She awoke when the plane reached cruising altitude, gradually swimming up through the darkness that had enveloped her waking brain. She remained still for a long time, slowly drawing her conscious self upwards, the task arduous and heavy. The humming all around her was soothing, and it nearly lulled her into simply drifting off once again.
Seated in one of the cabin's large chairs, she rolled her head towards the window and was met with a clear view of the sky and clouds through which the jet traveled. Dizziness overcame her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, blinking slowly to regain focus.
He was there, close and before her in the seat facing her own. She sucked in a breath and tried to rise. The two safety straps criss-crossing her chest kept her pinned in the chair and her wrists were tethered to either of the armrests at her sides. He watched her struggle weakly against the restraints, keeping quiet and still. Then he was unbuckling his seatbelt. He stood up and stepped close, kneeling beside her in the chair.
She flinched when he put a hand softly on her knee.
"Calmete," he whispered, the word barely audible above the hum of the jet's engine.
Her throat tightened, a lump growing there within her esophagus. She felt her fingers trembling and she gripped the arm rests so that her knuckles went white.
"Please," her voice was a hiss between them. "Please let me go."
Gently, he slipped his hand over her own, grip loose but steady.
"Kate…"
"This isn't going to work; you know that."
His jaw was tight in his skull as he fixed his gaze on her.
"It can. Just let it."
She realized she was crying silently now. Tears fell from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and under her chin, trail growing heavy and full. "I can't."
He wiped her cheeks delicately with his fingers, leaning closer so that their faces were only inches apart. His breath whispered over her flesh, warm and even. She began to shake violently in the chair, body pressing against the safety straps that held her down.
When he kissed her, she did not shy away. The breath that escaped his lips upon drawing back was low and short. He continued to stare at her imploringly.
"Where are you taking me?" her voice croaked.
"We're going to Columbia."
She glanced at the view out the window.
"One of us is going to end up dead at the end of this."
There was a long moment of silence before she looked back at him. He moved his fingers slowly, hands tracing up her arm so that he was clutching her face gently in his palms. She attempted to stay very still against his touch, but she was still trembling.
"No," he stated. "That won't happen."
She hung her head, but he dipped his own so that he could still meet her eyes.
"Calmete," he repeated.
"You keep saying that." Her throat ached dully now. "Can I have some water?"
He straightened up and disappeared behind her. She listened to him moving quietly in the front of the cabin. Holding a bottle of water, he again kneeled before her and unscrewed the cap. She drank when he placed the bottle mouth gently to her lips. It was empty before she was satisfied. He brought another, which she drained as well.
When he brought his mouth to hers — this time — she found herself beginning to respond. It was a long kiss, and they broke away from one another slowly. The hum of the jet changed, she felt the plane dip ever so slightly downwards. He pursed his lips together and put his hand upon her arm again, grip soft but firm.
"What's going to happen when we get there?" she asked.
"You'll be with me," he replied after a quiet moment.
A voice called his name from the forward cabin. He stood, still gazing down at her
"And you can rest." his voice trailed off as he walked out of her view.
She was indeed tired. Now she again felt all the bruises and cuts that she had sustained over the last week. Her body was littered with them, slowly healing as wounds usually do. But she was still drained in every way imaginable. Being that her life before had just imploded, could she resign to Alejandro's plan, simply let go and exist in this present that she found herself within?
She wasn't sure.
Resting her head back against the chair, she drifted towards an exhausted sleep state, lulled by the constant vibration all around her. Maybe, she thought, maybe for just a moment she could let finally let go.