The Virus by Lee, Damien (summer books txt) 📕

“Okay. Instead of looking at the big picture, why don’t we just take each step at a time? Let’s get down there. When we survive that, we’ll look to the next step. Sound good?”

“It still doesn’t explain how we’re going to get over there,” she told him, eyeing the gap in front of them.

“The ledge goes all the way around, look.”

Ben pointed to the small ridge running the perimeter of the tunnel. The ledge was less than ten inches wide; half the size of the one they were standing on.

“But that’s tiny. We’d never get around there.”

The look from Ben made her heart sink.

“No way,” she said. “You want me to go?”

“I hate to say it, but I genuinely can’t see another way out of here. I mean, I could try, but I don’t think I’ll be able to get around. You’ve got a better chance than me.”

“No. There must be another way. How do the maintenance guys use it? They can’t all be the same size as me; look at Terry.”

“They use pulleys and cables.”

Amy laughed nervously. “No. There has to be another way.”

“Maybe we could go back on the pipes and find a way back?” Ben said

“The pipes will be boiling now.” Amy glanced at her watch for confirmation. “And the longer we hang around, the more of those things that might be waiting for us.”

“I don’t know what else we can do then.”

Amy looked down at the enormous drop before examining the small ledge again. If she put one foot wrong, she’d fall to her death. If she didn’t do it, they’d die anyway.

“Fine.” She groaned. “What do I do when I get over there?”

“Open the lid and look for a way to bring the lift up. It shouldn’t be locked. Let’s just hope it works.”

“It better work. I only plan on making this trip once.”

She rose to her feet and eased out onto the ledge, keeping her chest pressed against the wall. Gripping the corner tightly, she took another step. Her heart beat hard against her ribs. She inhaled deeply to calm her frantic breathing, but the smell of oil, metal, and blood only exacerbated her nerves. She released her grip on the corner as she moved along. Resisting the urge to look down, she kept her gaze fixed ahead, her arms stretched either side. The rough texture of the wall scraped her skin as she made her way around.

“Be careful,” Ben said.

Amy longed to utter a sarcastic retort, but her fear of imminent death kept her tongue at bay. She reached the first corner without looking at the vast drop below. As she progressed along the second wall, the urge became too much to bear. She looked back at Ben and, seeing him staring down into the abyss, her eyes automatically followed. The drop seemed even greater now that she was suspended above it. She pictured herself falling, plummeting towards the steel carriage below. Her legs felt weak, almost unable to hold her weight.

“Careful.” Ben snapped as she swayed into the void.

She looked back at her target and saw it was closer now than ever before. A few more feet and she would be there. But what if the contents of the box didn’t control the lift? What if it was locked? What if, in her struggle to open it, she fell to her death? Amy tried hard to suppress the negative thoughts as she started her slow progression once more. Her deep exhalations echoed up and down the elevator shaft, offering a welcome distraction as she neared the last corner.

“You’re doing great. Just a little further.”

Amy turned the last corner and made her way over to the box. It was then that she encountered her greatest challenge so far. Her breath seized in her lungs as her T-shirt snagged on something jutting out of the wall. With her body pressed tightly against the cool stone, she could not see what she was caught on.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m stuck,” she gasped, feeling her heart race. She tried to move back, but the wall refused to release her. “I can’t move!”

“Can you reach the switch? If you can get the lift up here, I can help you.”

“I don’t know.”

 She looked at the control box, which now seemed far beyond reach. She lifted her arm, reaching out towards the small metal lid. Her fingers brushed the side, filling her with a flicker of joy as she felt the cool metal beneath her fingertips. She tried to move closer, but the wall’s grip on the fabric was unwavering.

“Can you open it?”

“I’m not sure,” Amy stammered, her voice shaking from exertion. She stretched her arm as far as possible until her fingers slipped underneath the latch. With a flick of her wrist, the metal door swung open.

“I knew it!” Ben yelled. “There are two green buttons close to you, press the top one and it should bring the lift up to us.”

“I can’t see,” Amy said. “Which is the right one?”

Her fingers brushed the control panel as she leaned further, straining against the hold on her shirt. Eventually, her wandering fingers found a small plastic button.

“Is this it?”

“I can’t see,” he told her. “Your hand is in the way. Just press it and see what happens.”

Amy pushed the button and waited. The sound of motors whirring into action filled her with ecstasy. Her ordeal was over. In a few seconds, the carriage would reach them and she could simply step onto it. She heard Ben cheer behind her.

“You did it,” he said. “It’s coming up.”

It was then that Amy lost her grip on the button. She stumbled forward; the wall releasing its hold on her T-shirt. She let out a shriek as she fell, her