Chapter 4

"Lara, give us another runway now!" I hit the push-to-talk switch again. "There's a downburst on our approach to Runway Seven, and the wind speed is beyond safety limits. Our plane is in no condition to land on this runway!"

But all I heard through the headset was Lara's devilish voice. "I already cleared you a runway. Whether or not you can land this plane is a matter of your piloting skills."

Jacob quickly pulled up the ground information for the airport. A low curse escaped him a second later. "Runway Seven hasn't even been cleared of obstacles yet! There are two maintenance vehicles at the end of the runway, and the maintenance workers have yet to leave the midsection!"

I glanced downward. Between the cloud layers, the lights on either side of Runway Seven were dim. Several orange lights were seen on the runway's midsection, and they showed no signs of moving.

Even if, by some sheer luck, we passed through the downburst, we'd crash into the maintenance vehicles upon landing.

This was no simple oversight. Lara hadn't planned to let this plane land safely from the start! As long as the plane crashed, she could write it up as an operational mistake on my part.

"If you hate me or want me dead, Lara, feel free to take it up with me personally." I glowered at the dark, rolling thunderclouds. "But why did you have to drag all these innocent passengers into this?"

She laughed, her voice full of hatred. "Innocent, you say? You didn't think I was innocent when you left me at the wedding and humiliated me in front of all our friends and family!

"Since those passengers have bought tickets to your flight, they may as well pay for your mistake, too!"

What little hope I had for this situation to turn around was eradicated at that moment. Lara had gone mad.

I took off my headset and turned to look at Jacob. "Make sure the conversation earlier has been properly saved. If we don't make it back, we need to at least let others know why this plane crashed."

With red-rimmed eyes, Jacob nodded once and said, "Yes, sir!"

I pulled up the airport layout. My gaze fell on the uncleared runway still under maintenance. There was no ground control there to guide the plane, and the approach lights were off, but at least I didn't have to go through a storm to land there.

"Back out of the route bound for Runway Seven and turn toward the crosswind runway."

Jacob whirled to look at me in alarm. "Captain, that runway isn't cleared for landing! We have no way to determine its ground conditions, either."

I gripped the control stick tightly. "I know, but at the very least, we can't let all these passengers die in a storm."

The plane began to deviate from the route Lara had given us. The piercing trill of the alarm filled the cockpit.

Lara quickly discovered our movement. "What are you doing, Anthony? Return to the original route right away!"

I put on my headset again and sounded surprisingly calm as I said, "This plane will not follow your commands from this point onward."

Lara's breath quickened. "You dare disobey my orders? No runway will be cleared for you without my permission! You'll kill everyone on board, Anthony!"

I cut her off coolly. "You're the one who wants to kill them, Lara. If we land safely, I'll hand over all the recordings to the investigation team myself."

She let out an angry screech. "Turn back right now, Anthony! Disobey me, and I'll make sure you never fly a plane again in this lifetime!"

I ignored her and cut off communication without saying another word. Then, I switched on the aircraft's PA system and announced, "Dear passengers, this is your captain, Anthony Griffith, speaking. The control tower denied our request for an emergency landing because the controller had a personal grudge against me. To make matters worse, they directed our plane to land on a runway that was unsuitable for landing. I apologize."

The cabin burst into an uproar.

I tempered the roiling emotions in my chest and enunciated my promise to the passengers, "I won't ask for your forgiveness, but I am the captain of this plane. From this point onward, I'm done following wrong orders.

"I'll man the fort at the cockpit no matter the price and do my best to bring all of us to land!"

Bethany took over the PA system right away. "Passengers, fasten your seatbelts, keep your head down, lean forward in your seats, and wrap your arms around your head. Prepare to brace for impact!"

Only four minutes of fuel endurance left. The crosswind runway was pitch-black.

Jacob stared as the ground loomed closer, cold sweat breaking out over his forehead. "Captain, there are no lights to guide us. We can only locate the runway from the dashboard."

I pushed the control stick down and began our final turn. "I won't give up as long as I'm still holding this control stick! Let's go big, or go home!"

Just as the plane aligned with the crosswind runway, a deafening boom came from the right. Sparks and ashes exploded from under the wing.

The right engine's speed rapidly fell to zero. The plane tipped sharply and began to fall toward the pitch-black city below.

I pulled the control stick with all my strength. "Hang tight, everyone! We're making a forced landing now!"