"He didn't have to die, Joseph. This is on you." She said and she was right. He deserved to live his young life and grow old. Achieve his life's goals. Have a family and find his happiness. If only he had been quiet, the boy would have still been alive. She stood over the bellboy's body, in a small puddle of his flowing blood. "This is on you." She repeated while shaking her head like it was him that pierced the knife through the bellboy's neck.
She steadily walked back towards the emergency exit. Her hands wiping the blade of the bloodied knife. Her eyes were fixed on Joseph's. He can feel his legs numbing, his heart pounding louder, the sweat on his forehead and the most prevalent being the sharp pains on his side.
Blood was still gushing out from the stab wound and he could feel his head getting lighter and his eyelids feeling heavier by the second. The urge to just give up and let everything go was immensely overwhelming, but he still has so much to live for, so giving up was not an option.
Before she could reach him, Joseph slammed the door and held his back against the door. He dug his feet into the cement floor, as deep as any weakening feet can plant itself into cold, hard cement. Surprisingly enough, there was no resistance from the other side. Just a light thud as Emma leaned against it.
"You know, things didn't have to be this way." Emma started. Her voice faint but audible, "I know that you're a genuinely nice person. We could have been something." She sighed.
Emma and Joseph were both silent for the next minute or so before she stood up, relieving the pressure on the door and on Joseph's legs as he felt a tiny bit more confident to loosen them a bit.
"See you downstairs!" she called out gleefully. He needed medical assistance and she knew it. The elevator chimed and he heard the door closing.
Joseph listened harder to make sure it wasn't a bluff. When he was confident, he opened the door slowly and peeked. She was definitely gone but the bellboy was still lifeless on the floor. Joseph's heart ached. That was on him. The kid died for nothing and it was his fault.
Mustering what little strength he had left, Joseph stood up and climbed the stairs. A phone. That's what he needs right now. Joseph managed to climb up to the next floor steadily another emergency door three floors flew open and a blonde head stuck out from the staircase railing.
"HAHA! GOTCHA!"
Joseph started running for the exit and into a hallway of room doors. Orange lights lit up the hallway and carpet lined the floor. It had the same layout as his floor. He just hoped that the people on this one weren't going to leave him to die. Footsteps can be heard as the emergency exit door slowly
The desperate man started running, banging each door and pleading for help. His throat was dry and coarse and it hurts more every time he screamed out. He had to try everything he could to get out of this. There was no way he was going to let a psychopath murder him tonight.
An elderly couple in their 60s peeked out their bedroom door from the other side of the hall. They immediately gasped when they saw his state. Joseph would have gasped if he saw his state. Blood was already flowing down his pants. Every step he took left red shoeprints on the carpet.
The man ran back inside as the woman kept on staring in horror. Then, she called to him to come inside. Relief flooded his entire body as he saw the woman waving and calling him. Joseph tried walking faster, he knew Emma was right behind him.
"Dios mío!" a female gasped from behind.
Startled, Joseph turned to look at the woman. She must have seen the trauma and despair in his eyes because she immediately called him into her room. Without hesitation
He looked back at the elderly woman at the end of the hall and gave a slight smile to thank her kindness. From this distance, it seemed as she didn't see his gesture. It was as if she was looking right past him. His eyes immediately dart to where she was staring at.
Leaning against the door with her cheeks pressing against it. Half of her body was visible and the other half hidden behind the emergency door, she seemed to be horrifyingly gleeful. Emma just observed him with a slight smile on her face.