Authors Note-
Y'all saw this coming.
I'm not a professional, and the correctness of this chapter is very debatable. But it's fiction so ah well!
Possibly triggering content. Read at your own risk. Very intense action scenes. Beware
Drama filled chapter! ~
Pretty quick paced but I'm too lazy to write any more.
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Patton yawned as he ripped open his fruit snack package, tucking the scrap of plastic into his pocket and holding the fruit snacks in his hand. Patton lazily popped one in his mouth before turning to Virgil.
"You want a fruit snack Virge?" Patton offered to his friend.
"Sure, pass an orange one," Virgil replied, taking a hand off the yoke to hold it next to Patton's, who dropped an orange fruit snack in his hand. Virgil popped it on his mouth an chewed before swallowing. "Thanks Pat. Bringing those dozens of fruit snacks wasn't a bad idea after all."
"See! Didn't forget anything, and brought snacks! I'm on a roll today!" Patton chuckled. "So we about ready to head back to the airport? It's starting to get pretty cloudy but we should be able to make it back and perform a few touch and goes before we have to put her back in the hangar." Patton questioned while twisting to reach into the back seat, grabbing his cell phone.
Patton turned, about to turn on some music and sit back when he heard Virgil intake a breath.
"Fuck." Patton blinked, now worried. Virgil never cursed in front of him. "Virge... what-" Pattons question was cut off as the plane shook violently.
"Patton. Secure the bags and make sure everything's out away. We've got an issue." Virgil's voice was tense, encouraging Patton to quickly glance over the plane, quickly sliding his phone into a pocket in his bag, zipping it back up.
"Virgil, what's happening?" Patton twisted back to look at his friend.
"We're almost out of fuel," Virgil replied, gaze fixed on a spot on the cockpit window. "We're not gonna make it back to the airport."
"What? But we filled up with fuel back at the airport... we shouldn't already be empty! It's barely been an hour!" Patton protested, even though a quick glance at the dashboard confirmed Virgils statement. "Are there any other airports we can land at?"
"Patton! We're flying over the middle of the effing forest! There's not an airport for miles!" Virgil snapped at Patton.
"..." Patton blinked, shocked at the anger in Virgils voice. "Okay.." Patton murmured, turning away to tap at his IPad, analyzing the surrounding terrain, looking for a suitable area for them to put the Cessna down.
"Oh hell. Patton... Patton, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Virgil quietly apologized to his friend. "I just..."
"It's alright Virgil. Let's just concentrate on landing safely." Patton muttered.
"Okay." Virgil agreed, pulling up the emergency checklist on his IPad, waiting for Patton to do the same.
"Airspeed 65, flaps down." Virgil fiddled with the yoke and glanced out the right window.
"Check," Patton confirmed.
"Mixture, Idle cut off" Said Virgil.
"Check" Patton nodded.
"Fuel Selectors off" Virgil reached forward and flicked a switch.
"Check" Patton confirmed.
"Magnetos off," Virgil stated.
"...Check." Patton confirmed after flipping a switch on the dashboard.
"Flaps as-" Virgils voice was drowned out as the plane gave a tremendous rumble, the engine gave a choking noise and then...
Silence.
"Sh-. Patton check the rest, I'll try to glide as long as possible and try to find a good place to land."
"Roger." Patton swiftly nodded and tapped on his IPad, muttering to himself quietly as he scrolled through the emergency checklist, glancing around at points and fiddling with the dashboard to change certain settings.
"Patton." Virgils voice came through the headset, causing him to glance up.
"Yeah? We alright?" Patton questioned.
"Patton, there's no flat land. It's all trees or rocks. The only place I could land is..." Virgil paused, anxiously glancing over the cockpit to gaze at the ground, hundreds of miles below them. "There's a lake, smooth, but it stretches for a while. We might be able to lightly skim the surface and slow down enough to make it to the shallows."
"The lake? Virgil, the Cessna isn't built for water landings..." Patton replied cautiously. "But if it's our only option... let's hope for the best."
