Lotus

Chapter 2

She couldn't contain the scream that suddenly exploded from her, everyone on stared in disbelief as Eveleine struggle against the constraints of the seat belt.

She felt her brain slowly being crushed against her skull, pushing until she forgot how to breath. Her rib cage crashing against her lungs, restricting the air from circulating breathing becoming short and wispy.

Eve was reliving the accident.

Not in reality, but in a dream. The change in air pressure from the plane causing similar feelings to those she had during that terrible day.

The man sitting next to her was the first to act, quickly retrieving the oxygen mask from above her and putting it over her face. At first she started to breathe steadily, because of the relief she felt that around her chest. Her it was just a dream. Then, she remembered that it actually happened.

She unstrapped the oxygen mask, avoiding the gaze of the many watching eyes of the passengers, each and everyone of them full of concern and confusion, some of them even annoyed. She pushed past the the back of the cabin and locked herself in the bathroom.

She finally had the chance to calm herself down in private. After a few deep breathes and reassurance to herself that it was all a dream and it was all over, she was a little more comfortable. Eveleine took the time to examine herself in the mirror. Her dark brown hair framed her pale skin complimented her light grey eyes that held a ring of green in the center, the eyes that her father used to look at with lovingly. She took a deep breath again and shuddered, and then looked at herself again, trying to compare herself to her parents.

Yes, the dark hair and the eyes were just like her father's, but her small frame and slightly below average height could easily be from her mother's side. She couldn't help but smile a little.

Her parents might be gone, but they were still with her. Just not in the way that she'd prefer.

After completely composing herself in the bathroom, she had the courage to come out and return to her seat. They would be landing shortly, so she wouldn't really have a choice. When she stepped out of the small bathroom into the slim aisle it seemed as if every eye turned towards her in unison. She quickly searched for the ones that belonged to Aunt Brandie and found them as she slowly made her way down the walkway and slid into her seat.

"Thanks for the help," she said to the man next to her. His hair was short and silver, and was built with a tall and lanky structure.

"Don't mention it," he said coolly, and paused before continuing. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly was happening?"

Eve cast her eyes down and hesitated before answering, "My family, uh, recently died in a terrible accident. I was the only survivor." She offered, not wanting to give too much information away to the stranger, but still providing an answer because the man had saved her life. Something seemed slightly off about the man, and she swore she could recognize him, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," his sympathy bounced right off her. She was so used to it that it didn't affect her.

"It's nothing anyone could be sorry about. Anyways, it's not like it was your fault. There was nothing that anyone could do to prevent it. At least that's what people tell me," Eveleine couldn't stop herself from venting her thoughts to the man.

"I wish it could have been prevented," he said, patting Eve's shoulder, his touch an icy cool. She stiffened slightly before relaxing again. "I never caught your name."

"I never told you," she began to become suspicious of the stranger again, "and I also don't know you."

"Well, I'm Romero Crimson," his huge grin causing her to shiver slightly. "Now you know me."