Free Elysium by Jennifer Marie Brissett Page B

crack snapped open on the wall near the ceiling, sprinkling dust onto the heads of those nearby. The lights went out, then came back on a moment later.
    It was happening. It was coming.
    “What was that?” the receptionist said, her voice an octave higher.
    “While you’re figuring that out, I’m getting my brother.”
    “Wait —”
    Antoine pushed past the dazed staff and ran.
    His calls were swallowed by the calls of others. Doctors and nurses, janitors and staff panicked as the ground continued to vibrate. They screamed out to each other, confused and scared. Patients entered the hallway only to be ushered back into their rooms.
    The ground continued to move. As Antoine rushed about, the voices of the orderlies and receptionist echoed far behind him. The lights flickered off, and there was a heartbeat spent in pitch black, stillness. Dim emergency lights flooded the halls with an orange glow, and the bedlam resumed.
    “Adrian!” Antoine called. “Adrian!”
    He peered into a room to find a group of patients with terrified expressions stirring nervously as a lone staff person attempted to calm them. Antoine returned to the hall and grabbed by the arm someone who was running.
    “I’m looking for a man.”
    “Aren’t we all.” Hector shook off his grip. “Now get off!” Hector turned back into his room and tried to close the door. Antoine grabbed at his arm again.
    “I’m looking for Adrian”
    “Adrian?” Hector looked strangely at him through the crack of the door. “What you want him for?”
    “He’s my brother and I’m getting him outta here.”
    Hector said, “Well, you can’t be his brother. His brother’s dead.”
    “Who told you that?”
    “Shh! Keep your voice down.” Hector pulled him inside the room just in time to hide from the approaching security guard.
    “Who told you that?” Antoine repeated in a quieter voice.
    “Adrian did.”
    “ Where is he?!” Antoine grabbed Hector’s arms.
    “Ow! Honey, that hurts!”
    “It’ll hurt even more if you don’t tell me where my brother is.”
    “How do I know you’re really his brother?”
    “I don’t have time to fuck around!”
    “Do I look like I’m fuckin’ around to you?” Hector said, shaking himself loose. “It don’t take no genius to see something bad is going down. Now prove to me you’re his brother.”
    Antoine thought for a minute then said, “He has a mark on his forehead from when he was in an accident with some scaffolding.”
    Hector pursed his lips. “Anyone who’s seen him can say that.”
    “He likes owls,” Antoine said exasperated. “Come on, Nut!” Antoine shoved Hector.
    “Alright, alright, I can show you!” Hector said. “But you gotta promise that when you’re leaving you take me, too.”
    Antoine took a moment to consider the vision of Hector in his tight blue jeans, lady’s slippers, long hair, and moustache. He decided that he’d let him show him where Adrian was, then dump him afterwards.
    “Fine. Whatever, Nut. Show me.”
    Hector smiled and disappeared into his closet for a moment and returned with a small purse.
    “Come on, honey. Time’s a wastin’. And my name is Hector, not Nut.”
    Hector stuck his head out the door and looked both ways, then waved for Antoine to follow. Alarms were honking, and an automated voice blared instructions to remain calm. They slipped along the halls together, unnoticed by the rushing staff who had their hands full dealing with running patients. Antoine followed Hector to a locked door. Hector took a card out of his purse and swiped it through the security lock.
    “I stole this from an orderly weeks ago. He never missed it. He so stupid.”
    The door opened to a stairwell that led downstairs. The noise from the hall cut off when the door behind them slammed shut. The faded red glow of the exit sign provided a little light. Antoine followed Hector down the stairs to the lower level, into a maze of dark corridors that smelled of floor cleaner, a