The kiss of death. Part 2 — To understand the present, you have to go back in time
As the plane taxied onto the runway and lifted off, Lizzie took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
When she noticed the number 37, the airline employee immediately pointed her to a vacant seat in the middle of the plane. The flight attendant carefully helped her to her seat and immediately asked: “Would the guest like something to drink?”.
“Just water, if possible. Thank you.” — With a smile she replied.
Amelia, as it was written on her name tag, hurried to the front of the plane. There was a small bar and it was possible to quickly comply with the girl’s request, to go to an impatient man who was glaring at her with angry eyes.
When the stewardess returned with a glass of water, Lizzie smiled gratefully and took a sip, feeling the cool liquid wash away the remnants of stress. She knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but she was determined to face it head on, to challenge herself and push her abilities to the limit, completing what she had begun.
Fidgeting in her chair, Lizzie placed the lightweight briefcase in her lap and with a gusty movement slipped her hand in for the contents. On the small table attached to the seat opposite lay a worn book and a crumpled tangle of wired Apple headphones.
Looking around, she tapped the smartphone screen and looked at the lit-up dial.
“8:30am. Why is the plane delayed?”. — flashed through her mind.
The airship should have been off the ground in about fifteen minutes and the wings were spreading through the air. With a grudging sniffle, the girl picked up her book and immersed herself in reading.
As Lizzie dozed off, her thoughts transported to another time and place. The black SUV was speeding through scenic Colorado. The state’s beautiful nature thrilled her as they drove through mountain passes and past stunning scenery. The snow-capped peaks in the distance contrasted beautifully with the bright green of the forests and the clear blue sky.
There were four people travelling in the car. The good-natured man behind the wheel was telling tales one after another, occasionally switching to descriptions of interesting facts about the picturesque countryside outside his window. He was no more than twenty-five, had an earring in his left ear, and his long, black hair was childishly disheveled. A thick beard did not match his good-natured, childish face. The image of a veteran pioneer was completed by red checked shirt with rolled up sleeves and “Airborne Delta” badge. From time to time he interrupted his narration to look at the beautiful neighbour sitting on his right hand.
The girl was a little older than her husband. A keen eye of an inquisitive observer would have easily noticed a few premature wrinkles on her forehead and two faintly visible veins under her left eye, the appearance of which could certainly not be explained by the date on her passport. But the girl’s face lit up with happiness. She should be, after two years she had managed to persuade her husband to take the family on a trip. Her unusually tender, childishly small hands clutched tightly to the container of sandwiches prepared in a hurry. Her husband’s appetite was enviable. Lizzie, on the other hand, slept soundly in the back seat of the car and had no intention of waking up. Mary was an excellent mother and devoted wife. Even after the birth of her daughter, she did not let the fire that warmed her beloved go out. The woman was older and wiser than her companion. And in the difficult periods of their family life, she gave the right advice and tried not to notice the hot temper of her spouse in the difficult days. Archie felt an inexplicable attraction to the girl from day one and vowed to keep her safe.
“Falling in love with you was the easiest thing in the world!” — he said to her one day.
Little Lizzie admired the beauty of this woman. Mary’s fine features were beautifully complemented by her long, flowing hair, which she wore in loose waves, letting the wind do with it as it pleased. Her pale hazel eyes sparkled with love and kindness, and her smile could light up a room. Even in her sleep, Lizzie could feel the warmth of her mother’s embrace and the gentle touch of her hand. Mary was the glue that held their family together, the pillar that propped up the walls of the shaft that went deep into family life and Lizzie admired her strength and resilience.
Lizzie didn’t often get out into the countryside with her parents, much less on a long hike on the roads of Colorado. The girl was very happy and fell asleep only to wake up anew with renewed energy and greedily absorb all the serenity of the vast fields, the blue canyons carved into the banks of the Colorado River and the magnificent rocky mountains. She watched her parents, too, attentively and cheerfully, constantly bombarding them with trivial questions. It was as if the girl did not know what fatigue meant.
The sun filled the car with hot, southern air. She was thirsty, but more than that, she wanted to stop and lie down in the shade under the nearest shelter.
Meanwhile, the man behind the wheel of the car continued to tell stories and share facts about the stunning scenery they were driving through. Lizzie’s father, Archie, had always had a bit of a temper, but Mary’s presence helped soften his mood. Lizzie felt safe with her parents by her side and knew that they would always be there for her. How wrong she had been…
“I suggest a halt.” — exhaled the man — “Let’s stand by that tree, cook some food and get some rest. I can’t feel my arse anymore.”
“I agree, Liz, what do you think? Look how beautiful it is.” — Mum said.
