19
1354 Words
SERAPHINA
I couldn't stop giggling.
Even the thought of mom's tear-stricken face and dad's silent concern didn't dampen my excitement.
I knew I was a terrible daughter, but they didn't understand how much this meant to me. Especially Azriel.
I could only imagine how pissed he must be, having to bodyguard someone who was trying to "throw her life away."
It wouldn't be long though. If I did this well—and I was definitely going to do it perfectly—I could be on national TV in no time. The school sometimes gave students with the best reports direct internship opportunities in top firms. With that on my portfolio, being on national TV would just be the starting point for me.
Mom and dad would finally understand how important this was. They would be so proud of me. And stuck-up Azriel—I scowled at him—would never look down on me again.
I scrolled through my phone as the plane cut through the clouds, reading through the latest news on Millbrook. It was bad. Very bad.
Another bombing had occurred at a university that morning. Two lives were lost. Many were left injured. They might have to close down schools at this rate.
That was why we had to go to places like these. It was dangerous, yes, but only by braving the danger could we let the world know what they were going through. Only then could help be rendered.
I put down my phone and sighed, leaning back against my seat.
I didn't know when I dozed off, but I woke up to noise and panic.
Before I could even make sense of what was happening, a force hit the plane and it shook violently, throwing a few people out of their seats.
"Seraphina, strap on your belt," Azriel shouted, already double-checking himself to see if it was strapped properly.
"Everyone please calm down!" a flight attendant screamed, helping people back to their seats. "Strap on your seat belts and hold on tight to your seats."
I turned to Azriel immediately. He was still fussing over me, horror spread across his face. "What the hell is happening, Azriel?"
He pulled back and looked straight at me. "We're under attack."
I paled.
"What—" I started, but the words died as the plane lurched again. My phone slipped out of my hand.
Screams erupted.
"Everyone please try to calm down!" the flight attendant was still yelling, trying to pacify the passengers while she herself was holding onto a seat for dear life. "We'll soon be getting help," she continued. "We are going to ensure everyone lands safely." I wasn't sure she herself believed what she was saying, because her voice was cracking, almost like she was holding back tears.
"Azriel, what do we—"
Another force hit the plane, followed by an explosion. I grabbed onto Azriel instinctively.
"Are we going to die?" I cried, tears already running down my face. I hadn't even achieved anything and I was already dying? I should have just listened to mom and dad. This was my punishment for being a bad daughter. And I was dragging Azriel down with me. Azriel was going to die too, and it was all going to be my fault.
"Seraphina," Azriel called. "Look at me."
I couldn't. This was all my fault.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"Seraphina."
"I'm so sorry." I cried harder, my voice shaking when another hit slammed me into Azriel, tearing the door away. Someone—obviously not wearing his belt—was flung out, his screams fading.
I shut my eyes immediately. Someone had just died, and I'd be next.
Azriel held tightly onto my shoulders. "Don't let go," he whispered. "This plane is going to crash. We're forty minutes away from Millbrook. Hours away from the nearest help station. They won't get to us in time." He looked down at me and cupped one of my cheeks, his hands trembling. "Trust me. I won't let you die. I'll return you to your mom in one piece." He tried to force a smile, probably for reassurance, but it came out tight and unconvinced.
Another huge impact hit the plane and it toppled downward at the speed of light.
Screams echoed as Azriel unstrapped his belt in milliseconds, shielding me with his body as the plane swirled, swinging people in different directions.
Azriel held on tighter and I cried harder.
Mom. I promised I'd call every day.
I should never have left.
That was the only thought on my mind as the plane crashed, tumbling over and over until we were turned upside down.
I opened my eyes slowly when everything finally calmed down. Everywhere was silent. No more screams. Neither groans nor whimpers.
Something liquid and warm dripped onto my arm and I looked down to find blood trickling down my hand.
Azriel's blood.
"Azriel..."
"Are you okay?" he groaned, looking all over me frantically.
"I'm fine." I quickly stopped him. "You're the one who's injured."
He finally looked at his abdomen. A jagged strip of metal had torn through it.
"It's nothing," he replied, already unstrapping me. "We need to get out of here. Fast. The plane could blow up. We don't want to risk it."
"But you're bleeding."
He sighed and wrapped his hand around the metal strip, then ripped it out. "It'll be fine now. Let's go."
"Wait..." I looked around. "Shouldn't we try to save others first? Besides, we're trapped. How are we going to get out?"
He didn't reply to any more of my questions. He only grabbed my hand and punched through the window. It broke immediately, the glass shattering into pieces. I looked up at him in amazement. I never knew he was this strong. He pushed me out first, then followed immediately.
"What about the others?" I asked when he started dragging me away. Was he planning to leave them?
"They're all dead," he replied, not even stopping.
I yanked my hand out of his. "How do you know? We're alive. Others could be too. Saving ourselves alone and leaving others to their fate makes us no different from those terrorists."
I turned back, storming toward the plane. "If you won't save them, I will."
"Seraphina," he called.
I didn't stop.
"Seraphina." His voice was harsher.
I walked on.
His footsteps slapped across the sand as he walked back to me. "Wait here. I'll go check it out."
I smiled triumphantly.
I paced as I waited, the horror still pulsing in my veins. When he didn't come out within minutes, I was done waiting. I walked over to the plane, fear gripping me the moment I noticed a light spark at the edge of it.
"Azriel," I called out.
No reply.
"Azriel!" My heart slammed against my chest.
The spark grew bigger and he still wasn't out. I moved closer to the shattered window, stepping into the cabin. Bodies lay lifeless. Heads hung at weird angles. It was horrific.
How had so many casualties occurred when I was unscathed?
I immediately thought back to Azriel's punctured abdomen. Had he fainted somewhere?
"Azriel..."
Something slammed into me, throwing me out of the window in a flash just as a loud sound boomed. The plane went up in flames within seconds.
I looked down to see Azriel holding onto me, a bag slung across his shoulders.
He groaned as he pushed himself off me, obviously pissed. "Why the hell did you come in?" he snapped.
"You were taking too long," I replied slowly, feeling foolish now. "And I kept calling but heard no reply." I looked up at him. "No one was alive?"
He didn't reply, and I didn't press further.
"We should take care of that." I nodded toward his wound. "Any more bleeding and you'll pass out on me." I looked back at the plane. "Mom packed a lot of first aid, and now it's all up in flames. How about I—"
I froze.
My words choked in my throat as I pulled up his shirt.
What the hell was this?
- Writer
