She looked back at the driver. His arched brow peeked over his reflective glasses, as if asking if she wanted to go back.
Timber… Would that work here? Did she have an out?
She swallowed tightly and looked up at the flight attendant as she continued to smile. “The pilot’s waiting.”
With a shaky hand, Daisy gripped the railing and pulled herself up the last few steps. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the door closed behind her, and the driver was gone.
A man, dressed in a navy blue suit with a gold pin in the shape of an airplane, emerged from behind a curtain. “Welcome aboard, Miss Burdan. Short flight today, just under three hours. Smooth skies all the way.”
Was this the pilot? Maybe he could help her. “I don’t know where we’re going.”
“We’ll handle all the details. As soon as you take your seat, we’ll be on our way.”
The flight attendant escorted her to a cluster of leather chairs arranged to face each other. Daisy chose the one closest to the window.
“Sit back, please.”
Daisy leaned back, and the flight attendant buckled her in—literally. Being restrained did nothing to ease her panic.
“If you need the restroom, use the call button, and I’ll escort you. Do not leave your seat unattended.”
“Where did my driver go?”
“I assume he’s on his way back to London.” The flight attendant disappeared, leaving Daisy utterly alone. Abandoned.
Having a choice, Daisy realized, did not always equal having control.
Timber… The word whispered through her mind, her inner monologue constrained by mounting panic. When the engine started, she tugged at the seatbelt, but the clip wouldn’t budge.
A soft ping broke the silence, startling her, and a red light came on overhead. “Your seatbelt must remain on, Miss Burdan. We’re preparing for takeoff,” said the canned voice through the overhead speakers as the plane started to move.
“I want to get off the plane.” Ignoring the order, she frantically jiggled the buckle as the engine hummed louder. But it was too late.
The force of the plane’s speed pressed her deeper into the seat as they raced down the tarmac. Daisy gripped the armrests as the world tilted and the ground fell away. Her stomach lurched.
“Timber,” her mouth formed the silent word as her ears popped, the roar of the engine swallowing every other sound.
Unblinking, she watched in horror as they defied gravity and climbed, climbed, climbed into grey nothing until suddenly they broke through the clouds and everything turned a piercing shade of blue.
Her lungs tightened behind her breast bone, hard and rapid, as she stared at the vast nothingness and the tilted plane slowly evened out. White clouds. Sunlight so bright it burned her eyes. It was terrifying and beautiful and utterly disorienting.
“First time flying?”
She flinched as a woman with black hair and caramel skin stared down at her from the aisle. Professionally dressed in a grey pencil skirt and silk blouse, the woman gestured to the seat beside Daisy.
“Mind if I sit with you?”
Throat tight, Daisy’s response was soundless, so she shook her head.
She held a clipboard and a cup of tea, offering the latter to Daisy. “Here. Something to help with your nerves.”
Daisy unclenched her white-knuckled grip from the armrests and took the warm tea with shaking fingers. But she didn’t dare sip it. The porcelain clattered slightly as she tried to steady her hands.
“I’m Dr. Kawanja.” The woman crossed her legs with natural grace. “I’ll be conducting your psychological evaluation during the flight.”
“My evaluation? Now?”
“Is there a better time?” Dr. Kawanja’s smile softened.
