The Kingdom of Guhya

CHAPTER 10

Madame approached the doctor with her head held high. The doctor bowed his head as a sign of respect. The doctor's gaze shifted back and forth between Madame Fe, Lorde, and Lorde's parents. It seemed like he was hesitant to speak. 

"Madame," the doctor spoke.

After a while, the door opened again, and we all turned our attention to the wheeled stretcher being slowly pushed by a nurse. On it was a body covered in white cloth. I felt my tears slowly streaming down. It seemed like all my strength had drained out, making me lean against the wall behind me. The nurse stopped pushing the wheeled stretcher when it was in front of Madame Fe. Slowly, Madame Fe pulled the cloth aside to reveal Matt's face. He was there – pale and lifeless. We all burst into tears, except for Lorde, who stared blankly at his brother's corpse, and Madame Fe, who emotionlessly covered Matt's face again. She is truly merciless. In the way she acts, it is as if the corpse in front of her is not her grandchild.

"I have some business to do. My child, Arthur, will take care of the legal matters," Madame Fe heartlessly said.

#

A sudden turbulence snaps me back to reality. I instantly checked for Beauty who was also surprised. Her face is slightly covered by her hair, so she runs her fingers through her hair and puts it behind her ears. She furrows her brows at me, making me realize that I have been staring at her. I withdraw my gaze immediately. With my fear of her hearing the loud thump of my heart, I cough lightly to calm myself down.

A woman stands up and walks down the aisle. Our eyes met and I recognized that she was the same woman who had given me the Polaroids earlier. So, we are on the same flight. She smiles faintly at me. I nod my head in response, then she passes by me. I turn my head at Beauty as I feel her gaze on me. She just raises her eyebrow at me, so I just keep silent and relaxed. After a while, Xhyee is already returning to her seat. On the other side, I see Kate stand up and make her way to the aisle with her bag hanging on her shoulder.

She walks into the aisle, her presence commanding the attention of everyone. Towering at 5'8" tall, her poised figure exudes strength and fearless nature. She steps with confidence as if she owns the whole space. Her eyes are deep and piercing; her skin is radiant, contrasting with her dark-colored, thick, lustrous hair. Her lips are full while her jawline is beautifully defined. Her rivalry with Kate is unquestionable.

Accidentally, Xhyee nudges Kate as she is about to sit, causing Kate to look at her. Xhyee's forehead slightly wrinkles and looks at Kate's bag. Kate quickly caught Xhyee's attention back.

"I'm sorry, Miss," Xhyee mentions. Kate just looks at her and quickly turns away.

A few minutes later, I see Kate returning to her seat.

A strong explosion shook all of us. All of the passengers are thrown off their seats out of the strong impact. A buzz of squeals and murmurs swallows the whole plane. Panic spread across the cabin. I feel my chest hurting after it hit the seat in front of me. I quickly turn to Beauty lying unconscious on the floor.

"Fuck!" I cursed in shock after seeing her. I immediately rush to her, checking her vital signs. I take a breath when I confirm that she just fainted. The flight attendants, trained to handle such situations, rush through the aisles, shouting instructions, and doing their best to reassure the passengers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I regret to inform you that we are experiencing an urgent situation. Please remain calm and follow the instructions of the cabin crew. Brace for impact and prepare for an emergency landing. Your safety is our utmost priority, and we will do everything possible to ensure it. Thank you for your cooperation."

I quickly lift Beauty and place her on her seat. Her eyes move and eventually open, regaining consciousness. I lock her safety belt. When I am about to lock mine, the plane trembles violently, causing me to throw off my seat again. From my position, I saw Ethan and Quinn, both having cuts on their lips and worry on their faces. On their back is Lorde standing and clinging to the seat, trying to check for Beauty's safety.

"I got her, bro," I announce as I cling to the seat in front and position myself back to my seat with all my strength. Smoke fills the cabin, making it difficult to see clearly. Oxygen masks drop from the ceiling, causing a flurry of frantic movements as we struggle to secure them over our faces. The sound of prayers and cries for help mingled with the sound of the engines struggling to maintain their function.

Amid the chaos, I focus my attention on Beauty mentioning her silent prayers beside me. I watch her grip her seat tightly, her face etches with both terror and determination. I slide my fingers to hers. She looks at me full of questions her in eyes. In response, I hold her hand tightly and give her reassuring comfort. We stare at each other, feel each other, and there is a loud…BANG!