Cut Our Silver String

PROLOGUE

Good morning passengers, this is your captain speaking, first, I would like to welcome everyone in Free Airlines Flight SS394. The time is 9:35 AM. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side, we are expecting to land in Ninoy Aquino International Airport approximately eight hours ahead of schedule. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, seat back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight.

For the millionth time, Cindy let out a heavy sigh. Lumingon-lingon siya at sinubukang libangin ang sarili. She still feels so nervous as she boards a plane for the second time.

"Kinakabahan ka pa din?" Cindy almost jumped midair as someone beside her talked. She just nodded and felt her knees started shaking. "Hina mo naman. Buti pa ako hindi." the woman beside her talked again. Cindy looked at her.

"Hay, Candice kung di ko pa alam na nagsuka ka kanina sa bus, baka maniwala ako." Cindy said trying to make herself calm.

"Cindy, iba yun. Bus yon, nasa eroplano tayo ngayon. Di na ko masusuka." Candice replied and rolled her eyes.

"Sus! Tingnan lang natin. Baka maubos laman ng sikmura mo ha. Nakita ko kanina dalawang supot niluwa mong lugaw." Cindy said and started mocking her twin sister.

"Ikaw! Napakaburara mo talaga!" Candice exclaimed.

"Aba talaga naman. Nakita ko nga niluwa mo pa yung almusal mong noodles."

"Yuck kadiri ka!" Candice shouted as she started hitting Cindy with her towel. Cindy then fought back. They were hitting each other and their voices and laughs could be heard around them. Some people were even looking at them.

They just stopped when Adam, their father, talked without looking at them.

"People are looking at you guys."

Nagkatinginan sila at napangiti. Siniko ni Candice si Cindy and started murmuring.

"Ikaw kase e."

"Anong ako? Ikaw nga."

"Baka ika-" pero bago pa man niya matapos ang sasabihin ay tumayo ang babae sa tabi ni Cindy.

"Dito ka na umupo" she said in a very calm voice as she smiled at Candice. "And Cindy tumabi ka sa dad mo. Para di na kayo mag away." they did so.

Napakapit ng mahigpit si Cindy sa kinauupuan niya at napapikit nang maramdamang unti unti nang umaandar pataas ang eroplano. Candice was just looking at her and laughs seeing how nervous she is. Cindy met her eyes and Candice gave her a teasing smile. She just rolled her eyes. The plane then went smoothly and Cindy started feeling comfortable.

Minutes later, Candice felt something inside her. She feels dizzy and she knows something's gotta burst out anytime soon. She needs to go to the lavatory. She wandered around her sight but everyone was sleeping. Her dad, mom and Cindy. She thought of waking Adam up but she knows he's tired. And so as Lairah. As she looked at Cindy, she was smiling on her sleep with her saliva slightly dropping.

Candice smiled. She slightly moved towards her twin and watched her asleep. She forcibly opened Cindy's eyes and chuckled when she saw the white part only.

Maya maya pa'y natigilan si Candice sa pagtawa nang magmulat si Cindy. Pinanliitan sya nito ng mata.

"Ano ba?" Cindy asked, annoyance could be heard from her voice.

"Wala. Gusto lang kita asarin" Candice replied and gave her a teasing smile.

"Papansin!"  Cindy said and rolled her eyes.

"You look dreadful twinny"

"Wala kang pake!"

"Sinabi ko lang na panget ka tss"

"Talk to my hands. Matutulog na lang ako." sabi ni Cindy at inilapit ang kamay sa mukha ni Candice.

Cindy was about to go back sleeping but Candice talked.

"Huy!"

Cindy didn't even look at her. Napahawak si Candice sa bibig niya nang biglang gumalaw at maghikab si Adam.

"Cindy!" she said and pinched her twin's arm.

"Ano ba?!" Cindy asked more annoyed.

"Hehe" Candice smiled awkwardly.

"Wala ka talagang kwenta."

"S-samahan mo ko sa lavatory. Hehe." Candice said.

"Sabi ko na nga ba may kailangan ka"

Candice blinked several times trying to appear cute.

"Panget mo! Wag ka gumanyan."

"Sus. Magkamukha lang naman tayo e."

"Edi wow. Mas maganda pa rin ako. Wala akong kulangot" Cindy said mocking her sister.

