The hours passed and the plane soared through the night.
As the flight neared its destination, Alina grew uneasy, her instincts screaming at her to caution.
There was something in her mind telling her that something was wrong. But Alina threw it into the back of her mind like the imbecile she was.
As Alina landed from her flight, she found herself at Neonpolis Airport, her stomach rumbling like an overzealous drumline. Her instincts, as accurate as a bloodhound's nose, whispered caution in her ear, but hunger had other plans, growling louder than a disgruntled grizzly bear.
Ignoring the warning signs like a daredevil tightrope walker, Alina set out to find sustenance amidst the bustling airport terminal. With the determination of a foodie on a quest for the perfect meal, she scrolled through her phone, her eyes lighting up at the sight of glowing reviews for a nearby eatery.
With a six-hour layover ahead of her, Alina knew she had ample time to satisfy her voracious appetite. But first, a quick trip to the restroom was in order. As she freshened up, she couldn't help but catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror and pause to admire her own beauty.
With a smug grin, she struck a pose, her reflection staring back at her with equal parts admiration and amusement. "Looking good, Alina," she murmured to herself, reveling in the sight of her perfectly tousled hair and flawless complexion.
But even as she basked in her own narcissism, a nagging feeling tugged at the edges of her consciousness like a persistent mosquito. Was it just her hunger playing tricks on her, or was there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface?
'Maybe I am thinking too much, like they say, You're not you when you're hungry'
As she approached the small restaurant, the savory scent of grilled burgers wafted through the air, luring her in like a moth to a flame. With a carnivorous grin, she perused the menu, her stomach doing cartwheels at the thought of sinking her teeth into their acclaimed bestseller burger.
Ordering with the gusto of a food enthusiast at a buffet, Alina eagerly awaited her meal, her anticipation growing with each passing minute. When the burger arrived, she dove in with reckless abandon, savoring each mouthful as if it were her last.
'It's so tasty' she thought.
After finishing her burger, Alina's eyes twinkled with mischief as she eyed the neighboring bakery, its display case adorned with tantalizing treats.
With the resolve of a dessert connoisseur on a mission, she ordered a chocolate brownie, her taste buds tingling in anticipation of the sweet delight to come.
She couldn't resist the urge to capture the decadent delights she encountered. Pulling out her phone with the finesse of a seasoned Instagram influencer, she snapped pictures of the mouthwateringand the sinfully rich brownies, and every delectable morsel in between.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Alina sent the photos to her family chat group and specifically to Melissa, knowing full well the envy it would elicit. As she hit send, she couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Melissa's reaction.
Sure enough, within seconds, her phone buzzed with a flurry of messages from her family members, each one filled with exclamations of envy and longing.
Melissa immediately called Alina, which she accepted.
"Ugh, you're killing me, Alina! That burger looks divine. Meanwhile, I'm over here eating kale salad like a rabbit. Not fair!"
"Haha, sorry, sis! But hey, at least you're getting your daily dose of greens, right? Alina replied gleefully.
"Yeah, yeah, trying to look on the bright side. But seriously, I swear you have a magical metabolism or something. It's not fair!"
"Come on, Mel, you know I'm just blessed with a magical metabolism. But hey, if you're feeling adventurous, maybe you should go eat a burger now."
"Oh please, I'd blow up like a balloon if I even looked at a burger! You, on the other hand, could probably eat a dozen without gaining an ounce. It's not fair, I tell you!"
Alina calmed her by saying "Hey, life's not fair, sis. But don't worry, next time we're together, we'll hit the gym and work off those burger gains together. How does that sound?"
"Deal! Just promise you won't make me do too many burpees. I don't want to pass out from exercise exhaustion like you're about to pass out from a food coma!" Melissa whined.
"Hey, it's all about balance, right? Anyway, I'll save you a virtual bite of this burger. Consider it my gift to you!"
"Shut up Ali. Don't make me hate you. Just remember to think of me while you're enjoying that burger. And maybe send me a selfie so I can live vicariously through you!"
"Will do, Mel. Now go enjoy your kale salad and pretend it's just as delicious as my burger. Love you!" Alina giggled while ending her phone call.
'It's so much fun to tease Mel' Alina thought as she collected her brownie.
As she made her way back to the airport, her steps light and buoyant with the taste of the sugar-induced bliss, Alina couldn't shake the feeling of unease that prickled at the back of her mind like an itch she couldn't scratch.
Was it a trick of her imagination, or had her appetite led her into a trap?
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she stumbled, clutching onto a nearby railing for support. The world spun around her, the airport terminal blurring into a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors before fading into darkness.
And as Alina collapsed to the ground, her last coherent thought echoed in her mind like a punchline to a cosmic joke: "I always knew my appetite would be the death of me."
As darkness claimed her, Alina's journey took a detour into the unknown, her fate sealed not by her adventurous spirit, but by the very thing that had always brought her joy—a simple meal that promised pleasure but delivered peril. In this moment, suspended between consciousness and oblivion, Alina realized that the greatest adventures often come with risks, some more dangerous than others.
And as she succumbed to the darkness, her story was far from over. It was merely the beginning of a new chapter, one where the taste of danger would lead her down paths untrodden, into a mystery that would demand all her wit and courage to unravel.