Flight Plan: Deconstruction Book Three (A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller) Read online

  Toby huffed loudly and mumbled empty prayers under his breath. People seated behind us screeched like they were on a roller coaster then cried out in fear. I tried to bury my terror, my dread of the unknown and uncontrollable.

  I closed my eyes and tried to picture something else, anything else. But all I could see was the river full of burning debris and dead people. It was the image that replayed itself every time I closed my eyes.

  Every minute that ticked by felt like a lifetime, a lifetime of despair and pain. It felt like a nightmare that I’d never wake up from. There was so much going on, so many terrible noises, so many people screaming and crying for help. I just wanted it all to stop.

  Grayson had my hand gripped like a vice, but he was silent. I looked over to make sure he was still conscious. His eyes were slammed shut and the grimace on his face hurt me to look at.

  “It’s almost over,” I mumbled through clenched teeth.

  The plane roared louder and the vibrations sounded like the plane was falling apart. But slowly we started to level out. And within minutes the flight was bearable.

  “The worst is behind us,” Jack called over the speakers. “It’s gonna be a rough ride for the next five hours, but we’re gonna make it.”

  A few people in the back cheered, but most of us were too exhausted to have any reaction. Tim and Bill had already opened several tiny bottles of liquor in their quest for self-medication and Craig had made a pillow out of his bag and laid down.

  Grayson giggled and turned to me. “He’s good mom…really good.”

  I smiled and gave him a hug. “I told you.”

  Toby was staring out of the window in silence. I knew this had to be draining on him. Not just the fear that we all felt, but being thrown into something that he knew nothing about. He wasn’t a child, he deserved to know what was going on and I’d kept it from him. Now I was holding onto another, bigger secret.

  I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t told him immediately. I was afraid of how he would take it, I wasn’t even sure he wanted another kid. But I knew he deserved to know.

  “Toby,” I called.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” he turned to me with a stoic face.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah…just, just thinking about life.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I know this is a lot. I should’ve told you sooner, I just didn’t know how to. I didn’t know how to deal with it myself.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  I frowned. “You did say you wanted a vacation,” I tried to joke.

  Toby shook his head at me. “Mars? We have a hard-enough time getting to the moon.”

  “A lot of thinking went into this.”

  “I bet. That’s why everyone is scrambling around and we’ve nearly died ten times. A lot of planning…I’d hate to see what it looks like when you don’t plan.”

  I lowered my head and pulled my hair back into a sloppy bun. “Nothing is perfect Toby. This is doing the best with what we have. The alternative was nothing. I didn’t want Grayson to die here, I didn’t want us to die here. This gives us a chance. Please try and understand that.”

  He nodded and bit his lip, cutting his eyes to the side. “What were you gonna tell me?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “When we took off, you said you wanted to tell me something. What was it?”

  I did want to tell him I was pregnant, but it wasn’t the right time. It would only make things worse. I needed to make sure we were safe first.

  “Oh, it was nothing. I don’t even remember,” I replied.

  He looked at me with a blank face, but I knew he didn’t believe me. However mad he may have been about me avoiding the question, the truth would be worse. So, I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek then turned back to Grayson.

  His head was slumped back and his seat was reclined. His eyes were closed and the gentle rumbled of each breath made me jealous of how easily he found sleep. He’d always been that way, since he was little. He could be holding a conversation with you and seconds later be sound asleep.

  “I love you,” I whispered to him and ran my fingers across his forehead.

  I worried about him more than anyone. He was just twelve and now his life was changed forever. Every kid he’d ever known was probably dead and he was going to live on another planet for the rest of his life.

  The ridiculousness of it all wasn’t lost on me. The idea of visiting Mars was a pipe dream, let alone establishing a colony there. But when faced with their own demise, mankind was capable of some truly great things.

  The site on Mars was the culmination of the efforts of nearly every nation’s best and brightest. It was a highly secretive, but highly collaborative mission that spanned years and still wasn’t complete.