Kinapa ni Candice ang mukha niya at chineck kung meron nga. Then it sinked inside her.

"Hoy! Nunal nga yan! Iyo nga sa sa gilid ng mata. Yuck parang muta. Bagong gising ka cyst? " Candice replied smirking.

"Hindi" Candice laughed. "Kita sasamahan" Cindy continues and acted sleeping.

"Huyy! Napaka mo talaga. Samahan mo ko."

Cindy didn't move. She then talked without opening her eyes.

"Manigas ka"

"Bilis na!"

"Bakit ba?"

"Lavatory nga e common sense. Alangan magluto ako roon."

"Wow. Ikaw pa mataray ha. Bahala ka.”

"Bilis na kase. Oo na ako na talo."

"Bakit? Lalabas na ba special lugaw mo?"

"Yuck kadiri ka! Syempre hindi. Hindi ako susuka remember?"

"Pee?"

Candice weakly nodded.

"Tss. Tara na."

Just then they both stood up and walked to a flight attendant.

"Miss, could you tell me... No, us- us, we,... where..." Candice started stuttering.

She smiled awkwardly and looked at Cindy.

"Ano nga ba english ng-"

But the attendant stopped her.

"You may ask in tagalog if you want, miss. Pinoy po ako and here at flight SS394, we want you to have ease in everything. So, what do you wanna know then?" She said in a very soothing calm voice.

Candice smiled weakly and Cindy was bit annoyed murmuring, "ang dami naman ng sinasabi nito. Tss"

The flight attendant smiled.

"Hmm?" she uttered waiting for them to answer.

"Uhh, the lavatory?" Candice said.

"Oh yeah miss. The lavatory is located there" she said as she pointed a direction.

"There are four doors one's for the men, of course the other one's for women, the next is for the PWD's, and the last one's for our staffs." she continued.

Cindy slightly turned her back and murmured again, "Bakit ba kailangan magsalita ng kung ano ano? Papansin naman neto."

"That is our main lavatory in this portion of the plane. But unfortunately, you may find yourselves stuck there for a long time because as I checked it earlier, many passengers are crowding, for it is the main one."

Candice sighed.

"Main? So may hindi po main?" Cindy uttered and Candice looked at her.

"Uhh, I mean, meron pa pong iba diba?" Cindy explains.

The flight attendant nodded and smiled.

"If you want the other option, you may use the other one there." She said and points the direction.

"Is that the back part of the plane?" Candice asked and she felt she's gonna vomit any time soon.

"Yes miss."

"O....k... Thank you po." Cindy said as she nod slowly.

"You're always welcome miss.  I'll be going then. If you have any queries, feel free to approach any staff of this flight okay?" just then, the flight attendant left.

They are outside the lavatory and waits for someone to come out.

"How long has she been there?" Cindy murmured.

"Hmm, kalahating araw?" Candice laughed.

"Ang tagal naman niya tumae." Cindy said in a little louder voice making the person inside hear it.

"Baka lubid yung inilalabas. Ang haba e." Candice joked and they couldn't stop laughing.

But then, Candice suddenly turned serious and covered her mouth. She can feel something's inside her. It starts to rise up and she can feel it in her stomach to her throat. She feels so uncomfortable.

Cindy looked at her and smirked.

Candice rolled her eyes and tried to act normal.

Then a woman opened the lavatory. She smiled shyly and looked down. She was wearing a thick sweater, black sneakers, and a nerdy eyeglasses.

"S-sorry." she silently said and left.

Candice then entered and Cindy was left outside. Minutes later, Cindy could hear noises inside. She could hear what Candice does.

"Di ka pala susuka ha!" Cindy said mocking her.

"Utot mo blue! Di ako nagsusuka" Candice defended.

"Nakita mo yung babaeng pugad kaninang lumabas?"

"Oh, anong gagawin ko ro’n?"

"Siya na lang lokohin mo. Baka maniwala pa." Cindy said and laughed.

"Nakakatawa."

"Sige magsuka ka lang diyan"

Cindy then started to walk around. Until she reached the other part of the backside of the plane. She then walked back when she realized she was in the men's lavatory. But as she turned her back, she accidentally bumped someone. It was a guy wearing a black hoodie jacket, a surgical mask, black sweat pants and  black sneakers.

