This chapter's long. Prepare yourselves.

*

Characters: Iris Ash, Sara, stewardess, steward, pilot, copilot

Iris unbuckles her seatbelt and stands. Sara joins her. A flight attendant hurries toward them, eyes wide.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Ladies, we ask that all of our passengers remain seated during this turbulence.

Iris leans forward, eyes flint.

IRIS: We both know that that [small pause] wasn't turbulence. Now, I don't want to inconvenience you, but I doubt you want a plane full of panicked passengers on your hands. So either we keep that specific bit of information to ourselves and you let me stay standing...or these folks will know that something is wrong.

The flight attendant experiences a few moments of internal conflict before stepping back in a visual show of her submission.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT: [defeatedly] I'll tell the others that you two are free to move about the plane.

She hurries over to the other flight attendants, all of whom are talking quietly and worriedly among themselves, and says a few words to them. They all glance back at Iris and Sara, a couple of them with true concern on their faces. Iris meets their gazes calmly. Sara steps towards her and rests a hand on her shoulder.

SARA: [softly] Iris, what can you do? We don't even know where the blows are coming from.

As if on cue, another huge rattle shakes the plane. Iris instinctively grabs Sara, using her raw strength to keep them both upright. More people scream and the atmosphere becomes more tense as several small children begin to cry.

IRIS: [through gritted teeth] If we go down, it's my fault. Odrithin wants me, not them, and I'm sure he'd have no problem with going through an entire plane of people to get what he wants.

SARA: [fiercely] What can you do, Iris? Just sit down. We're only an hour away from New York - maybe he'll wait -

IRIS: [cutting her off] I'm going to go talk to the pilot.

SARA: [hissing] Oh, that is so not allowed -

Iris is already striding away from her.

SARA: [still hissing] Iris!

Iris begins pushing her way past the huddle of stewards and stewardesses when one of them grabs her upper arm.

STEWARD: [tersely] Ma'am, you're not allowed in the cockpit!

Iris shoots him a terrifying look.

IRIS: [annoyed] For the love of God, why can't you people understand that I'm trying to help you?

She shoves the steward against the wall forcefully and continues on her way.

The pilot and copilot are talking in low, concerned voices. Iris watches them for a second before speaking.

IRIS: What's happening?

Both men spin around, surprised.

PILOT: Ma'am, we're going to have to ask you to return to your seat -

IRIS: [impatiently] We both know that this isn't turbulence. So what's happening?

COPILOT: [tersely] We have the situation under control, ma'am. [imploringly] If you could please just return to your seat -

The intercom system crackles to life, although the pilots are not touching it. They look at their controls, shocked.

ODRITHIN: [through intercom, casually] I'm going to have to request that a Miss Iris Ash leave the plane. Iris Ash, please disembark from the plane.

The last sentence begins repeating on a loop.

PILOT: [to copilot] Who the hell is that?

COPILOT: [tapping frantically at the controls] I don't know. [even more frantically] I can't shut it off!

Iris's jaw is clenched, and she is deep in thought. Suddenly, she turns and storms from the cockpit.

Sara meets her in the aisle, grabbing her arm urgently.

SARA: [tensely] Iris, what are you doing? Iris, what's happening?

IRIS: [low and urgent] Sit down and buckle yourself in, Sara. Now.

SARA: [panicking] Please, Iris, just tell me what's going on!

IRIS: I may never have ridden on a plane, but I've done research on them. [darkly humorous] I wouldn't be the Night Plague's secret weapon if I didn't know how to keep people safe in every situation.

SARA: [fearfully] What are you planning on doing? [voice breaking] Please, Iris.

IRIS: [not budging] Sara, sit down.

As Sara unwillingly does so, Iris returns to the cockpit.

IRIS: [tensely] Lower the oxygen masks. Now.

PILOT: [angrily] Ma'am, please return to your seat -

IRIS: [incredibly impatient] If you don't lower the oxygen masks, people will die.

The mood changes perceptibly. The pilot twists around in his seat to face Iris with an incredulous expression. His copilot shoots him a worried glance.

PILOT: [carefully] Is that a threat?

Iris looks startled, and then is silent for a moment.

IRIS: [seriously] Would you listen to me if it was?

PILOT: [to copilot, urgently] Any luck in getting through to air control?

COPILOT: [shortly, equally urgently] No.

