Chapter One
30,000 feet never seemed so high. Eleven hours never seemed so long. People are surrounding me and I can't escape. Aisles of chairs are filled with voices forbidding me from getting any sleep. That's not even the bad part, no the bad part is being stuck on a plane with the person who I hate most in the world sitting next to me. Somehow she has managed to achieve sleep.
We used to be so close, and then she made one stupid mistake of changing to the other side- the side of terrorists. I could have killed her three years ago when I had the chance but I guess it's hard to kill someone you love… wait did I say love? No, I do not love Nina, she is a terrorist… a very intelligent, beautiful – okay stop right there, these are bad thoughts. Bad, bad thoughts! Why am I thinking like this when she is sleeping on me? I was too spaced out to even notice that she shifted her position so now her head is against my shoulder along with her left arm around my waist. Now I'm confused, do I love her or hate her?
Finally the plane has come to a halt. People rush to get off. I sit on my chair staring down at Nina- still thinking of what I feel for her. I lightly tap her shoulder and she begins to stir. I try to remove her arm from around my waist but she clings to me like a baby not wanting to leave its mother. "Hey, we're here," I say reluctant to wake her.
"Hey."
She slowly begins to stand up shocking me furthermore as she grabs hold of my wrists and pulls me to my feet. Her body is now inches from mine. I am lost for words thankfully she speaks.
She presses her body against mine and whispers in my ear, "I don't hate you, Jack."
I am completely stunned, "I never said you did."
"Not now you didn't but when you first found out who I really was you did… I need you to understand why I killed those people."
Her eyes fillwith unshed tears; terrorists don't cry.
"Why did you do it, Nina?" I ask.
"I needed the money… now I don't care how much they pay me I won't kill anyone else. I stopped killing a long time ago, Jack, you know I did. I've redeemed myself." Her voice is fluent and true.
"You could have asked for a raise," I say at an attempt to lighten the mood.
She smiles up at me then moves to my side, "better get off the plane."