Cindy met his eyes but he dodge. It then walked through her with no words.

"Sorry." Cindy said looking at him shyly.

"It's fine" he said shaking. He can't look directly at her eyes.

Cindy almost melted hearing his calm and manly voice. Not to mention their bodies are slightly touching each other because the pathway's quite narrow.

The man then walked away and Cindy was left there. Standing still, looking at him.

"Huy gaga! Tara na."

Cindy then get back at good thinking when Candice arrived.

"T-tapos ka na sumuka?" Cindy stuttered

"Di nga ako sumuka" Candice said defensively.

"Sus! Kaya pala meron pa sa baba mo" Cindy said and laughed.

Candice's eyes grew bigger. Kinapa niya ang mukha niya kung meron nga ngunit wala.

"Saan ba?" Candice asked.

"Ayan oh!" Cindy replied and pointed at a part of her face unclearly.

"Saan nga? Ikaw na nga mag alis." Candice said and come closer at her.

"Ayan oh!" wika ni Cindy at itinuro ang noo at idiniin ang daliri na parang itinutulak ito.

"A-aray! Bwisit ka talaga"

Cindy then ran and left Candice. Candice then started chasing her.

"Bwisit ka!" Candice shouted.

Cindy looked back at her and stick out her tounge mocking Candice. But she was confused when Candice then smiled. And in no second, Cindy bumped the same man earlier. They both fell on the floor and she was on top of him. She could feel that he's shaking.

She stood up in instant and so as the guy. Candice was just laughing at them.

In no time, Cindy and Candice were back on their seats. Candice was sleeping and Cindy couldn't stop herself thinking about the guy. She wandered around her sight and saw her father awake. Some people were looking at the window, some were reading and some were cuddling.

Pero natigilan ang lahat at nagkatinginan nang biglang umuga ang eroplano.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing turbulence. For your safety please remain seated with your seatbelts securely fastened. Avoid standing or going to the lavatory at this time.

But everyone was shocked when same thing happened again.

The pilot then apologized.

People started panicking when the plane seemed moving abnormally. Lairah and Candice then got awake.

Flight attendants approached every passenger and tried making them calm.

The plane then started shaking more and more. It seemed dropping. Everyone was shaking and some were even starting to cry.

This is your pilot Gregory Evans, ordering you all to fasten your seatbelts and hold tight. May we also request you all to keep calm. There's nothing to worry. Everything is under control.  The pilot slightly panicking and even mentioned his name.

Everyone do so. Cindy hold her dad's hand tighter feeling nervous inside her system.

The lights then shut down that made people scream and panic more. Others started to cry while some started holding each other's hand and pray.

Again, this is your pilot, requesting you all to keep calm thank you. The pilot announces with a trace of more nervousness.

Cindy closed her eyes hardly while her hand holds her father's. Candice holds Lairah's too.

Then the plane went back at the normal state. Everyone sighed heavily.

This the pilot of flight SS394, everything is now settled. There is nothing to worry anymore. May we all continue enjoying our flight. Thank you.

Some people smiled as they felt the relief.

Minutes passed. Cindy's still holding Adam's hand tightly. She's still swallowed by nervous.

Natigilan siya at napasigaw nang umalog muli ang eroplano at namatay ang ilaw. Mas malakas na pag uga ang naganap. Lumakas pa lalo ang pag-alog at nagsimula na muling magsigawan ang mga tao.

The pilot had an announcement but panic could be heard from his voice.

"We're dropping." Adam said with no emotion.

"Adam! Stop. Di ka nakakatulong."

"I know. I'm just saying. Be prepared Lairah and you two"

"Y-you mean magka crash ang plane?" Cindy asked in shaking voice.

"Yes. The pilot can't handle it anymore. I know it."

"Adam I said stop."

"Just be prepared."

Just then, the plane shook and the people started screaming. Some stood up and left their seat. The plane then started emitting black smoke and made the passengers more terrified. Other passengers ran to the emergency exit and crowded the pathway. Flight attendants tried to keep them calm but they weren't enough to stop them. Everyone was getting aggressive and pushed each other trying to get to the emergency exits. Nuisance filled the plane.

