Isma Alma

Chapter 1

Gripping me fiercely by the throat he held me against the wall with one hand and pointing the gun at the others with the other. I could smell the whiskey from his breath; I winced as the grip around my throat tightened and pushed me further into the wall making the sharpe edges pierce my skin; surely drawing some blood. I looked at the others, who shared the look of panic and hatred.

'Don't do-' I started but he cut me off holding me even tighter than before, barely breathing i felt myself drift in and out of consciousness.

'Let her go, your kill her you sick bastard' I heard a female voice scream out just before everything faded to black.

Feeling a shake and vibrations I jumped up, squinting my eyes to the bright light. Looking to the seat next to me, I found it empty.

'This is your captain speaking, the seat belt sign is now on, we ask all passengers to quickly return to their seats'.

'Finally up?' Mark asked taking his seat next to with a half hearted smile. I nodded, not fully able to force myself to speak yet. The dream of being choked to death still fresh in my mind.

'You look worried, what's wrong?' He asked taking hold of my hand gently. I looked at his rough pale big hand wrapped around my small olive hand. I couldn't help but pull my hand from his; it was too soon, too soon to go back to normal. I could see the pain in those brown eyes that would always win me over; but not this time, not anymore, I thought.

'I'm just here as your friend' I whispered looking out the small plane window passing through the clouds.

'Right' he replied I could hear the slight anger in his voice, I turned back to him with a reassuring smile.

'I can't believe we're landing already, I bet you can't wait to see your mom again' I told him, hoping for a change in tension.

'Yeah' he whispered with a tight lipped smile. 'We're not landing yet, just some turbulence is all, got another 2 hours to go' he informed me before taking a sip from his flask. I watched him sigh with pleasure as he swallowed the liquor; why do I do this to myself? Why do I think I can help when I'm just watching him self destruct? Why can't I just be selfish and save my own life? These were the questions I asked myself every time I went back to him, but I knew the answer to all those questions already. I did it because I loved him.

Suddenly screams echoed throughout the plane as it shook as all the light flickered and then went off altogether. Subconsciously I grabbed Mark's hand tightly, each of us squeezing the others hand just as hard. A flight attendant was running by, when a hand reached out and grabbed her by the wrist. The flight attendants pretty face twisted in pain.

'What the hell is going on?' A man with tanned skin, dark almost black hair and tattoos on his arms and neck shouted at her. The plane shook and vibrated violently and my eardrums began to pop. The woman managed to pull herself free from his grip before she ran out of sight down to the front of the plane. Suddenly the oxygen masks deployed from above.

'All passengers put on your masks and remain calm' the captains voice boomed over the PA system.

I looked at Mark, terrified, paralysed by fear, I looked down at our hands which were still entwined and back up at him. He didn't look panicked, he looked calm as he gave me a reassuring smile and reached over to help me put on my mask before putting on his own. As I looked around the plane I could see everyone putting on their masks, mothers putting on their children's and fumbling with strings.

'Mommy loves you, mommy loves you' I could hear one mother repeat before putting on their own mask. I could feel myself shaking, hardly believing what was happening. I closed my eyes hoping it's another dream; but as I felt the plane shake again I knew it wasn't. I opened my eyes looking around the plane again, sat diagonally to me was an old woman who was praying with her Rosary beads, my eyes fell to Mark who was already looking at me. I'm not really a religious person but when things like that happen you find yourself praying to something, hoping for something out there to hear your pleas.

Please God, Please Lord, don't let me die, I prayed.

I kept taking deep breaths and praying. I kept trying to block out the vibrations of the plane, I kept saying everything's alright, the cabins probably just lost pressure. I could hear muffled cries, I just kept taking in deep breaths not wanting to suffocate. Minutes went by and there was still no announcements from the captain. The plane was still dark, there was no lights on, I could still hear some children whimpering, there were bangs and noises from the plane and the wind.

Then everything was silent, suddenly we dropped, we dropped fast.

I didn't hear the crash to the water, but I felt it. If I was moving I couldn't tell, I couldn't feel anything. I opened my eyes in the water, my eyes and lungs stung, I wasn't in the plane anymore. I could feel my eyes drooping, my oxygen running out, I was dying.

I kept trying to swim, to move my body but no matter how hard I tried I was moving any closer to the surface.

Mark! Where's Mark? Where's the plane? Is he stuck? I didn't want to die alone.

I could see a light above the water, it was beautiful. It was a golden orange like the sun, was it daytime? Last time I checked it was night time. I could see my hand, it was beautiful. Beautiful with red water spreading from it like a red firework. I closed my eyes. I was tired. Tired of fighting the water. I faded into darkness with image of my hand against the surface of the ocean.