Elevator to Hell: New Year's 1985

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]New Year's Eve, 1985.

[00:00:02]I was 19 celebrating at a rooftop hotel party.

[00:00:06]Just before midnight, I headed down to my car to grab [music] my camera.

[00:00:10]I stepped into the elevator alone, a decision that would change everything.

[00:00:13]Halfway up, the lift shuddered and died.

[00:00:16]Total darkness. [music] Then, the silence was broken by something impossible, the sound of children laughing.

[00:00:23]Panic surged and the air grew thin.

[00:00:26]I collapsed into unconsciousness. When I woke, I was paralyzed.

[00:00:30]The lights flickered revealing a shadow in the corner, a dark, twisted figure smiling at my terror.

[00:00:35]Outside, through the walls, I could hear the crowd begin the New Year's countdown.

[00:00:40]10 9 8 With every number, the shadow drifted closer.

[00:00:47]>> [music] >> 3 2 1 As the world cheered, I felt icy breath [music] against my ear.

[00:00:54]A face pressed against mine.

[00:00:57]Then, it vanished. An hour later, the doors opened.

[00:01:01]I learned that during the time I was trapped, a man had opened fire on the rooftop killing four people.

[00:01:06]I've spent 40 years wondering, [music] was the thing in the elevator there to haunt me or to keep me from the roof?