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“Let’s go,” Travis says, leading me to the security line.
I feel like I’m going to be sick. The adrenaline is waning, leaving me to process everything that had transpired.
“I know it’s hard, but act cool,” Travis says.
I almost laugh aloud at the absurd request. There’s nothing cool about the situation. We make it through security, but I feel like everyone is looking at me. The flight leaves in twenty minutes, giving us very little time to make it to our gate. We make it to the gate, just as the last passengers are boarding.
As we settle into our seats on the plane, the adrenaline begins to fade, leaving me feeling drained and exhausted. Travis turns to me, his eyes searching mine for answers.
"What happened?" he asks, his voice gentle but insistent.
Taking a deep breath, I recount the terrifying ordeal, the fear and panic still fresh in my mind.
“Why?" he asks the most obvious question. “Why would someone kidnap you? Did they say what they wanted? How did they know where to find you?”
I shake my head, still trying to make sense of the chaos. "I don't know," I admit, frustration creeping into my voice.
“But you have some suspicions.”
“I assume it's the corporation trying to shut down the whistleblower. They must have found out I was coming. They had to know what hotel I was at."
“What the hell are you talking about?”
It was such a long story. I didn’t know if I had the strength to get into the whole story. Not to mention, it was supposed to be a secret.
“I was meeting with a whistleblower,” I explain quietly. “He was supposed to give me some tips about insider trading. The man was scared for his life and insisted on me talking to him in Hawaii. He was scared to come back to Seattle. I guess I know why now. I need to talk to my boss. He has to warn the whistleblower. Assuming they didn’t already get to him.”
Travis's eyes widen in shock as he processes the information I've just shared. “Okay, then. We get to Portland, get to a hotel. Sleep.”
“Buy clothes,” I chime in. “If I wasn’t so tired, I would be humiliated.”
“Beautiful as ever,” he teases.
“You are such a liar.”
The plane starts its taxi down the runway. I find myself squeezing Travis’s hand. I knew I was going to have to fly again, but actually doing it so soon after the crash is far more disturbing than I expected.
The plane ascends into the sky, leaving the chaos and fear of the island behind. A sense of unease settles in the pit of my stomach. I try to push away the dark thoughts.
Travis senses my fear and wraps his arm around me, pulling me closer to him. His touch is a comforting anchor.
I lean my head against Travis's shoulder, seeking comfort. He’s been my rock for days. I trust him. He’s my lucky charm. “It’s okay,” he assures me. “I’ve got you. Try and sleep. We’ll be touching down before you know it.”
“Are you going to sleep?” I ask.
“I’ll stay awake. I’ll keep a lookout.”
“I’m pretty sure this is the one place we’re safe from attackers,” I smile. “And I don’t think you’re going to singlehandedly save us all if the plane is going down.”
“I might try and catch a few minutes of sleep.”
“Good. Just don’t let go of me.”
“I won’t.”
It did feel like we were only asleep for five minutes before the flight attendant was telling us to prepare for landing.
“Did you sleep well?” Travis asks.
