OF COURSE THIS WOULD HAPPEN

My pleasant dream came to an abrupt end as I was jolted awake by the turbulence. I gripped the arm rests as the sudden feeling of falling off a cliff came and went within seconds. My breathing settled as the turbulence weakened. Outside birds the size of cars were flying effortlessly next to us, floating islands of various sizes resting at various points below and above us.

“Would you like a drink sir?” The stewardess asked me.

 She was pushing a cart of various drinks both dark and clear, most of it I could guess was alcohol. One particular bottle of bourbon looked especially enticing. My appetite argued with my reason for a moment before I reluctantly asked for a cup of water. The cold tasteless liquid did nothing to calm my nerves or lift my mood. As the stewardess moved on to help the other passengers I scanned my surroundings for the seventh time. 

The car was roughly half full, well trimmed suits and frivolous dresses were the common attire. My own suit hugged my neck uncomfortably tight. The big silver watch that was wrapped around my wrist caused irritation and clunked loudly whenever I rested my hand on the table. 

Instead of loud laughter there were quick whispers. Instead of handshakes and card games there were quick judgmental glances and opened newspapers. How could anyone live like this? I felt the breast pocket of my suit for the seventh time and felt a rectangular metal container. The sooner I deliver this thing the better. 

There was one seat next to me and two in front of me with a table placed in the middle of the pairs. All seats were empty thank God. Turbulence hit the train again, not as strong as before but I gripped the armrest all the same. 

A woman took a seat right across from me, short brunette hair with dark green eyes. She wore the same thing as anyone else but she looked intently into my eyes. Her hands rested on her lap, one hand holding it the other inside of it. The skinny end was pointed at me. Shit, I let out an annoyed sigh and rested both of my hands on the table. This, this right here is why I told them I didn’t want to do this.

“They sent a newbie who is afraid of air travel? I will admit that it caught me off guard,” she said.

I didn’t say anything right away, “You can speak.” 

“What do you want?”

“That's a dumb question.” 

“Why do you want it?”

“That's also a dumb question.” 

“Are you going to kill me?”

She raised an eyebrow

“A dumb question I assume..”

“Hand it over Martin,” she said.

“Can’t do that Ma’am.”

“Ma’am? How old do you think I am?”

“...early thirties?”

“What!” that turned some heads. 

She cleared her throat before speaking again, “I do not look thirty.”

“That's for others to decide, don't you think?”

“Do you want to die? Is that what you're trying to do right now?”

“You're going to shoot me in a car with all these people?” I said as I leaned forward, “I don’t think so.”

“You looked like a scared little puppy just a second ago, you can’t fool me with this false bravado.”

“Did you know that there are firefighters that are afraid of the dark?”

She moved her purse under the table, “Give me the container, now.”

“These guys fight fires for a living, fires that could easily kill them if they make a mistake but they are afraid of the dark?”

“Now, Martin.”

“The answer is simple, the enemy you can see is easier to fight than the enemy you can’t”

I threw the water at her face and made to run but was stopped by the sudden and very painful pressure of a heel slamming into my balls. 

I let out a very audible groan, the woman in front of me laughed as she wiped her face.

“Ah these cramps seem to be getting worse and worse don’t they darling.” she said, the other passengers that had looked over to see what had happened lost interest and went back to their own lives.

She reached over and caressed my face then grabbed my ear and started twisting it, pulling me closer to her. 

“Did you seriously think that was going to work? How is water going to fluster me you idiot!” She said in a low voice. 

“I thought it was vodka.” I said half gasping.

“How did you think it was Vodka if you asked for water!”

“I’ve never voluntarily asked for water a day in my life!”

She let go of my ear and looked at me like I was some creature she had never seen before. I knew I had a problem, I wasn’t proud of it. 

“You know what-” and a click came from under the table.

“Whoa okay fine!” I reached into my suit and took out the container, placing it on the table. 

I got up to leave and again felt an excruciating pain in my balls.

“Why…” I gasped as my face lay on the table's cold surface.

She didn’t bother answering as she opened the container with her free hand. The inside was lined with soft velvet fabric and there were three spaces to hold cylindrical vials. Those spaces were empty. Those assholes! My eyes widened as I felt the pressure of a gun being pressed against my stomach. 

“You little shit”

“Hey hey hey, hold on now. You kill me, you're never getting the vials.”

“Where are they?”

“Why would I tell you that?”

She pressed the gun against me harder. 

“Okay that's a decent reason but if you kill me you aren’t going to find them.”

“I found you, I will find the vials.”

“Well…you won’t find them intime.”

She stared at me for a moment, “What does that mean?”

“What do you think it means?”

I could see her clenching her jaw, and though I still felt a lot of pain in a particular area I tried to keep as straight a face as possible. After a few moments the pressure of the gun being pressed against me finally left.

“Okay, Martin. When we get to the city, me and you are going to get the vials.” I let out a shaky breath until I felt the pressure of the gun again.

“The second I find out that you are leading me on or lying to me I will shoot you, repeatedly.”

“I believe you.” 

The stewardess came by again pushing a cart full of drinks. Would you like something else to drink, Sir, Ma’am?   

We both replied in unison, “Vodka.”