IN THE SKY (5)

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The reward of suffering is experience.

-Harry S. Truman

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"How long have you known, Ms Queen?" The man asked.

The actress side-eyed for a moment, then answered, "I noticed your stare when that man in black showed up. I could feel somebody looking at me, and you were the only one here that could have done that."

Luca laughed in disbelief. The woman managed to sense a stare while her life was threatened. And here he was, failing to realise that the person, who he recognised as a close friend, plotted inhumane work and was endangering hundreds of people.

The man moved aside and gestured to the woman, "Would like to take a seat?"

"Thank you for your consideration," She said and gladly took a seat. Even with her legs and hands bound, she still sat rightfully and gracefully.

The bed was narrow and small. Luca moved to the furthest point from her to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.

In the silence, in the dark, the woman turned to him like an owl. "Answer me honestly." She told him. Her voice was staid. "Did you have any idea or have a part in this? I won't blame you or hurt in whichever wa-"

"Never! Swear on my mother's grave." He hurriedly swore but got no reaction from her.

She straight up stared into him as if trying to snatch his shrunken soul.

After what felt like an eternity, she averted her eyes, and he could finally breathe again.

"I am putting my life, your life, and everyone's life into your hands by trusting your words." She said as she faced the other occupied bed. Before he could take another breath, her harsh gaze landed back on him. "Understood?"

"Y-yes."

The answer visibly relaxed the woman and allowed her to share what she held in her mind. "You hold the key in this. Apart from Benjamin, you are the only one who knows how to operate this plane and land it safely. Do you know the amount of fuel in this plane?"

Luca scratched his chin before answering, "About one-hundred tons..."

The actress eyed the watch on her wrist. "...They'll soon make another demand and most probably release some of us somewhere... Does either the pilot or the cabin attendant ever have experience with combat or guns?"

Luca once again thought deeply. "I don't know about Ms Ly, but I know the captain is an amatuer hunter."

"Have you ever gone to hunting with him?"

"Yea-yes." The young man gulped after realising he was talking way too friendly towards someone they barely knew.

"From your point of view, how were his skills?"

"Not good. He couldn't even shoot a deer sleeping just fifty metres away when he had one of the best hunting rifles. Also, he was clumsy with the whole set up and he ended up not getting anything at the end of the day. I'd say he is a beginner and wanted to show off his skills."

"Okay." The actress nodded and stopped asking questions.

A full minute passed by like that until she next spoke to him.

"The threat is the pilot and that woman..."

Luca pointed out, "There is another one involved in this."

"Issac?" The woman asked, to which he nodded. "He is not a threat. I'm confident in getting him on our side."

"Then I'll leave that to you."

"Mn."

"The man in black?"

Eirene answered him with a frown. "...From the way he spoke, I feel that he is superior to at least the pilot. He has authority and he was undisturbed by the scene. And the way he spoke reminded me of a secretary or a butler."

"Damn." The young man turned to the woman with wide eyes.

"What?" She questioned.

"Nothing." He shook his head.

Although they heard the same voice, the only thing he remembered about the man in black was that it was a he and nothing else. He was useless.

She didn't pressure him and continued, "I don't think that man will show up again. If he was covering his entire body, he wouldn't risk it. He will probably get off along with other people as a 'released hostage' before we get to see his face."

"The real challenge begins after there are fewer people on the plane." What Luca said earned an agreement from the actress.

"If only I or my manager can get a hold of the guns, we can take back the control. If, in any way, we can't force Benjamin to fly us back, and you can't, I know a little about piloting, and I may be the use of help. But until then, we, especially you, have to stay low. In fact, continue being unconscious until its time. Nobody is going to suspect anything considering your wounds."

The young man nodded, and the conversation between them died, leaving a tense and awkward atmosphere as the woman was deep in thought.

Amidst the quietness, Luca asked with a hint of hesitance and anger. "...How are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" The actress asked him back as she faced him.

