Chapter 14: Blades in the Sky

The boss hijacker snorted in satisfaction at Teguh Putra's changing expression. "Of course, we understand. We have all day on this plane, don't we, Mr. Teguh? Miss! Bring us some champagne," he said, sitting arrogantly and waving at Stella. Stella, frozen at the end of the cabin, flinched when he shouted.

The atmosphere in the more crowded economy class was tense. Two hijackers with swords stood guard, their eyes sharp and cruel. Two crew members, injured and helpless, sat in the crew area.

Stella glanced at her injured, pale colleagues. "The pilots need to know what's happening." She stopped, whispering her opinion.

"Not now, Stella. I'll find a chance later. Just do what he says before you get hurt," Katherine, the injured senior flight attendant, said.

Stella worked alone, her legs trembling. She retrieved the champagne stock, having left the trolley at the back of the cabin earlier. Seeing Stella approach, Katon felt a glimmer of hope.

"Morgan, we need Stella's help. She has access to the cockpit. She can help us fight these guys," Katon whispered as Stella neared.

"Shit! How? They're watching everything!" Morgan hissed.

"Stand up! Distract them!"

"What?! You think I'm sword-proof?!"

"Now or never, Morg!" Katon's hiss was like a command. Morgan stood, immediately drawing the hijackers' attention.

"Sit down! If you value your neck!" the second hijacker threatened.

"Sir! I-I won't stop you, Sir, I'll cooperate, you guys are cool. I'd stay quiet, but I really need to pee, Sir. Sorry, these earthly urges are hard to control." Morgan raised his hands, acting foolish, fidgeting as if holding back a desperate need to urinate.

While Morgan acted, Katon signaled to Stella, trying not to draw attention. Stella, seeing Katon's signal, panicked and dropped a champagne bottle, which shattered against the metal trolley.

"Ah!" Stella yelped, and Katon stood up.

"Hey! What are you doing!" the first hijacker shouted, brandishing his sword and approaching the corner where Katon and Stella were. Stella cowered, having seen Warren injure Katherine.

"I-I was startled, Sir. The champagne spilled on my feet." Katon played dumb, stepping between the hijacker and Stella.

"You, guard him in the toilet, stay alert and kill him if he resists!" the first hijacker ordered his companion to escort Morgan. "You! Help her clean this up!" he then ordered Katon, pointing at the terrified Stella.

Katon crouched, helping Stella clean the spilled champagne and broken glass, watching the hijackers. He needed to take down the one nearby. To do that, he needed to see where the other hijacker and the psychopath were. Katon slowed his movements.

"What are you doing, Katon?" Stella whispered, scared. She was afraid Katon was slowing down.

"Relax, sweetheart. I won't let them hurt a pretty lady like you," Katon whispered back. Stella couldn't help but feel flattered, even in this situation.

Katon glanced around, seeing his opportunity. The second hijacker was gone with Morgan. Katon assumed the psychopath was still intimidating the crew. He signaled to Stella to calm the passengers after he acted, and she nodded in understanding. She felt braver, crouching with the trolley blocking the hijacker's view.

Katon grabbed the broken champagne bottle, holding the neck. In one swift motion, he acted.

He stood, wrapping his left arm around the unsuspecting hijacker's neck, covering his mouth, while his right hand plunged the broken bottle into the hijacker's right side.

"HHGGKK!!" the hijacker reflexively swung his sword at Katon's head. Katon blocked the arm with his elbow, driving the broken bottle deeper into the hijacker's side, pulling him forward, tearing his abdomen.

Nearby passengers were about to scream, but Stella quickly hushed them, shielding them. Katon relentlessly stabbed the hijacker until he stopped moving.

Katon dragged the lifeless body to the back row, shoving it into a seat. He took the silver sword, checking it as a weapon.

"Katon... what now?" Stella asked, panicked.

"Relax, sweetheart. Do what you have to. What did they ask for?"

"The boss hijacker is in first class, holding a passenger hostage. He wants champagne."

"Take it, sweetheart. Pretend nothing happened. I'll save you."

"You will?"

"Hurry, sweetheart. Before they get suspicious," Katon urged, wiping blood off his hands and hiding the silver sword under a seat. He placed the broken bottle on a seat, pretending to sit on it.

Stella quickly pushed the trolley towards the crew area for more champagne, passing Morgan and the third hijacker. Stella's eyes spoke to Morgan, and he understood. He closed his eyes. Katon had acted with a swordsman behind him. What if he got suspicious and stabbed him?

"Damn it, Ton!" he hissed.

"What did you say?" the hijacker snapped.

"Uh, Sir. I need to pee again."

"Crazy! Kidney problems, huh?!"

"Seems like it, Sir."

"Sit! Don't move! Just piss yourself!" The hijacker shoved Morgan back into his seat next to Katon. Morgan's movement almost made Katon sit on the broken bottle. He held his breath, gripping it.

"Hey, you idiot! Where's my friend?" the hijacker asked Katon, eyes flashing.

"What?! You dare resist?!"

"No, Sir. You asked, I'm answering," Katon said softly. Only Morgan recognized the venom in his tone.

"Good. Where is he?" the hijacker asked arrogantly. Katon stood, feigning foolishness, looking behind the hijacker. The hijacker turned to look. Katon seized the moment, grabbing the broken bottle.

He lunged, plunging the broken bottle into the hijacker's neck, tearing his jugular.

Cresss!!!

Red liquid spurted out, and Katon ruthlessly stabbed deeper, making nearby passengers gasp. Morgan grabbed the hijacker's sword-wielding hand, as Katon drove the broken bottle into the convulsing body.