11:00 AM (EST)
Planes used to be something she enjoyed taking her travels on. From the boarding, the attendants handed out assortments of snacks, even the array of movies that one could watch as they enjoyed their flight.
Amelia couldn't feel any sort of enjoyment out of the ride as she was settled in her seat, the guilt had begun to eat away at her from the inside. Her hands were dirtied with stains of blood in her own eyes, no matter how hard she wished to scrub the image away. Gloves could not hide the spatter her thoughts created to taunt her. Surrounded by unsuspecting people, those who had no idea of the acts she had committed in the city of departure.
Yet it felt as though all of their eyes stopped on her, spotted her in the crowded plane pathway. Tucking their suitcases above themselves, getting settled in their seats with those around them. Only sparing a glance to her, their eyes piercing for more than a second of connection.
Her task had come to end for now, the end was however nowhere in sight. This was only the beginning of what was to come, what she had to do to so many others. Slaughter human beings like pigs collected in pens– On a farm, their final destination at her hands.
She wished she could grant mercy, that sort of relief would never come. Not now, not until Jake Parker was wiped off the face of the planet. A task that would take weeks, months, even years. Having to outsmart a serial killer, a man who knew almost every action she could take. It would be hard, it would be a challenge.
A long sigh leaves her lips, pulling her long black coat off of her shoulders. Folding it in her hands, then placing it on her lap. The rising temperature was felt across her skin, unbuttoning a part of her shirt to reveal a red blouse peeking through. Gloved hands grabbing fists full of her own hair, quickly putting it into a high ponytail.
Amelia was in for a long flight, so getting comfortable with her rattling nerves was the next best thing. Grabbing her bag at her feet, pulling out a hand mirror– Clicking it open, flicking a handkerchief from her pocket. There was her reflection, encased in the small cylinder glass.
That guilt, she could see it in her own eyes. Hitting at her own pupils, piercing deeply into her entire being. No amount of makeup would cover the stained cheeks of crimson red, nor hide the bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep of nightmares.
Nightmares of victims, people who were lost in the presence of her. No matter what choice she made, people were going to be lost. Buried by their families in despair, believing that she had done everything she could to save them. When in reality, she was the cause of their loss.
Her hand swiped against her lips to wipe the lipstick off, smearing the dark color of red against its white counterpart. Cloth stained by a familiar color. Shoved back into her pocket, the hand mirror shut forcefully and tossed into the open bag. The shuffling of people continues around her, even as she leans deep into her seat to try to find some comfort. More seated, flight attendants making their way down aisles to situate their guests.
Airplanes were never a comfort, and yet her eyes fluttered shut against the cushion of her chair. Heavy breathing becomes slow, soft with her chest rising in sync. If she could get a few hours of sleep in, perhaps her head would be clearer to plan an attack against her captor. Slumber would be a virtue, if it was allowed.
A moment of peace, in the swirling storm of chaos. Something her entire life she had yet to experience. The past was closer than she wanted it to be, but she could not stop how fast it caught up to her. There had to be a potin to stop it, before things got worse than they already were.
There's a vibration in her lap, her eyebrows furrowing over her shut eyes. Groaning, eyes fluttering open to peak down at her coat pocket. She pulls it out, seeing that an unknown caller was on the other side. Amelia pauses for a moment, before accepting the call– Digging into her bag for her earpiece.
Once it is in her ear, she clicks it on. The device blinks a bright blue as the call is hooked to it. Amelia sighs, "Yes." Her voice is straight forward, no introduction given for the caller.
"Goodmornin' my little dove, up bright and early I see." That sinister voice calls to her on the other end of the call, sending chills up her entire spine. The entire scene around her ceasing any sound.
Her focus was on him, his voice–The next thing he was going to let slip from his lips. Something, anything she could use to get a few steps ahead.
Emerald hues direct to the open window, outside a gloomy sky illuminated by beautiful lights. Planes moving down runways to depart to their next destination, draping the sky with bright lights that faded into heaps of clouds. "Let's not delay this, I know why you're calling."