Nodding approvingly, the girl began busily lacing up her shoes and packing her little pink briefcase. She couldn’t wait to explore new lands. The car stopped in the shade of a majestic sequoia tree, reminiscent of an ancient wonder of bygone times. The sequoia stood tall and proud, its branches stretching to the sky, and the wild forest surrounding them seemed to go on forever. The air was crisp and clean and the scent of the pines filled her senses. She felt like she was in another world, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Archie turned off the engine and with a grunt climbed out of the car. He did nothing but crouch down and occasionally lifted one or the other leg in the hope of getting the blood pumping through his veins again at the usual pace.
The travelers had the most beautiful view of their journey. From a narrow serpentine road, surrounded by wild forests and rising higher and higher, the road came to a small platform.
The family decided to stop at this spot. Mary walked up to her husband and, climbing on tiptoe, kissed him gently. From the outside, he looked more like a healthy yard dog, puddled in a tall pile of autumn leaves. Archie, disheveled and cheerful, reacted to the tenderness with an overreaction. He suddenly perked up and picked his wife up and whirled her around in his arms. Both of them burst out laughing happily. Then he put her on her feet and started kissing her relentlessly on the lips, nose, forehead and cheeks. Goosebumps ran down the girl’s body. He wanted to kiss every cell of her body, every inch of her, but Meri stopped him in time.
“Darling, we’re not alone, don’t forget.” — she chirped softly with a smile.
And indeed little Lizzie was already in full preparation for the meal. Eventually a small camping table, three chairs and a children’s thermos with her favourite cartoon characters appeared in the clearing. The little girl fussed, hoping to appear grown-up and independent in front of her parents.
Her husband snorted and kissed the beauty once more on the lips.
Suddenly, the calm scene of the evening was interrupted by a strange sound. There was a gleam and a distant murmur on the line of the horizon’s glow. Archie noticed that the sounds of the forest were instantly silenced, no matter how much he listened, he could not pick up the trill of birds or even the sound of the wind. A complete vacuum. He realized that the natural sounds of the forest had disappeared, leaving behind an eerie silence. He stood in front of Meri mechanically, shielding her from possible danger. Even the birds’ trills and the rustle of the wind disappeared, leaving only an overpowering emptiness. Then there was a metallic clang, as if something had struck the ground with huge chains. One, two, three.
All three of them turned their heads in horror toward the source of the noise. Lizzie felt a growing terror, and the thermos she was clutching tightly in her hands fell and jangled, rolling to the edge of the steep slope. Suddenly a blinding beam of light appeared from the sky, the brilliance of which caused them to close their eyes completely. A deafening sound pierced their eardrums, but it lasted only two minutes, after which everything went quiet, and the sounds of the forest came again.
That day, she saw her happy parents for the last time.
“Miss, miss, miss, may I come through?” — A distant voice was heard.
Waking from her sleep, Lizzie realised that she had fallen asleep. She had been having more nightmares lately, her heart was racing, her adrenaline was off the charts.
Before she knew it she had fallen asleep. The neighbour to her left was already desperate to wake the young girl. It turned out she had slid down in her chair and completely blocked the exit from her row. Lizzie moved, and the young woman rushed to the bathroom. Leaving her unfamiliar companion to mind her own business, the brunette was surprised to find the sides of her blouse all wet with sweat and cold droplets slowly dripping down her cheeks. It wasn’t the first time she’d woken up to a wild terror that made her heart pound faster and increased her adrenaline production, but lately nightmares had come much more often. With a quick movement, pulling out a napkin, blotting her face, pulling out the sleeping pills that helped her quickly recover and calm down, and tipping the tube was a matter of a couple of minutes. Stretching her hand out in front of her, she noticed that she was trembling, but not so visibly anymore. Taking a deep breath, she leaned back in her chair. Closing her eyes, returning to a dream, which had become so frighteningly real, did not feel at all desirable to the word and to no avail. The plane started to move down just now.
Stepping out of the plane, Lizzie felt a mixture of determination and fear. She knew that she had to uncover the truth and find answers to the mysteries that plagued her. She felt something important was happening, something that could change everything.
“Why am I doing this? What exactly do I want to find? I’m so tired. But I’m not giving up! I’m living, which means there’s still a chance! I’ll find it.” — stifling the incipient panic, she finished confidently.
As Lizzie gathered her things and stepped off the plane, a mixture of determination and fear swept through her mind. She was on a mission to uncover the truth, to find answers to the mysteries that plagued her. She had a feeling that something important was happening, something that could change everything.
“He is watching. On everyone. He’s waiting for an excuse to break out into the light and plunge her into darkness…”