Chapter 3
Out of sheer desperation, Jane sent several long voice messages to the group chat.
"Please, stop hitting the button. My son is about to die," she pleaded.
Finally, the group chat went quiet.
On the surveillance footage outside, Jane was seen video calling the medical staff.
"How's the child doing now? Try the Heimlich maneuver to help dislodge the foreign object," the medical staff instructed.
Jane was frantic, pacing back and forth in panic.
"Heim-what? I have no idea how to do that!" she stammered, her voice trembling with anxiety.
"Is there anyone else at home? Or maybe a neighbor who can help?" the medical staff asked.
Suddenly, Jane remembered me.
She started pounding on my door desperately.
"Priscilla, open the door. I know you're home. Please, save my son!" Jane cried out, her voice full of panic and desperation.
Right then, I happened to catch someone posting in the residents' chat: [Crap, the elevator's broken.]
Someone even dropped a picture in the chat, showing exactly what was going on.
I could see the elevator stuck on the twenty-fifth floor, not budging an inch for ages.
Conversations at the door continued.
"The elevator's out of commission and won't be fixed anytime soon. To save time, we'll come up from below, and you bring your kid down from above," the medical staff said through the call.
Jane desperately tried to drag Madden's body, but her strength was failing her.
Madden was almost 90 pounds, way too heavy for her to handle alone.
Right then, my game came to an end.
I glanced at the screen and saw "Victory" pop up.
I let out a long sigh of relief, glancing at the time.
It was time to deliver the final blow to Jane.
[I'm heading downstairs for dinner, guys. Catch you next time. Let's squad up again.] I posted in the group chat.
Meanwhile, I threw on some clean clothes.
While Jane was still video chatting with the medical staff, I opened my door.
"Oh my god, Jane, what happened to Madden?" I asked, putting on my best worried face.
Jane didn't look the least bit pleased to see me.
Instead, her face was twisted in fury.
"You damn jerk! Why the hell didn't you open up when I was banging on your door?
"You did this on purpose. You left me out there, you want Madden dead!" Jane screamed, her eyes blazing with anger.
I scratched my head, acting all clueless.
"What are you even saying, Jane? I seriously don't get it. How could me playing a few games at home have anything to do with Madden dying?" I said, pretending not to understand.
Jane came at me, trying to scratch my face.
I just stood there, not even flinching.
She raked her nails across my left cheek, leaving a bloody scratch.
"I know you were home! Why didn't you open the door?" Jane yelled, her voice shaking with rage.
"Why did you just let him die?" she cried, her eyes blazing with fury.
I pressed my hand to the bloody scratch she'd left on my cheek.
"Did you even knock? I swear I didn't hear a thing. I was in my room gaming with my friends on voice chat the whole time; they can vouch for me," I said, all innocent.
"Come on, you're Madden's mom. You're the one in charge here. Why are you coming at me now that something's happened to your kid?" I retorted, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in my voice.
Jane just wouldn't back down.
"I don't care. I'm gonna end you today. You'll pay for what happened to my son!" she screamed, her voice shaking with rage.
She came at me again, trying to scratch and grab me.
The emergency doctor on the other end barked, "Are you seriously fighting right now? We're already heading upstairs. Get your kid down here, now!"
That was when she finally let go of me.
"If my son dies, you're dead, too. I swear I'll make you pay!" Jane spat, her eyes blazing with fury.
Madden was lying on the floor, almost completely still.
It had already been more than twenty minutes since he choked on the berries.
After going without oxygen for this long, even though there was a small gap in the thing stuck in his throat, and at best, he pulled through, he'd be brain-damaged for sure.