Susan's heart lurched. Instinctively, she clung to Manuel, her head pressed against his chest, fingernails digging into his skin, trembling violently. The elevator shuddered to a halt after a terrifying plunge.

Manuel examined the buttons, trying to determine their floor. He worried they might hit the bottom and continue falling.

If that happened…

Susan sobbed in his arms. Hesitantly, he looked down at the terrified girl.

"Manuel, I don't want to die," she cried.

"We'll make it," he said.

"I saw an elevator accident like this on the news," she sniveled. "Only a few survived." Manuel suddenly withdrew his hands, startling her. "Where are you going?" she asked anxiously, clinging to him again.

"I have to check the elevator."

"How?"

"See if the emergency line works," Manuel replied.

"Okay."

"Let go of me," Manuel reminded her.

Embarrassed, she reluctantly released him. It felt instinctive to cling to him, as if he were her only lifeline.

Manuel approached the control panel. He pressed the emergency button, but received no answer. He checked his phone; there was no signal. All signals were blocked. A conspiracy, he realized, a worried frown creasing his face. He knew exactly who was behind it—Henry. He wondered, however, if Henry's target was him or Susan.

"Manuel, what's happening?" Susan asked nervously.

Manuel didn't respond. He went to the door and pounded on it. The door vibrated, the loud noise startling Susan. Tears streamed down her face.

"Manuel, are we going to die together?" she whispered.

Manuel continued pounding, trying to attract attention. But it was late; the office was deserted. Even the security guards were unlikely to reach them on their patrol.

"Manuel," she said softly.

The silence was more terrifying than the situation itself. Manuel, however, was calmly considering their escape. If this was Henry's doing, as he suspected, they were doomed. He began trying to force the door open with his hands. He didn't know their exact position, but if the elevator had stopped between floors, they might still escape.

Just as Manuel was about to try harder, the elevator lurched again. On the verge of panic, Susan clutched him as soon as she felt the tremor.

Manuel's back was to her, so she clung to him from behind, her arms around his waist, her face pressed against his back. He hadn't fully recovered from his injuries; even minor bumps caused pain.

Frowning, he remained silent, feeling her trembling body. He reached for the door, trying to force it open. Through a gap, he saw they were stuck between floors, making escape difficult. Worse, the elevator could plummet if anything went wrong.

Judging by their height, he estimated they were above the tenth floor. A fall would kill them both.

Susan trembled uncontrollably, feeling only his strong, reassuring back. The thought that she might lose him, or that they might die, overwhelmed her.

"Manuel," she whispered.

"Yes?"

Manuel was sweating.

"Are you afraid of death?" Susan asked.

"Of course."

The fear of death was natural, especially when facing imminent, senseless death.

"I'm scared of death!" she cried, burying her face deeper into his back. She wanted nothing more than to hide there.

A lump formed in Manuel's throat. He couldn't offer reassurance that they would survive. Normally, elevators had safety mechanisms preventing a catastrophic fall, as depicted in movies. Phillips Banks' elevators were top-of-the-line; failure was unlikely. However, this was sabotage, and the worst could happen.

"What if we die…" Susan sobbed uncontrollably. Memories flooded her mind. She thought of Edward, whom she had hated as a child, and wondered how he'd feel about her death. Then Hannah's face appeared; she imagined Hannah finding her lifeless body. She felt a sense of déjà vu.

Fear overwhelmed her. She clung to him tightly. "What's your last wish?"

Manuel felt frozen, still contemplating survival. The question left him with only a sense of guilt towards his mother.

He remained silent. He never panicked or showed cowardice; he possessed a strong mind capable of tackling any challenge.

"You don't have a last wish?" Susan asked weakly, sensing his lack of fear. He always maintained composure, unlike her overwhelming fear.

"No," Manuel replied coldly.

Despite expecting this, tears welled in her eyes. Frustration and horror consumed her. Leaning against his back, she murmured, inaudibly, "I love you."

In her final moments, she confessed her love, heartbroken that he seemed unconcerned.