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Martin froze right then and there. Millions of questions started to race through his mind. Who was this lady? How does she know my name? Why did she laugh? Why did she press the Stop button? What did she want from me? Why is she stalking me? As these questions raced through his head he crumpled to the floor. He was breathing faster, his heart racing and the things around him got more and more blurred. He fainted on the foot of the fat lady.

“Martin! Martin! Martin! Wake up! Mar-” screamed the fat lady.

“Aah! What?! Who are you? Get away from me! I'm not a coward but a man! I am not afraid! What do you want from me?” Martin yelled back at her.

“Martin, Martin… Relax honey.” said the old fat lady calmly.

“Excuse me! I don’t know you… and why you are always in the elevator w-with me.”Martin responded.

“Martin takes deep breaths. I'm none to be afraid of. If you actually got to know me, then you would know I know lots about you and I am not scary at all or whom you think I am” answered the fat lady.

“H-h-how?! I have never said my name once; and-and why did you stop the elevator?! There is no emergency or no alarms that went off!” yelled Martin while stuttering.

“”You know how you're always bullied and are so scared” said the fat lady while adjusting her coat. Martin nodded questioningly. “Well... I’ve come here to help you.” the puggish lady told Martin.

“How do you know me and everything about me?!”  retorted Martin loudly.

“Well… you see…’ said the fat lady hesitantly.

“Go on..” Martin told the fat lady.

The lady started to remove her coat. Martin looked at her in utter shockness. She removed her wig and her colored contacts. A few minutes later, all of the disguise was gone.. The true person behind her was a tall lady, hunched over. She was wearing a white blouse tucked into a black, red and green plaid skirt with a slit on the side. Her actual eye color was hazel. She had two rings- one on her index finger and the other on her pinky. Martin stood there with his jaws dropped open.

“Well Martin, I am an undercover agent. I was paid in order for you to gain confidence. This has all been a test. You really are scared of everything. You need to build your confidence. Don’t let others put you down. Talk to other people and don’t be scared of some “fat lady”. said, the lady.

“Hold up,” murmured Martin “You look so familiar, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“Oh.. about that… well, you see I am actually your mother.” replied the lady.

“What!” Martin shrieked in confusion.

Martin almost had a heart attack and fell to the floor. However, he kept on thinking about this whole situation and what his dad had said. 

“Martin!” The lady squealed.

The lady who called herself Martin’s so-called “mother” helped Martin get back up while trying to ease off. Martin was in total confusion and wanted to get off this elevator right that instant.

“Can we please get off this elevator and then you can explain everything?'' pleaded Martin in what came as a mumble.

“Okay, but promise me you will not run away.” The lady told Martin.

They agreed and the lady released the Stop button. She pressed the button for the lobby. When they arrived at the lobby, there were a lot of people waiting there including Martin’s dad. He was in the back of the crowd in the distance smirking. 

“Martin, how about we go take a seat right over there.” said the lady pointing to the benches next to the reception desk. Martin, the lady and Martin’s dad all took a seat on the bench

“Where shall we start?” said Martin’s father.

“Hmm.. well I will introduce myself.” said the lady “Hello, my name is Mrs. Charlotte Adams. I know I’ve not been there before, but I am your mother. I have been very busy with my job, as you know, which is an undercover agent.  We had a big mission to accomplish. That's why I haven’t been here with you. Your father and I are actually your parents.  When your father called me over here and told me how you had been acting lately, and how everything has been going with you, I decided to come over in order to gain your confidence. As an agent, we do this to a lot of children in order to test them and make them stronger. You may have recognized me from the picture in your dad’s pocket watch.”

Martin took all this information in very slowly. He knew he recognized her from somewhere and now he knew.

“Martin, look,” said Martin’s dad “I know it is a lot to take in but here, we found the official documents. This was all just a test to benefit you.” 

Martin read the documents which stated that both of them were his real parents.

“Okay..” said Martin “So, are you going to live with us now?” he asked his mom.

