Shadow Effect

G.V.

Those two haunts were the only ones aboard in that moment. I began to slowly retreat backwards, my eyes kept on them in case they moved. I swung the door to that bathroom and locked myself in. All I could hear was my heavy breathing.

I then heard a shuffling noise outside and the shadow two feet could be seen standing outside the door. I felt myself begin to sweat and I silently tried to pull my legs up to my chest. Another silent moment passed and whatever was outside violently rattled the door handle. I placed my hand over my mouth tightly as the door vibrated and something else began pounding on it. It was silent again in a few seconds.

I waited in there a long time, or so it felt. I was terrified to move or even breath too loudly. I felt in my pockets and I still had my phone. No service to make a call of course but who do you calm for that anyway? The time said 2:55am. So, I had been hiding out for about 20 minutes. This thought led me to another, in which I thought I noticed a pattern. It seemed that something happened every hour that passed on the flight, something happened, and they kept getting worse. It started at 1:00, when Vernon disappeared, at 2:00 there was the film and the grinning ghouls that chased me into this bathroom. The next hour would reset the happenings, and seemed it could get much worse from here on out.

The lights began to flicker as I was yanked out of thought. Then they shut off completely, engulfing me in pitch darkness. I put my hand on my mouth again to silence my breathing and all I could hear was my heart. I was terrified those things were still out there. 2:57am- it was almost 3 on the hour. The lights came back on in a minute. I got up to leave, and planned to stay in my seat for the rest of the flight. It was easy to get lost in whatever was happening here and I thought I'd have a less chance of being bothered if I stayed in one place. I took a glance in the mirror before I stepped out because I noticed something about my eyes.

The whites of my eyes were a blood red, as were my irises. I closed them and kept looking again but it wouldn't stop. I started to freak but told myself it was just a trick. Just one more thing before he reset. To prove it, I pulled out my phone and took a picture of myself. My eyes looked normal, it was just the mirror on this twisted airplane. "I knew it. You're NOT real", I whispered and stepped out. I kept my head down, as I was afraid to look near where the haunts had been sitting.

This time, everything had gone back to normal. The carpet was back to the correct color, people in their original seats, and the TVs were all playing the same film. Still no Vernon, though. Why? He was the only thing still out-of-place. What was his significance? I sat there and waited for something to happen. The adrenaline from before had me crashing then and I felt a sting of exhaustion. Maybe I could just sleep through the rest of this. I let my eyes close and I dosed off.

The next minute, light filled the cabin. It was daylight again. An announcement came on from our captain saying that we safely landed. So, all I had to do was go to sleep? Was all of that stuff just a daydream? Ah, who cares? I was so relieved, more than I had ever felt in my life. Hungry, even. I didn't realize it through all the terror. We lined up in the aisle and waited our turn to step off. The flight crew was outside the doorway of the vestibule. I looked back and they waved goodbye in unison, all wearing that same creepy grin as the woman I saw at boarding. Wasn't sure where they managed to hide the whole time. I walked as quickly as possible to distance myself from that eerie atmosphere.

I put the experience in the back of my mind surprisingly fast. It's easier to discount things when looking back. I got my luggage and made it to my bus terminal on-time. As we were pulling away, I noticed a man on a phone staring at me from inside the airport. It was Vernon. I guess he had made it.

The ride was quick and easy and I was home with Jer before 11am. It was a really comfortable and pleasant day as far as weather, and we were both off until tomorrow. We walked the dogs, watched a movie and went into the city for dinner. I put in an order for a delicious dish and took a trip to the rest room. I came back out and looked for Jer to get back to our table, but I couldn't find him. I looked all around. A sound above all the talking.. scratching. Something wasn't right.

That was my lost thought before the whole scene fell away and I was startled awake to find myself back on the flight. We must've hit turbulence because it was bouncing. I miserably realized the landing and the dinner were a dream I had during a micro nap. My phone said it was only 3:20. That was the first instance, a very quick, vivid, disappointing dream. Surely more was coming. Once I fully roused I noticed the person in my peripheral. I whipped my head to the left to see Vernon was finally back. He was smiling, contrast to the way he looked. He still had in his suit but it looked disheveled now. His oily hair was now a mess and there was a layer of dirt on his face. It looked like he'd dug a hole in the ground and crawled through. A few hours ago, I found him charming but his presence now made me nervous, considering everything.

"You're back!" I said nervously, and forced a smile. I tried not to show my unease. "Where did you go?" I then asked. His gaze shifted to the seat right in front of him. He acted like somebody in shock. "Nowhere, Elli. Had a little something to take care of" he replied softly. I felt a pain in my stomach at hearing the name he called me. I dropped my smile as my sympathetic nervous system started up again. "Huh, funny, only one person has ever called me Elli" I said. He turned to look in my eyes and said, "Oh yeah? Was it your drunken, cult whore mommy?" He made a mocking curious face.

I think I knew he was going to bring up my mother. I slowly leaned closer to whisper, slowly
"Listen to me, whoever the fuck who you are, know that I'm not shook. I don't know what yet, but I know you fucks on this plane are up to something. And when this is over? I promise find every one of you and slit your throats while you're asleep".
He chortled at that and when he smiled this time I noticed his teeth had rotted as well. He then said
"I mean, you can try. I sleep forever, in a lovely black urn at my mother's house. On Terry? I'm sure you remember the one. Come visit".
He rose up as I was overcome with panic when I finally realized who he was. I was so dizzy I thought I'd faint.

The name he told me, Vernon Gessa, had the initials inverse of who it really was, Grey Varansky. It was a mock. Standing before me was the man who stabbed my brother to death. The man who was once a friend to us but then ripped apart what was left of my family.
I didn't recognize him before because of the haircut, suit, and lack of scars from heroin-induced facial picking. Indeed it was what Grey would have looked like had he never touched substance.

He walked up the aisle and stopped at the first seat, where I saw that little boy. The child got out of the seat and stood behind Grey not before turning to look at me. I was sure now that the child was my brother at that age. They disappeared behind the curtains of the area with the bathroom. I don't know what got into me but I jumped out of my seat and ran towards it. I guess I was feeling the loss of River all over again and thought I could stop it. I ripped apart the curtains and as one could expect, they were gone.

I then looked to the closed cockpit doors. Locked. I figured if I made enough of a commotion, the pilot would have to land the plane. I didn't care if it took terroristic threats. The survival instinct was activated and all I knew was I had to get off this plane. I yanked and yanked on the handle and pounded on the doors. Kicked them. I screamed. I cursed. Nobody emerged.

I didn't know what this was. I was stuck in some place not of reality. I began to question if I was just dead, perhaps in an accident on the way to the airport. Or maybe even at the hotel somehow. Who knew how long? Whatever this was, I was being punished.

This place knew my dark secrets and how to flawlessly position them against me. The helplessness and dread I felt was on par with that of so long ago. All of the work I put into myself, the will power, and the coping skills I developed were stripped away in that moment. All I could do was watch as I disassociated and slid down to the floor.  I believe I experienced some sort of mental blackout but I remember thinking of my mom during it.