A chuckle from the other end, "Oh? Ya always want to get straight to the point don't ya, Amelia." It was nothing but a game to him, using her as a puppet with strings attached to every limb.
"I did what you asked." A cold voice, dry of any emotion. No sense of dread, guilt, sadness. Amelia would hold her emotions in until the call was over, she would never let him win such a thing over her.
"Ah, Leo is gone. What about–"
"Both are gone. As you wanted."
Shrill laughter hits her ears, cackling like nothing she had ever heard before. As if the words that left her lips were joyous, a happy moment. It was nothing of the sort, a sick and twisted man would never be able to understand the values of life and death.
Jake saw life as a game, everyone else's but his own. Using those to his advantage, to his gain– Only to toss them when they no longer suited him. That was what she had become, a toy. A prop to throw and thrash around, a doll to bend and break into his own contorted image.
"A bonus kill! Ya are a natural at this, my love!"
She wanted to kill him, more than anything. Prison was too good for him, too kind to a man with no sympathy for the people around him. No mercy in the very slightest for the victims at his hands. The silence was echoing, she heard nothing but his rough and disgusting tone of voice. A hoarse throat, a horrid face: That was Jake Parker.
"You know who's next on your list."
His words have her groaning, turning her head to look back into the aisles. Flight attendants pushed down charts slowly throughout the passengers, holding conversations in front of her eyes. They would get closer in due time.
She places two fingers on her ear piece, pressing it harder into her ear. " Give me a break, I have my own job as you should already know." A hiss comes from her lips.
"You follow by my needs, remember? Ya wouldn't want dear old daddy to be harmed."
There was no chance in Hell she would let him lay a hand on her father. Not after the blood that was spilling for her to save his own. Amelia would die for him, no matter who he had become.
He angered her, something no person had yet to do in the last five years. Knowing how to push all the right buttons, getting her riled up to no end. Her father was a weak spot, and he knew that. Jake was there, throughout her entire life. He knew of the things that upset her, angered her, even made her happy. Now he could use all of it to his advantage.
Jake knew Amelia like the back of his hand, she knew nothing of him anymore. He wasn't the man she thought he had been when they first met, he had become an entire different being. A monster hiding under the shield of human emotions, love and empathy.
Her hands grip into fists on the arms of her chair, trying her hardest to not show the visible anger in a public setting. It was not how she had been for the last five years, not a part of her reputation. Always known as cold, calculated, five steps ahead of any problem.
Being out of her element, had everything spilling from the cracks.
"I'm doing what you fucking ask you bastard–"
Out of the corner of her eye she sees a flight attendant pulling up next to her. Giving the woman a bright smile automatically, fingers pulling away from the side of her ear.
The attendant smiles back kindly, gesturing to the cart in front of her. " Would you like anything to eat Ma'am?"
"Just water, please." The woman nods, pulling out a pitcher of water to begin pouring Amelia a glass of water. While the woman does so, Amelia clears her throat. "You give me the time to do what you've asked me to. It will get done."
There's no speech on the other end of the phone, just silence. As if Jake was just listening to her with no need to respond. A placing of the power between the two. The cat and mouse, one at the other's mercy.
The woman leans forward to hand Amelia her cup of water, in which she gratefully takes it from her hand. Giving the flight attendant a thank you, she takes a sip on instinct. Watching as the woman moves away from her to satisfy the many other passengers on the ongoing flight. Amelia sighs in relief as the cold liquid travels down her throat, parching her thirst for a few moments.
A ding is heard throughout the plane, Amelia's ears perking up from the sudden noise. "Hello Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you for joining Rylan Airlines USA!" Amelia's eyes meet with another young flight attendant at the front of the plane. Standing she holds an intercom, smiling brightly at all of the passengers.
"This flight from New York City to Los Angeles, California is an eight hour flight." Amelia places her fingers back onto her earpiece, letting out a quick: "I gotta go."
With no time for Jake to protest her departure, she presses onto the ear piece ending the conversation. Quickly pulling the piece from her ear, tossing it into her bag. All of her attention now is on the flight attendant, who continues to speak.