My stomach felt like it literally dropped to the ground as we lifted off. I looked past Anthony to see we were skimming over the top of the trees after running out of runway. I squealed and buried my face in his shoulder, but I couldn’t stop myself from peeking out at Elias as he turned around, laughing at me, though I couldn't hear him over the engine.
Anthony draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me as close as the seatbelts would allow. I was small and secure under his thick arm, tucked into his side, and enjoyed watching the countryside pass by underneath us.
I let out another unheard squeal as we went through a cloud. My head whipped from side to side, trying to look out of every window at once. When we broke through the top of the cloud, I was mesmerized by the sight of the puffs under us. Elias handed two pairs of sunglasses to us, and I was glad to have them. The sun was unrelenting as it reflected off of the pure white clouds.
The time passed quickly as I spied sleepy villages, followed by sprawling metropolitan cities. We were so high I couldn’t make out the people, but I could see the buildings and pools of the cities, and the lakes and farms of the countryside.
I amused myself by imagining the goings on of the people in the tiny houses. Stretches of the country went by with nothing but lush green hills for miles and miles.
After the first hour, I grew tired of my game, and my eyes drooped. Three hours later Elias woke me by tapping my knee. Anthony was asleep with his head on top of mine. My neck pinched with a crick from the awkward angle I’d slept in.
I read Elias's lips as he pointed to the ground. “We’re about to land.” He mimed the motion of a plane landing. I tickled Anthony’s ribs to rouse him, and he startled awake. I giggled, watching him wipe his eyes, while I lifted his ear protection and yelled Elias's message in his ear.
Thankfully, the descent and landing were much smoother than the take off. We climbed stiffly out of the plane once given clearance. This airport was bigger than the last. “Where are we?” I asked the pilot. He shrugged, not an English speaker.
Elias helped me out.“¿Dónde estamos?”
Well, Elias speaks Spanish too. Handy.
“Acabamos de aterrizar en la ciudad de Guatemala,” the pilot responded. I looked at Elias to fill me in.
“Guatemala City”.
They both spoke Spanish. If I was going to spend any time around those guys, I’d have to brush up my language game. They made me feel ignorant.
“How much longer until we reach Panama?”
Elias relayed my question to the pilot then turned back to me. “A good ten hours. Our next stop is in San Jose, Costa Rica.” Elias pulled me into a hug. “It’s going to be an exhausting trip, but it'll be worth it in the end.” I gripped him tightly, dreading the journey. More than anything in the world, I wanted to erase the last five years and return to the boring, yet fulfilling, life Michael and I led.
What about Anthony and Elias? I’d never have met them if I went back.
Guilt—my new best friend. I sighed and walked with Elias into the airport to freshen up and use the restroom. I spotted a Burger King, of all places, across the street.
Elias went to ask the pilot what he’d like to eat. We jogged across the road, joined by Anthony. They translated for me, and I eventually was able to order anAmericanocheeseburger and fries. The restaurant even served the same soda I occasionally drank at home.
“I hope we'll have time to try some local cuisine atsomepoint on this trip.” So, what if I was complaining? If I was going to travel across Latin America, I wanted to eat well. “So far we’ve eaten nothing but what amounts to American food.”
“When our trip is complete, I will take you around the world and let you try any food you can imagine, little Coya. Until then, we eat whatever is handy and cheap,” said Anthony. He opened his wallet and counted out US dollars.
“How can you use American money here?”
“They charge a bit more, but a few shops will convert the money for you.” Elias grabbed our cups, and I helped him fill them at the self-serve station while Anthony waited on our bags of food.
Lunch was a quiet affair as we sat beside the pilot at a sticky table in the airport. We made our way to the refueled plane and took off for Costa Rica. This time the ascent was bumpier. Elias turned around and smiled, giving me a thumbs up when he saw me clinging to Anthony.
We pulled our bags full of clothes out to use as pillows. I knew we would end up sleeping sporadically once we made it to Peru, so we snuggled in to sleep. My eyes drifted, and I watched the clouds soar by while sleep eluded me, and my mind wouldn't turn off. Instead, thoughts of Michael bombarded me. I even smelled him. In my lulled state I looked around to see if he was there.
He’s not there, Riley. He’s dead. Be thankful your children are alive. It could've been much worse given the circumstances. They could’ve killed you too.
Anthony handed me an iPod, and I found a band Michael and I loved. I listened to music from the happiest time in my life until I eventually dozed off.
Chapter 9
Riley. I know where you’re going now. I will meet you in Peru. I can help you. I can get you to the underworld. Soon we'll be together, forever.
* * *
I opted to keep the most recent installment in what was becoming a creepy sleeping ritual to myself. Hiding my nighttime visitor’s words was dangerous, but there was something about that voice.
