Lady of the Snakes

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Come on, come on…” panted Aunt Beatrice, running towards the airplane. “Hurry up, girls! We're almost-”

“The girl’s plane is full. Repeat, the girl’s plane is full. Please wait for the next-” Nora couldn't listen any longer. The calm voice was an announcement of doom for the three of them. Aunt Beatrice glanced around, then quickly shoved the three of them into the boy's line.

“Aunt Beatrice, what are you-” Nora glanced around. There was so much chaos, it didn't seem like anyone was noticing their presence in the wrong line.

Her aunt hugged them quickly, then stepped away. “I love you, my darlings! Don't worry!” She disappeared in the flow of people.

“But-” The line was already moving into the plane. “Come on.” She whispered to Ada. “Do not look conspicuous.” She pushed Bess up the final step and into the plane. They were getting some funny looks from the boys, but she gritted her teeth and slid into the last row of seats.

Bess gripped Nora's hand tightly as they took off, and she was glad for the comfort. She had never been on a plane before, but she had to look brave, despite being terrified out of her wits. As they ascended into the sky, she chanced a peek out the window and, astonished, watched the buildings shrink until they were nothing more than the size of ants.

After about half an hour, voices were heard over the intercom. Bits and pieces of a conversation the pilot and someone else seemed to be having. “Atom bombs-“

“-London-“ “-should we tell-“ and then there was some muffled noises that sounded like sobbing. Nora pulled Bess a little closer.

There was absolute silence as everyone sat in shock.

Pop pop pop pop BANG. “Are those normal plane noises?” Ada whispered.

Nora shook her head and gripped her armrests. Someone shouted, “We’re being fired on!”

Someone else protested, “But the German planes aren't firing on civilian planes any longer!”

“Tell that to this one!” They were falling. She could tell that, at least.

Then, taking a look around the plane, she realized that perhaps crazy popping noises were not a normal thing in plane rides. They were falling, and everyone was screaming, and-

Nora was floating. Everything was bright. Blinking, she could see her mother standing just yards away from her. Nora tried to get closer, but no matter how hard she tried, her mother was still standing just as far away.

“Mum!” She cried.

Her mother turned to her. She whispered, “Be careful.” And then everything went black.

Nora blinked. She felt the presence of something soft on her mouth-what was it? She forced her eyes to open a little more to find out.

Oh my Lord. Somebody-a boy-was kissing her. Someone is kissing me. Someone is kissing me. Oh, Lord. It occurred to her that he must be giving her CPR, and that she was going to throw up.

Nora turned over and retched into the sand. This wasn't right. Why was there sand? Why was it so hot? We must have hit somewhere tropical.

“Who was doing that?” She demanded shakily.

There were two boys in front of her. One was fat and wore glasses that glinted sunlight off of them. The other was fair, with broad shoulders and a concerned look. The fat boy slowly pointed to the fair one. “It was my idea, though.”