Chapter 2: Turbulence
The moment the plane began to shake, Luna's breath hitched. Adrian reached for her hand first, his grip firm and steady, and she clutched it back, her fingers tightening around his as fear seeped into her bones.
Adrian was terrified, but he masked it well, focusing on keeping Luna calm. He glanced at her, his jaw tense but his expression calm. "It's just turbulence," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty in his eyes.
Luna nodded, though the knot in her chest only tightened, her body bracing for the unknown. The overhead lights flickered, and the plane gave another violent lurch, causing passengers to whisper anxiously among themselves.
The intercom crackled. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing unexpected turbulence. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened."
Luna swallowed hard and exhaled shakily. She turned to Adrian, her eyes searching his face for reassurance, for something to ground her. But even he, the one who always held everything together, was gripping the armrest so hard his knuckles had turned white.
She forced herself to breathe, staring blankly into the vast darkness outside the window. Below them, the city lights stretched like veins of gold through the darkness, but they were moving away from it all, finally breaking free.
Then came the sound no passenger wanted to hear—the engines sputtered.
A sharp jolt sent her stomach plummeting as the plane dipped. Gasps and cries rippled through the cabin, a rising tide of fear suffocating the cabin. Oxygen masks dropped from above, and flight attendants rushed to calm the growing panic.
Luna's mind reeled. This wasn't happening. Not now. Not when they had finally escaped.
Adrian grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Breathe, Luna." His voice was firm, but his eyes reflected her own terror. "We're going to be okay."
The plane convulsed, its frame groaning under the invisible weight pressing against it. The lights flickered wildly before cutting out, plunging them into darkness. A collective scream tore through the cabin.
Adrian pulled her close, shielding her as best as he could. "Stay with me, Loonie," he whispered. "No matter what happens, I will protect you. I promised, remember?"
Luna clenched her eyes shut. This couldn't be how their story ended. They had fought too hard, survived too much.
The aircraft lurched violently, tilting at a gut-wrenching angle. The sensation of falling gripped her stomach, and her screams joined the chaos around them.
And then—everything shattered.
The world went black.