PARANOIA

~ Iain Kelly

‘Delayed indefinitely’ was the phrase the captain had used, offering no further information.

Outside the aeroplane, rain continued to pour but the weather wasn’t bad enough to ground flights.

Peering through her window she saw the airport personnel circling them. No one seemed to approach the aircraft. It had been an hour now.

Her mind began to race. A threat had been received. There was a bomb on board, maybe a suicide bomber sitting among them? Had they been hi-jacked? She started looking around. The man in 12E, she had noticed him during boarding. Was he sweating a bit too much?

Then abruptly the engines whirred into action. ‘Apologies for the delay, ladies and gentlemen, we had to wait for some luggage from a connecting flight to arrive. Hopefully we can make up time in the air. Please enjoy the flight.’

She sat back and relaxed, laughing at her paranoia, ready for the ten-hour flight ahead.

***

Six hours later the first reports began to emerge of Flight NB834 having gone missing over the Pacific Ocean.

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Copyright Yarnspinner

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story or poem in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

41 thoughts on “PARANOIA”

  1. OH gosh and just when I breathed a sigh of relief thinking all was fine! Not the kind of story for me to read before my daughter flies in a week to visit a friend! Don’t worry, I forgive you. LOL! It is a good story.
    It makes me remember the first time I flew after 9/11. I was the same as the lady in your story. Eyeing up the people in line and oh when a passenger opened up his laptop I thought OH NO. Crazy what your mind can do!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I think since 9/11 a lot of us are the same on flights, always that niggle at the back of our mind, despite the fact that we know nothing will happen 99.99999% of the time. Thanks for reading, I’m sure your daughter’s trip will be fine 🙂

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      Reply

  9. I hated liftoffs and touching back down. When I could, which was most of the time, I’d just close my eyes and sleep the majority of the trip. Saved a lot of time fussing and thinking. Sleep. Does a body good.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. I was on the subway heading downtown the morning of 911. The train stopped for a few minutes – an early morning delay – neither common nor uncommon – simply annoying. Then the train restarted and I got off at Canal Street to find a gigantic gaping hole belching fire and smoke in the Towers – they were about 8-10 blocks away. To this day when a train is delayed you can tell who was on a delayed train that morning.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. You try not…but…then the train starts and you breathe a sigh of relief and hope for the best…because that’s all we can do, keep our feet moving forward…and hope for the best

        Liked by 1 person

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