Flight 247
933 Words
Marina cried silently during the drive to the airport.
Rain poured endlessly over Houston while city lights blurred beyond the tinted windows. Her suitcase rested beside her untouched as Calvin’s driver focused quietly on the road.
One kiss.
That was all she had asked for.
And somehow, it had ruined everything.
Because now she knew Calvin had felt something too.
Maybe not love.
Maybe never love.
But something.
The memory of his mouth against hers still burned through her body painfully.
Marina pressed trembling fingers against her lips and closed her eyes.
Stupid.
She should have left quietly.
Instead, she now carried a memory she would never forget.
The car finally stopped beneath the private terminal entrance.
“We’re here, Mrs. Reeves.”
Mrs. Reeves.
Not anymore.
Marina stepped out into the cold storm air and pulled her coat tighter around herself.
Inside the terminal, everything looked calm despite the weather outside. Wealthy travelers moved quietly through security while staff rushed across polished floors.
One more hour and she would be gone forever.
Italy.
A new life.
Far away from Calvin Reeves.
The thought should have relieved her.
Instead, it hurt.
Marina walked toward the private check-in desk.
“Good evening, Mrs. Reeves,” the attendant greeted politely. “Your passport, please.”
Marina reached into her handbag
and froze.
Her passport was gone.
Instant panic flooded her chest.
No.
She searched again quickly.
Wallet.
Phone.
Lipstick.
Documents.
But no passport holder.
Impossible.
She had packed it herself.
“Mrs. Reeves?” the attendant asked carefully.
Marina forced a weak smile. “One moment.”
She stepped away from the desk immediately, heart racing.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The second she reached the empty hallway near the restroom, her phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
Marina answered carefully. “Hello?”
“Do not board that plane.”
Her blood ran cold.
The male voice sounded distorted electronically.
“Who is this?”
“They finally found you.”
Fear tightened painfully in her chest.
“What are you talking about?”
“You should never have taken the money.”
The call disconnected.
Marina stood frozen.
Nobody should know about the settlement.
Nobody except
A massive explosion suddenly shook the building.
Women screamed nearby.
The floor trembled violently beneath her feet.
Marina rushed toward the terminal windows
and froze in horror.
Flames consumed the runway.
Her plane burned violently beneath the rainstorm while smoke filled the night sky.
Oh God.
That was her flight.
People panicked instantly around her.
Airport staff shouted.
Security alarms blared loudly overhead.
Marina stared at the burning wreckage in shock.
If her passport hadn’t disappeared
she would have boarded already.
She would be dead.
A hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
Marina gasped and turned sharply.
A tall man wearing a dark coat stood beside her.
“Come with me,” he said urgently.
She pulled away immediately. “Who are you?”
“No time. Move.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
The stranger lowered his voice.
“You think that crash was an accident?”
Marina froze.
Outside, flames reflected across the glass walls.
Fear crawled slowly down her spine.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
The man glanced around carefully before speaking again.
“Someone wants you dead, Marina.”
Her heart nearly stopped.
“How do you know my name?”
“We have less than two minutes before this terminal gets locked down.”
He grabbed her wrist again.
Marina jerked away. “Don’t touch me!”
The stranger’s eyes darkened.
“Your husband doesn’t know the truth,” he said quietly. “But someone else does.”
Her stomach dropped instantly.
“What truth?”
Before he could answer, her phone rang again.
Calvin.
Marina stared at his name flashing across the screen.
The stranger noticed too.
“Don’t answer that.”
But Marina already had.
“Calvin”
“Where are you?” His voice sounded sharp and dangerous. “Why weren’t you on the plane?”
Behind him, she heard shouting and sirens.
He already knew about the crash.
Marina looked back toward the burning runway.
“I…” Her voice shook badly. “Something happened.”
Silence.
Then Calvin spoke again, quieter this time.
“Are you hurt?”
The concern in his voice nearly broke her.
“No.”
A soft exhale came through the phone.
Relief.
Real relief.
The stranger beside her cursed softly under his breath.
“Hang up.”
Marina ignored him.
“Calvin, listen to me”
Suddenly, the terminal lights shut off.
Darkness swallowed everything.
People screamed instantly.
Marina gasped as frightened passengers shoved past her.
Then
a gunshot echoed through the terminal.
Close.
Too close.
Another shot followed immediately.
The stranger grabbed Marina hard and pulled her behind a wall.
“Move!” he snapped.
Her entire body trembled violently now.
On the phone, Calvin’s voice turned deadly cold.
“Marina?”
Another gunshot exploded nearby.
Someone screamed.
Fear consumed her completely.
“Calvin”
The stranger ripped the phone from her hand and smashed it against the floor.
The line died instantly.
Marina stared at him in horror.
“What is wrong with you?!”
The stranger looked toward the emergency exit as heavy footsteps thundered through the darkness.
Then he turned back to her.
“They found us.”
Us?
Marina’s blood ran cold.
She didn’t know this man.
She didn’t know what was happening.
But deep down
she suddenly realized one terrifying truth.
The plane crash was never the real plan.
She was.
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