The Last Emerald

Chapter Eleven

As soon as we got within a few feet of it the door swung open. We all tensed; eager for action. It was only the pilot, smiling down at us as the staircase down folded out from under the plane.

"Hello kids!" He called out, walking down the stairs to us. "Back already?"

"Yes." Clara replied stiffly.

"Go right ahead inside." He said motioning for us to get in.

"After you." Odessa said firmly, almost daring him to protest.

He shrugged and walked up the stairs quickly, turning a sharp left once he got inside. Easton quickly got out the washcloth and wrapped it around the lever tightly. Brennen walked in next and his body language turned frigid as he entered.

"Hello." Lenon's deep voice boomed as we all piled in.

"Lemon." Clara flashed him a fake smile.

"Going so soon?" Lukas asked Odessa, helping her set her suitcases against the wall. She nodded quickly.

"We have to get home to our parents." She replied sweetly. Lukas nodded slowly, turning to glance at Lenon with an unreadable expression. Lenon shoved his hand into his jacket pocket.

"Perhaps you could stay just a while longer." He suggested, looking at Clara pleadingly.

"No." She swiftly replied.

"No?" He affirmed, raising his eyebrows. Clara nodded once.

"But we'd like to get to know all of you better." Lukas said slyly. They both looked to Easton for support. He remained silent to their inconvenience.

"We didn't want to do this, but..." Lenon replied, taking the emerald out of his pocket. Odessa yelped in surprise.

"What are you doing with that?" She asked, faking panic.

"You need to come with us." Lenon stated, tossing the emerald to Lukas who caught it with ease.

"S-Stop!" Odessa stuttered as he held it to her eyes, his other hand holding down her flailing arms.

"Hey!" Clara suddenly screamed as Lenon got her from behind and held back her arms with a light, but firm, grip.

"Get away from her!" I yelled, charging at Lenon who batted me off like a fly. I slammed into the couch and my head smashed against the wall, making me cry out in pain.

An angry growl ripped from Easton's throat as he walked to me quickly, touching the back of my head lightly, where it hurt the most. I winced back and took labored breaths as dark dots blurred my vision.

"Stay awake, Callie." Easton ordered, turning to Lenon and Lukas who were holding blank-eyed and limp girls. Brennen was on his hands and knees, breathing heavily.

"Let them go!" Brennen roared.

"Pilot!" Lenon yelled. The cockpit door opened and out walked the nervous looking pilot. He opened the levered door and walked out first. As Lenon and Lukas neared the first step Clara and Odessa neatly flipped out of their hands and pushed them hard enough for them to stumble down the first couple of stairs, creating enough time for Clara to slam the door shut.

Only a second later we heard the shouts of pain coming from right outside the door. I was still holding my throbbing head in my hands and while Easton rushed back into the cockpit, Clara and Odessa rushed over to me.

"Are you ok?" Clara exclaimed. I groaned in response.

"It's alright guys, I'm ok too!" Brennen called out roughly from the floor. Odessa rolled her eyes, but went to help Brennen off the floor. In a moment the plane shuddered from beneath us and was soon rolling down the runway at a quickened pace.