CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Eighteen: Riding The Flying Metal Deathtrap

Elle's PoV 

The next morning, bright and early, my parents drove me to the airport. My hands were shaking like crazy, so I hid them under my jacket.

"Your teacher will meet you on the plane, right?" My mom asked.

"Yep," I said quickly, nodding. This whole thing was by far the biggest lie I'd ever told. Ever. As in, up until this point, the biggest lie I'd ever told was when Maggie and I stayed up all night, and when my mom asked what time I went to bed I told her a little past midnight.

And now I was on my way to California, for a "field trip." With a twenty-something year old cop who up until recently believed I was clinically insane posing as my teacher. Oh my god... I was a delinquent!

We pulled into the passenger drop off point of the airport and my parents got out of the car to hug me.

"Be safe, have a good time, and bring me back a pinecone or two." My mom giggled before handing me my suitcase.

"Will do," I smiled as convincingly as I could, taking the suitcase. Another downside to all this lying: My parents believed I had an unhealthy obsession with pinecones.

I gave both of my parents another hug, silently apologizing for being such a horrible daughter.

"Oh, and take this," My dad said, handing me a few folded bills-- two hundred dollars!

My eyes bulged, "Dad, you don't need to give me this much!"

My dad shook his head, smiling, "I want to make sure you're able to eat well while on this trip, and have money to buy a second plane ticket back home if you lose yours."

My throat was tight, and I had the urge to scream out the truth right then. Knowing I couldn't trust my voice enough to open my mouth, I just nodded with a smile on my face and hugged him again.

"You better hurry up, Stellie." My dad said, "You'll miss your flight."

I clung tightly to the handle of my suitcase and made my way into the crowded airport. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous-- and not only about the situation with my parents, I was nervous about flying in general. I'd never done it before. All of the vacations I've been on have been driving distance, so there's never been a reason to fly. Now that I was away from my parents and able to relax a bit, I could focus on the immense fear the idea of hurtling up into the sky in what was essentially a bus with wings brought me.

"Boo!" Marcus exclaimed from behind me.

I shrieked and spun around to glare at him. Would it be against the law for me to slap a cop if he was off duty? "Do you find joy in being a creeper?" I asked, arching one eyebrow.

"Yes," He replied seriously, but then laughed, "You are just so incredibly easy to scare."

"Tell me again why you decided to come along?" I sigh as we made our way through the mob of people to the registry desk.

"Do you really want to attempt to navigate California alone?" Marcus pointed out, "Besides, what if you have to be a legal adult to rent a hotel room?"

"I look like an adult!" I insisted defensively. I'd even straightened my hair and worn it down instead of in my usual pigtails just for the trip.

"Well your luggage choice would give you away in an instant," Marcus chuckled, gesturing to my Mario Bros suitcase.

I said nothing, pulling my bag closer to my chest protectively. So what if it was childish? I liked it!

The next few hours passed in a blur. Marcus registered our luggage, both of us passed through the metal detectors (me twice because I forgot about the dalek keychain in my pocket), and we boarded the plane.