Chapter 5: Aiden: We're Going Down

The co-pilot's words swirl in my mind. Captain, we've just lost all ground communications and control of engine one. I begin to hyperventilate. They've lost control of an engine. What does that mean? Are we going to die?

I really don't want to die. Please, God, don't let me die.

The speakers hum to life, and then the pilot's voice silences the cabin. "At this point, our situation is dire, and our best hope is to try to land, so please buckle in and prepare for a bumpy landing. Since we've lost both engines and contact with the ground, we are on our own. I promise to do everything possible to get us all back on solid ground safely. Please remain calm, and Godspeed."

The line clicks dead.

What? The runway isn't clear for us to land, and there are no safe places to land that aren't in the middle of a town. Bile rises up my throat, and I force it back down, gagging.

The plane roars and shakes with another blast of turbulence. Then we whip around as if we're on a merry-go-round. The spinning becomes faster, and I can't see the seat in front of me. I squeeze my eyes shut and grit my teeth as I breathe slowly. Inhale through my nose. Exhale through my mouth. And repeat. There's another large bump, and my eyes pop open. The oxygen mask falls from above my head and dangles in my face.

And then… Darkness.

Someone screams.

My heart stops.

The cabin is pitch black, not even the emergency lights are on. The plane seesaws and shakes vigorously. It reminds me of those natural disaster simulators, the ones that shake and blow and recreate the worst situations. This is a million times worse. I can't see anyone or anything around me.

Someone yells, "Help me! Someone help me! I can't find my seat belt. Where is my seat belt? I'm going to die - "

The scream of shattering glass pierces the cabin. Something scrapes across the floor, followed by a loud boom. More screams. I put my hands over my ears, but it does nothing to block out the horrible noise around me.

"Ouch! What the… is that my luggage?" a deep, male voice bellows.

Then, as if on cue, all the luggage bursts free from the overhead compartments, the rumble equivalent to that of an earthquake. I instinctively throw my hands over my head for protection.

"My baby! Help!" a woman wails. "Someone grab my baby! I can't see him. Please! Help! Someone help me! Help me. Please!"

"I can't find my inhaler." There's wheezing right next to my ear, and I assume it's the woman seated beside me. "I'm going to die without it."

"Forgive us, God! For we are all sinners, and this is our only way for redemption back into Your good graces. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, we are coming home."

Maybe that guy is right. Maybe this is the start of the reckoning. I close my eyes and force all thoughts from my mind. Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you. I'm sorry I had to find my birth mom. You were right about her. I'm so sorry. And God, if You are listening, please show us mercy and protect us. Amen.

I'd hoped the pilot would get us through this, but now, I'm not so sure. I hold my breath. Which would be a less painful way to die? Suffocation or a plane crash? I'm pretty sure both options are unpleasant. Please let it be over quickly.

"Attention, please. This is Tom Davis, United States Air Marshall. Captain Lakin hasn't been able to regain our ground communications, and we've encountered a strong tail wind that has pushed us off course. By our calculations, we're somewhere over the Aleutian Islands. The pilot is doing everything in his power to land us on the closest island as quickly and safely as possible. Please stay seated, and remain calm."

The nose of the plane dips, and my seat belt tightens, cutting off circulation in my waist. I brace my feet on the floor and push back in an effort to alleviate the pressure of the seat belt, but we're going so fast. The plane sways from side to side. There's so much screaming. I wish everyone would just shut up.

In an instant, the plane picks up speed and descends. Hard. Fast. Out of control. All my hope for a safe landing vanishes. I put my hands on the back of the seat in front of me so I don't end up falling forward any more than I already am. All around me, people continue to scream. Everything is still in total darkness, but I can hear just fine. I can hear people crying. Kids whimpering and calling out for their parents. The thuds and thumps of people being ejected from their seats, smashing into the hard, unforgiving overhead compartments, nearby seats, and other passengers.

Please make it stop. Just make it all stop.

The loud speaker hisses to life. "Prepare for impact."

Seconds feel like decades, and an eerie calm settles over the cabin. It's like everyone holds their breath, waiting for impact. The nose of the plane jerks upward, and I'm slammed back into my seat. And then there's a deafening boom followed by a blast of hot air. My seat belt snaps, and I'm thrown out of my seat. A stab of pain shoots through my head and down my spine. I groan, and my eyelids flutter close.