1. The flight

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. On behalf of the entire crew, I'd like to welcome you aboard Brooklyn Airlines, Flight 0012340923 with service to Ireland. We're just about ready to depart and expect a smooth flight today, with a flight time of approximately seven hours.

At this time, please ensure your seat belts are securely fastened, your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright positions, and that all carry-on items are properly stowed either under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Our flight attendants will soon be conducting a brief safety demonstration, so we appreciate your attention. If you have any questions or need assistance during the flight, please don't hesitate to ask one of our crew members.

We're looking forward to making your flight as comfortable and safe as possible. We'll update you as we approach our destination with the latest weather and arrival information. Thank you for choosing Brooklyn Airlines, and enjoy your flight."

Neo glanced at the intercom as the pilot's voice droned on. Bored, he slipped on his headphones and started listening to an audiobook. Finally, he had some peace, free from any bothersome interruptions—after all, he was used to being alone.

Neo's thoughts drifted as the familiar pain of his past tugged at him. Abandoned by his parents and left in an orphanage, he was plagued by deep-seated resentment. Even after being adopted by a caring family, he could never shake the feeling of being different. Their children never let him forget it, constantly reminding him that he was unwanted and useless. Those taunts fueled a burning drive within him to prove them wrong. He poured himself into his studies, working tirelessly until he earned a scholarship to study abroad. This flight marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life—one where he hoped to leave his painful past behind.

"At least I won't be bugged by my siblings," he sighed, closing his eyes.

---

Suddenly, the plane shook violently, jolting Neo awake. "What the hell...?" He wasn't the only one to notice; passengers around him began to murmur in discomfort.

A loud scream shattered the uneasy quiet of the economy class cabin, and the lights flickered before plunging the plane into darkness.

"What the—"

"What's going on?"

"Does the pilot know about this?"

Panic rippled through the cabin as passengers voiced their fears. Neo watched them in silence, still listening to his audiobook, but the situation was rapidly becoming impossible to ignore. The door separating the economy class from the premium economy, where Neo sat, creaked open.

Neo barely paid attention until the screams became impossible to ignore. He turned back, his eyes widening in shock. The economy class was shrouded in pure darkness, and a woman, covered in blood, crawled out from it. She stretched her hand forward as if trying to grasp something before an unseen force yanked her back into the darkness with terrifying speed. Her scream echoed and then abruptly stopped.

Neo had already ripped out his earphones and was on his feet, staring at the door in horror. The darkness seeped into the premium economy cabin like a black mist, carrying an overwhelming sense of bloodlust. He didn't know how he knew, but it was clear this mist was dangerous.

He bolted toward the door leading to the business class cabin, crashing through it as the darkness enveloped the economy cabin behind him.

"Attention, passengers, this is your captain speaking. For your safety and the safety of those around you, we kindly ask that everyone remain seated with your seatbelts fastened while the seatbelt sign is on. If you are currently standing, please return to your seat and buckle up. Thank you for your cooperation."

"You bastard!" Neo shouted at the speaker. "What was that darkness in the back? What was that rumble that woke me up? What's going on? Is this some kind of prank?!"

Passengers turned to him, their faces a mix of irritation, disdain, and—somehow—pity.

"Young man, please go back to your seat. Trash like you shouldn't be in business class," a woman in her forties sneered at him.

"Who's this old hag? I'm being serious! I don't have time for your crap, so buzz off!" Neo shot back, not bothering to hide his contempt. The woman's face contorted in a mix of shock and anger. "Wait, what did you just say to me?"

Neo didn't have time for her outburst. He turned back to the darkness, which was now spreading into the business class cabin.

This time, everyone watched in horror as the darkness took shape, forming something Neo had never seen before.

As the shadows coalesced, they twisted into a monstrous form that defied logic. Emerging from the inky darkness was a grotesque figure with elongated, sinewy arms that seemed to stretch endlessly. Its body was a swirling mass of pure shadow, an embodiment of darkness itself. At its center was a face obscured by two demonic masks, each etched with expressions of unrelenting horror. The masks shifted and morphed, their eyes glinting with a malevolent light. The creature's eyes—glowing violet orbs—pierced through the darkness, radiating an intense, chilling presence.

The aura surrounding this abomination was suffused with an oppressive dread, as if the air itself was heavy with despair and anguish, pressing down on Neo and making it difficult to breathe. The shadows pulsed with a life of their own, writhing as though eager to engulf everything in their path.

Neo stood paralyzed, overwhelmed by the creature's presence. His mind struggled to comprehend the sight before him—a dark, shifting horror that defied reality. The sheer contrast between the familiar world and this malevolent being left him disoriented and helpless. The creature's aura exuded a suffocating terror that seeped into his bones, leaving him trembling and confused.

*Fear*

The word was etched onto the demonic mask as everyone watched in bewilderment. Neo knew what was coming next wouldn't be pretty.

Instead he braced for the worst.