Losing Eight Lives

21 | Flying

The helicopter was in the sky once again. The same free feeling arose inside me, and it felt like the same wind rushed over my skin.

But Becka was with us this time.

I held her hand and sat next to her, listening to the thump of the helicopter.

She stayed silent as she looked at ground. Her expression made her look in a daze. I could imagine what must have been going through her mind.

A bump made me bounce in my seat and hold on to the handle next to me a little tighter. I looked around the metal space I was in, but nothing unusual presented itself.

"What was that?" Becka asked frantically.

"I'm sure everything's fine." I reassured her and got up out of my seat, letting go of her hand. "I'll just go check with the pilot."

She nodded, looking scared of being alone.

"I'll be right back." I walked through a door that led to another part of the helicopter. Marty, Steve, and two other guys in black stood around or sat in a seat. Their heads turned to me when I entered.

"Did you guys feel that bump?" Marty asked me before I could say anything.

I nodded. "I was about to ask you the same thing."

Steve looked at me with concern, and started toward the door that led to the controls. The door opened with a squeak and he entered. "Hey Pat . . ." he closed the door before I heard anything else.

Another bump made me lose my balance and fall to the metal floor. Marty sat on a bench while the other men held on to something. I got up and sat on a bench next to me.

"How's Becka doing?" Marty asked.

"Good," I answered, holding on tight to the metal under me. "I think she's just confused." I didn't mention how afraid she must have been.

A loud rumble came from under me, and I got the feeling of free falling. My breathing involinarily started to speed up and I looked around frantically. What was going on?

Steve bursted through the door and looked around the cabin.

"What's happening?" I just about screamed. The free fall feeling didn't fade. And nether did the rumble.

Steve opened his mouth to answer but a scream came from behind me, and Becka slammed the door next to me open. "Why do I feel like I'm falling?" she shouted. Her voice trembled as much as she did.

"Brace yourselves!" the pilot screamed.

I looked at the door she was behind with wide eyes. My heart pounded, I had trouble breathing, and I gripped the seat under me so tight my hands hurt. My ears were suddenly filled with Becka's screaming, and I opened my mouth to let out my own scream, when I stopped myself.

I closed my eyes, shut my mouth, and leaned back against the iron wall behind me. I inhaled a large breath threw my nose, and let it out shortly after through my mouth.

I calmed down immediatly.

Just in time to hit the ground.