The morning sun spilled across the small airport tarmac as Kai, Rion, and Lira dragged their bags behind them. The siblings hadn't flown in years, and today wasn't just any flight it was the trip they'd delayed for far too long.
"Are we really doing this?" Lira asked nervously, tightening her grip on her backpack strap. Her eyes flicked toward the airport's glass windows, watching planes taxi and take off.
Kai, the oldest, gave a reassuring smile. "Yes. Mom and Dad… they deserved this. And we've waited long enough." His voice was calm, but there was a slight tremor betraying the weight of memories.
Rion rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile. "You mean you're trying to be all responsible while I get stuck with the window seat again?"
"You'll survive," Kai replied dryly, adjusting his backpack. "Just don't puke this time."
Lira let out a soft laugh. "Rion, behave. This isn't a joke."
They approached the plane, their footsteps echoing in the terminal. Boarding felt surreal. Memories of their parents the warmth of Dad's laughter, Mom's gentle voice flooded Kai's mind. The trip wasn't just a visit; it was closure, a way to honor those they had lost.
As they settled into their seats, Kai glanced at his siblings. "Promise me we stick together," he said quietly. "No matter what happens."
Rion shrugged but gave a serious nod. Lira's hand found his, and she squeezed it tightly. "We will," she whispered.
The engines roared, the plane lifted, and the world below shrank to a patchwork of roads and fields.
An hour into the flight, the sky darkened unnaturally. Clouds swirled like storm-swirled ink. The plane shuddered violently, jolting the siblings from their conversation.
"What… what's happening?" Lira cried, clutching the armrest.
"Stay calm!" Kai shouted over the roar of the engines. "It's turbulence. Just hold on!"
Rion gripped his seatbelt, teeth clenched. "This isn't normal!"
The plane pitched sharply, tilting to one side. A deafening snap echoed through the cabin. Kai's stomach lurched as the aircraft lurched violently, metal groaning under stress.
"Brace yourselves!" Kai yelled, pulling his siblings close as the cabin tilted further.
Then came the moment of sheer terror a wing ripped free, tearing through the air with a sound that made everyone's blood run cold. The plane spiraled uncontrollably. Screams filled the cabin, mingling with the roar of wind and tearing metal.
Kai reached for Rion's hand, then Lira's, but the force of the crash threw them against the seats. Everything became a blur of darkness, noise, and spinning metal.
In his last moments of consciousness, Kai's thoughts flashed to their aunt, to their parents' graves, to his siblings' faces. "We'll… make it…" he whispered to himself, clinging to the hope that somehow, they'd survive.
Then… nothing. Darkness.