Odrithin's recording finally shuts off.

IRIS: [quietly] Dammit.

She looks at the pilot resolutely, as if deciding something. Then, she swiftly moves forward, hooking her arm around his throat.

IRIS: [shouting] Lower the goddamn oxygen masks!

The scene flashes to Sara, seated at last. As people around her glance towards the cockpit at this audible outburst, she presses her lips together and closes her eyes. A single tear slips down her cheek while passengers around her begin growing even more distressed.

The scene flashes back to Iris and the pilot. The copilot is physically leaning away from her, looking terrified.

PILOT: [wheezing slightly, to copilot, dryly] Well? You heard her.

The copilot only hesitates briefly before pressing a button.

The scene changes to show the other passengers, all of whom are incredibly startled by the lowering of the oxygen masks. Once realization settles in, though, true chaos hits. Adults demand answers, mutter to themselves, or focus on their oxygen masks as parents help their children, most of whom are distressed enough to be crying. The stewards and stewardesses hurry about the plane, helping passengers, before sitting down and helping themselves.

Sara stares at the oxygen mask in front of her for a few seconds, uncomprehending, before unbuckling with a cuss and jogging to the cockpit.

SARA: [furiously] Iris Ash! You are going to tell me what the hell is going on right now!

Iris twists around as much as she can while still holding the pilot in a headlock.

COPILOT: [desperately, gesturing to Iris] Do you know this lady? She's insane!

He flinches and glances at Iris as if expecting physical repercussions for the insult.

SARA: [staring at Iris, bitingly] You know, I wouldn't disagree with you.

IRIS: [coldly] Sit down and get your oxygen mask on, Sara.

SARA: [heatedly] Not until you tell me what's going on!

IRIS: [quietly] If I don't follow Odrithin's orders, all of these people will die.

The pilot and copilot share looks of confusion before glancing back at the women in utter befuddlement.

SARA: [disbelievingly] Iris, he's asking you to disembark the plane!

IRIS: [to pilot] I'm going to need your restraints.

PILOT: [confused, slightly wheezing] My what?

IRIS: Zip ties. For unruly passengers? I know you have them.

Sara realizes what is happening and holds up a finger, beginning to back away.

SARA: [warningly, holding up a finger] Iris Ash, I swear to God...

Iris releases the pilot in a sharp movement. He hurriedly reaches under his seat and pulls out a box, which he hands to Iris. She stares at Sara sorrowfully for a moment before whipping forward, faster than humanly possible, and grabbing Sara's wrists. She begins dragging her back to a seat as Sara struggles.

SARA: [half screaming] No! Iris, please! [beginning to cry] Iris, listen to me!

Iris forces her into the seat, using a knee to hold down her thrashing legs as she pins her arms to the armrests and zip ties them carefully down, being sure not to fasten them too tight. She then grabs the oxygen mask and forces it over Sara's head, somewhat muffling her screams and sobs. The other passengers look on with terrified eyes - the scene is only serving to further panic them. Iris turns to address all of them.

IRIS: [shouting to be heard] Make sure you're buckled in and have your oxygen masks on.

She pauses as if wishing to say more before sharply turning away and returning to the cockpit. Suddenly, the plane bucks violently again, making her stumble.

IRIS: [shouting to the pilot] Start lowering the plane! Everyone will die if you do not land this plane!

PILOT: [to copilot] Are we clear for landing?

COPILOT: [wildly] I can't get through to air control! I have no goddamn idea!

IRIS: Just lower the plane!

PILOT: [muttering] I can't believe this is happening.

He begins landing the plane.

Iris takes a deep breath of relief and returns to the main area of the plane. She walks over to the emergency exit seats, which are unoccupied. They are across the aisle from Sara. Iris stands in front of the door and stares up at the ceiling of the plane.

IRIS: [shouting] Odrithin, I'm ready! Come and get me!

She turns her gaze to Sara.

IRIS: [whispering] I'm so sorry.

The scene changes to show Sara. Tears stream down her face, and she has stopped struggling. Instead, she watches Iris with a horrible, agonized look in her eyes, unable to say anything due to the oxygen mask and other noise - but she has obviously read Iris's lips.

IRIS: [voice breaking] I love you.

The emergency door suddenly flies open and Iris is sucked out of the plane into oblivion.