Children's Games: A Story of Modern Punishment

Chapter 5 - Emilia

~Emilia~

The trip from Hawaii to their final destination was the same length as from Melbourne to Hawaii. But the ten or so hours seemed like an entire day because of how they travelled against the sun. They left Hawaii within an hour after dawn and would arrive in Orlando Florida at midnight. Watching the sun and feeling herself tire through the time-warped day was interesting.

Emilia had nothing to do in the beginning. She sighed as she followed Jonny's sunken shoulders before he dumped her things back in her corner on the plane. He turned around with a different expression on his face, one that was softer and regretful. But then he just nodded her way and disappeared towards the other half of the plane as they prepared to take off.

She soon found that she had nothing to do except contemplate walking around to see if anyone would talk to her. But before she could, Miranda, a middle-aged soldier appeared at her hammock, offering a book and some tea. She accepted the book but declined the tea, still keeping a distaste for the stuff since the last time she had it. The back of her head started hurting and her mouth felt weird thinking about it.

The book was long, but easily finished within the ten-hour flight. It was a tragic and dramatic romance between a sixteen-year-old girl and a kind-hearted ghost, and how they became soulmates. It was a lovely tale set a hundred years ago and full of sweet sentiments and selfish desires in a world free from war. Emilia's eyes started to get dizzy as she neared the tragic ending, the low light from the cabin battling with her determination to finish the book.

All in all, it was a lovely tale with a tearful ending, but it didn't teach her anything. She reflected that perhaps its audience was supposed to be lonely sixteen-year-old girls. A part of her assumed that the book would have some metaphorical meaning that applied to her situation. She was pleasantly surprised as she put the book down with a sigh.

The feeling in her head and stomach got worse, and she almost accepted Miranda's multiple offers of tea, but she didn't want to be a burden. The stuff she'd heard being said about her last night didn't teach her anything other than the idea that she was the untrustworthy one, not them. So, she had reverted back to her original state of mind; determined to believe that she really had found freedom. She just needed to relax and embrace the chance.

"Alright lads, we'll be arriving real soon!" Jonny called from his stage. "I know it's late, but I want everything unpacked and set before we all get home tonight. We're not coming back tomorrow, so think about what you're taking with you!"

"How did you like it, Emilia?" Miranda asked as she popped her head around the corner. It gave her a slight fright. "I know it's a little old and younger, but it's something to pass the time. A little peace."

"Thank you," she said handing it back. "I enjoyed it."

Miranda's smile was infectious as she nodded quickly and collected the book. She had smile lines on the sides of her eyes that accentuated her friendly attitude, and it reminded her of Billy. He had very prominent smile lines around his eyes and mouth, always kind, a familiar face... but was no more.

"I'm glad, I have many more if you feel like it, but I know reading's not for everybody, so no pressure."

"Thanks," she smiled back.

She was about to take her up on the offer when a hot pressure pushed at the backs of her eyes and her progressive headache and pain in the stomach hit its hardest. Sweat beaded from her forehead, her fingers felt clammy, and Miranda's falling face moved in and out of focus.

"Emilia," came Jonny's deep voice as it cut through the air. "With me."

He led her to the cockpit, and she quickly wiped her face on her sleeve and straightened herself up. He looked back a few times before they entered but never said a word. He didn't seem as tense as before but also seemed like a genuinely serious and constantly tense guy. She wondered if she could get along with him in the long run.