Eri Kamei
Flight 707
October 8, 1:06 PM
She’s going to die! Eri thought in distress. Do something!
In hopes to provoke Sayumi, she firmly grasps harder, advocating more pressure in their grip.
No response. The pointed knife still lingered above.
“ Syu..! S-Sayumi!!! “ Eri manages to scream in a forceful whisper. Immediately, Sayumi opens her sobbing eyes.
But it was too late.
Eri gawks helplessly. The knife begins to thrust downward.
N-NO!
All of a sudden, the plane fiercely rocks horizontally, tossing Eri and Sayumi against the walls. Eri bangs her skull. A deafening smash booms outside the walls, followed by a sound of something large crashing into water. The roaring of the engines ensued, more evident this time.
We hit something!!! Eri couldn’t believe it. But we’re still in the air…
Sayumi moaned. In the background, she hears a whimper.
Kusumi!
From the sound of it, it seems they both landed not too far from Eri.
I have to… get us buckled in..! But... Hitomi!! Where is she?
At this point, dealing with the assailant seemed pointless. She didn't even know if it was Hitomi to begin with. But what Eri does know is that it won't be long before they crash into something indefinitely. She could practically feel the whole plane descending.
Have to… get up.
Her head ached so much, it made her legs ache. She couldn’t move. The limbs on her upper torso were barely usable, and on top of that, she had little feeling in her legs.
I can't ... even move them...
She was trapped in her own paralyzed body.
“ Nngh...! “ Eri gasps, hoping to call out Sayumi’s name, but to no avail. Her chest was still impaired.
“ Eri! …Kusumi!! “ Sayumi yells out, screaming over the roar of the engine. “ Where?! Where are you?! “
Eri pokes her throat, hoping to prod herself into speaking. She was able to muffle grunts, but they were barely audible, due to the engines.
Stupid plane..! Eri squirms. We’re going to die on this stupid pl-
“ Is it on?! “ A loud familiar voice interrupts her line of thought.
Eri paused. “ …! “
Miki! …It was Miki!
She glances around hastily. She couldn’t see anything.
So... It wasn't Hitomi... it was Miki all along! Why is she doing this to us?!
“ Dammit, I don’t know! “ Miki says frantically. “ Push… * zhhhh * -ose buttons… * zhhhh * -er ther…! “
Miki’s voice seemed scrambled.
“ Ah! “ Eri realizes Miki’s voice derived from the intercom. A static sound blares from the speakers. She could still hear Miki’s voice, but it was barely audible over the static.
The lights in the cabin suddenly flicker on. Eri squints, the light seemed like a blinding force, her eyes were still used to the dark. She tries to glimpse at the room, but from her angle, she couldn’t see anything but the bottom of the seats.
“ * zhhhh * -peat, this is… * zhhhh * -ujimoto!! “ Miki’s voice seemed to regain itself. “ * zhhh* -ay seated and brace for impact!!! I repeat, this is Miki Fujimoto!!! Stay seated and brace for impact!!!! I repeat, thi- “
“ Miki!!! “ Another voice muffled from the speaker. Eri at once recognized the second voice.
Hitomi!
“ That’s enough! “ Hitomi screamed. “ We have to get buckled in, now! “ Her voice faded off as her rushing footsteps echo into the speakers.
“ Shit! “ Miki continued. Her fingers rattle into the microphone. “ Listen everybody, we will live through this! I expect to see each and every one of you when this thing ends!! “
She listens as Miki’s voice fades away.
Wait... if Hitomi is with Miki... Eri prods. Then... who..?
The static returns. She notices voices in the background, but the ringing sensation in her ears returned, blurring her hearing. Eri hadn’t noticed before, but she was slowly falling unconscious. Her eyes start to roll back towards the back of her head once again.
This is it… Eri peacefully thought. I love you… Everybody.
She begins to close her eyes, until suddenly; a pair of hands abruptly clutches her underarms. Eri dizzily looks up. It was Sayumi.
“ Kusumi!! “ Sayumi screams out. “ Kusumi, she’s over here!! “
“ Thank god!!! “
A few seats back, Eri hears Kusumi rush towards them. On each step Kusumi took, a whimper follows. “ Ow! …Ow! …Ow! Ow! “
With teamwork, they quickly heave Eri onto her feet. Eri’s legs immediately limp downward. She couldn’t stand. Or even talk. Sayumi says something, but it was barely audible to Eri. Kusumi quickly scuttles to pick up Eri’s legs. They haul her over to the nearest middle seat.
Oh…
By now, Eri’s body is numb, with literally no ounce of energy left. Her hearing; gone, making her temporarily deaf. She struggles to keep her eyes open.
Kusumi quickly fastens Eri’s seatbelt, securing her in. Eri rests her head against the seat as she gazes at Kusumi and Sayumi, whom are trying to talk to her, unaware of her hearing situation. Eri was however, able to make out what they were saying, by the movements of their mouths.
“ We’ll make it, Eri… We’ll make it, Eri. “
After giving small smiles, and gestures of encouragement, both girls quickly take their seats by Eri. The seats rattle as they rush to buckle in. Though Eri was unable to feel it, they all begin to clutch hands. Eri’s limp hands in each of their grip.
We’ll make it.
Eri shuts her eyes, unable to hold them open any longer. At that moment, under her numb body, she could faintly feel the seats violently jerk forward. She cringed as her blood recoiled to the front of her body. It felt like she was in the middle of an earthquake. A silent, black earthquake.
We’re crashing… Eri thought as she finally falls unconscious. We’re crashing...