Gemma squeezed his arm before we walked out. We followed Grayson into the woods. I was very much aware that we were not heading in the same direction from which we came that first day. I expected a whole day’s hike back to the van, but it was only a fifteen-minute walk before Grayson stopped.
In the middle of the clearing stood a black helicopter. My jaw dropped. “Had this been here the whole time?”
Gemma snickered. “Yes, it’s usually stored in a hangar, but when we stay in the cabin, we have it brought here. Ourwhen shit hits the fanmobile.”
Grayson was inside doing gods knew what. “He can fly it?” I asked sceptically.
“Yeah, he’s pretty good. But I’m better.” She winked.
“You can fly it too?”
“We can all fly it. Just in case. Grayson likes to cover all our bases.”
Grayson hopped out. “Are you ready?”
I turned to Gemma, sadness bubbling up into my chest. She had become such a good friend I couldn’t say goodbye. She was chewing on her lip, trying to quell her own emotions.
“Can I write to you? Maybe send you a postcard now and then?” she asked.
“I would love that,” I answered through a new wave of tears.
She hugged me tightly. “Okay, I’ll find your address.”
I laughed, swiping at my tears. “Goodbye, Gem.”
“Goodbye, Ava.” She squeezed my hands one last time, before walking off, trying to hide the onset of her own tears.
Grayson placed a hand on my elbow, guiding me around the helicopter. I hadn’t even had time to say goodbye to my crow friend. I had called to him, but he didn’t show. Grayson opened the door and lifted me in, then picked up a headset and placed it around my ears, wiping away a few tears as he went. I couldn’t look at him. He buckled me in before sprinting around to the pilot’s seat. He worked in silence, the blades whirring to life. It was louder than I expected. I gripped the seat tightly as we lifted off the ground. Grayson’s laughter echoed in my ears. He was laughing atme.
I scowled at him. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” I asked a bit louder than usual, the noise sweeping my voice away, even with the microphone at my mouth.
“Yes, except I’ve never known what these buttons do.” He pointed to a row of buttons on the dashboard, shrugging.
He was kidding, right?
I decided not to ask any more questions. My heart wasn’t strong enough.
We lifted higher and higher, and I could see the cabin with nothing around it for miles and miles. I looked up at the horizon and gasped. There was snow on the mountain peaks. They were magnificently beautiful beings. I said so much to Grayson, who smiled.
“Then we’ll take the scenic route.”
And by the scenic route, he meant flying deeper into the mountain ranges and then doubling back to the way we were supposed to go. I was awestruck by how exquisite the forest was from afar.
We flew over a small town and Grayson announced that we would be landing soon, which saddened me. I couldn’t get enough of the scenery beneath us.
Grayson spoke to an air traffic controller, and we landed in a small airport. A man came running to open the door for me. He helped me unbuckle and steered me away from the whirling blades, then went back to fetch our small luggage. He stood with me, waiting on Grayson, but was very hesitant to speak to me. He wouldn’t even look at me. But it wasn’t dismissal, it was something else. Grayson finally joined us, and the man shook his hand vehemently.
“Mr. Johnson, I hoped you found your helicopter as you requested?” The man seemed a little jumpy.
“Yes, Tom. The car?” Grayson was not saying anything rude, but his tone was clipped and impolite.
“Yes, sir. It’s in hangar two. Will you be using the chopper again, or should I take care of it?”
“I’ll be back in a few days. Be ready.” Grayson placed his hand on my back, steering me towards hangar two. “And Tom?” Grayson looked over his shoulder and I shuddered at his expression. Tom seemed to cower beneath that stare, shrinking a few inches.
“Yes, Mr. Johnson, you were never here.”
“Good man,” Grayson said and started walking again.
