I chose the elevator. I'd seen a few people go through the doors and so far none of them had come back. Plus, maybe the elevator would have a button labeled "G" for ground or some such thing.
Stepping in I saw I was out of luck for a ground floor button. There were, however, buttons-- none of them labeled. I choose the one furthest from the lighted one on the theory I might get to the top floor and walk down while looking for a way outside. Plus the top floor might give me a good view of wherever this building was located.
Just as the door shut it occurred to me I might have actually chosen the lowest level of a parking garage. Fortunately, finding my was out of a parking garage should be easy. I hoped.
I couldn't feel the elevator moving. The light on the button went out, but there was no sensation of motion. Also, there was no indicator to show what floor the elevator was passing. Just four gray, metallic walls, one with an elevator door in it.
Quickly I checked myself. I didn't seem to be transforming, so it (probably) wasn't a transformation booth of some sort. What else could it be?
Just as I was beginning to get really worried, a chime sounded and the door opened.
What the --?
I was looking out into a shopping mall!
Stepping out of the elevator, I looked around.
The place seemed to be sparsely populated by customers-- regular people one might see in a mall. I seemed to be in some sort of rest area (those had all been taken out of the malls where I lived. More room for kiosk-type shops.) Overhead about three or so floors up, was a skylight showing a bright, blue sky with only a few wisps of cloud (at least one of which could be a vapor trail from a jet aircraft.) And, of course, stores with glass fronts displaying various wares.
Turning around, I saw that there was still an elevator behind me, but not the one I had just left. This one had glass walls and people inside. The glass doors shut and the elevator started going up.
"Welcome to the grad opening of our mall!" an artificially cheerful voice said. Turning I saw a nondescript man about my age standing next to a folding table filled with plastic shopping bags. He handed me one.
"Here, take one! Inside are coupons for most of the stores and a map of the mall," he continued. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
I looked at the bag, then at him, and then around again. Apparently I was near one of the entrances, although I couldn't see one.
"Uh, where are the doors out?" I asked, confused.
"Well, I'd have to say you must have come from the parking garage, just a floor down," he answered. "After all, the elevator came up and you were on it. I hope you're not thinking of leaving already. You just got here."
I paused for a long moment. There most definitely wasn't a mall like this anywhere near where I lived. Ours were only one story tall, for starters. And, if this were a CYOC story, would I fare any better outside? How would I get home? I doubted my car was in the parking garage...
"Never mind," I answered, then realized something I needed to do. "Which way to the Men's room?"
"Over by the food court," was the answer. He pointed down one wing of the mall.
Thanking him, I headed that direction.