They bumped down one floor in silence, until a loud mechanical screeching startled Laurie. Jamie Carter frowned. After a brief silence, it happened again. Crrrrrrbmmmmpfff, a metal-on-metal squealing noise that made them physically grit their teeth. The lift shuddered to a halt, with the lurching sensation of a drunk tripping over. There were a few unpromising glitching noises of clicking and whirring, as if the lift was discussing what had happened with itself. Then, nothing.
haven't seen this cliche for a while