  There were so many particulars that it made my head spin and I was glad I wasn’t a scientist. I had a hard-enough time just understanding what I needed to do.

  The Neilman paper first surfaced in 2010. That gave NASA enough time to make the first launch window for Mars in 2011. But it was close and sloppy and they wouldn’t be able to even send a resupply mission for another two years.

  We’d been sending unmanned drones and satellites to Mars way before that, but in 2011 we had to send a crew, a large crew that wouldn’t be returning home. They’d be living there, breaking ground on what would become our new home.

  Now, as we raced across the sky it hit me. All the years before this had just been work, something I did almost autonomously, never appreciating the gravity of it all.

  Humans were leaving Earth and never returning. We were leaving our home forever. I couldn’t wrap my head around it and I wasn’t sure how Grayson would ever make sense of the truth.

  I turned my head back to the window and found Toby staring at me. He had an odd look on his face, something between love and depression.

  “He’ll be alright,” he whispered. “Kids can make it through anything.”

  He was right, but as I stared at him, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d failed Grayson. I took a deep breath and sniffled then burst into tears.

  “It’s all gone. Everyone, everything he’s ever known,” I cried.

  Toby leaned over and pulled me into his chest. He rubbed my back and kissed my forehead. “It’s gonna be alright. It’s gonna be alright,” he said over and over.

  I wrapped my hands around him and cried harder. I was out of words and full of regret. I knew we had no choice. I knew if we wanted to live this was the only way, but that didn’t make it any easier.

  I’d lived for decades on Earth. I knew the joys and pains, but had a lifetime of memories to take with me. Grayson would never feel wind blow on his face again or the touch of the ocean at his feet. He was only twelve years old and saying goodbye to a world he never got to appreciate.

  It broke my heart and for those few minutes I couldn’t keep up the mask I’d been wearing. For those few minutes, I was a terrified mother just trying to do right by her son.

  I sat with my head against Toby’s chest until I fell asleep. And when I did, for the first time in a long time I didn’t dream. There was only darkness, a deep well of nothing that swallowed me whole.

  And I was happy, happy to finally find peace as I drifted into the nebulous void. I wasn’t sure how long I laid there with him. It felt like days and when I finally awoke Toby was still rubbing his hand across my back and whispering in my ear.

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “A while,” Toby replied. “I think we’re almost there.”

  “Huh?”

  “The plane…we’ve been getting lower and lower.” He nodded to the window.

  I looked outside and found the sky was a brilliant blue with snowcapped mountains below. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

  The air was so clear and I could see for miles out across the massive range. The snow had just begun and only the peaks gleamed with a brilliant white powder. Below was still covered in a lazy
green felt that hadn’t quite given in to winter’s grip.

  “Grayson,” I called out. “Grayson wake up.”

  He groaned and slowly sat up. Wiping drool from his cheek, he turned to me and blinked his eyes until he could focus.

  “Look,” I said and pointed to the window.

  He leaned across me and stared outside. He rubbed his eyes then leaned closer. “Wow!” he exclaimed. “Where are we?”

  “I’m not sure. Somewhere near Wyoming I’d guess.”

  “That looks so cool. Is that where we are going?”

  I frowned. How could I tell him that he was leaving this place and that he’d never see this landscape again? How could I tell him that Earth wasn’t his home any longer?

  “Yeah, we’re headed there,” I replied.

  “Cool. It’s cold.”

  “Your jacket is in the bin.”

  He unlatched his seatbelt and stood up. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a thick red jacket that we’d picked up during a sky trip a year ago. It was two sizes too big then, but now it fit him perfectly.

  Zipping the jacket up, he smiled and stretched his arms. “Much better.”

  Suddenly, there was a loud boom and the plane dropped and tilted to the right. Grayson was slung across the aisle and landed in a row of empty seats on the other side of the plane. I tried to stand, to run over to him, but the plane groaned again and the nose dipped towards the mountains.

