captor ❀ daniel seavey [ON HOLD]

2 ; turbulence

my alarm clock overpowers the sounds of the chirping birds they have in the movies as i struggle to open my eyes. i sit up and drag my hands down my face, praying to avoid another day. i wish i could say my mind blanked, but it didn't. it was running at a thousand miles a minute just like it always is, and my heart was beating out of my chest. i'm so tired of waking up like this.

i sit up and make my way to the bathroom, washing my face and doing my makeup as it's usually done. i finish up and grab my laptop, taking a seat on my memory-stained and color-drained couch. immediately, i head to my messages to see if dr. seavey had replied.

alison,
first off, please, call me daniel. dr. seavey is far too professional, i just sign my messages with dr. out of habit. secondly, it is no problem that you are without a car. i will gladly provide airfare as well, as it's not too expensive from washington to here. if you're willing, i'd like you to come as soon as possible. if saturday is too early, we can reschedule, but if not, i'll book the flight now. any hospitality will be provided, including food. get back to me whenever you can, thanks!
JUST daniel. daniel seavey.

i look at the date and see that it's wednesday, and saturday is not far at all. despite the quick departure, i reply, telling him that saturday is fine. i go to my room, grabbing a small drawstring bag and packing my clothes. i don't have much, a few shirts and a couple pairs of pants. i can't afford much more. i lie down, realizing it's only 11 am, the trip's in four days, and i'm already packed and ready to go. i wish i were leaving sooner. i don't exactly have anyone to say goodbye to - people tend to drop me or hurt me relatively quickly, especially after the dream thing - so me being here is kind of pointless.

i close my laptop and turn on my tv. it's going to be a long four days.

-

when saturday rolls around, i'm excited but scared. i've never been in a plane, and it's understandably terrifying. i've heard numerous stories of people hijacking them, getting on board with bombs on them, or the planes just generally breaking down.

now i've totally psyched myself out, and i'm trembling. i assume the people who surround me find it odd that an 18 year old girl is terrified of a petty plane ride, but i don't see how they aren't.

"now boarding flight 21A, group 1 please make your way to the gate."

i very impatiently wait for them to call my group with trembling hands cradling my small carry-on. when they finally do, i sling the handles of my bag over my shoulder and take deep breaths. the flight attendant guides my group to the plane and helps us into it. i find my seat and the menacing butterflies return once more. the plane is mostly full, and there's no one next to me yet.

"row 13 seat b?" i hear someone ask, and a reply: "three more rows."

a man hesitantly takes the seat next to me, and my heart drops. his hood shadows over his eyes, making his face unrecognizable - not that i'd recognize it anyway. not having a face to identify, i study his hoodie. embroidered red roses creep up the sleeves, small leaves holding onto their stem like wary kindergarteners hold onto their mother's hand. i cuddle up to the armrest and look out the window as the pilot announces that we're taking off. i watch the ground grow distant and the clouds become eye level, and i feel my stomach turn over. as we rise above the clouds, i close my eyes, and through the turbulence, i fall into a deep sleep.

-

i awake to the sound of hushed whispers as kids shift in their seats, whispering to their parents about the trip they're taking, and college kids freaking out about their first days on campus. the ground is nearing the plane, and i almost cry, thanking every single potential higher power that i survived.

the plane hits the ground and everyone shakes, but as the plane slows we quickly find our balance once again. the man next to me has fallen asleep, head rested on my shoulder. confused, i smile, glad that he at least lost the tension he portrayed when boarding the flight. i examine his face as well as i can with his face squished into my shoulder, finding it strangely familiar. i lightly push his shoulder, and when he doesn't wake, i push a little harder.

"what? oh-um, good morning," he stutters as he jolts up. he blinks a bit, getting used to the light around him, and i see his full face for the first time. he's not unattractive, i won't lie. "did i fall asleep on you? oh my, please tell me i didn't, that's so embarrassing oh my god i'm so sorry!"

i smile. "it's okay, i don't mind. i would have let you sleep, but..." i nod towards the window. "we're landing." he stifled a small giggle, mumbling an "oh, alright." under his breath.

we drift into silence, but he breaks it.

"my name's zach, by the way."

"alison," i reply.

"where ya headed?"

"honestly, i'm not sure. i was flown down here to participate in this.." i hesitate, thinking experiment would make me seem like there was something seriously wrong with me. "..thing," i say, hoping it didn't sound too strange. he raises an eyebrow.

"so you don't even know where this 'thing' is?"

"um.. not exactly? it's like, top secret i guess?"

"top secret.." i look down, thinking he'll call me a liar or weird. his eyes widen. "d-dr. seavey?"

i take a second to bring myself back to earth and process what he's said. "i... h-how did you..."

"me too." he says, throwing his gaze to the back of the seat in front of him. people begin to stand and get their bags. he looks at me. "i have dreams - uh, lucid dreams - too. that's why i had my hood on and hid when i got on the plane - i told my story. i'm recognized relatively often, usually not positively." i see the hurt in his eyes and my heart aches for him. i think, and suddenly piece everything together. he was zach. zach herron. his story got him on national television, and he was extremely ridiculed, but told his story despite. he was the reason i shared my story.

"do you think he's right?" i hesitate, not fully understanding what he means. thankfully, he elaborates. "do you think he can cure us?" the glimmer of hope in his eyes washes over me and i grin.

"i think he can." his eyes brighten back up a bit and he whispers "i hope so," as we stand to exit the plane.

we enter the airport and descend down the escalators, and i'm surprised by a man with my name on a sign. coincidentally, zach's was there as well. we walk towards the unknown man.

"zach and alison?" he asks, and we nod. "personal chauffeur. follow me."

zach and i glance at each other, confused, but ultimately we comply. we're lead out of the airport and to a dark car with tinted windows. the man opens the back door for us, and after we slip in, he takes a seat in the front. the car starts up, and i cuddle up to the window, preparing myself for a long trip.