“Well.. if it is okay with both of you, yess! Or we could leave this building and go live up at my place which is way nicer and cleaner than here.” said Martin’s mom.

“Yess!” said Martin and his dad “We would love to”

“But first, let’s go get dinner together as one happy reunited family. I’m starving.” said Martin’s mom while hugging both Martin and his dad.

“Wha- Who are you?” I asked angrily, “And what do you want with me?”

“Awww- That hurts… You really don’t remember who I am?” She said in a sarcastic tone.

“No, am I supposed to?” I said.

“Well, yes. I mean, we did spend most of our time together when you were a baby? I almost couldn’t believe it was you when I saw you in the elevator, so I thought I’d give you a little scare.” she said.

Martin knew instantly who it was, “Brenda!” he screamed, as he ran up to her and gave her a huge hug. It was his best friend from when he lived with his mom in Illinois when he was younger. While she was a lot older than him, they were able to connect better than any other kid his age, he thought of her as the best friend he ever had. But, when his mother died, he had to go live with his dad and leave Brenda behind. They have had no sort of communication for the past five years. 

“Hahaha… yeah. I missed you runt!” she said.

“I missed you too, Bre.” Martin replied.

Those were their nicknames for each other when they were growing up. 

They began talking about what has happened in their lives for the past five years, and Brenda tells Martin that she had just moved into an apartment complex not too far away from his.

“What?! That’s Great! Maybe we can start to hang out again!” Martin said when he heard the news.

“Yeah, I miss back then, everything was so much more peaceful…. Hey! Wanna go get some pizza?” she asked Martin.

“You bet!” Martin said, and they walked out of the elevator and went to the nearest pizza place. Forgetting all about Martin’s dad, who was supposed to be back soon.
Made by BldyBoy

“What is this?”, he asked in fear. Finally the mysterious woman spoke. “Martin, this is your new home. You have been recruited to work for me. Your dormitory is down the hall.”, she said as she shoved an odd bag into his hands. It was a black duffel bag that said CLASSIFIED in red right below the zipper. Martin, still stunned, followed the women. “What is going on?” ,he thought, “This has got to be a mistake.” When he got to his room he sat down on a bed. He asked the woman. “Who are you, and why have you brought me here?” The woman jumped up and bellowed. “I am a monster here to eat you!!” The women opened up a large toothy mouth. Right before she pounced on him, Martin opened his eyes. He woke up in his bed covered in cold sweat. It had all been a nightmare. Later that day he went on the elevator with no fear. To his surprise the woman was there. She was real. Martin blurted out. “Leave me alone!!!” The woman, who now was surprised and confused, said, “Chill out kid. I’m just trying to fix this elevator. Everyday I come here multiple times to try to fix this old thing.” Martin finally realized that what she was looking at was a dent in the elevator behind him. “Sorry.”, he said felling a little stupid. “Don’t worry about it kid. I get that alot here. The elevator is just an awkward place. People also judge me because of how I look.”, she said. “Sorry”, Martin said again fellining bad. From that day forward Martin remembered to never judge a book by its cover.

The elevator shuttered and came to a screeching halt. How does she know my name?, he thought. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten off the elevator on my floor with her watching.  Martin was so scared that he could barely speak.  “Wh- who- who are you?”, he stammered.  

Instead of saying anything, she looked up then back at Martin. Immediately sirens began to blare and lights began to flash.  Suddenly a door opened in the back of the elevator.  The fat lady pushed Martin through the doorway.  When she entered behind him, the door shut.  Martin looked around to see a cave with lights across the walls.  “What is this?”, he asked in fear.  

Finally the mysterious woman spoke.  “Martin, this is your new home.  You have been recruited to work for me.  Your dormitory is down the hall.”, she said as she shoved an odd bag into his hands.  It was a black duffel bag that said CLASSIFIED in red, right below the zipper.  

Martin, still stunned, followed the woman.  What is going on?, he thought, This has got to be a mistake.  When he got to his room, he sat down on a bed.  He asked the woman, “Who are you, and why have you brought me here?”  

