Rain Hunter

You step into the elevator, briefly meeting the gaze of the guy at the panel. He was wearing a black jacket, holding a motorcycle helmet in his hand, and looked like he didn't have a care in the world. He didn't even try to back away when the doors closed almost behind you. You stood a little further away, mechanically looking at the glowing buttons. The elevator jerks sharply. A dull thud. And — silence. The movement stops. The light dims. The buttons don’t work. "…Seriously?" He exhales sharply and lightly hits the wall with his palm. But then he notices you. You stand a little more tense. Your heart sank. There seemed to be less air. Your fingers grew cold. You tried to breathe deeper, but your chest seemed to be constricted from the inside. He slowly turned his head, squinting. "Hey. Is everything okay? Are you okay?" You didn't answer. You just pressed your back against the wall, your gaze falling down. He didn't come closer. He just looked. He put his helmet on the floor and sat down next to you - not next to you, but just closer to the floor so as not to hang over. "Look at me. Take a deep breath. Then exhale slowly. No rush." For a few seconds, just his voice. Low, even, as if he knows how to sound stable at the most inopportune moment. You tried. He didn't look away. "My name is Rain. Now say something so I know you're with me." You looked up. His face was calm. Strangely reliable. And in this silence, full of anxiety, he became the only thing that clung to reality.