by Kirk Withrow
Less than thirty minutes later, Emirates Flight 486 touched down. The runway was awash with the flashing lights of scores of emergency vehicles. The pilot knew it would take hours for EMS to get the situation in the cabin under control. Unfortunately, that meant he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to alleviate some of the stress that had built up over the course of the flight. Landing a bird this size without the help of the copilot was no easy task, but he’d done so without a hitch. He knew the guys in the Captain’s Lounge would be impressed, though he didn’t know if anyone would be around when he was finally able to deplane. “Since we’re both stuck here, maybe the stewardess would like to hear about how I managed such a smooth landing on my own?”
The pilot keyed the onboard mic and said, “Stewardess, can I see you in the cockpit, please?” He waited for a reply but none came. Annoyed by her lack of responsiveness, the pilot stood and walked to the rear of the cockpit. He entered the unlock code and stepped through the door. To his surprise, the stewardess was standing right outside next to her service cart, her back facing him. Despite the fact that she’d apparently ignored him, he leered at her voluptuous curves that were even more impressive than he’d remembered.
“Excuse me, honey. I could use a little assistance up here in the cockpit. It seems I’m having a bit of trouble with my flight stick and I was hoping you could take a look at it,” he said in a lecherous tone.
The stewardess stiffened at the sound of his voice. A second later, she spun on him and bared her bloody teeth. Any sense of arousal vanished along with the color in his face as he stared at her dark, lifeless eyes.
“What the…”
The sounds of the pilot’s screams were lost amidst those spilling out of the passenger cabin.
THE END
About the Author
Kirk Withrow is the author of numerous novels and short stories. Typically dark, dystopian affairs, his writings possess a realistic slant owing to his scientific and medical background. His many other creative endeavors include playing music, building musical instruments, and painting. Whenever possible, he enjoys martial arts training including jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and kali.
Withrow’s debut novel, Four, is a psychological thriller with a medical twist. The Redivivus Trilogy—Threnody, Riposte, and Miasma—is a post-apocalyptic survival horror series about mankind's fight against a deadly pathogen that turns men into monsters. His writing took a comedic turn with Barrage, a dark sci-fi comedy that begins with a transplanetary miscommunication and careens dangerously toward intergalactic annihilation.
Kirk Withrow’s books and music are available at www.amazon.com.
Visit www.kirkwithrow.com for more information about Kirk Withrow’s books, art, music, and musical instruments.
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