A Collapse

[Avery’s POV]

I stare at the hole where the elevator had just been while my heart hammers in my chest. It was hard to believe that I was just mere minutes away from plummetting to my death, and that left me frozen to the spot, but I knew that I couldn’t continue to stay here.

“We need to get out of here,” I announce, tearing my gaze away and fixing it on the man and woman who had helped me. “What floor are we on?”

“Tenth,” the man responds.

Right. So we had ten more floors to reach freedom.

“Then there are ten floors between us and safety,” I continue, getting to my feet.

As I stand, a hiss of pain escapes me as the cloth of my shirt pulls against the injury on my back.

“Oh my goodness,” the woman gasps. “You’re hurt!”

“It’s fine,” I assure her, trying to ignore the pain I feel. “Which way are the stairs?”

“This way,” the man responds.

Nodding, I motion for him to lead the way as I pick up Aiden and cradle him in my arms. Despite everything that he was currently experiencing, he was a