Chapter 4 - Grace Holds the Checklist
Grace Holloway had trained for emergencies.
Medical events.
Turbulence injuries.
Cabin smoke.
Passenger panic.
Evacuation commands.
She had not trained for a twelve-year-old in the captain’s seat over the North Atlantic.
Yet the checklist in her hand became an anchor.
She held it where Malachi could glance without looking away too long.
“Fuel looks steady,” he whispered.
The controller answered, “Good. Do not troubleshoot beyond what I ask. We stabilize first.”
Malachi nodded again.
His breathing was still too fast.
Grace heard it through the headset mic.
“Malachi,” she said softly, “breathe with me.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Do it anyway.”
He obeyed.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
The warning alarm changed tone.
A passenger whimpered.
Grace glanced at the panel.
“What is that?”
Malachi scanned.
“It’s warning us about descent rate. I’m correcting.”
“Slowly,” the controller said.
“I know.”
His voice cracked.
Then steadied.
Grace watched his hands.
Small fingers wrapped around controls built for adults.
Knuckles pale.
Nails bitten.
Sleeves of his blazer riding up at the wrists.
He was a child.
A child with everyone’s life in his grip.
The thought threatened to break her composure.
She pushed it down.
He could not carry her fear too.
Behind them, a man stepped forward.
“My brother is a private pilot. Maybe I can—”
Grace turned so sharply he stopped.
“Back behind the doorway. Now.”
He hesitated.
Malachi did not look back.
Grace’s voice hardened.
“Now.”
The man retreated.
Passengers closed around him.
The cockpit remained Malachi’s, Grace’s, and the voice of ground control.
Grace glanced again at the overturned cup.
The residue had not moved.
The pilots had not stirred.
A thought formed and terrified her.
If this was not accidental, then the danger might not be over.
She looked toward the passengers.
Faces.
Fear.
No obvious threat.
No answers.
The controller spoke.
“Grace, secure the cockpit doorway as much as possible without leaving Malachi.”
Grace’s eyes sharpened.
May you like
He had thought of it too.
Read Chapter 5 👉 Because the aircraft was still falling into danger, and the cockpit itself might not be safe.
