A change of scenery, that's what I need. This vacation will be the perfect answer.
Cyree West paused off to the side of the terminal, digging her ticket out of her pocket and stood for a moment taking a deep breath. The airport bustled as if swarmed by an army of ants, each person clutching a bag while rushing toward a destination.
The feeling they knew something she didn't came over Cyree and she frowned. Since the divorce it made her nervous to feel others were keeping secrets from her. After the way her ex had cheated on her and then tried to cheat her out of the house they'd bought with her inheritance, trust no longer came easy. She couldn't believe her own attorney, who was supposed to be representing her, had not only had an affair with her ex husband, but had tried to cheat her of the home as well.
It was deception and betrayal on all levels. Better to trust no one than to have your world yanked out from under you.
"Oof."
Jarred from her thoughts, Cyree clutched her bag as a large woman bumped into her, pushing Cyree into the trashcan. She slid down the trashcan looking up in surprise at the woman in the black cloak and purple turban before landing flat on her ass.
The woman, neither seeming to care or to notice, continued pushing her way through the crowd, shouldering others aside, her purple turban noticeable in the crowd.
What is with all these people? What is going on here?
The loudspeaker crackled. "Attention all passengers. Check in at your gate as soon as possible. All passengers must sign the release form and receive sendot before boarding your plane."
What the heck is sendot?
"Passengers without sendot will not."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A vehicle driving down the middle of the terminal drowned out the rest of the announcement and Cyree missed it. She stood up, dusted herself off and then shaking her head, she looked up and down the terminal.
The vehicle speeding away had a yellow sign on the back, which read Sendot in red letters.
Cyree frowned. The mysterious Sendot. What could it be?
She could have sworn she saw a gun sticking out the side of the vehicle and two men wearing helmets. But maybe she was seeing things. Yesterday at the eye Dr. they'd put those drops in her eyes to dilate her pupils and she'd had to wear sunglasses until they wore off. Maybe some remained in her system making her see things.
Men didn't ride through airports holding automatic weapons. At least not in the U.S.
"Attention all passengers. Check in at your gate as soon as possible. All passengers must sign the release form and receive sendot before boarding your plane. Passengers without sendot will not be permitted to board their plane."
What was this sendot stuff they kept talking about?
She'd never heard of it.
Cyree hefted her bag and headed toward her gate, wanting something to quench her thirst. Passing a sign that said Lounge, she backed up and entered. The heavy door slammed behind her.
Bang. Click. Darkness enfolded her. Sudden panic rose in her throat. She spun and grasped the door handle, tugging hard. It didn’t budge.
She caught her breath, forcing away a rising feeling of panic that came with being locked inside the dark lounge.
Balling up her fist she pounded on the door. “Hello? Hello? Help! Let me out!”
After several minutes it was clear no one would.
She heard no sounds only silence. No loudspeaker, no beeping cart, no hurrying people, no chattering voices. Nothing but dead silence. And if she couldn’t hear them, how could they hear her?
Her eyes adjusted to the dark and she took in the room. As the room came into detail she saw the upholstered seats of club chairs were shredded. Foam stuffing, overturned tables and broken glass covered the floor. She walked around the room, taking it all in.
No wonder they kept the door locked. They'd closed the lounge until they could repair it. But wait. The door hadn’t been locked on the outside.
Had someone locked it behind her? Or was the door set to lock itself? Who knew how long she'd be stuck here?
I'll miss my flight. So much for a restful getaway vacation in Florida.
She pulled out her cell phone to call Bryan at work. He could call the airport and they'd send someone to get her out.
No service.
She stared at the only light in the room, coming from her phone and wanted to scream.
Plunking down on the floor against the wall she leaned back and closed her eyes.
Could it get any worse? No. Don't even go there. You know better than to go there. Because you ought to know by now it always can and for you it frequently does.
A tear ran down her cheek, but she was too tired to wipe it away. She sat deflated, her thoughts drifting and soon her head began to nod.