The great escape

On the 5th of November 2009, six friends (including myself) experienced the most, frightening, exhilirating and best day of our lives (not literally, but you get the point).

The scene begins searching for a restaurant for my dear friends 19th birthday. After wasting our time and the waiters time in City Extra we settle for the Italian restaurant nearby named Silician. The place has a homely feeling about it. The smell of Italian food fills the air, the aura of everyone there. In front of us are these old ladies sitting and reminisce about the "good ole' times" and behind is are a family of five enjoying a nice dinner out. Despite the fact that there is some sort of pole dancing class upstairs, the atmosphere was amazing. The waiters; exceptional (in more ways than one), the food; BELLISSIMO, overall it was a lovely night sipping on wine (my first taste of wine) and laughing endlessly about life.

10.24pm, after the end to our feast, we venture back to the carpark. It was bad enough the carpark looked like it was on the wrong side of the neighbourhood and we were stuck in it, but after pressing the elevator button to send us upstairs and to the cars, we realise the carpark closes 8pm. We check the front and to our surprise, the gates have been locked. Panic rushes through each and every one of us, especially our youngest friend who still has one more HSC exam to go before freedom, highly ironic that it is an Italian exam.

Each of us stare at one another hoping we come up with some sort of idea to get the gate open. ALAS! A sign which says if we require assistance with taking our cars out, we must call this number and pay a fee of $100. Most of us begin to speculate the shifty-ness out this situation. Out of pure curiosity, I begin strolling around, hoping there is some sort of way out of this mess without paying the $100 fee. There is an intercom on one of the large pillars near the gate, not thinking I press the button and walk away, thinking it is some sort of alarm. Two seconds later ...

Hello?

An intercom! We are halfway there, not really. We each look at one another again, no one knows what is going on. We press the button once more, the same voice talks...

Hello?

Someone who can possibly save us. The voice is very difficult to co-operate with.

Yes, hello, we have cars stuck in this carpark, could you please open the gate for us so we can go home?
Voice: I'm sorry I cannot do that.
Why not?
Voice: because I am in the control room and the only people who can open the gates are the security.
Then can we please call the security to open the gates for us please?
Voice: I'm sorry they are asleep.
Excuse but there something you need to understand, we are six 18 year old's who need to get home right away. We have a curfew which is 11pm and if we do not get home by this time, we are in great risk of being fined by the police. So could you please bend the rules for us, just once.
Voice: I'm sorry I cannot do anything, its out of my control.
Okay so what do you have to do to get our cars out?
Voice: You need to pay the fee of $100 to get your cars out, and you must pay by credit card.
Okay, my name is ________ _________ and my mobile is __________.
Voice: and your credit card number?
Wait, what company do you work for?
Voice: I am in the control room
We know that, but what is the name of the company you work for?
Voice: I am in the control room
Alright, what's your name then?
Voice: I am not authorized to give out that information.
Okay then we need to get two cars out.
Voice: then that will cost you $200.

After about half an hour of negotiating that the sign by the gate says only $100 fee, not $100 per car, I again begin to stroll around. Our youngest friend calls her father who just so happens to work for a security company and knows nothing about this company, "Secure". Another sign indicating the shifty-ness of this situation. I hang onto the gate hoping something would miraculously happen as dear birthday boy deliberates with the mentally challenged fellow on the other end of the intercom. ALAS! The lock. The lock was suscipously left unlocked, thank goodness! I unlock the gate and open it, everyone looks slightly happier and with the adrenaline running through our system, we dash to our cars, three in each car and attempt to escape this hell. That was until obstacle one. How to get out with everyway shut off. Cars cannot fit in the gaps between parking spots or between the boomgates.

Attempt one, try to get out by lifting the boomgate. As two of our friends attempt to lift it, the same voice appears from the ticket machine

I wouldn't do that if i were you.

Creepy much? It was like some sort of Saw, crazy shit! Someone notices security cameras. "Hoods up" is our immediate reaction. As another friend acts as look-out he notices two strange people parked outside the carpark and entering the building.

SECURITY!!! RUN!!!

Six adults running crazily around the car park trying to find a new way to get out. As the drivers decide, maybe we should pay for our tickets? Miraculously the machine is on and the man on the intercom speaks once more...

Your license registration has been recorded on camera and if you break anything you shall be named liable.

Eager to get out, the driver waves goodbye and drives off in a rush out of the carpark with the others right behind. As we run back to the cars outside two of the people which were thought to be security enter, and we notice a thrid car in the distance.

Is that your car?
No.

Strange. I wait by the gate for the final car to drive past, leave it unlocked for the random strangers. FREEDOM! That is until I fall down on the slippery floor, flat on my ass. What an exit. We get back into the cars and speed the hell out of Parramatta. And that is the end of that chapter.

To anyone who reads this, DO NOT, I plead, DO NOT park your car in Parramatta, Hunter Street carpark. DO NOT!!!!