1 On Air

Kea shuffled through the papers on her study table. Nothing was seeming familiar to her. Everything that she came to know just appeared to be some kind of a bluff.

The bandage on her head was ripping apart, exposing the severe wound to the dust around. She didn't care for any infection, but the thing that she cared at the moment was her certificates and passport which seemed to be lost. Her mind was getting puzzled. She needed the ' correct ' papers right now because her flight was in just three hours from now. If she had known that going to a break-up party would result in her forgetting her self, she would never have opted to attend.

This is what she knew, but was that all? She kept asking herself the question but couldn't find out the answer. She knew her name, from where she belonged, who her parents were, but couldn't process what she was doing at the place that everyone told her was her ' home'.

She felt like throwing up and bumped into the suitcase kept beside the table. The suitcase opened and out came a familiar-looking document-visa. Her heart lit up 'cause as her visa was in this suitcase, most probably her passport and other documents would be right there. She wanted to kick herself for her stubbornness 'cause she was told that she just returned from a trip and thus it should have been very obvious to find all her document in that suitcase.

She emptied the entire luggage on the floor and found the most anticipated document- her passport. She picked it up while her heartbeat kept on increasing rapidly. But then suddenly her eyes swept over an envelope and a vial which probably fell from her luggage.

The vial was filled with a sea-green solution. It looked so beautiful that anybody who saw it would instantly grab it and would feel like keeping it to themselves. So Kea was no exception. She picked up the vial and opened it and brought it near her nose. But the most unexpected thing was that the solution had no smell! She wanted to know more about the solution and the envelope but at the moment, her being able to board the flight on time was more important. So she kept the vial and the envelope in her half-prepared suitcase and decided to examine them later.

Lately, things have been occurring strangely and it was not before two hours that she came to know that there was a plane for her to board. Finding out about her trip made her overjoyed as she had waited for this moment for a long time. She wanted to run away. Runaway from the boundaries that her so-called family kept around her just for the sake of some mere safety. She has been inside the four walls for four months and now that she had got the opportunity, missing it would be like losing a precious gem.

Even though she wanted to run, she couldn't resist herself from writing an adieu letter. So, she wrote a letter addressed to the youngest family member and her supposed younger brother :

" Dear Peter,

I am unable to keep my promise of taking you to the science museum. But, you can rest assured for I will take you the moment I come back. I know I have failed on my part of being a good sister because I have never protected and guided you well but I will make sure to improve.

Now, if you are around mother or father, please let them read the next part of the letter.

Mom and dad,

I know you care about me a lot, but I don't know how to be grateful by just being inside the four walls. Do not get worried 'cause I will be back soon after I get to know my true potential and be successful so that I can make you proud. Please take care of your health.

Now, I would like to disturb Maya with a few words

Maya,

Sorry for disturbing you but I felt I needed to speak a few words to you. You've been a beautiful and loving big sister. But, for my part, I have been completely incompetent. Thanks for guiding me through the abyss of my sickness and insisting me to use my time by studying. I can never be as good as you but, in the time that I am away I'll make sure to gather as much knowledge as I can and till that time you can have your peace 'cause I'll not be there for disturbing your peace *hehe*.

Please believe in me 'cause I'll never make you feel down. I love you all.

Your Kea.

................

Kea placed the letter under the lamp on her table and for the final time packed her luggage.

' It's best not to go through the front door. I can't escape the guards. Let's see...'

She frantically thought for an idea to pop up in her mind when a cold wind brushed across her face, moving her hair. She turned around to see that the window was open when suddenly a bulb illuminated beside her head and she went towards the slightly open window.

' Hmm...It looks like the best method to escape.. but, being on the third floor.... okay, no problem. Just need a long cloth..'

Kea approached her bed and removed the bed-sheet and then tied it with the extra curtains. After getting the desired length of the cloth, she tied a knot with it at one of the bed's legs and then threw the rest outside the window.

' Okay, okay, stay calm. I have to do this for my good. I have to live. Breaking two or three bones will not matter as long as I may live. hehe...'

She then held on to the cloth and started climbing down by pressing her feet against the wall and hardening her grip. In less than 7 seconds she reached the stony path and marveled on herself for her discovery.

' Heh, looks like I used to do escaping jobs or robbery .... maybe even theft? Nope, no. This can't be... Wait! I have to run now..my flight's in 1 hour and am not gonna miss it.'

With that, Kea started running with all her might. She was so excited as well as anxious that she forgot the weight of the luggage with her and strained her back. She didn't stop until she reached the highway and hailed a taxi.

After 30 minutes, she reached the City Airport. It took 25 minutes to go through the boarding procedures and 5 minutes to get to her seat. Kea felt the adrenaline spread her body and shivered with nervousness as the safety announcements started.

" Good Evening! Please follow the rules and tie your seat-belt. The oxygen masks are provided just beside your seats in case you have any breathing problems. Now, hold tight, cause in 5 seconds we will be on air!"

3,2,1.... WHOOSH!