The Call Out

My phone rang, seemingly unending, waiting to be connected. I had 42%.

'Hello, 999. Is the patient breathing?' I heard on the phone, as it was connected to a dispatcher. Her voice was calm, sincere in her care for the emergency, instantly reassuring even though she had no idea what was happening, no idea what could happen, no idea how panicked I was.

'Hello, yes, we're in danger and I don't know what to do.' I stumbled over my words, I couldn't think as fast as the words were spitting out of my mouth, I took a large breath.

'Where are you? What's the danger?' The lady continued gently, with a patient and understanding tone.

'I don't know where we are, we're still in a blackout spot, I can't see anything outside, I think the plane is going down, I think I can feel it going down but I can't see anything. I've only been doing this a few weeks.' I began to panic more, I could feel my chest getting tighter and my heart beating harder, faster. 39%.

'Going down? You're still flying?' She asked, the concern growing in her voice.

'Hello, this is dispatch coordinator, Lucie, what's going on?' A new older voice joined.

'The plane is going down, I can't see anything, I don't know where we are. I'm scared.' I repeated. My heart pounding harder and harder as I spoke.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking, please secure seatbelts and brace for impact, this is a precaution.' The Pilots usually confident and smooth voice wavered slightly as she spoke. 'Brace, brace, brace.'

Everything went into chaos, people shuffling to seats, mumbled swearing, some crying, and then the whole plane, as if they were all connected, passengers, attendants and even pets fell silent, everyone holding their breath- as if they were trying to will the plane to safety.

'Hello? Are you still there?' Lucie asked, concern filling her voice.

'Yes.' I whispered. 34%

'Do you know what's going on?' She asked, I could hear she was worried.

'No, I don't know.' I finally managed to get out.

'What's your name? I'm Kila. How are you feeling?' The original dispatcher who answered the phone asked.

'Zura, my name is Zura. I'm scared, my chest is getting tight and I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. I'm scared. I still can't see anything outside, but I can't feel the plane falling anymore?' I answered uncertainly.

'Zura, how long have you been in the dark?' Lucie asked.

'I called you after we had been in the dark for 3 minutes, that's how long it should ever be. 3 minutes max and you're out. Why has it been so long, I don't understand?' I answered quickly, slightly out of breath, asking myself the question more than the dispatchers. 'We should have been out of the dark in less than three minutes after we entered. I don't understand.'

'Zura, I hear you struggling to catch your breath, do you have any health issues to do with your heart, or lungs?' Kila asked.

'No, I'm as healthy as anything. I think it's just because I'm scared. I've never had this before, any of this.' I answered truthfully, confident that I had been feeling breathless and panicked just because of the situation. 28%

'That's good. Can you tell what's going on now? Are you still feeling stable?' Kila said with a hopeful tone.

'Yes, the plane still feels stable, equalised, I think we are safe from falling. We are still in the dark though.' I said with a slight sigh of relief, for the fact of our flight being stable.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking.' The usually soft and low voice of the captain had a hint of unease in his voice as he made his announcement. 'We are nearing the end of our unexpectedly extended blackout spot, please remain seated until instructed otherwise.'

'Did I hear that right, Zura, you're almost out of the dark?' Lucie expectantly asked.

'Yes, yes, you did. I think we are going to be ok.' I excitedly answered before even looking out of the window. I looked out the window of the door where I had been sat and saw it. 'Oh no, oh no, no, no.'

'Zura, what's wrong?' Kila asked, concerned.

'We're not on our flight path at all, we're nowhere near where we should be.' I spluttered, more panicked than before. 23%

'What do you mean, where are you?' Kila continued.

'We are supposed to be able to see the ocean by now, a small glimpse of England behind the plane, but it's all land. There's no ocean in sight. I don't understand it. Where are we?' I swallowed hard and took a deep, sharp breath.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, it appears that we are, due to the blackout spot, unfortunately, off course for our flight. Please remain seated while we work out how to get back on course. Thank you.' The Pilots voice was puzzled over the speaker.

'Zura, are you safe?' Lucie asked.

'I don't know, I think so.' I answered as certainly as I could. I looked back out the window and felt my heart drop. 'No, we are not safe, not at all. We need help, right now.' 20%

'What's going on, where do we need to send help?' Lucie asked, slightly frantic.

'I can't trace your call, Zura, please, do you know where you are over?' Kila added, panic setting into her previously calming voice.

'Oh no, we're headed for London, far far far too quickly.' I screamed. 15%

The plane tumbled down, fast, everything rattling and clanging so loud the screams of the passengers could barely be heard, the captains announcement only just legible. 13%

'Brace, brace, brace.'

BANG!

Silence...

'Hello, Zura, Zura, are you there?' I could just about hear the muffled sound of Kila and Lucie repeating my name, asking me if I was there. I couldn't move, I groaned as I slowly flickered my eyes open. I tried to speak.

'Hello' I eventually, quietly croaked. I tried clearing my throat, coughing and spluttering, gasping and choking on air. 'Hello.' I repeated, louder. 7%

'Oh, thank God. Zura, help is on its way. People will be there soon. We are getting you help.' Lucie practically shouted down the phone in relief.

'Zura, are you hurt?' Kila continued the call.

'I think so, I can't tell. Probably, I can't feel anything, and I can't move, I'm stuck. I can't see anything, its too dark. Oh, I hate the dark.' I answered, anger in my voice at being in the dark again. 3%

'Just 30 seconds and the first responders will be there, everyone is on their way, everyone.' Lucie said, I could hear the sympathy, the care and the hope in her voice.

'Thank you.' I said, just in time, at that moment my phone buzzed, dead. I was alone in the dark.

All I could hear was ringing, cries and my own breathing. Time felt as if it stood still, when suddenly a blinding bright light erupted beside me. I was lifted from the plane, still strapped into my seat. I was free, safely on the ground and I was alive.