Longest.Flight. Ever. That’s all Anna could think as the plane rolled to a stop, finally. When Sly and Z had told them they were flying to Massachusetts, she hadn’t considered just how far apart the two states were. A little over eight hours later, they’d arrived in Boston, which was as close to Salem you could get by plane unless you were fortunate enough to have a private plane and landed in a field. They weren’t that lucky. But landing only fourteen miles from their destination was not a big deal. What was a big deal was her bladder, and the fact that if she didn’t get to a ladies room quickly, they were going to have to stop for new pants before they made their finaldestination.
“You alright?” Jewel asked, her face concerned. It was clear that Jewel had misinterpreted her pained expression, thinking the girl was under some serious mental strain. This made Anna laugh, which wasn’t what she needed under the circumstances. Anna grabbed her stomach and clenched her legs together as she tried to gain control of herself. The hysterics were unwarranted and were probably due to her sleepdeprivation.
“Did she somehow get a complimentary beverage, and I don’t mean a Dr. Pepper,” Slyasked.
“I don’t smell any alcohol on her,” Jeweltoldthem.
“I’m not drunk, warlock,” Anna said. Finally, the laughter was subsiding, but the need for a bathroom was getting dire. “I’m just tired and I really, really have to pee, and because of watching too many Dateline specials I can’t bring myself to use a bathroom on aplane.”
While they’d been dealing with Anna’s fit of hilarity, the plane had been de-boarding, so when she finally stood up, there was no one between her and the boarding ramp. Anna took off at a soft jog down the aisle. A full-on run would have jostled her body too much, and she’d have wet herself for sure. Wouldn’t that be something to share with Gustavo. She bit her tongue to keep from laughing again as she entered the terminal. Directly across from her, shining like a lighthouse in a storm, was a huge women’s bathroom sign. But between her and that bathroom was a torrential sea of people, all in a hurry to make it to their flight, and all with the look of deadly intent for anyone who got in their way. She’d just have to take herchances.
She started forward, dodging around people, offering tons of apologies when she cut someone off, and stopping herself from returning a rude gesture when a woman, who looked to be about ninety, riding a motorized wheelchair, flipped her off. She shouldn’t have expected the old woman to sympathize with her when she’d blurted out, “Sorry, bathroom,” as she jumped in front of the woman’s chair. She was probably sitting pretty with her adult diapers, peeing whenever the wind blew. Anna did not have thatluxury.
“You know you’re tired and delirious when you’re wishing you were wearing an adult diaper because you have to pee so bad,” Anna muttered as she pushed open a stall door. Never had a toilet looked sobeautiful.
“It must be serious if you’re nearly taking out old ladies.” Jewelchuckled.
“Oh, yousawthat?”
“Anna, everyone saw it. You better be careful. I think she might be waiting for you outside.” Jewelsnickered.
“If Heather was here, she’d just take the scooter from the old lady,” Anna added and then let out a huge sigh ofrelief.
“And if they asked her why a blind woman needed a scooter, she’d tell them, ‘That way if I bump into anything, it won’t hurt me.’” Jewel echoed Anna’s sigh. “It feels good to laugh. I know it shouldn’t, butitdoes.”
Anna finished up and flushed the toilet. She opened the door to find Jewel looking at her own eyes in the mirror, lamenting the dark circles she saw there. Anna stepped up, squirted some soap on her hands, and took her time washing them. She loved it when the sinks had those sensors and turned on automatically. She smiled to herself—it’s the little things. And that’s what she toldJewel.
“We have to hold onto the laughs when they come, Jewel. It’s the laughter, too, and joy that comes with, that will help us fight this darkness, this cold feeling inside that is spreading. I know you feel it. It’s as if ice water is being slowly injected into my veins. And the only time I don’t feel it is when I’m genuinelyhappy.”
“But…” Jewel started, but Annastoppedher.
“No buts. We both regret having taken those women’s lives. We didn’t do it out of malice. We didn’t even do it on purpose. We were simply trying to survive.” Anna had given herself this very speech on the flight, silently, multiple times. There was only one way they were going to survive the hell they were entering, and that was by choosing to move past the horror they would seeanddo.
“You’re right,” Jewel finally said. “It’s the circle of life, really. Eat or be eaten. The strong survive, and the weakexpire.”
Anna threw her paper towel in the trash and then grabbed Jewel’s hand, leading her out of the bathroom. She caught herself looking around for scooter granny as soon as they stepped back into the busy terminal, but the old woman had apparently found someone else to terrorize. She was nowhere in sight. Z and Sly were standing a few paces away from the door, far enough away that they wouldn’t be trampled by full-bladdered ladies, but not so far that she and Jewel wouldn’t see them as theyemerged.
“Better?” Z asked when Anna and Jewelreachedthem.
Annanodded.
“Just wanted you to know that I got your daring charge to the ladies’ room on video,” Sly said, looking muchtosmug.
“What?” Anna laughed. “Seriously? Letmesee.”
Sly held out his phone so they could all see the screen and pressed play. And there was a maniac in a long skirt, T-shirt, and Converses dashing across the terminal like a frog in avideogame.
“I kind of look good from the back,” shemuttered.
Jewel nudged her. “You’re beautiful fromanyside.”
“Shh,” Z said, motioning with his handatthem.
“Ladies and gents, we are now watching the beast known as the Wheeler,” Sly said in a voice that sounded like a tour guide, “make her way through the wilds of busy Boston travelers. She has her eyes set on her prey, if toilets can be called prey, and she will take out anyone who gets in her way. Like now,” he said excitedly, “as an older, weaker traveler attempts to weave through the chaos. The Wheeler cuts in front of her, all the while gesticulating with her hands in some elaborate attempt to frighten her slower rival. But it doesn’t appear to be effective, as the Wheeler’s opponent fires back with some hand motions of her own. This tactic seems to be effective for the other traveler, as the Wheeler turns and runs for dear life, ducking into anearbycave.”
Anna couldn’t help but laugh. She did indeed look as ridiculous as she’d felt. Oh well, at least she hadn’t peed on herself. Missionaccomplished.
“Now that we have that taken care of,” Jewel said with a smile, “are we ready to get down tobusiness?”
