Chapter 4
A sharp pain shot through me, making me gasp.
"Sorry, Zoe. I just slipped," Kylie blurted out.
Fighting through the pain, I shoved her away, cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.
Everyone's life was on the line. I couldn't waste time quarreling with her.
Kylie's eyes flashed with frustration.
Just then, a coworker handed me a bundle of blankets, and she grabbed them right away.
She faked another slip, and the bundle went flying straight toward the gap in the fuselage, about to get sucked out of the cabin.
"Fuck off," I snapped, shoving her aside and snatching the blankets just in time.
This whole mess had already cost us precious seconds.
I glanced at my watch. There were fewer than five minutes left.
My coworkers started yelling at her. "Kylie, stop causing trouble. Just go sit down in the back, please."
Kylie burst into tears, looking all pitiful, and called out over the intercom, "Mike, they're all picking on me."
Mike's voice came over the intercom, sharp with accusation. "Zoe, I asked you to look after Kylie to give you a chance to make things right.
"Is it because you lost your child that you can't stand seeing someone as innocent as Kylie?"
His words hit right where it hurt most, like he knew exactly where my weak spot was.
I once lost a child because of him.
Back then, he stayed by my side through all those desperate days and nights, telling me over and over that he wanted me safe and sound.
Yet now, just for another woman, he exposed my deepest scar in front of a whole crowd.
I forced myself to swallow the pain in my chest. This wasn't the time to fall apart.
I directed everyone to push the bundle we'd just put together toward the glass.
This was the riskiest part, and if we messed up, we'd all be gone in a second.
Only three minutes left. We fought against the crazy suction, inching the bundle forward, every move carefully as hell.
We were just about to seal the gap when Kylie suddenly yelled, "Wait. You're doing it all wrong. I read it in a book. You have to depressurize first before you block the door."
Before anyone could stop her, she bolted straight for the pressure valve.
"Stop," I shouted, panic shooting through me.
The pressure difference was insane. If she touched that valve, we'd be ripped to shreds in seconds.
Before I could get the words out, she was already twisting the valve.
A huge force pulled me forward. The bundle was sucked out in an instant, and I was nearly swept out right after it.
In the chaos, I clung desperately to the nearest seat, my nails tearing and blood gushing from my fingers.
Half my body was outside the window, the pull so strong that it felt like my arm would be torn off.
The roaring wind sliced across my skin like daggers.
Everyone instantly rushed over. Some grabbed my waist, while others grabbed my legs.
"Hold on," Hailey yelled, and together, they hauled me back with everything they had.
I was finally pulled back inside.
Everyone was completely drained, and they all turned to look at Kylie, who was sitting on the floor, scared.
She was trembling all over, whispering under her breath, "I didn't mean it. I just wanted to help."
"Help?" A passenger struggled to his feet. "You're trying to kill us, you crazy bitch."
"This isn't the time for blame." I spat out, fighting through the agony of my dislocated arm. "The hole is still there."
My eyes darted around the cabin.
"We're going to die. We're out of time." Someone glanced at my watch and suddenly cried out in despair.
Thirty seconds left.
"Hang in there," I yelled.
Right then, my eyes landed on the oxygen tank on the wall. "We can jam the tank into the hole."
Twenty seconds left.
"No. That's way too dangerous. It could explode," Mike yelled over the intercom, freaking out.
Fifteen seconds left.
"Screw it. We don't have time," I yelled.
Kylie came running again, clinging desperately to my injured arm and crying hysterically, "No, Zoe. Mike said it could blow up. I don't want to die."
Gritting my teeth, I shoved her off me and saw she'd just bumped into the oxygen tank.
The pressure valve was loose, letting out a sharp hiss as the gas escaped.
Ten seconds left.