The child, the Wild and the Morbidly awkward Introvert

Flying Solo

I had managed to wriggle my way out of the bag after struggling to understand which part of my very long and lanky form to pull out first. Standing upright in a moving plane was easy; until realisatiom started rapping knuckles against my knees and I ended up awkwardly thumping down in the dust, gazing up at dust that had started drifting around me in an almost dream-like state. It was as though it was a weird colony of gaily flying faries who had somehow failed to understand how serious the situation was.

Flapping a hand at them, I heaved myself upright and looked around. As my senses and the blazing taste of coppery blood caught up with me I managed a content little smile; it had been almost two days since I had spewed blood. It seemed as though, in the recent shock and craziness my body was going through, it had forgotten to spew blood and in turn that had strengthened me though there was still a faint whistling sound in my ears and my head throbbed continuously. I had more important things to worry about; would I be able to help my son? Was it actually worth it?

You may have to actually look through the luggage to find him. You do realise that....right?

I started looking at the clumps of suitcases and bags that lay around me like lifeless carcasses inside a mechanical beast-the plane-and I was amazed at how peacefully silent it was; almost as though those in charge had felt that the luggage was in need of peace and quiet and had consequently made it eternally silent and peaceful up-or was it down-here.

My wandering eyes ran over a set of hot pink suitcases with a golden leash-like belt strapped around them to hold them together. It was like they were a bunch of rowdy, runty little poodles and the golden belt was meant to hold them together to stop them wandering away. Past them I saw a mound covered in what looked like scratchy sand coloured rugs. A huge grin lit up my face and I found myself grinning stupidly as I broke into a wild run to get to the box...

Thump.

I almost screamed as I toppled over ungracefully and banged my head against a pushchair that whirred its mucky wheels in frustration. With smarting eyes, I got ready to get up again..

"How on EARTH can you be so sure he is up here?" A strangely familiar ladies voice cried out suddenly; shock flattening me onto my back amongst the dust with my eyes wide open and pounding brain screaming as pain threatened to rip it open.

My wide eyes frantically darted all over the cieling in a struggle to understand what I should do next. My body tensed when I sensed stealthy, silent footsteps tread slowly closer and closer to my head, making the fear inside me spread. I held my breath, struggling to stay as still as possible without choking on the breath I was holding.

"We talked about this and we know that he is currently performing. There is no way he could be on the plane....no way he could sneak up on the tight security and get in without anyone noticing anything strange. I doubt that he is actually here." She cleared her throat.

My eyes widened; what was Paula doing?

"We need to get the boy over there. Sparrow is incapable of ending up in a pla-" her phone vibrated "-excuse me-" she was silent before answering "-what do you mean the BAND is performing?! It was a performance for SPARROW! Where is he?! How does no one know?! Romeo would have never lost him like this! You ought to keep a close eye on him!" She stamped her feet and I tensed; what if the floor gave way? "No no, I will look for him...." She stalked away from me and I heard a soft clang suggesting the she had just left me, the dust and the luggage to be alone.

Feeling like a vampire who had been lying still for too long, I heaved myself upright and took a second to focus my senses. Upon pulling myself to my feet, I kept an attentive eye on my surroundings as I dared tread closer and closer to the box, teeth digging into my lower lip and heart booming against my rib as it tried to make me hurry up.