This Is Our World Now -A Walking Dead Fanfiction

Chapter Fifteen- Take Off

Departure day comes in the blink of an eye. Everything is packed, we've stored all the food and weapons and ammo we could find in the cargo hold of the plane, and the tank is filled with as much gas as we could find. Our food supply is supposed to last us at least twenty days, maybe thirty if we ration. The weapons are easily enough for a month of hardcore zombie-fighting, and the pilot says the fuel is enough to last us for an eight hour trip, though the one we are taking is only supposed to be around six hours. We are set to leave as soon as Joe gives us the word.

After breakfast of departure day, Joe orders us to pack whatever personal items we haven't already, and load it into the seats in the coach section of the plane. Him, Mr. Canello, and thr other teachers are riding in the first class section. It's the gosh darn apocalypse and I still don't get to ride first class!

I mostly put what little I have into my small duffel bag last night, so I brush my hair quickly and throw that darn thing in my bag before zipping it closed. I get up to see Danny standing behind me. He puts his arm around and squeezes, then says,

"Ready to go, Annie?"

"Very ready. So, so, very ready. Just let me go find Benji and we can head to the plane."

Danny agrees, so I hoist my bag over my shoulder and find Benji talking to some kid I don't really know.

"Hey, Benj, we are going to go put our stuff on the plane. You coming?"

Benji bids the other kid farewell and nods. He runs back to wherever he dropped his own bag. He appears ten seconds later, looking excited.

"I'm ready!"

We walk to the gate that our plane is connected to, Gate 11, and I throw one last look over my shoulder at our little camp as we enter the tunnel down to the plane. We reach the tunnel's end and for a second, the musty air is mixed with cool, fresh air from outside. Then we step into the plane and are swallowed up by it's familiar smell. We three make our way down the aisle, passing one or two other people, and several seats filled with bags.

We reach Row 15, the emergency exit row coincidentally, and because I am in the lead, I slide in and get the window seat. Facing the front of the plane, we are on the left side. I drop my bag on the floor, try to kick it under the seat in front of me, and fail. My bag seems to be too fat, so I pull it back up and onto my lap, and take up the sleeping bag that is taking up the majority of the room in there. I crawl over the boys, Benji in the middle and Danny in the aisle, and I open the overhead compartment and stuff the sleeping bag in there. Not wanting to squish back in there, I sit lightly on the armrest of the seat across from Danny's and chat with him until other people trickle on. I sit down to prepare for takeoff.

After waiting for what seems like an hour, Joe finally boards the plane and booms,

"Well everyone, we did it. We are heading to Atlanta!"

The plane, now partially packed, gives a cheer. I whoop in happiness, too.

"Now, we have checked the entire area of the airport we were in to make sure we forgot nothing, and nobody. I need you all to remember that this is not a normal flight. Everyone, please do try not to yell or make too much noise, it is a stressful job for our wonderful, brave pilot here, Mac. Remember that there are emergency exits in Row 15, is for some reason that becomes necessary, which I hope it does not. It will be a bit dark, as the lights don't seem to be working, but I think you will all manage. Is everyone ready?"

We all give another big "Yeah!" And Joe smiles.

"Then let's go to Altanta, people!"

Pilot Mac takes this as his cue to roar on the engines. The deep throttle fills the cabin and I take Benji's hand in mine, as I grin at him. He smiles back excitedly and we feel the plane shift backwards, backing out towards the runway. Lurching forward, we roll out onto the tarmac. We slow to a stop, then the engines rev full force, pushing us forward, faster, faster, up, slowly up into the clear blue sky.

I look out the window next to me, just in time to catch a last glimpse of my home, Seattle, before we turn onto our course to Atlanta, and I lose sight of it.