Mortal Plane

Note: There's violence and the use of blackmail, a character speaks abusively to other's they deem as immoral.

Mortal Plane

The faint hum of the airplane’s engines filled the quiet cabin. It seemed to be soothing to the tired passengers scattered throughout the dimly lit space. It’d been a long flight and there was still a long way to go. Many of the passengers had surrendered to sleep.

A few dim overhead lights faintly illuminated projects the passengers still awake were working on. Big projects.

Bill shot a text to his friend, “Can’t get time for me. These people entitled.”

Wendy glided silently down the aisle on the left of the middle section, her hands tightly gripping a light blue blanket, her nails pressing into it. Her fingers hurt a little from the pressure she was placing into the plush fabric.

An average sized man was maneuvering his neck around with discomfort. When he slowly walked into the cabin before going to his seat it obviously looked like he came from the past, the 1970s. He had a musty smell as if someone had forgotten him in the back of a closet.

Wendy grinned tensely, “I’m sorry sir that it took me so long to find the extra blanket.” She went ahead and covered him like he requested she do before.

He rubbed neck, “I've decided. I’d love two soft pillows instead of this hard one.”

She grinded her teeth, “The pillows do not have a softness scale.”

He answered, “I’d appreciate it if you tried to find the soft ones. I’m sure you have some back there.”

Bill walked past a couple being flirtatious with one another, whispering quietly and sweetly into each other's ears. Although keeping it pretty tame they would caress each other and maybe kiss quietly in the darkness. The woman wasn’t wearing a wedding ring but the man was.

As Bill made his way back to the galley, paper fell out of a seat and into the path and onto his shoes. He stopped. He knew this passenger. The elderly man had already requested an unusual amount of water that night.

He looked at the small man. The fellow had been perspiring excessively, sweat dripping all over his fancy papers that he’d laid out recklessly on the seat beside him, water bottles littering the floor underneath his legs. The papers were falling everywhere.

Bill picked up what had fallen, “Sir we can’t have this, uh- it’s a hazard-“.

He noticed something finally looking at the man. It wasn’t the large spectacles that looked like magnifying glass. He suddenly realized that the man’s clothes seemed to be growing larger or rather, he was shrinking.

The man looked up at him and smiled silently. Bill thought that was just absolutely strange, he looked down at the papers in hand and could just barely make out what was on them. Mathematical equations were scribbled on every inch of the paper.

The little man quickly started clearing the aisle seat beside him, “Good man, may we speak? Please, sit with me.”

“I guess. As long as you don’t drip on me,” Bill sighed.

Bill slipped down into the seat beside the man, leaning a little bit away from him which made the man just lean forward into his personal space.

Bill thought Great, he's going to sweat on me.

The little man was excited but didn’t speak too loudly so as not to draw attention to them, “Don’t repeat what I explain and with a little work, you may be rewarded greatly. I’m a renowned Physicist and Inventor. I doubt you will know my name, but my name is useless information in the bigger scheme of things. There's something I need help with, and this is of dire importance that we complete this task. I’m trying to finish my project tonight. If you aid my efforts, you will never have to work another day in your life. People from around the world will thank you for your intervention in my work.”

Bill rolled the thought of helping this man over in his mind for a long moment. He thought maybe he should hear what the task is first. It was night and he didn’t have a lot to do.

“What’s the task?” Bill asked with some suspicion.

“There are several, but I imagine they won’t be hard for you to accomplish. I can tell you are a wise young man and very creative.” He continued, “I need certain materials for my invention. I’ve observed the other passengers before boarding and they just so happen to have objects that contain those materials. I’m afraid I am just a man of numbers and equations and lack charisma therefore I would be incapable of acquiring these things myself.”

“Go ahead with the first one. I’ve got all night,” Bill pressed.

“There has been a passenger, a man that looks quite unsuspecting. He wears a golf hat and a long tan jacket. He frequents the restroom often and may walk the aisle after then decide to bend down and tie his shoe. When the attendants are busy in the galley I’ve seen him in the overheads around those sleeping. He is sly and quiet. Stop the thief, don’t cause a scene. Don’t report him or take back what he’s stolen, he will be caught one day no doubt.”

The Inventor adjusted his glasses looking over the top of his seat. Bill turned a little to see what he was looking at and it was that man. He had decided to slip into his assigned seat. The Thief didn’t acknowledge them looking.

A long clear drop of sweat went down The Inventor’s moist forehead going behind his glasses. He wiped his eye with a long finger, “I need the Polaroid pictures he keeps in the breast pocket of his jacket. There are two and I need the chemicals the ink is made of. It’s of the utmost importance we complete this project. My invention will save lives and people will say your name in the streets.”

Bill took a deep breath. He hated thieves.

