lost ~completed~

chapter 25

Glass shattered. Metal bent in on itself. The plane was enveloped into the darkness of the night as the electricity drowned out. Fire sparked from the control area, slowly spreading to areas where water had not yet swallowed.

The water slowly drags the plane down into the depths. The dark torrents slowly inched their way closer; relatively slow at first and then faster at an alarming rate.

The passengers in the plane quickly leapt up from their seat and started scrambling towards the emergency exit; at least all but one. Water was starting to leak into the planes middle, sending panic through the people inside.

Panicked cries filled the quiet night sky. Hands trembled in the dark trying to undo the door but it was in vain. The door had gotten jammed by the force of the crash. No one has received any serious injuries other than a cut or bump.

A blond man near the back glanced towards the front of the plane where he could see an orange glow casting flickering shadows off the walls and water slowly inching in and claiming the plane. His brother had not yet emerged from his seat and he was growing worried quickly.

A hand rested on his shoulder. Ludwig jumped and turned to be inches away from Elizaveta's face. He wasn't used to seeing her looking so terrified or worried. His anger towards her mellowed slightly.

"Ludwig, I'll go get Gilbert. You're the strongest one here; we need you to open the door." Elizaveta cried over the others shouts. Ludwig hesitated for a fraction of a second but agreed. Elizaveta wasted no time by dashing off towards the nose of the plane as Ludwig approached the door.

Elizaveta cautiously stopped inside the control room. Her eyes instantly darted to the large seats positioned in front of the window. Fear gripped every fiber of her body. The only thing she could see out of the window was the steadily rising water level. Flames were licking at the controls and slowly making their way towards the body of the plane. But that wasn't what scared Elizaveta.

She couldn't see Gilbert.

Heart pounding in her chest, she took unsteady steps closer. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see what might have happened to him. Horrible visions painted her mind and all she could think of was that the last conversation they would have shared would have been a fight that resulted in Gilbert admitting that he thought Elizaveta was cheating on him.

She couldn't show how much it hurt to hear him accuse her of loving Roderick the way he had thought. She wished she had told him now. If Gilbert was really dead, Elizaveta would never forgive herself; to let him die believing such nonsense.

The heat from the flames was hot against her face, nearly burning her skin. She couldn't bring herself to move faster though and get out. She wanted to delay what she thought was the inevitable of finding her lovers body. She didn't want to face the reality of that or have to either drag him out or leave him behind to be swallowed by the cold water and have his flesh slowly eaten by the fish in his watery grave.

As she inched closer, Elizaveta could see a sliver of silver hair from her position behind the chair. A sob escaped Elizaveta's voice. She forced herself to get it over with and crossed to the side of the seat. She quickly covered her mouth to hold back her sobs that threatened to wrack her body.

There was Gilbert; lying over the controls with blood seeping from a wound on his forehead. His eyelids were lightly closed giving him a peaceful look; something that didn't fit the loud Prussian nor the desperate and chaotic situation. She let her feet carry her over to his body. She rested a hand against his silver locks. Tears were freely flowing down her cheek. She tenderly let her hand trace his cheek and then his jaw.

Then she noticed something that breathed hope back into her chest.

His chest was rising and falling. He was breathing!