A Lover's Revenge Chapter 2

The airport is full of people, even though it is seven o'clock in the morning. People shouting, waiting, and embracing their friends and family. Every bench is occupied except for one. I go over to it and sit down. I feel the smooth wood, fashioned to be sat on. The steel enforcers make sure the wood doesn't snap under extreme weight. I run my fingers through my brown hair.

"Sir," says a small voice. "Can I sit next to you? I'm waiting for my grandparents to arrive."

I turn to see a small girl, about eight years old. She has curious gray eyes, just like mine. Her hair is black, making her pale skin seem translucent. She looks harmless enough. "Sure kid, don't worry, I won't try to kidnap you," I say, a smile on my face.

She grins with delight as she exclaims, "Oh, thank you! My name is Prala. What is yours?"

"My name is-" I pause, wondering what harm it would bring me should I reveal my true name. Deciding it wouldn't hurt to let her know, I continue, "My name is David. Nice to meet you Prala."

We sit and chat for a while. Prala waiting for her grandparents, me waiting for my plane. Finally, the overhead says, "Flight eight is here at gate number six."

Prala leaps up and yells over the crowd, "That's where my grandparents are. I better go meet them."

I grab her arm and say, "I'm going with you, just in case, you know?"

Prala looks at me with something akin to satisfaction in her eyes, "Ok, let's go."

We weave our way through the crowd and then stop. The crowd of people running in the opposite direction starts to pull us apart. Everyone is yelling, their features distorting in fear and terror. I swiftly pick up Prala and carry her to the side, where I snatch a running person and ask, "Why are you all running and screaming?"

The person, fighting viciously to get free, screams, "A plane is going to crash!" With that, the person wins and runs back to the crowd trying to escape. A plane is about to crash? Why doesn't the overhead say evacuate the airport? It doesn't make sense at all. I climb on top of a nearby table to get the answers I need. Luckily, I needn't wait long. In the distance, I can just make out a plane far away, its wings on fire, hurtling towards the airport.

"Prala, we are leaving, now!" I yell. She doesn't question me. Good, I don't think I can handle any questions.

I run to one of the emergency exits. Everyone seems to be trying to get out through the front doors like idiots. I lift the red handle and rush out the door. I keep running, running as far away as I can before it's too late. Even though I have only known the little girl for not even two hours, I feel like I have known her since she was born.

Finally, I stop running to witness the scene that I have just ran away from. I see the plane hitting the airport, I hear the explosion and Prala's screams of terror. I have run far enough away not to get hit with the flying debris, but not far enough away to not hear people wailing in horror and pain.

Did anyone escape? That's the question that I run through my head over and over as I race back to the airport, now safe to look, for the flames have been extinguished. Immediately, I regret going back. Burnt corpses lie everywhere. Only a few escaped, most with bruises and open gashes from the debris. Prala and I were the only ones to escape unharmed. Then I think of her grandparents. I turn over to the officer nearby who is clucking her tongue at the airport.

I ask, "What happened? Which plane was it?"

The officer replies busily, "I am not sure, but I think one of the planes that were about to land must've came in too fast or something like that- I'm sorry ma'am, but I don't know-we are still unsure. What we do know is that- I need to ask about that sir- the plane that crashed was plane eight. We have found no survivors and we are sure that no one actually could survive. If you will excuse me, I am busy right now."

Prala hears the officer and asks me, "My grandparents are dea- dea- dead?"

"Yes, it seems to be," I whisper. I pick up the shocked girl, thank the officer, and take Prala to my home.