Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize as Tolkien's.
"Alright, guys. Everyone stay close. James, stop throwing paper." Richard Jones looks around at the students that are spread across the terminal and shakes his head. These kids were good kids but he has the feeling that they will be the death of him before this trip is over.
The group was on their way to an archeological dig along the Amazon River in South America. Professor Jones was leading the dig and invited his students that were interested, along on the trip. He was very surprised when fifteen students signed up but he suspects that only a few are really interested in archeology. He hopes to change that by the end of their two month trip, however.
Alexis Stewart is sitting by herself with her nose stuck in a book as usual. She's a bit of a loner, by choice, preferring to read instead of going out like most girls her age. She's an average student and very soft spoken so she often gets over looked but it never seems to bother her.
"Watch out!"
Alexis looks up just as a hacky-sac lands in her lap. She picks it up and glares at the guy standing in front of her.
"Sorry about that," Zach says sheepishly and takes the hacky-sac from her.
Zach Collins is one of the most popular guys at their school. If his wavy blonde hair, blue eyes and athletic build wasn't enough to catch a girls eye, he was also the captain of the football team and also an all around nice guy.
"Don't worry about it," Alexis says and returns to reading her book without another word. Zach shrugs and returns to the guys he had been talking too.
Someone snatches Alexis' book from her hands and she looks up to find Christy Williams standing in front of her. Christy is the captain of the cheerleading squad and thinks that she's better than everyone else because her father is a very successful businessman. She has also taken it upon herself to make Alexis' life a living nightmare.
"So what are you reading this time? Another one of those trashy novels?" Christy asks as she flips through the pages of the book.
Alexis reaches for her book but Christy holds it out of her reach. "I don't want to see you talking to Zach again. He's mine."
"Might want to let him know that," Alexis replies and yanks her book out of Christy's grasp.
"Leave her alone," Melinda Anderson says from behind Alexis. Christy glances up at Melinda before walking off.
"Why do you let her treat you like that?"
Alexis glances up at her and shrugs. Melinda rolls her eyes and sits back down in the chair she's kneeling on.
The two were far from friends, in fact, Alexis was a little scared of her. Melinda was always in trouble for something whether it was smoking in the girls bathroom or getting into a fight. She had multiple piercings and jet black hair that was streaked with various colors. And the crowd she ran with were some of the biggest troublemakers in school.
An announcement that their flight is ready to board comes over the loudspeaker and Alexis gathers up her stuff. She gets in line with the rest of her group and waits patiently for her turn to board the plane. James bumps her with his bag as he nervously adjusts it on his shoulder. He turns and gives her an apologetic look.
"Sorry. I've never flown before. Have you?"
She smiles at his nervousness. "Yea, a couple of times. It's not that bad," she reassures him. James gives her a nervous smile before turning back around as the line begins to move.
After making in on the plane Alexis looks out at the busy airport and smiles. Soon she would be rid of the noise of Miami and enjoying the wild Amazon forest. Alexis sits back in her seat and glances around at the other passengers in the economy class compartment. Not far ahead of her was a young couple with a two-year-old little boy and behind her was an elderly couple. There were several other passengers who all looked like businessmen and women but that was about it besides her group.
The plane begins taxiing out onto the runway and she picks up her book again. Alexis was currently reading 'The Book of Lost Tales 2' by J.R.R. Tolkien. Ever since she read the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy she fell in love with his work and began reading everything of his she could get her hands on. She even learned how to speak Sindarin and Quenya just for the fun of it.
When Alexis finally looks up from her book a couple of hours later the plane is out over the ocean. She looks around at the others and decides that nothing interesting is going on so she returns her attention to her book. Not two seconds later the plane bucks from turbulance.
Alexis quickly puts her book away when the seatbelt sign flashes and buckles her seatbelt. Professor Jones calmly reassures everyone that there's nothing to worry about and that it happens all the time. Alexis sighs and looks out her window as she tries to calm her nerves.
What she sees however does anything but calm her down. What looks like a large fog bank is slowly creaping toward the plane and seeing as how they're over the ocean this wouldn't normally bother her. But this fog was glowing an eerie green and what looks like small lightening bolts race through it.
"Um, Professor Jones?...Professor," she calls trying to get his attention. She looks back at the strange fog to see that it's almost to them. "Professor Jones!"
"What is it, Alexis?" he snaps in irritaion at being yelled at.
"What is that?" Alexis asks worriedly as she points out her window.
He looks out his window and his face pales. "I, I don't know. I've never seen anything like it." By now everyone is looking out at the strange fog in amazement and fear as the fog envelopes the plane.
"Aren't we in the Bermuda Triangle?" Zach questions. Just then the lights go out and the plane begins rocking and jerking violently causing everyone to scream.
Suddenly the plane lurches downward and begins a free fall toward the ocean. Alexis closes her eyes and begins to pray silently as the water rushes toward them. She's violently thrown around in her seat and hears the sickening screams of pain and metal ripping apart before something hits her head, knocking her unconsious.