Douglas landed the plane. He had a lot of explaining to do. Snow inside of a plane, a captain barricading himself in the loo and a steward with a frozen hand weren't things to be easily ignored.
"Sir, if you don't tell me what happened, I won't be happy. I want answers and I want them now," An airport official stated. Douglas couldn't be less bothered what her title was.
"It's difficult to explain…" Douglas began. Luckily, there was no need to continue as Martin carefully unlocked the door and slipped into the room. He thought he'd calmed down. But as soon as he saw the paramedics trying to figure out what to do with Arthur's hand, which resisted all forms of heat, his panic hit him with full force. His fingers brushed the seat next to him and it frosted over and a small squeak escaped his lips.
"What the…" The official gasped, stepping towards Martin, "Ice…?"
The captain was instantly on the defensive, his hands clutched to his chest. "Stay back. I don't want to hurt anyone else." But she kept walking towards him, "I said get back!" Martin's hand flew out, spreading sickeningly sharp icicles jutting up from the floor around him. His hair was a brilliant shade of white now and his eyes shone icy blue.
"Everyone get away! He's dangerous!" A paramedic shouted.
"Stop scaring him! You're making it worse!" Douglas ordered above the murmurings of the bystanders. "Martin…" Douglas reached his hand out to Martin, but the younger man flinched and ran towards the door.
Douglas stared after the pilot. "Douglas, we need a plan!" Carolyn announced.
"I'm going after him!" Douglas proclaimed walking briskly towards the door to retain some of his dignity.
"Then let me come with you…" Carolyn's voice was subdued, certainly.
"I… I'd come too, b-but my… my hand…" Arthur whimpered.
"It's alright, dear heart. I'll go with Douglas to find Martin; you go to the hospital."
"Ok mum…" Arthur sighed meekly.
"Carolyn, we have to go!" Douglas let his calm mask slip for a second for Carolyn to see the urgency in his eyes before making his way to the door.
"I'm coming!" Carolyn called. She turned to the paramedic, "Call me if you need anything."
Douglas and Carolyn rushed out of the plane.
…
Douglas was running as fast as he could through the airport, following the snow Martin had trailed in his wake. Suddenly, he collided into someone in his blind panic and landed on top of them. "Sorry," the first officer replied as he pushed himself off the poor bystander.
"Herc?" Carolyn questioned from behind. Oh, maybe not a poor bystander after all, "What are you doing here?"
"I had a flight here and now I'm following this snow-trail. It's much too thick to be trampled into the ground from people's shoes…"
"You're right, but Carolyn we have to go!" Douglas panicked. He started to run but Herc grabbed his elbow.
"Douglas, what's going on? I've never seen you like this…"
"It's Martin. You can either come with us and we'll explain or stay here!" Carolyn hurried.
"I'll come with you…" Douglas snorted in reply, "I have you know Douglas that I am quite fond of that boy!"
"Let's go already! His tracks will be lost outside!" Douglas ordered.
"Do you mean… Martin –"
"Yes. Come on, we have to hurry before he really hurts someone!" Carolyn pushed Herc along after Douglas.
…
Martin was walking up the side of a mountain. Douglas' mocking voice ran through his head; 'Hey Chief, I think we're flying into a mountain…' but it seemed so much more melancholy than usual.
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the king
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried
Conversations the pilots held came like wisps of smoke in his mind.
Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good boy you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well now they know
Martin tore his tie loose and let it fly away into the wind. Who cares about looking professional when you can never go back? 'Well, Douglas will sort it out. I don't know how but he'll think of something clever, like he always does.' Arthur told him. No. Douglas wouldn't do that for him. But who cares about going back? Who cares about Douglas? Not him, certainly!
Snowflakes swirled from the palms of his hands as he walked and brushed elegantly over the already formed snow piles.
Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway.
Martin threw off his jacket. He couldn't bare the sight of his epaulettes now. 'You know how I'm always saying one little thing could be the end of MJN Air? Well, this is one absolutely massive thing – and … it's all over.' That had been the worst day of his life – up until the point Douglas saved the day of course – but it was happening all over again.
It's funny how some distance
Makes everything seems small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can't get to me at all
'I did suggest an alternative plan to Sir, Carolyn, but Sir quite properly reminded me that Sir is in command, and we should all obey Sir at all times.' 'Who reminded you?' 'Captain Crieff, or – as I am privileged to call him – Sir.' 'Martin, you are many things but, believe me, you are not 'Sir'. If anyone is Sir, I am Sir; and as Sir I am telling you from now on diversions are out.'
It all seemed quite laughable now.
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me,
I'm free
'What have I got wrong?' 'Oh, have you got something wrong?' 'I always get something wrong; and if Douglas were here, he'd point out what.' Not anymore.
Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go,
You'll never see me cry
Here I stand and Here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on…
Martin summoned ice from the ground and carved and shaped it into an expensive-looking manor house (he was never one for castles).
My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back
He grabbed his hat and was about to throw it away when he stopped for a second. This was the only thing he'd ever wanted. 'Yours is quite silly.' 'Look, I keep telling you, I didn't ask for extra. It's just the standard amount of gold braid…'
The past is in the past!
He threw away the hat along with his thoughts. He transformed the remains of his uniform in to an ice blue suit (open collar of course, no tie. He didn't need to impress anymore) that sparkled slightly in the clean, bright light filtering through the ice walls.
Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect boy is gone
Here I stand in the light of day
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway!
