Darkness and What Came After

Taxis, Planes, and Sickness

"Rose! Wake up! You don't want to be late to the flight do you?" Mum knocked on my door. 

I checked my clock, 6:16 AM. Panic shot through my body, Paige was going to meet up with me at 6:40 AM so we could drive to the airport. I bolted out if my bed and sprinted to the bathroom.

By the time I was done getting dressed, brushing my hair and teeth, and putting on my makeup as rapidly as possible, it was already 6:39. I still hadn't eaten any breakfast so I careened away from my room with my suitcase and purse like a bear was going to eat me alive. I snatched a chewy bar and sure enough, Paige was waiting for me in her car. She waved eagerly for me to come. 

I hopped into the passenger seat after putting my luggage into the trunk. 

"I see you decided to finally use your driving permit," I teased. 

"Girl, I am 17, I deserve to drive myself and a friend," Paige replied while backing out of the driveway. 

"Okay. Keep in mind my life is in your hands," I laughed. 

"Don't make me nervous!" A sarcastic remark came from Paige. 

** ** ** 

My stomach felt like it was about to pour out of me when we landed. After getting off of the plane my knees were shaking as if I had never walked before. I glanced at Paige to see how she was holding up. Paige held her stomach with all her force while her face was tense with pain. 

"Welcome to Birmingham, enjoy your stay honey," a tall blonde flight attendant said with a plastered, fake smile. 

I shot her a look, Nobody calls me honey if I don't care about them, I thought to myself. 

"Rose, could you call a cab? I feel sick to my stomach. That airplane food did not do me well," Paige just managed to get out. 

"Yeah same, I learned my lesson plane, don't eat your sandwiches!" I said, hopefully enlightening the mood. 

To everyone around me I might have looked like a lost five year old. My light brown straight hair was up in a messy high ponytail, like I had just had a restless night, I may have looked like a pure slut just because of my hair. My hazel, almost green, eyes were squinted as I spun around in circles searching for a Taxi brochure to contact a Taxi company. My pale hands held each other by my neck, shaking for no apparent reason. 

After five minutes, I was successful and found a brochure. I scanned it closely and dialed the number, TAXI-FOR-YOU. Such a creative name, could've done better. 

The phone rang three times before someone managed to pick up, "Hello? Yes, I would like a taxi. I'm in front of Gate D, alright, ok, yup, I'm sure that will work. Thanks," I spoke into the phone. 

I turned to Paige and said, "Five minutes, ten at most." 

"Mmm. Fine, fine, that just might be quick enough," Paige mumbled. 

Ten minutes passed with complete silence until our taxi arrived. The inside of the black musty taxi smelt like barf, with somewhat vanilla extract. The seats resembled what a dog would have done to a couch if they were starved for days, the driver was barely visible but he looked sketchy, had half a shaved beard, full grown mustache, and what appeared to be a unibrow. Pretty. Real pretty. My guess he was Indian, like most taxi drivers in any city. 

We were dropped off directly in front of the hotel the radio station chose, which looked expensive. The exterior had lion statues by the revolving door and little details of decoration along the wall. 

"Woah..." Paige and I said in unison in awe of what was in front of us. 

"This looks like a palace! I can't believe we get to stay here-" I trailed off as I paid the driver.