  Grayson grabbed the seatbelt and pulled himself into a sitting position.

  “Buckle yourself in!” I yelled to him.

  “We’re twenty miles out!” Jack’s voice screeched over the intercom. “Out of fuel and we are going down. Everyone strap in!”

  Grayson’s face was drenched in fear, but he buckled himself in and dug his fingers into the armrests.

  “It’s okay Grayson!” I shouted. “Just stay in that seat!”

  Toby jumped up and unlatched his seatbelt. I grabbed his arm and pulled him down.

  “He’s okay. If you try to get to him now you’re going to kill yourself.”

  “We can’t leave him over there alone!” Toby yelled.

  “Sit down!”

  The plane let out a piercing shrill then pitched hard to the left and Toby slammed into the window. He caught himself on the seat back and groaned. As the plane started to barrel back to the right he begrudgingly took his seat and buckled the latch.

  We screamed through the air, racing past cliffs and jagged mountain peaks. I glared out of the window as we got closer and closer to the thick, forests below. Loud scrapes and snaps echoed as the plane started to collide with some of the taller trees.

  “Toby!” I shouted over the sound of pieces breaking off. “Toby!”

  He looked at me with crazed eyes as his chest heaved up and down.

  “Toby, I’m pregnant,” I blurted out.

  He twisted his face and narrowed his eyes. “What?”

  The plane shook as we hit something hard and I was nearly thrown from my seat. The seatbelt yanked against my lap and I let out a groan. Toby grabbed my hand.

  “What did you say?”

  “I said I’m pregnant,” I grumbled.

  He took a few deep breaths then smiled. I kissed his cheek then looked back to Grayson.

  “It’s almost over!” I shouted.

  There was another loud boom and I whipped around and looked out of the window. Our wing was breaking apart. It smashed into trees as we sailed lower and lower, pieces jutting into the sky like confetti.

  A loud crack exploded and part of the fuselage tore away as the wing ripped off. There was nothing I could do, one second I was looking for Grayson and the next I felt the cold rush of air as we spun into the sky.

  I caught a glimpse of the rest of the plane. Smoke filled the air as we drifted apart and tumbled toward the ground. Then there was nothing.

  CHAPTER 19

  THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES

  “They’re both dead,” a voice snapped angrily. “And I don’t care…I need it.”

  I felt a tug at my hand and someone grabbed my wrist, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t open my eyes and when I told myself to speak, nothing happened. All I knew was that I was in pain and I was scared.

  It was cold outside and I could feel a light snow falling on my face. The wet ice stung, but had a refreshing touch. There was a silence in the air, a purity like nature had finally reclaimed what man had taken. The cold quiet was everywhere and I just wanted to find my way out.

  My mind slowly started to piece together what had happened and I remembered crashing. I remembered falling from the sky into darkness. I remembered Grayson’s eyes as my part of the plane ripped away from him. I remembered the pain as I sailed through the sky away from my child. I remembered Toby and the look on his face when I told him I was pregnant.

  There was rustling behind me and I felt a chill run up my spine. Something wasn’t right and I could sense the looming danger in the air, crackling like little bolts of electricity. I shivered and my leg kicked out on its own, but as much as I wanted to get up, I couldn’t.

  “See! She’s alive,” Cynthia yelled in an agitated voice.

  “Shut up!” Tim retorted.

  “Stop it, stop it now.”

  “Go look for other survivors, I’ll handle this.”

  Tim’s voice was close. It felt like he was shouting in my ear and I realized he was standing next to me.

  He mumbled something else under his breath then tightened his grip on my arm and I felt the cold touch of metal against my wrist. I winced as the object pushed into my skin and sliced a narrow path. Warm blood trickled down my arm and fell to the ground.

  “What the hell is wrong with you Tim? She’s alive damn it!” Cynthia shouted.