"Gotcha," Virgil replied, angling the yoke to send the gliding plane into a slow circle down, angling to hit the lake straight on.
"Virgil..." Patton began, before pausing. "If this all goes wrong, I want you to know that I..."
"Patton, I know." Virgil tightened his grip on the yoke, knuckles whitening, gaze fixed on the lake that was below them, swiftly approaching. "It's been an honor to explore the skies with you and to be your friend."
"Likewise." Patton quietly replied, before sitting up straight, securing his seat belt with the lab belt around his hips and the belt running from his hip to opposite shoulder, and quickly taking off his eyeglasses and twisting to slip them into a pocket on the side of his backpack.
"Tell me when to brace, I'll be ready." Patton turned to gaze out the window as the ground steadily got closer and closer.
It was so close that Patton could see the tips of the trees in extreme detail.
It was almost time.
Patton clenched his hands into fists, trying to calm his heart rate, breathing deeply.
"Patton, brace! It's gonna be rough!" Virgil cried.
Patton crossed his arms across his chest, making an "X" and clutching each shoulder tightly with each hand, head flat against the seat and eyes straight ahead.
Patton saw the smooth crystal clear water of the lake rise up to meet the plane.
Deep Breathes.
The wind whistled past the plane.
Deep Breathes.
Virgil was muttering under his breath.
Deep Brea-
Patton was thrown forward against his seat belt as the plane touched the water, and as Pattons head whipped sideways, he saw Virgil, not in the brace permission, be whipped forward and strike his head against the yoke.
"Virgil!" Patton cried, unbuckling his seat belt as the plane slowed, momentarily floating on the surface of the water. But Patton knew that it wouldn't stay like that for long. Patton saw Virgil stir and swiftly reached over and unbuckled Virgils seat belt. By that point, Virgil was alert and looking about. "Go, go! Get out!" Patton cried, waiting for Virgil to throw open his door, before opening his and proceeding to start to climb out.
The water rose rapidly, quickly entering through the open doors and filling the plane, causing it to sink quicker. Patton saw Virgil treading water beside the plane and made to join him.
Patton tried to swim over to Virgil, but something pulled him back.
Patton felt hysteria build in his chest as he glanced through the clear water.
His foot was stuck.
The seat belt of his seat had managed to get stuck on his shoes, and his flailing had caused it to wrap even tighter around it.
"V-Virgil!" Patron cried, desperately treading water.
"Patton! Get away from the plane! We need to get to shore!" Virgil shouted as he treaded water.
"Virgil I can't I'm-" Patton took a breath as a small wave passed over his head. "Stuck!" Patton cried as the wave passed, taking a final gulp of air, a final look at Virgils quickly paling face, before being pulled under the surface of the water.
It was strangely beautiful. The plane was slowly drifting downwards towards the bottom of the lake, around fifteen feet below the surface. Patton looked up through the water to see Virgil diving for him, passing him to desperately claw at the belt wrapped around his foot, trying to unravel it. After a few moments, Virgil was forced to let go and go up for air. As he returned, Virgil stretched out a hand to Patton, eyes imploring him to stay strong.
Patton stretched his hand up, trying to grasp onto Virgils outstretched hand, arms flailing, free foot kicking desperately through the water.
He couldn't do it. He wasn't going to make it.
Pattons lungs screamed for air, but he couldn't get a single breath.
Pattons vision flashed, his lungs burned.
Patton felt his arms begin to fall, muscles giving up, vision fading.
Patton dimly registered the feeling of a touch.
Hands on his. Hand on his neck. Someone diving past him to tear at the belt tangled around his foot.
Virgil.
Virgil was trying to save him.
Patton had to get Virgil to the surface.
Patton couldn't let Virgil die trying to save him.
Pattons final thoughts were about Virgil before his mouth finally opened in a desperate wish for air, water rushing in, pouring down his throat and into his lungs.
And Patton thought no more.
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I hurt the bois...
I'm not too happy with it, but I got it done.
Comment if you liked it? I get depressed when nobody tells me they like it haha :')
Hope you all enjoyed!
