Catherine's POV
I was busy flipping through the magazine I had brought along when a loud voice suddenly filled the space.
"Please, everyone, tighten your seat belts and put on your safety gear. Something isn't right with this plane. It might crash soon," the voice from the speaker echoed through the cabin.
I slowly lowered the magazine onto my thigh.
Then, the plane's alarm started blaring without warning.
Loud gasps from the passengers filled the air, which heightened with fear.
My heart began to race.
I quickly grabbed my safety gear and put it on. My eyes scanned the private passenger area where I was, but nothing made sense, except for the strange movement I had noticed earlier.
A cold wave of panic and dread crawled down my spine. My eyes moved quickly, searching every corner. I couldn't even form words in my mind, only silent prayers for survival.
Then I noticed a man in the distance. I couldn't see his face clearly, but I remembered spotting him earlier. Since the plane took off, he had been acting strangely, sitting and moving suspiciously
Engrossed in my magazine then, I had barely known what was going on around me, except for that troubling decision of pushing Rick out of my heart and thoughts.
Then in a flash, it hit me hard. My head reeled from the moments ago, my heart engrossed in the depth of fear.
The guy who had approached me a few moments ago, the one who sat next to me. I shifted my gaze to my sides, but he was no longer in that spot.
My heart quickened.
"There's a problem! Tighten your seat belts. The plane is about to crash," the voice warned again.
I closed my eyes tight, panic rising inside me. Silent tears streamed down my face as I thought about my parents, the people I had loved so much. I also thought about my dream trip to Italy, memories I had held onto for six years, and all the moments I had lived since moving to New York. Every damn thing came playing in my heart.
I remembered the smiles at the hospital, the ones that had stayed with me, especially Rick's, and my friends from work.
Then, the regret. I wished I could just remember my life before the accident that had left me with amnesia. My life prior to six years ago, even if it was for a brief moment. But it felt like a distance dream.
A single tear slipped down my cheek as I opened my eyes wide in fear.
The sound of metal creaking and the plane shaking filled the cabin with greater dread. Everyone was clutching their loved ones tightly.
I looked around and my eyes landed on a little girl sitting near me. She curled up in her mother's arms, her once bright and innocent eyes now dull and full of fear. My heart broke for her.
Then I noticed a pregnant woman, tears rolling down her cheeks as her hands gently held her tummy. Her eyes heavy with sorrow.
My heart felt heavy.
The dread inside me grew, twisting and turning until I couldn't take it anymore.
And then, without thinking, I stood up and walked toward the place where I had last seen the man. I let out a small, shaky sigh as I moved along the aisle.
My heart was racing, but my feet somehow kept moving. I looked around, but I couldn't see anyone except the flight attendants and security officers trying to calm the passengers and handle the situation.
That awful sound shook the plane, getting louder with every second.
"Madam, please return to your seat and fasten your seat belt," a security officer called out to me.
I turned "I'm sorry, sir, but I need to use the restroom." I said softly.
"It's not safe for you there," he warned.
For a moment, I thought about going back to my seat, but I hesitated. The noise kept growing. It felt like we were all going to die anyway.
"I understand, sir," I replied, my voice cold and numb.
I turned back and held onto the restroom door. Every instinct in me screamed danger, but I placed a hand on my chest and forced myself forward.
What was the worst that could happen? Death was already looming in the air. My heart beat faster and faster.
I whispered small words of courage, patting my chest gently as I pushed the door open slightly, leaving it that way. I moved slowly, my eyes scanning the empty hallway ahead. My heart raced, but I hugged myself and let out a soft sigh.
Suddenly, I heard strange noises in the distance. Rough. Sharp, like a fight.
My heart skipped a beat. Hot sweat rolled down my face. My gut felt tight and dry.
I held my racing chest, my legs struggling with the thought to move further or to retreat. Somehow, I found myself continuing in my tracks, despite every instinct screaming I should run.
I should scream. I should go call the security. But I continued, glued to the spot and the scene that was about to unfold before me. At that point, my body was numb with fear. I took off my shoes silently.
My courage felt weak. Death seemed closer than ever, but I couldn't stop myself. My heart seemed drawn to the situation.
Then, the noises stopped, suddenly. It felt like the silence that came after a scream. I stood still, peeking through the gap between the walls at the scene.
Then, I saw them.
I forced my saliva down immediately.
My heart banging in my chest. My eyes widened in shock.
Three bodies lay on the floor. Blood stains all over their faces and entire torn clothes. Their fabrics, blood-stained.
But then I saw the guy with something that looked like a box; he came staggering slightly. His face was messy. His eyes still held their shine. And then, like a flash, it dawned on me.
The guy that had sat next to me, with a newspaper in hand.
A loud gasp escaped my lips before I could know it.
My leg hit a container of water I hadn't noticed before, due to panic that had made me blind to everything around me.
My hand clutched to my lips desperately, the other to my chest, but then it was already too late.
He saw me.
His gaze met mine from my hiding spot; my heart skipped.
I wanted to run away, but then I couldn't.
I was frozen in place. Hot sweat swirling down my spine. I felt a sharp rush of unease as his gaze lingered on me.
Darkened. Deep. Unreadable.
The air around felt suffocating. My entire body drained of panic, visibly trembling as he never moved. His gaze calculating.
Then, as though he suddenly remembered something, he hastily dropped the box and opened it, his attention fully on it as he pulled out some wires.
I stood firm. Struck dumb in place. With no clue whatever in my mind. He seemed not to come after me? Was he letting me go? Should I run back? Should I scream?
And like my thoughts were being read openly, his voice surged. First time I heard him speak all those while he sat down with me. His gaze barely leaving my body.
"Come over if you care for your life," he spoke, his sides facing my direction. His eyes glued to what he had in his hands.
I stood firm for a while, but found myself struggling over towards him. He seemed to be struggling with unclipping the wires. But somehow, I found myself leaning over and helping him with what he was doing.
His eyes never flickered towards me, which was a slight relief. I never knew what he was doing, but I joined, desperately helping.
Damn, helping a stranger, who from the look of things just killed three men in cold blood.
The sight of the three littered bodies never left my heart.
My heart seemed unsettled, but my instinct told me to continue, if I wanted to leave that restroom alive.
A few seconds later, he unclipped the last wire. Like a wave of storm calming down, the loud beeping and roaring sound from the plane stopped.
The plane slowly became steady again, no longer shaking the way it had since the alarm started.
Dread filled my heart, alongside a slight wave of relief, mixed with confusion.
My gaze flickered to the man in front of me. He lowered his head and let out a deep sigh, drained from his expression.
I reached out for the container of water I had seen from my peeping spot and handed it over to him.
His gaze lingered on me for a while before he received it. That gaze felt unreadable, unpredictable. Full of something deeper.
I turned to leave. He never stopped me; he never said a word.
But I left hurriedly out of the restroom and back to my seat. The air around seemed settled, smiles on the faces of the passengers, almost which, that of the little child who looked up at me the moment I took my seat. Her innocent gaze sent a chill down my spine.
Then the pregnant woman, who seemed to wave her hands to the sky in endless appreciation. Her smiles filled my heart.
Those moments never lasted long, as the troubling scene of moments ago came back, filling my heart with yet greater scenes of discomfort.
And then, the door to the restroom creaked open. My heart skipped at the sound.
I turned to see him walking closer.
His face hardened.
I swallowed hard.
I could
feel it in my heart. Each step he took closer felt like a beep to an unknown….