Away from Home – Part One

The ten hour flight was exhausting for the child who had a fear of heights and little previous flight experience. But he never showed Henry any signs of fear. 

John feared the man who carried a familiar name more than the closed space, the turbulence they experienced for hours straight, and all the height that the business jet can reach. All of them shied away in comparison to the crazy man sitting next to him. 

"Why are you looking at me like this?" Henry asked a few minutes after the two of them rode the rented car that awaited them in Istanbul airport. 

"I-I-I want you to remove them," John who wanted to sound brave ended up stuttering.

Henry smiled showing the child a set of broken teeth, "The explosive attached to your back? Are they uncomfortable?" His tone was a mix of entertainment and hope. 

John shuddered, "You said you'd remove them when we land," 

Henry stared at John for a long time, "You look nothing like your mother,"