The Thief had turned his overhead light on. He removed his hat, laying it down in the seat beside him. Discreetly he pulled his two Polaroids out of his jacket pocket. A soft smile crossed the thief’s face and Bill felt the heat of his temper rise.

He got up quietly going over; deliberately forcing himself not to stomp his way there. His hands were balled up in fists.

Bill leaned over the man, who had stopped looking at his pictures before that because he must’ve sensed a feeling of aggression in the air.

Bill kept his voice low, and spoke through clenched teeth, “I know what you did. If I say anything the authorities will be waiting for you on the tarmac.” His face inclined towards the man’s, “I bet you’ve done this before, and you can’t do the time at your age. If you give me those pictures then, we’re good.”

“My pictures?” The thief was confused and afraid.

“I didn’t stutter. That’s all I need.”

“But they are, of my family. My family is gone,” the man’s lip almost trembled.

Bill snatched the pictures from him, “I bet you stole from them.”

He turned the Thief's overhead light off, pulling back from him. When he left the man’s side, he felt a little bit better. Bill could forget being angry with this scoundrel because he was doing bigger and better things.

Outside one of the small windows there was something about the night. Whatever it was it wasn’t the endless darkness or the star speckled sky. Moving across the long wing was a large thing, not quite like a cloud but maybe one could say it resembled more of a swarm of bees. They could’ve been millions of small black insects. The swarm was packed so tightly together it almost looked like fog.

The Inventor excitedly accepted the pictures, placing them on his tray. He’d put out some items, odds and ends and small tools. Bill stared at the things for a long moment with no idea how they worked.

“What now? I can do this,” Bill felt jazzed.

“There’s that flirting couple,” the inventor explained. “The man has a special gold ring, a family heirloom. I need it, it’s of the utmost Importance. I believe in you.”

A businessman had been having trouble with the goofball in front of him. Not only did his 1970s attire reek but they guy wanted to recline, knocking a drink onto a businessman's suit. Not only did he not apologize or raise his seat but to remedy the fact that the businessman’s long legs were in the way- goofball said he could sit sideways because his day had been “Hell”.

Now the businessman couldn’t sleep and not just because he was uncomfortable. Whenever he’d start to doze, that other passenger’s nasally voice might say something about his cucumber water being “too cloudy” or apparently, he couldn’t taste enough of the cucumber once.

The businessman really admired Wendy’s self-control because if he was HER, he would’ve knocked him out by now.

The flirtatious couple were resting in the darkness, just a little bit of moonlight coming in through their small window. The woman’s head was nestled into the man’s neck, her hand resting on his chest.

Bill felt like he was intelligent, he knew what to say when he arrived at their seats.

“Are you awake?” He asked. No response. He touched the man’s shoulder, “Excuse me.”

The man acknowledged Bill; he hadn’t been sleeping really. He looked.

Bill leaned down and spoke in a hushed voice next to the man’s ear, “I know what’s going on here.”

The married man hissed, “How dare you?”

Bill continued, “I know people. It would be easy for me to find your address and contact your wife. This- what you’re doing could blow up your life, your job. Everybody will know what you’ve been up to. Give me that ring and I’ll stay quiet.”

The married man removed his golden ring and handed it over with some urgency.

Bill accepted the gold piece, mentioning before he left the other’s side, “I’m so glad I’m better than people like you. Have some morals.”

The Inventor was absolutely ecstatic to see Bill again, “Great work Man.” He had to force himself to keep his voice low.

Bill’s excitement was rising, “What now?”

“I will need more gold. Someone is wearing a pure gold chain. I’m afraid I lost track of them. I think the other attendants can help you find the individual. There will be signs. Just don’t reveal my plan. It is precious.”

If one were looking, they could just make out through the darkness something even blacker than the black of night floating across the floor of the cabin. Still the swarm.

Bill and Wendy had made a bet earlier in the night about the musty-smelling individual. Maybe it was almost time to collect.

Christi and Wendy were talking quietly in the galley.

Christi sounded concerned, “That big guy passed out. He boarded drunk. I don’t know how he got through security.”

Wendy addressed, “What do you think the chances are that he has alcohol poisoning or he’s dead. He hasn’t moved for a while.” Wendy noticed Bill coming over, “Hey, where have you been?”

Bill chimed, “Saving the world.”

Wendy grumbled, “That’s not funny. You should try working as hard as I have been.”

“Christi, how many times did he call in? Did I win the bet?” Bill asked.

She shook her head, “I don’t want to be a part of this.”

Wendy leaned towards Christi and sneered, “Yeah say nothin.”

Bill obviously saw what was going on, “Pay up. I won the bet.”

Christi quickly spoke, “What about that guy?”

Wendy answered as she reached into her pocket, “Maybe some of what he ate absorbed a chunk of the alcohol. He had two trays, and I think he asked his neighbor for their leftovers. I’m surprised he didn’t eat the gold chain off his neck:”

Bill chuckled as Wendy handed over a nice wad of cash.

