Long Flight to Life

I awake to warm hands rubbing my face to revive me. The loud roar of the helicopter continues, making me wonder how I could have slept. I am not alone in my wonder. Neesa is looking down at me with concern, but when she speaks, she tries to make it sound like she is joking, rather than expressing concern, "Bella, baby, you just fall asleep at the drop of a hat, don't you?"

Her dark eyes bore into me, beseeching me to give some answer, but I do not know what answer to give. Just as I know she would have no response if I asked her what had become of Leda. I try to smile, but even the wishful images conjured up by my dream do not bring me enough peace to make it convincing. I can imagine a world where it is safe to have every person you love under a roof with you, but I can not make such a dream reality. But Neesa wants some sort of response, so I must give it.

"Yes," I reply, simply that for I have nothing more to say.

She nods as if this is enough, "We're about to land. Then we have to rush you onto your first connecting flight."

"My connecting flight?" I reply.

"Yes. It has become obvious that you are not safe in this country. We are hoping that by sending you somewhere else you will drop off Decay's radar for a while. You'll still receive training," she says, trying to reassure me.

I stare at her blankly for a moment, "In what country am I dropping off the radar?"

"Germany, for now," she replies.

"I don't know German," I reply, feeling my chest constrict with worry.

"We know, but there will be someone to look after you. No matter how hopeless this world becomes, there is always someone to turn to, darling," she replies.

She still speaks to me as if I am child though I now have the appearance of a more mature age. Yet it comforts me. Somehow I matured enough to accept this as the way my life is to be lived for now. I have only a few moments to contemplate this before AAB's voice interrupts our conversation.

"As much as I hate to let two such lovely ladies out of my sight, we are about to land. The tower has approved our landing and headquarters informs me that some people are already waiting for you with the papers Bella needs," he says.

As we touch down, Neesa leans over to hug AAB, "Thanks for the lift. Take care and be careful. If they still think you're transporting her..."

"Hey, lady, don't worry about me. I know how to handle myself," he says with a smile.

I lean over to hug him, too, "Thanks for saving my life, again."

"You mean when I saved your daughter?" He asks, and I can see that he is not joking.

"Bella, come on," Neesa says, gently pulling me out of the helicopter.

Two men are waiting for us amid the solid, expanse of concrete on which we have come to rest. Both are dressed neatly in conservative suits. Despite the wind picked up by the whirring blades overhead, their hair remains perfectly in place. They smile at us as we step from the helicopter. One salutes AAB as he takes off. When the sound of the propellers has faded away enough to hear planes taking off, landing, and circling all around us, one of the men speaks.

"You must be Bella?"

"Yes," I reply though he obviously needs no confirmation from me.

He is flipping through the documents in his hand as he speaks. One of these documents happens to be a passport which he hands to me. Peering back at me is a picture of me that I don't remember being taken, but it stands up to the passport photo requirement of making you look your worst. I have a slightly goofy grin on my face and my eyes are half-closed as if I am squinting into a bright light. I can't even imagine where they came by it. The rest of the papers appear to be a temporary visa and other formalities for my stay in Germany.

When I am done inspecting these papers, the other man holds out a small suitcase and a backpack. I accept and unzip the latter and peer into it. This reveals a few books, a change of clothes, a notebook, and a CD player. I look up at him questioningly, as I close the backpack and take the suitcase.

"We didn't want you to get too bored on the flight, and we figured you could get a chance to learn a little German."

The first man turns his attention back to Neesa, "Is there anything else she needs?"

"Just directions to the terminal," she replies.

"You're not going with me?"

"No, darling, I'm needed here," she replies.

"See me off then?"

"That's what I am doing, but with the new regulations. I can't see you to the boarding gate."

As she says this, she turns to walk toward the airport. The two men follow us at a distance like the secret service protecting the President. Somehow this idea amuses me and I laugh a little bit. Neesa looks at me questioningly, but I just shrug my shoulders at her. I am sure the idea is much more amusing in my head than falling from my lips to someone else's ears. She hugs me and sends me into the interior of the airport alone.

I make it through the metal detectors without any hassle, but one of the guards insists on checking my bags for drugs. He frowns at me when I giggle at the thought that he is really checking a child's bags for such things. Of course, the only other person who knows this is Neesa, and last I saw of her, she had turned to leave, conferring with the two men as she went. Security looks at me suspiciously, but after finding nothing in my bags or on my person, they let me pass.

Then I am standing at the gate, alone. I am boarding the plane, alone. I am sitting on the plane with dozens of strangers who take no interest in me at all. It is nice to go unnoticed, but how long will it last this time?