“Ready?” Landy, now wearing dark sunglasses and headset, glances back and I give her a thumbs up.
After she shoots me a wink, I switch back to her wavelength. “Take her up, firefly.”
“Good copy.” “Tower, this is alpha-beta-fiver-fiver-niner, lifting off.”
The blades accelerate, her fingers wrap around the throttle, and the ground falls away. As we circle the Statue of Liberty, I search for my missing laptop, then relax. I almost forgot. For the first time in years, I left it at the hotel. Today, I intend to enjoy the view, both outside the cabin and in.
About to sink into my soft leather seat, I jump at the screeching alarm. The bird starts to shake. At first, I’m not concerned but as we spin and fall from the sky, my heart races and her voice rings in my headset.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday.”
For a few seconds, our pilot struggles with the controls, and shouts back, “Brace, brace, brace.”
I can do this.Bending my elbows, I slip my fingers under the edge of my harness and wiggle my thumbs. If I survive the impact, I’ll need them unbroken to open the door.
Eyes wide, my dad grips my knee. “I love you, son.”
“Love you, too.” A split second later, we hit the surface so hard, I spit out a temporary crown.
As the copter lilts to the side, saltwater gushes in through the broken front window, soaking my feet. Counting seconds, I release my belt and turn to the motionless man beside me.
“C’mon Dad, wake up.” No time for gentleness, I slap his cheeks until his lids raise, and shout over the rushing water. “On my mark, take a deep breath, grab me, and don’t let go, no matter what. Nod if you understand.”
Once he bobs his head, I lean into the cockpit. Before I can check Lanita’s status, the bird flips upside down and water fills the cabin. Exhaling fully, I suck in maximum oxygen, dive, and yank on the door. When I turn for my father, our pilot appears and tilts his head toward a space not yet flooded. Giving me a thumbs up, she shoves him toward me. I wait for him to grab my waistband then push away from the falling metal. With downward motion stopped, I lose all sense of up. My panicked pulse thumps in my ears until I remember my training and swivel my head all around.
There! My lungs about to burst, I swim toward the sunlight sparkling over the murky surface. Treading water, I search for a brunette’s head, but she doesn’t pop up.
She was right behind us. Where the hell did she go?I dive deep and fight the urge to breathe. My arms sweep in a wide arc, and I snap my heels using all my strength. At last, I reach the fast-sinking copter, stick my head inside, and as I inhale a small pocket of air, I grab a motionless hand. Tugging hard, she breaks free, and I swim us above the waves.
An inflated yellow lifejacket circles my dad’s neck. He holds her while I pull the string on her vest and mine. If we were onshore, I’d thump her on the back and start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
My wet jeans and soggy shoes make it hard to stay afloat but there’s no time to spare. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I make a fist, place it under her sternum, and perform the Heimlich.
Hallelujah, she coughs.
By the time a white fishing trawler glides alongside, I’ve swallowed half the harbor. They’ll need a tanker to pump my stomach.
As I imagine the germs I’ve ingested, a young guy jumps in and helps Landy into the craft. Dad follows and I’m last. My ass on the boat bottom, I rest against the side and stare up at the sky. Holy shit.
“We made it.” My father slaps me on the back, forcing my drifting attention to the here and now.
“She’s lucky to be alive.” The captain presses a towel to Landy’s head, bleeding profusely. Her eyes are still closed but her chest rises and falls.
How long had she been underwater? Had I gotten to her soon enough?
~Chapter 2~
Lanita Manuel
A truck backing up wakes me from an unending nightmare. Thank God it wasn’t real. I’ve dreamt of crashing before, but this was a thousand times scarier. My heavy lids refuse to budge which causes my heart to race. It drums faster when my fingers hit an unfamiliar barrier.
“Where am I?” The crusty female voice must be mine, but I don’t recognize it. Holy crap. It was real? My mission went fubar, and my bird went down.
Why can’t I remember?“Where’s my team? Did they make it out safely?” As I force one lid open, a slit of light causes a blinding pain which starts at the top of my head, strikes the back of my neck and dives to my stomach. It’s either close it or puke.
I choose door number two.
“Ms. Manuel, are you with us?” A man speaks in the distance, and I wish I could explain.
