DISTURBED LEGACIES

III - Bothersome Introductions

The silence in the break room was as stale as coffee I was stuck drinking, but I knew I at least liked the stark silence rather than the incoming conversation about to happen as I watched Connor head to my table.

Connor, my former SEAL buddy and still the only few men I truly trusted, leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me in determination.

"Ace, we have to talk about this properly. This isn't healthy."

My old nickname leaves a bitter taste in my mouth causing me to grimace, but Connor continues, "Ven, the memorial is in a couple of weeks and Charlie's family keeps asking about you, whether you're coming or not."

I roll my shoulders back trying to get rid of the ache that runs down my body. Everything about me screamed my dislike of this discussion, hell I had been the one to move to a different continent as soon as we left the Navy, because I couldn't be around it anymore.... The stark reminder of my faults.

As if being able to read my thoughts, Connor' eyes drown in sympathy and he whispers, "Charlie wouldn't have wanted this for you, Venture."

Before I can snap at him that his journey here was a wasted one, the break room door swings open, revealing a girl who stumbles over the threshold, a radiant smile illuminating her features.

Being a pilot for this company is nothing but boring. Days of listening to tour guides explain Madagascar's history to tourists over and over again is enough to send anyone mad. Luckily I owned my own plane, so I could leave whenever I wanted, which might have to be soon.

The girl straightens herself up, fixing her dark waves that had fallen over her flushed face, before surveying the room full of expectant pilots.

"Hello," she announced, her voice a sweet melody, " I am in desperate need of a pilot."

Every pilot in the room stood up at once, eager to aid the beautiful British woman but I was desperate to escape the uncomfortable conversation, so I intercepted her.

"I'll take you," I said briskly.

Before Connor could even react, I had taken the woman's arm, gently guiding her away from the crowded break room. Other pilots watched with envy as I stole a potential client, a gorgeous one at that.

I glanced back at the break room, where Connor stood watching me with a mixture of concern and understanding. I knew he would always be there for me, but I needed to face my demons on my own terms.

As we step into the private room, the girl, thankfully, begins to introduce herself.

"Thank you, my name is Elise Avery, by the way," her voice was still soft and her smile still sweet.

"Venture," I pointed to myself, watching her sit down opposite me. "So what package deal did you want to buy? Or were you planning-"

"Sorry to interrupt but I should be upfront, I need to drop me off here please."

Momentarily stunned, I look down at the map she's laid out on the desk between us, where she has marked the outskirts of the uncharted rainforest in the north of the country. Intrigue sparks up within me, but I do my best to tamper to back down.

In my silence she continues, "I understand this is unusual, but I really need a pilot, and this was the only air strip around. I can give you 30,000,000 ariary for your troubles-"

"If you're offering, what, like £5,000, for a four hour flight, it means you lady, are nothing but trouble," ignoring her gasp of offence and wide bright brown doe-like eyes, I continue, "Anyway we only provide ten tours in set places, none of them anywhere close to where you're heading."