He apologised and looked at his thighs to avoid her gaze, "I am so sorry. I was awake long before the man in black showed up... The sound of... the bed creaking and the breathing woke me up."

If only he dared to stop the act sickening act that was happening just a few steps from where he was...

When Luca first woke up, he was confused as to what was happening. The only thing he remembered at that time was being told to deliver a message to Issac before the take-off. He couldn't refuse the order of a captain and followed the instruction. Before he opened the cockpit door, he felt something eat his flesh like a hungry hyena.

"...Oh..." Was it. There wasn't a trace of anger or sadness or anything. She just sounded purely speechless.

The atmosphere between the two turned heavy. One was in obvious distress and guilt, while the other was composed.

"...I'm sorry..." He muttered in shame.

He always thought if he witnessed something unreasonable or barbaric, he'd step in and take action. But those were plain fantasies and unrealistic wishes when faced with the situation in person.

His brain fully comprehended what was happening just by listening to the captain's voice and the sounds he was making. He felt his body was made of stone and couldn't help or escape. Just a witness to a horrible act of crime because of his cowardliness and spinelessness.

"Why are you apologising? I didn't demand it and it's not your fault."

Angry tears began to gather in Luca's eyes as his hands formed tight fists against the pain in the shoulder and the side stomach.

Why was she so calm and collected, almost distanced from what happened? If that happened to him, he knew he'd be everything, but the woman was right now.

"I-I..."

The woman sighed and turned to him. "Luca, I don't blame you."

"But-"

"What's done is done," She said, and with her tied hands, she grabbed a water bottle, removed the lid and drank the content.

He watched her take a sigh after the drink. "Are you implying when we make it out, you are not going to file a report against him? I'll be your witness. This is despicable. Are you okay with this?!"

She looked at him with coldness in her eyes. "What makes you think I'm anywhere near okay with this?"

In the dark, the clear brown eyes glowed like a fire from hell. Obviously, she was not letting it go, and he had misunderstood her.

"I will file a report," She sighed and looked away. "But it is useless to think of it now. We've got more important things in our hands. This is far less from a problem compared to what we are facing. No life is on the line with my case."

The young pilot placed his hand on his head. "...I don't know how you are doing this."

"And you don't need to." Answered the woman as she toyed with her zip tie on her wrist.

"Why do you say that?"

She stopped wiggling her wrists and looked up at him. "Let me just say, knowledge comes from experince." She had a small smile on her lips but she did not look happy at all.

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"RAISE AND SHINE!" A loud, rough voice interrupted the two.

They both slightly nodded to each other and got to work.

Luca hastily brought Eirene back to the bed where Issac left her and he quickly went back to his bed and pretended to be asleep.

Moments later, Karen walked into the sight of the two with a fully loaded rifle. As if just going to kill a mosquito, she brought down the butt of the rifle to the actress's head when she didn't get any reaction.

After hitting her she casually strode towards him and checked his breathing and pulse which he tried his best to look like a normal, passed-out dude.

He seemed to have fooled her since she didn't make any remark or comment anything and simply walked away. But she wasn't as kind to him to the other woman.

When Eirene failed to move as quickly as she wanted, she hit the actress on the head once again. And when she fell, she grabbed her by the hair and sneered, "Stupid b*tch. Walk faster, you snail! Didn't your mummy teach you how to walk?"

She then laughed like a witch. "Oooh, my bad. She died very young, didn't she? You should be ashamed of yourself. She probably died from your stupidity and couldn't handle your ass. If I was your mother, I'd never be able to get out of the house... She probably regrets giving life to someone like you. You are a waste of space and air." Her laugh had no hint of sympathy or guilt but was instead, filled with pleasure and bliss.

The young pilot was on the verge of screaming and shouting for such disrespect towards a deceased person but he held it in, remembering how he had to stay low for now until it was time. If he did wake up now, the whole thing was in ruins.

But that didn't mean the anger was going away.

He was literally shaking from rage when the water bottle Eirene drank from which was left by the bed fell, halting the woman's laugh.

"What the f*ck?"