The pilot then announced and tried explaining but none listened.

People are getting wild. They were hitting each other. Everything was troubled. The fvcking plane is completely in chaos. The pilot couldn't even think properly and he couldn't handle the plane anymore.

The passengers panicked more and more. They didn't know what to do at all. They were jumping, screaming, crying, running and even hitting anyone they'd meet.

The plane started dropping faster. More smoke covered the plane and it suffocated all of them. Then a passenger desperately opened the emergency exit.

"We need parachutes!!" someone shouted.

"Where are those?!" another one replied.

"Ma'am, sir, please keep cal-" an attendant tried to stop them but she failed.

"No! We’re almost dying and you want us to keep calm ?!"

"The emergency parachutes will not be enough to save you all. Let us just, please, stay calm. We'll be able to do this if you'll stay calm."

"No! We need to do this!"

"Sir, if you'll be using the emergency parachutes, There’ll be more troubles. People will also try to do such." the flight attendant pointed the passengers.

"Why not?! We’re gonna die! We have to save ourselves.

"Sir, I fully understand you but this won’t work even a bit. Besides you have no assurance that you’llland safely with those parachutes. "

"This is your pilot, keep calm everyone. Unfortunately, we're facing a system malfunction. But the plane's still under control and the staffs are doing their best. We also called the nearest airport and infor-" but he then stopped. There was a silence. Everyone waited for him to continue but there was none. Then everyone panicked when a freaking sound covered the whole plane. A sound of someone's throat being slit. It seemed like blood burst out from him. The pilot was killed by a hijacker. His throat was stabbed and his neck was left opened.

The situation worsen. Flight attendants who tries to make the passengers calm were dragged. People were running, screaming all around. Everything was messed up. Sound of people crying blended with screams.

The plane was just a thousand feet above the ground and about to crash anytime soon. Some people decided to jump, others chose to stay while some couldn't even move at all. Then the emergency parachutes ran out of stock. Some had no choice but stay there, wait for their death.

Then the hijackers entered the part with passengers. Some tried to fight but bullets met their bodies and died. The hijackers then started shooting every person that stands against them. They got some possessions and things.

Sobrang gulo ng paligid. Halos masiraan na ng ulo ang lahat ng tao. Nanlaki ang mata ni Cindy nang makita kung sino ang isa sa mga hijacker. Yung lalaki na nakabangga niya kanina. Hindi siya makagalaw, para siyang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Unti unti itong lumapit at ngumiti nang may halong pananakot. Ilang hakbang na lang ay maaabot na siya nito ngunit isang kamao ang tumama sa muka nito dahilan para ito'y bumagsak sa sahig. Lumapit naman si Candice kay Cindy at niyakap ang kakambal niya. Halos hindi maawat sa pagtulo ang luha nila.

They were just hugging each other and cried hard watching their father with the hijacker. Natigilan sila nang makitang maglabas ng baril ang hijacker. Matapang na nakipag agawan si Adam sa kaniya at pilit ibinabaling ang baril kung saan walang tao.

Then a gunshot made everyone panic more. It hit a window. They were just fighting for the gun when the hijacker took a punch on Adam's stomach and another on his jaw. He then shot him but someone immediately ran and took the bullet for him. Candice...

Blood started to escape from Candice's body before she could even fell on the ground. Cindy then ran to her and cried hard. Sobrang bigat ng pakiramdam ni Cindy. Parang nawala ang kalahati ng buhay niya.

She let out an agonizing scream and more tears flow from her eyes. Tears flowed from Candice's eyes as she starts weakening. Cindy's legs were trembling. Eyes getting blurry with so much tears. More tears flow from them as blood covered them both.

With all the chaos around, the plane crashed and smashed a building. Large explosion almost destroyed a one whole city. No one would ever actually believe that anyone will survive. The plane parts scattered everywhere. Dead bodies could be seen all around. Human body parts could be even seen anywhere.  Anyone could hardly be seen surviving. Some will be found alive, run out of breath and then dies eventually. It wouldn't be overstating if you'll say you could see a human head rolling.

Cindy, with all her strength, crawled weakly the ten meter distance to Candice. She spits blood and could hardly breathe. As Cindy reaches her, Candice forced a smile. And with her last breath, a drop of tear fell from her eyes.