  “I told you to go look for survivors.”

  “I don’t think there are any more survivors. The rest of the plane crashed up there. It’s just us and I’m not gonna let you do this.”

  Tim started to laugh like a manic clown. “You couldn’t stop me if you wanted to. I’m not dying here Cynthia! The Mayflower site is right over that fucking peak and they are leaving. If we don’t get their soon we are gonna die here. MJ’s dead! Look at her! Hell, even if she was alive, she’s not gonna make it.”

  “So, you’re just gonna cut off her fucking hand? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “I’m not fucking dying here!” Tim shouted.

  I could tell from the breaks in his voice and the panicking quiver that he’d completely lost it. He sounded insane and I couldn’t even protect myself. I was a prisoner in my own body.

  “We can’t authorize the ship launch without her fingerprints, so yeah, I’m taking her hand damn it!”

  I felt a sharp pain as Tim brought the knife down in a quick slash, scraping across my arm, but missing his mark. Cynthia screeched then there was a loud thump and the sound of tussling.

  “You son of a bitch!” Cynthia roared.

  “I warned you,” Tim growled in response.

  I heard knuckles meeting flesh and Cynthia cried out. A series of thuds followed accompanied by whimpers and muffled screams. Then there was silence.

  “Stupid bitch!” Tim suddenly spat.

  I could hear him marching toward me again. I screamed for my body to move, to kick, to fight. But there was nothing. I was helpless.

  Grunting, Tim grabbed my hand and I tried to brace myself. I could imagine the knife swinging down like an axe. I could almost feel the sharp blade, cutting through my bone, cleaving my hand off. I knew this time he wouldn’t miss.

  “Sorry,” Tim grumbled and took a deep breath.

  Suddenly, a gunshot exploded in the air. I heard Tim groan then collapse to the ground beside me. There was a series of hurried footsteps then a sharp pain in my chest and I bolted forward.

  “Holy shit!” I snapped and opened my eyes to the blinding daylight.

  Cynthia was standing in front of me with a fierce gaze. Her eyes were wild and her face
was covered in blood and riddled with bruises, but she looked ready for a fight. I glared at her then looked down at the mammoth needle that was buried in my sternum.

  My heart was pumping like a jet engine and the needle shook with every beat. A million thoughts rushed through my head, fleeting before I could focus on a single one.

  Tim was lying to the side of me, gasping for air. A bullet hole in his neck bubbled blood every time he tried to breathe. His eyes stared up at the sky, his face dawned with the realization that he was going to die.

  “Are you okay?” Cynthia asked. “MJ…are you okay?”

  I took a few deep breaths and nodded. “What is this?” With shaking hands, I reached for the needle that was still embedded in my skin.

  “Adrenaline,” Cynthia replied and yanked the needle out.

  “I…I could hear it all. He was going to kill me. You saved my life,” my voice quivered.

  Cynthia frowned. “I’m so sorry,” she said then covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheek.

  “What, what is it?”

  Sniffling, she looked to the right and I followed her eyes. The seat that should’ve been next to me, Toby’s seat, had come detached and was overturned a few yards away. I could see an arm sticking out from the mangled metal and right then it dawned on me.

  “My God,” I cried. “Toby…no!”

  Unlatching my seatbelt, I stumbled over the plane’s wreckage and rushed toward him. I pulled the seat over and fell to my knees as my legs lost the strength to stand.

  Toby’s face was dark and bruised, his eyes open, but empty. A slick of dense, dark blood glued his hair down. And his neck jutted out awkwardly where it had snapped.

  “Toby,” I mumbled as I reached out and touched his cheek.

  His skin felt cold and spongy. It sent goosebumps up my arm and made my stomach twist into knots. Toby was gone and in that moment my heart tore into a million pieces.

  I wrapped my arms around him and pressed his frigid skin against my own. I held him there, close to me, warming him with my own body heat.