She growled, “I hate your guts.”

He was excited and not only about the money, but he heard about the gold chain.

Christi looked at Bill, “Since you just seem all too happy about winning that bet, you should do one kind thing in your life and go check on that guy.”

“Happily,” Bill nodded with a smile heading out and back into the cabin.

Bill’s heart was pounding with utter excitement as he peered down to the end of the middle section. The bulbous man sat at the end of the left aisle. His unconscious body was almost parked in the seat beside him, his head hanging and drool going down his bottom lip.

Bill noticed that gold chain as it glimmered, reflecting a light from nearby.

Someone pulled at Bill’s shirt on the way.

Mr. Blast from The Past began a request but Bill swatted his hand away, “I gotta do important things, buzz for someone else.”

Bill didn’t hear what he replied, he just kept going.

The man wore a sleek white shirt with an open collar. It looked like the golden chain was caught in his graying chest hair.

Bill thought I better be getting a lot of money for this.

He didn’t bother to check the man’s pulse; Bill was just hyper focused on completing his task. It didn’t take very long to remove the chain and pocket it.

There was a hard thump. Bill looked down the aisle and one of the Time Traveler’s faded sandals had kind of flown off. It didn’t make much noise.

Wendy was holding a pillow over the musty passenger’s face. Even though she wasn’t a very large woman he couldn’t fight her off. She was driven to accomplish this mission. The feelings she’d been holding in all night, suddenly were released. The dam had crumbled down and it was like she had the strength of a Greek Goddess.

Bill froze up and he didn’t do anything for the man as he went limp in his seat. The businessman wasn’t even in his seat so he could watch it, then he could give applause. Bill felt something moving against his legs. It felt like a cool refreshing breeze.

He looked down. Millions of black particles or insect creatures began to rise up from the floor. Bill took a surprised step back, almost tripping on his own feet.

Wendy was surprised she had done it. She’d finally made that nasally voice quit yapping. She wasn’t going to have to take his bottles of “cloudy” cucumber water back to the galley to pretend she switched them with a new one anymore. He wouldn’t kick his blanket off his feet anymore. She wouldn’t have to come back to place the covers over his feet, where she’d get an eyeful of those toes- the nails riddled with fungus and too long.

She hugged and gripped the pillow with which she used to kill. When she thought she could sigh in relief, let out a long breath- everything turned black.

Bill watched as the swarm passed over Wendy.

The Inventor raised from his seat calling over, not too loudly but just loudly enough, “The sandal. Quick, we must hurry!”

Wendy fell to the floor. She didn’t move.

The dark mass made its way down the aisle and was hovering near the galley. Bill raced forward, grabbing the sandal and jumped around Wendy. He passed the flirtatious couple tripping. He fell hard to the floor, carpet burning his cheek when his head fell.

He rose slowly feeling jarred. He looked back to what had caused him to crash. The married male companion of the duo had slid out of his seat and dropped into part of the aisle dead.

Bill had to finish his work and get back to the wise Inventor. Maybe the project could even save the lives of those still sleeping so deeply left on this very flight.

The Inventor's eyes seemed to glow with excitement as he watched Bill arrive before him with the sandal.

“Are we almost done?” Bill questioned.

“You did it,” the Inventor grinned.

Bill spoke proudly, “I knew I had it in me! I was worried at first but then I pulled through!” His voice was rising, and it wasn’t waking the few still slumbering folks. “That was such a rush and then the shadow thing. That just blew my mind and it’s not easy to do that. I’m sorry about those people-“

As Bill rambled, softly the Inventor spoke, “You don’t care.”

Bill was so busy enjoying the rush that he hadn’t noticed the Inventor wasn’t dripping with sweat anymore. His clothes fit much better now.

“When is this Life Saving Thing going to be finished? I did a lot for you and maybe risked my life too. So, do I sign something? I’m expecting to see some dollars-“

“Stop running your mouth you prideful buffoon. Your soul constantly vomits acid.”

“How dare you!?” Bill felt deeply disturbed by this kind of disrespect.

Only Bill witnessed in horror as the Inventor’s head enlarged. The Inventor’s skin blackened as his eyes shifted to a strikingly bright shade of red. His glasses broke away from his face. His form shifted into something that resembled a behemoth of a boa constrictor. He wasn’t totally solid, and his clothes fell right off to accommodate his metamorphosis.

Bill felt frozen. A shadowy reptile, the Inventor quickly twisted its way around Bill’s body.

The plane’s engines continued to hum, and the moon continued to shine brightly. The once wise Inventor, now a creature devoured Bill’s soul.

The body was whole. He could continue to walk amongst mortals. He departed the plane that morning with the innocent and entered an unsuspecting world.