Falling Skies, Rising Vengeance

No sooner had I hit send than a woman nearby shrieked, "She’s foaming at the mouth! She’s going to die, isn’t she?"

The word "die" sent terror rippling through the cabin.

"She’s dead! She’s dead from fright! We’re all going to die! The plane’s going to crash and we’ll be smashed to pieces!"

Chaos erupted, panic spreading like wildfire.

I forced myself upright and pulled Layla into my arms. "Don’t be afraid. Someone will come. We’ll be rescued!"

Suddenly, the entire rear wing of the plane tore apart. The cabin began to depressurize at a terrifying speed. From above, the oxygen masks dropped down, but just like in my previous life, only half of them actually deployed.

I quickly strapped one onto Layla, then fitted mine. My hands locked tight around the seat, bracing myself against being flung into the air.

Vanessa, however, was the only one in our row without a mask.

"Why don’t I have one?!" she screamed, eyes wild as she turned on me. "Hailey, that’s my seat! That means the mask is mine too. Give it back!"

From the far side, Marcus added his order without hesitation, "Hailey, how can you be so cruel? Hand the mask to Vanessa. It’s hers by right!"

I stared at them coldly. If looks could kill, these two shameless animals would have been dead a thousand times over.

As the oxygen level dropped lower, Vanessa began to panic. Seeing that I wasn’t moving, her gaze shifted toward the frail Layla.

My stomach turned to ice. I knew exactly what she intended.

Before she could make a move, I shoved her back into her seat. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Vanessa hadn’t expected me to stop her. Rage twisted her face, and she slapped me hard, every ounce of strength behind it. "Skank! Get out of my way!"

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. "You’re insane! What does it matter to you if this woman dies?!"

"You’re the selfish one!" Marcus ripped off his own mask, glaring at me with disgust. "That seat belonged to Vanessa. You stole her oxygen!"

"You love playing martyr so much, then give her your mask, witch!" Vanessa spat, her teeth bared. She struck me again, tore free of my grip, and lunged across the row.

Before I could stop her, she yanked Layla out of her seat and shoved her aside.

In one swift move, Vanessa snatched the mask off Layla and strapped it over her own face.

"Vanessa!" My vision burned red. "Are you even human?!"

"What’s your problem? She was going to die anyway! Why shouldn’t I take it?" she sneered, smug satisfaction spreading across her face. "If you hadn’t stolen my mask, she wouldn’t be in this state. Her death is on you."

"Hailey, you’re vicious!" Marcus chimed in, his voice dripping with venom.

I sucked in a deep breath, fighting down the urge to rip them apart with my bare hands. Instead, I dragged Layla back into my seat, pressing the spare mask over her face.

The brutal loss of pressure forced me to keep my head down. My vision flickered black around the edges.

Then, someone’s hand softly touched mine.

I lifted my gaze. Layla was looking at me, gratitude shining in her eyes. With a trembling hand, she pointed at her mask… then at me.

I understood. She wanted me to wear it.

I shook my head firmly. Even as my brain screamed from lack of oxygen, even as suffocation closed in, I refused.

Just then, the intercom crackled to life with the flight attendant’s trembling voice, "Passengers, brace for impact! Lock your arms over your head. Prepare for emergency landing!

"The ocean rescue team has arrived. Be ready!"