Second Chance

Prologue: Crowning

I have always hated flying.

Not because of how far up the aircraft is in the sky, or the fact that it's going really fast, but of the sensation of not knowing where I'm at. I look over my right shoulder and barely see the aircraft's wing. The only way I know it's there is the blinking lights outlining the edge of the wing and the turbine engines. Everything beyond it is dark. Dense clouds that go on for miles. And the endless space between the aircraft and the ground below...

I shake the thought out of my head as I turn toward the others in front of me. There are twelve of us in our squad. Just enough for a clandestine operation.

We are all geared from head to toe, all concealed in black, just like a shadow. The dark compartment where we all sit against the sides of the plane, make us look invisible.

A static like screech booms in the silence.

"200 feet above the building. Prepare for jumping."

Just then we all unbuckle and form a line leading out the back hatch. I am in the middle. There was a sudden stop which took almost everyone off balance. I grab the seat I was just sitting in for support. Once I got my balance situated, the hatch opened, producing a cool wind into the compartment. The plane was hovering over the Alien Rights & Protection Building (ARPB), just barely over the roof, close enough for us to land on. The others and I ready ourselves by placing a mask exposing only our eyes and brows, then a helmet that covers everything else. The shining gold hair peeking through my peripherals become covered, completely extinguished in the dark.

"Go!" screeched the intercom.

The soldier in the front ran right to the edge of the hatch and disappeared over the edge. So was the the soldier following him. Three heart beats later, and it's my turn.

I have always loved flying. Only because of this reason.

Falling.

My adrenaline being pumped into my veins, the strong beat of my heart slamming against my ear, overpowering the sound of rippling air as I jump off the edge. My body begins to turn and flip but I don't hold on to them. I let it happen. The exhilarating feeling of falling is spectacular.

I feel weightless.

Unattached.

Free.

My body begins to position to where my back is a few feet from the building and my chest is facing the six other bodies falling after me. They are positioned with their arms out at a right angle, their legs mimicking that same movement. That's my cue. I turn my body around to see the others falling beneath me just as they were beginning to open their parachutes. The reflective surface of the chutes are the only indication of my knowing where they are. I reach for the tab that sticks out of the right strap of my bag and I pull.

The flapping of the fabric thunders behind me, yanking my body back from the force of the air hitting the parachute. I slow down just enough before I have to land. The others in front land successfully. Now it's my turn. I grab onto the two ropes that attach to my bag and lift up, allowing me to hover over the roof. I quickly pick my legs up before my shins hit the side of the building and let go of the ropes. My feet hit the ground and I begin to stumble forward from the wind still pulling at my parachute. I quickly unclip it from my bag before it pulls me off of the roof. I grab it and roll it up small enough to fit it back in my bag. Just when I finished the last soldier that jumped just landed on the roof.

Once everyone was settled we equipped our guns setting it from safety to shooting bullets for unwanted Beings that get in the way. I quickly patted the side of my leg to find the night stick safely tucked in its holster.