The woman jumped up and bellowed.  “I am a monster here to eat you!!”  The woman opened up a large, toothy mouth.  Right before she pounced on him, Martin opened his eyes.  He woke up in his bed covered in cold sweat.  It had been a nightmare.

Later that day, he went on the elevator with no fear.  To his surprise, the woman was there.  She was real.  Martin blurted out, “Leave me alone!!!”  

The woman, who was surprised and confused, said, “Chill out kid.  I’m just trying to fix this elevator.  Everyday I come here multiple times to try to fix this old thing.”

Martin finally realized that what she was looking at this whole time was a dent in the elevator, not him.  “Sorry.”, he said, feeling a little stupid.  

“Don’t worry about it kid.  I get that a lot here.  The elevator is just an awkward place.  People also judge me because of how I look.”, she said.  

“Sorry”,  Martin said, again feeling bad.  From that day forward Martin remembered to never judge a book by its cover.

He froze. Martin  didn’t know what to do. He knew he couldn’t use the stairs, but he really thought about it. But the more Martin thought, he realized. My name, how does she know my name? Five minutes passed by and neither Martin or the lady had moved or said anything. 

“Martin? Hello??” The lady eventually asked, bringing Martin back to reality.

“Um, I- I- I’m just uh- I can’t -” Martin stammered. He still had no clue what to do or what to say. 

“Relax Martin, I’m a friend, you can trust me.” She said as she smirked. Martin didn’t know why, but after hearing her speak, he felt more scared. Still standing in the hall, Martin could hear his dad talking with Terry Ullman. He gulped, hearing his footsteps getting closer and closer. Not wanting to be caught by his father, Martin struggled with his crutches into the elevator. 

And so Martin was in the same situation he always seems to be in. The same thought kept circling around his mind. It’s only 8 floors, it’s only 8 floors. 

“Martin, get ready.” The lady said. Before Martin could even reply, the elevator stopped. 

NO no no! This can’t be happening. Just one more floor!. Martin began to panic. The lady watched Martin as he was holding his tears back. 

“Now Martin, now that we’re stuck here together, let's get to business.” the lady said.

 I’ve been watching you for a while now Martin. I have kids watching you at school and neighbors watching as you exit the building. You’re a special case.” 

Martin was sweating. He was struggling to stand with his crutches. 

“C-c-case? W-w-what do you m-mean?” Martin was so nervous. He couldn’t stop stuttering. His heart was beating so fast. 

“Martin, we’re going to your floor, and you will bring me into your room.” the lady demanded. Martin gulped. He didn’t want the lady in his room, but he was afraid to say no. As if by command, the elevator slowly started to move. They had reached the 17th floor. 

As soon as they exited the elevator, the door slammed shut, making Martin jump. He opened the door to his apartment. 

“L-l-ladies f-f-first.” Martin muttered. The lady squeezed through the door. As soon as she was in, Martin slammed the door. He kept pushing the door shut. He could hear the lady yelling and demanding for Martin to get in. Not knowing what else to do, he hopped with his crutches to the staircase. He would have to manage, the elevator would take too long. 

But before he could get far, the lady threw the door open. 

“Wrong move.”

Then Martin gets really scared he tries to yell for help but nothing happens. A few minutes later the woman said “ You know your dad is an awesome man. He has told me so much about you!” Martin thinks “wait is that why she knows my name?” The woman said a few minutes later “ you know, you really remind me of my son when he was just a boy like you.” Martin asked, “ is that why you were staring at me every time that I got on here?” Yes the woman replies. Martin quickly remembers that there is an emergency HELP button on the elevator. He presses the button hoping for a miracle. Suddenly the elevator was opened up by firemen. As the elevator was being opened, The elevator fell but the lady pushed martin out of the way before it fell. Then they saw the woman turn into a black glob of slime and that black glob of slime then turned into dust and everybody heard, “I love you, Elliot!” echoing through the building. Martin then realized that his dad’s name was Elliot and that woman was his grandma. 

~ Sheiny Aragon