WHISPERS IN THE DARK
Whispers in the dark is a weekly short story in which weird is the norm. An exercise in strangeness, the stories are never to be taken too seriously, but should never be taken too lightly. For if you lay awake long enough in the dark, you’re bound to hear a whisper sooner or later.


Seat 49E
By Aaron Hall

“Looks like we’re gonna be spendin’ some time together.”

Allen Jamison looked up from his business magazine at the stranger that was addressing him. He did his best to appear polite even though he was groaning on the inside.

“Looks like it.”

The stranger put his bag in the overhead compartment then took his seat next to Allen.

“The name’s Luke, but all my friends call me Lucky.”

With that the man stuck his hand out, waiting for Allen to shake it. Allen had to fight back the urge to roll his eyes.

“Allen Jamison. Nice to meet you. Luke.”

“You fly often Allen?”

Allen rubbed his temples, trying to soothe the headache that he felt coming on.

“Constantly. The price of success I suppose.”

“Ah, businessman huh? I hate to fly.”

Luke leaned over Allen, looking out the window. Allen leaned back as far as he could, upset that Luke was touching him.

“Just look at that engine. That’s a complex machine and we’ll be pushing it to its limits all flight long.”

Allen politely glanced out the window to look at the wing and the giant engine connected to it. Allen’s cell began to ring. Thank God, he thought to himself.

“Hello, this is Jamison. Honey, this is my business line, I asked you not to call me on my business line.”

Luke settled back into his own seat, still watching Allen, who was becoming irritated by his phone call.

“I’m glad Brandon’s excited about his little league championship game, but there’s nothing I can do about that now. I specifically asked you not to call me on this line. If it was important then leave me a message at the hotel! It’s only a four hour flight.”

Allen rubbed his temples some more, getting seriously upset.

“I don’t make these meetings! Brandon will have to do well without his dad present. No, I don’t want to talk to him. Just explain to him that his daddy is working.”

Allen slammed his cell phone shut, ending the call. He glared at Luke, who was still staring at him.

“What?”

“Sheesh Allen, you were a bit hard on your family there weren’t you?”

“You know what Lucky? Mind your own business!”

Allen turned away from his unwanted neighbor and stared out the window as the plane began to take off. He rested his head on the window.

A few hours into the flight, Allen turned to Luke. He wasn’t fond of the man, but did want to apologize for his outburst. Luke wasn’t in his seat. I guess he went to the restroom, Allen thought. The plane jerked violently. Allen turned quickly to stare out the window. The engine was on fire. Most of it had broken off, taking part of the wing with it. The plane pitched violently and began to lose altitude. Not like this, Allen thought to himself. Luke came stumbling back to his seat, having trouble keeping his footing.

“Luke, the engine exploded!”

Luke just looked out the window with a blank expression and nodded.

“Yup, I was afraid of that.”

Luke leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The other passengers in the plane were screaming. The pilot was speaking over the loudspeaker but his voice couldn’t be heard over the screaming pasengers. Allen stared at Luke in disbelief, unable to comprehend why the man was so calm.

“Why are you just sitting there? Got nothing to live for?”

Luke opened his eyes and regarded Allen for a moment. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He opened it and flipped open his photos. He had a beautiful wife and two beautiful children. Allen was even more confused.

“Aren’t you afraid of never seeing them again?”

Luke turned his photos towards himself and smiled at them warmly.

“Afraid? No. Just disappointed. But they’ll always know they were loved. I told them every minute of every day. I treated my wife like a queen and I spent every possible minute of every day with my children. They’ve been taught well and they’ll never doubt that their daddy loved them with all of his heart. That’s the most any man can hope to leave behind.”

Allen stared at him, a lone tear rolling down his cheek.

“I’ve been such a fool. I didn’t even tell them I loved them before I left.”

Luke reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He handed it to Allen.

“It’s not too late. Hurry.”
Allen took the phone, tears coming quickly now. He was on the verge of breaking down at the realization of how much he loved his family. And how bad he had treated them all these years. It seems so unfair, he thought as he dialed.

“Allen! Allen, wake up!”

Allen snapped awake. Luke was shaking him. Allen started crying.

“It was all a dream.”

He looked at Luke, preparing to tell him about the dream that had changed his life. Luke’s face was pale and he was staring past Allen, out the window.

“No. God, no.”

Allen knew before he turned to look. The engine was on fire. Most of it had broken off, taking part of the wing with it. The plane pitched violently and began to lose altitude.
 

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