lets go, we are on the 5th floor" She could here the panic in her voice.
"Kristie listen to my voice. You are going to be okay and Levi needs you to remain calm"
"Okay" her shaky voice was not much reassurance.
"Is the power on?" Maddie questioned.
"Yes. The Elevator just started jumping and then stopped. I tried the buttons, and the call option, nothing works" She spoke quickly.
"Kristie hows Levi?"
"No, No, No" her voice was pure panic.
"Kristie whats happening?"
"The Elevator it keeps jumping"
"Okay, the fire department has just called in they are on the scene"
"My phone's going to "
"Kristie?"
Nothing but Silence answered her
"Kristie?"
Maddie hung up and tried to call her back, it just went to voicemail.
...
"118 be advised we lost contact with caller."
"Alright guys you heard them, two trapped in an elevator, the woman has a history of anxiety. Let's get them out" Captain Nash instructed as the truck came to a stop in the parking lot.
Buck and Eddie headed in search of the elevator while Hen and Chimney grabbed their bags just in case they needed them.
"Looks like they are between floors 5 and 6" The Captain informed the guys as they took to the stairs.
Buck took out a pry bar and shimmied the door open, revealing a four inch opening that was eye level where you could see into the elevator.
"Ma'am how are you doing in there?" Eddie called. He could see her back to the wall with her eyes closed tight. Her breathing was evidence she was trying some calming technique.
"Good" she answered. He felt like he knew her but he couldn't place her.
"Few more minutes and we will get you out" Buck called. The elevator started to shudder and jump again but didn't come any lower. She grabbed her nephew and held him tight till it stopped.
"Ma'am look at me, we are going to get" Eddie started. As soon as she opened her eyes he stopped.
"Saunders?" he asked, no one else had those green eyes.
"Diaz?" she answered. He smiled, it was her.
"We need to cut this reunion short, the cabling isn't on the pulley, which gives us no motion and the more people try to move it the more the cable loosens the bolt. We are going to cut the power, Eddie I need you and Buck on the next floor, We are going to have to get them out through the top. " Captain Nash just finished giving the orders as the hallway went dark.
"All power is cut" Athena's voice came through the radio.
"You heard her, get to work"
The guys went to the next floor as Chimney moved to the opening.
"How's everyone doing?"
"The power out, is that you guys" Kristie asked.
"Yup, how are you holding up?"
"Good"
"What's your name?"
"Kristie, yours?"
"Chimney, how about your nephew"
"Levi"
"Do you live in this building?"
"My sister does" she replied. The elevator creaked and jumped.
Kristie held Levi tighter.
"I thought the powers off" her voice trembled.
"It is" Chimney replied.
"Captain, this elevator is still jumping" Hen radioed.
Captain Nash stood between Buck and Eddie.
Eddie clipped into the last harness as Buck laid a ladder across the elevator Shaft.
Buck slipped into the other harness and climbed out on the ladder. Eddie made his way to the ladder and then lowered himself onto the elevator.
"Got a lot of movement down here Cap" Chimney's voice echoed through the radio.
Eddie pulled one of the elevator vents off and could see Kristie and Levi.
He felt like they were back in Afghanistan, her green eyes looking up at him pleading for help.
"Saunders Look at me, move slow, hand me Levi." She nodded to him standing and lifting the boy above her head. He grabbed Levi handing him to Buck who passed him out the door to a waiting Hen.
"Alright I'm Coming down for you"
She stepped back, as soon as his full weight was on the elevator floor it started to shudder and jump again.
"Look at me" Eddie tilted her face up to meet her eyes.
"I'm going to boost you up and we are going to step right out into the hallway. Easy as that" She nodded. He put his hands down creating a stir up. The second she put her weight in his hand the elevator dropped two feet sending them to the floor.
"Buck get out of there" Eddie called. He heard him move to the door.
"Kristie this way" Chimney called. There was enough space to slide out now.
"Eddie if it lets go and your still harnessed your going with it." He called.
Kristie watched Eddie unhook multiple straps, afraid to move till he was done.
"Saunders get out of here" he stated.
"I'm not leaving without you" Her voice was shaking but her hands worked fast untangling the one rope.
The harness fell loose to the floor. The elevator lurched down another 3 feet. Eddie jumped out pulling her with him, just as the elevator let loose.
"Everybody back" Chimney yelled afraid loose cables could catch someone by accident.
"Chimney everyone good?" Captain Nash asked on the radio.
"Yup, we're all good here." The second it left his mouth Kristie collapsed, Eddie catching her seconds before hitting the floor.
"Her blood pressure is high, heart rate accelerated"
"I feel like I can't breathe"
"She has a history of anxiety attacks, mirrors heart attack symptoms. " Eddie answered.
"Your relationship to Ms. Saunders? " Chimney asked.
"We fought beside each other for 4 years overseas, kept each other safe" he replied.
"Well we are going to send her to the hospital to be sure, you riding with us or what?"
"Diaz, Take Levi, My sisters in Apt 34 B" He nodded.
She heard the faint
"Hey buddy lets go find mom"
before they wheeled her out.