Page 42 of Out of the Dark

A small moment of reprieve comes to me as I watch Mark’s massive figure while he attempts to maneuver through the plane without hitting his head or running into anything. It must be annoying to be so large in such a small space.

Mark slides into the seats facing my own, his bulk taking up most of the double seat. Apparently deciding to bear witness to my impending freakout, he leans back, looking entirely too at ease, as if this were just another car ride.

But instead of feeling cramped or claustrophobic, I’m comforted by his presence. For now, anyway.

The flight attendant gives us a quick safety rundown, but I barely register her words, and I’m left with the distinct impression that I’m missing something important. My palms are clammy, and I can’t seem to catch my breath.

As the engines start to hum, a low vibration courses through the plane, and my panic spikes. The knot in my chest tightens. Every instinct screams at me to get off the plane, but it’s too late now. The door is closed, the engines are roaring louder, and I’m trapped.

I’m vaguely aware of Mark’s eyes on me, but I continue staring down at my feet and attempting to stop the spiral of dread.

The plane moves, and my body tenses, every muscle locking up as if that will somehow protect me.

"Hey," Mark says gently, his voice cutting through the haze of panic.

I glance up at him, and I’m sure my fear is written all over my face.

He leans forward and holds out his hands in silent offering. Releasing my grip on the seat, I extend my arms to take his hands. They envelop mine almost entirely, and the difference in size would be almost comical if I weren’t seconds away from launching into the air.

"Are you okay?"

I nod even though I’m not sure I am.

The engines roar louder, and the plane starts to accelerate, pressing me back against my seat. I let go of Mark’s hands to grip the armrests for dear life and squeeze my eyes shut, willing this to be over.

"Would me holding you make you feel better or worse?" he asks over the sound of the accelerating plane.

The question catches me off guard, but I don’t have to think long. "Better," I manage to whisper around the painful knot in my throat. I doubt he hears me, but he sees the movement of my lips and quickly unclasps his seatbelt, covering the space between us in one step and squeezing intothe seat beside me.

Without hesitation, he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.

"You’re safe," he murmurs, his lips close to my ear. "I’ve got you. Nothing’s going to happen, I promise."

The plane lifts off the ground. My stomach drops and I huddle into Mark’s large, warm body. It provides a small amount of comfort to know he cares, even if my fear is unwarranted.

"Breathe, Claire," he coaxes as the plane climbs higher. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Just like that. You can do this."

I try to follow his instructions, but my breath is shaky and shallow.

Mark’s arm tightens around me, and he shifts slightly, his body angled toward mine as if to shield me from the experience. "You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. Just keep breathing. I’m right here."

The plane jolts, and I clutch at Mark’s forearm like it’s the only thing keeping me from falling.

"It’s just like going over a bump in a car," he reassures me. "That’s all it is."

I keep my eyes shut, focusing on the sound of his voice instead of the unsettling sensation of the plane climbing higher and higher.

"You’re doing so well," he continues. "Just a little longer, and we’ll level out. The hardest part’s almost over."

His words are a lifeline, pulling me back from the brink of panic. Slowly, my breathing evens out, and the tightness in my chest eases when the plane levels out. I open my eyes but don’t dare to glance out the window. Instead, I look up at Mark.

"You’re okay," Mark reassures me, a small smile tugging atthe corner of his mouth. "In twenty minutes, you’ll forget you’re even on an airplane."

This gets a snort out of me. "Yeah, right."

His smile expands. "Are you scared of heights?"

"I don’t think so."

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