Headed For the Clouds

Teenage Conspiracy Theory

2 years pass and we're still stuck in the 1940's. We've made names for ourselves here, and the Night Witches have welcomed me and Lucy with open arms. We've made friends and have been on countless missions across the sea. Though Lucy and I are a part of a female-only group, Charon has found a way for them to be on every mission with us. I have no idea how, and I don't question it.

Our next mission is to bomb a small village of Nazi men. This very well might be the most important one we've been on. Because of the amount of weapons hidden in this village, they've decided to send only four soldiers. I'm the best pilot they have, so they let me pick my team.

Lucy and I are throwing the supplies into the back of the plane when Charon and Joey come walking toward us. With unreadable faces, they bring us over to the corner, checking to make sure no one else is listening. "We found it," says Charon, looking me right in the eye. "We found the cave."

It takes me a minute to process it, but when I do, my heart stops. We spent every free minute we had for months looking for that damned cave. Right when we're getting used to our new life, it decides to pop up. "What do you mean? We spent months looking for that cave."

"I know. We were looking in the wrong place. Joey and I went out last night and we found it." Charon looks around and leans in. "We have to go," he whispers.

I step back, confused. "Go? What are you talking about? We have friends here. People who depend on us. Family."

"Family? Tommy, our families are still in 2020," he whispers, forcefully. "Remember them? Your mom? We have to get back to them."

He was right. I had completely forgotten about everyone. It seemed easier to move on if I just erased them from my memory. "Alright. Fine. We'll go back." I look at everyone and then back at Charon. "But we are not letting everyone down. We'll finish this mission and then we'll leave."

"Okay," he says, looking back at the plane. "But we leave right when we get back. Don't say goodbye. Don't grab anything. Just go."

I look back at the plane, remembering everything we've been through. And all for what? So we can go back to being civilians in the 21st century. Thank you, no. I'm fully prepared to tell everyone to leave without me, until I see Lucy's face. Her gentle eyes silently begging me to go with her. I can't say no to her. "Alright. We leave as soon as we get back," I say, starting for the plane. "Get ready for the mission; we leave in an hour."

I never wanted to go on that trip in the first place, but now I'm here, stuck in a place where I wish I could stay. I love the life I have created for myself here. But they want to go back, and I have to say goodbye. Except I can't even do that. I just have to disappear and forget everything. Disappear from all the new friends I've made, never to see them again.

...

The plane is loaded and ready for take off. Lucy and I strap in while Charon and Joey situate themselves in the back. I get the plane to the runway, switching the turbines on. " Y'all ready?" I yell.

"Ready!" Charon and Joey yell from behind me.

The plane creeps forward, quickly building up speed, until the wheels lift off the ground and we're headed for the clouds.

This is my favorite part. The falling sensation you get as you head toward the sky. Seeing the people and buildings slowly become smaller and smaller until they're nothing but ants roaming around. Up here, in the sky, real problems seem so insignificant and distant. There's only you, the plane, and the mission. It's peaceful in a way.

"Y'all okay back there?" I yell, when we're finally at a stable height.

"We're good. How long is it gonna take?" asks Joey.