Chapter 2: Unforeseen consequences
AN: Time for Chapter 2 now with 100% more paragraph breaks!
"Please make sure you seatbelt is securely fastened at this time. To fasten, insert the loose metal buckle into the holder. Tighten so it fits firmly around your waist. To fasten, pull the loose belt. Also, make sure all carry-on items are stored in the overhead bins, or under the seat in front of you."
Matt had heard this speech more times than he could count. No matter what airline you take, it's always the same. Not that he really paid attention, he had more important things to do than listen to some government regulated safety speech.
"Where are you from?" Laura said, her tone soft and friendly. Matt hadn't expected her to speak, and her voice snapped him out of a daydream.
"Me? Oh uh, I'm from Massachusetts originally, but I've lived in California most of my life." Matt did not want to start conversing with this girl again.
"Wow, that's interesting! I've lived in California all my life." Matt cut in with a sarcastic tone, "Is that so?" "Well, yes, I've always wondered what living somewhere else would be like, but I haven't had any desire to live any place else" Laura said with a smile.
"Yea I guess it is a nice place" Matt replied, though his tone suggested he really didn't mean what he said.
"So what do you do for a living? I'm a photographer, or at least I'm trying to be," Laura said.
Matt hesitated at this question, long enough to raise a suspicious flag in Laura's mind, "You see, I'm a...Corporate...Assistant of sorts." Matt replied, someone who knew him well could've identified the uneasy tone of his statement.
Laura raised an eyebrow. "What sort of tasks do this 'Corporation' have you doing?"
Matt was unnerved by this prying question, but concealed it and replied, "Oh you know, meeting major shareholders and clients, running errands for the CEO, that kind of thing."
"So you're a glorified errand boy?"
Matt was visibly annoyed by Laura's reply, "Well when you put it like that it makes it seem like-" "Hey Relax I'm just kidding. I'm sure what you do is very important to this 'corporation' of yours." Laura's words carried sarcastic undertones with them.
Laura looked away from Matt and stared into the aisle as the plane began to take off, a signal to Matt that the conversation was over for now. Matt took this opportunity to survey some of the passengers around him. Daydreaming and people watching, seems to be my two favorite things lately.
Matt looked to his right and first noticed and large man who looked to be in his 30's. He had tan skin, sunglasses, and he looked like he could start a brawl in a moment's notice. He looked capable of winning that brawl too. Bet he's been in lots of trouble. Matt wondered what it would happen to him if he had said that to the man's face.
Sitting next to him was a tall, skinny boy who looked to be about 15 years old. He had dark brown eyes and dark hair to match. Matt remembered the stewardess talking to him when he got on the flight, she mentioned something about an "unaccompanied minor." This kids going on an overseas flight alone? His parents either really trust him or really don't care. Either way, Matt wasn't too interested in the kid and averted his stare to some of the other passengers.
One row in front of the kid Matt saw a Middle aged Husband and Wife and what he assumed to be their teenage daughter, they seemed to be bickering about something, and Matt listened in on some of their conversation.
"This is for your own good." The husband replied, accompanied by an affirming nod from the wife. The daughter was anything but pleased.
"Why does it have to be in my stupid Uncles ranch? How could that possibly help me? Your pulling me away from everyone I know and forcing me to stay on some stupid farm."
The Wife spoke up this time, "Because it will give you an opportunity to...get things straightened out, to think about what you've done, you've gone without consequences for long enough."
The daughter seemed to become increasingly annoyed as her mother spoke and replied, "but I didn't even do anything that bad!"
This seemed to rub the Husband the wrong way, judging by the harsh tone in his voice, "You know what you did is not something we can take lightly! Besides your our daughter and you don't have a choice. Your mother and I are at the end of our rope."
The daughter replied by grunting in frustration and looking the other way.
The whole conversation was very amusing to Matt. Tsk, tsk, family trouble? I guess they think dumping her off is the only option. Wonder what she did?
The loud 'ding' that signaled that the intercom was about to be used interrupted Matt's thoughts.
"Ladies and Gentlemen this is your captain speaking, we are expecting some turbulence in the next few minutes and we ask that all passengers remain seated and fasten their seatbelts. Thank you for your cooperation." With that, the intercom went dead.
"Wonderful." Laura said in an almost disparaging tone. Matt disregarded her comment. Damn, I hadn't realized how tired I am, maybe I can nap through this stupid turbulence. It only took him a minute before drifting into unconsciousness.
Bang! Matt was quickly jarred awake by the worst 'turbulence' he had ever experienced his whole life. His body, his chair, the whole plane shook uncontrollably. He could almost feel his skull rattling inside his brain, and every several seconds he was thrown in a different direction, the only thing reigning him in being his seatbelt.
"What the hell is going on!" Matt shouted, addressing no one in particular.
"How should I know!" Laura shouted back, before both of them were jarred sharply to the left by a spike in the turbulence.
Matt looked to the back of the plane, where the flight attendants looked just as shocked as everyone else. Guess no one knows what's going on. Matt thought before being jarred out of his thoughts by a jump in turbulence. All around the plane Matt could hear the sounds of people screaming and shouting and children crying, it seemed like no one had their composure.
Suddenly the whole plane shook from an intense shock and began to dip downwards at an alarming rate.
"We're going to crash!" Laura screamed, the panic evident in her voice. This caused the other passengers to all begin screaming and shouting and crying even louder than before, the whole airplane was in a state of panic.
With the plane rapidly descending, Matt took the opportunity to look out the window. Crap we really are screwed. The wing on the plane was shooting sparks and the tip was trailing smoke and fire.
Damn I can't die here! This was just a damn flight! If Oceanic didn't screw up the-
Matt didn't have an opportunity to finish his thought, he was interrupted by a loud metal banging sound. Matt looked outside, half of the wing was gone along with one of the engines. The plane went into a tailspin as it rapidly descended to the ground below. Matt's brain couldn't keep up with what his eyes were seeing.
An overhead storage bin came loose, opening and letting out someone's heavy carry-on bag. In the confusion, Matt could barely stay conscious let alone avoid the luggage flying at his face.
Whack. Matt was out before he realized what happened.
An: There's Chapter 2. I was tons more satisfied with my writing in this one than the first chapter and I hope you are too! Please review an tell me what you think, the next chapter will really kick off the story so stay tuned! -writingbrick
