The relentless high-pitched whine of airplane engines faded as I walked down the endless corridors of the airport.
The flight had been long, uneventful. I was glad to be back on solid ground once again. The eerie silence of the plane at last replaced by the busy bustle of people making their way through the endless maze of hallways.
Passengers swarmed to the security gates, anxious to soon be out of the airport. I was on a business trip and in no particular hurry, thus at the end of the queue.
The people moved forward slowly. Starting, then stopping again as they made their way to the exit. A strange man stood in front of me, his skin pale and his eyes hollow. A sickly stench surrounded him, slowly building up in the stagnant air.
The next plane had landed, and a fresh wave of passengers joined the line of travelers waiting to escape into the freedom of the night. A man behind me bumped into my back. I stumbled forward. My arm brushed past the strange man standing in front of me, touching his hand and sending a chill through my body, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up on end. His hand was as cold as ice, it hung limply at the end of his arm covered in mottled skin and raw scars.
The man who had bumped into me grunted an apology. The pale man continued staring into space, oblivious to the unexpected contact. His face sullen, wax like.
Suddenly, he jerked back into reality, turning to stare at me. Unease coursed through my veins – before a sudden sense of calm settled over me. It was as if my body was moving of it's own accord and I was merely a spectator watching on as the game of life was played before me.
The queue moved forward. The strange man had reached the security gate.
“Sir, could you please open your bag for me?” A burly six-foot tall security guard asked the man.
The man turned to look at the security guard. The guard froze, a look of horror flashed across his face then vanished. His eyes became vacant, his expression distant. The passenger rasped in reply, “Certainly.”
The man hoisted his bulging suitcase onto the metal counter. The pungent stench hanging in the air intensified. The zipper was slid back and the bag opened, its contents revealed.
A bloody mess oozed onto the counter, flowing over the edges and splashing onto the ground at his feet. I couldn't move.
A human eyeball fell out of the suitcase and rolled onto the floor.
"Ok, thank you sir," the man behind the counter nodded, "you're free to go."
The strange man zipped up his suitcase and made his way out of the arport, unchallenged. The sea of blood covering the floor followed him.
The eyeball stayed motionless, left behind.
The security guard shuddered, the spell broken. I felt warmth that I didn't know had left me return. and I was once again in control of my body.
I wanted to run, but where was there to go?
