CHAPTER:16

Finally, he joined us downstairs, and despite my initial anger, I felt guilty after learning that he had been sick. He explained that he had a fever and his parents initially didn't want him to come. We realized we hadn't known about his situation and apologized for our impatience. He forgave us, understanding the circumstances. Abby asked about his medication, to which he confirmed that he had taken his medicines and packed them. I assured everyone that I had packed all the necessary medical supplies, putting their worries to rest.

Soon, we found ourselves caught in traffic, causing further delay. After about fifteen minutes, the traffic cleared, and we resumed our journey to the airport. When we arrived, our check-in time seemed to have passed, but luckily our flight was delayed by half an hour due to passenger list issues. We managed to check in on time and waited in the airport lounge for our boarding announcement. Eventually, it came, and we made our way through the tunnel to board the plane. The boys settled in together, and Abby, Rachel, and I took seats together.

Louis sat across from us on the opposite side. As more passengers boarded, the flight attendants gave instructions, and soon after, the plane took off. It was a mix of excitement and a surreal feeling as we soared into the sky. After a while, exhaustion set in, and most of us dozed off, catching up on sleep we had missed while finalizing our packing.

At some point, I moved to Louis's seat and sat beside him. He was awake, and the seat next to him was vacant. We engaged in casual conversation for a while, but I eventually drifted off to sleep. I woke up to a commotion, unsettling noises, and the cabin lights flickering off. The atmosphere was tense, and panic seemed to grip everyone on the plane. It felt like we were in danger, with thoughts of our safety racing through my mind. I thought about my parents and couldn't help but cry, but Louis was there to comfort me, holding me close.