Chapter 66: Turbulent Encounters

Storm clouds gather, buffeting the plane with turbulence. Elena gasps as we jolt sideways, knuckles whitening around my wrist. The pilot curses, adjusting altitude. Lightning flashes in the distance, thunder rolling beneath us like a threat.

Zach glances back, barking, "Brace yourselves. It'll get bumpy." Understatement of the year.

Winds buffet the plane, sending us lurching. My stomach flips repeatedly. We cling to each other, fear spiking. Elena buries her face in my shoulder, breath warm against my neck. The plane dips, and her grip tightens on my shirt, nails biting into my skin. WTF is next? I can't help the thought.

For agonizing minutes, we ride the storm. Finally, the clouds thin, revealing a stretch of coastline below, battered by waves. The pilot aims for a strip of beach. My heart pounds. Another dangerous landing. Our entire existence has become one harrowing gamble after another.