‘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.

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.
41 responses to “PARANOIA”
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!!
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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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Yes, I am sure she will be too. She isn’t flying over the Pacific. 🙂
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I used to fly a lot and I handled it well, but I was always relieved when the plane landed safely.
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I’m not a regular flier but my mind does always imagine the worst case scenario.
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Yes, we are flying to Oregon next month, thanks! Whatever happened to that Malaysian airliner? No one knows…
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Amazing that it is still largely undiscovered, with all the technology we have. I’m sure your flight will be uneventful 🙂
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A good piece, Iain. Not to be read right before flying.
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Thank you, not a piece of in-flight entertainment for sure!
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Hey! My story is very close to yours.
Just before the last line, I thought she’s gonna be okay. But I was wrong. Seems like sometimes paranoia is what you need.
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Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not watching you…
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You built it up very well. Great write.
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Thank you
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Another good story Iain.
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Thank you
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Somehow, I imagined she was the hijacker or bomber.
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Your suspicious mind again James!
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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.
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No matter what my rational mind tells me, I can’t help but imagine the worst when I board flights. Fortunately, I don’t take that many!
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I’m obsessed with the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines Flight, and this just fueled my obsession. Who knows what people felt/thought before they disappeared? Nice work.
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Thanks Brianna, it is fascinating that no wreckage has yet been found.
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Great story! I breathed a sigh of relief at what I thought was the end of the story and then…
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I couldn’t let it just end on a happy note 😉
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Sadly paranoia did not help her. Perhaps she is still alive on a planet far far away!
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Is that where the Bermuda Triangle takes you?
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Oh wow! What a great story! The ending is chilling!
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Thank you PJ
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Wow! You are to writing what Alfred Hitchcock was to film. Subtle, real, and powerful.
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Ah, what a compliment. It could be a plot from one of his films in hindsight!
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Perhaps, but the real writing is you.
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Oh no, the end was tragic. Her fears were not unfounded
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Not this time! Thanks Aks
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A story with a sting in its tail! Clever stuff Iain
Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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Thanks Keith
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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.
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That’s incredible, I bet so many now must think the worst whenever the train stops unexpectedly.
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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
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You pack the emotions in her – fears and relief, and then a kick to the reader’s guts – so well done.
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Thank you Sarah Ann 🙂
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Good story! Paranoia is right! I imagine most people have a bit of that these days. Hope there are no scary delays when we go on a flight this coming weekend! 🙂
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I’m sure you will be fine 🙂
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