FINDING PHOENIX

By Kylie Kniese

Phoenix thought moving to a new town and going to a new school was going to be the worst thing that happened to her this year. But in truth this was the easiest part.

Leland is not like anyone she has ever meet before, but yet there is something about him that seems so familiar.

Now with her life thrown into cha

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kylie Kniese
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648937708

Book preview

1

Chapter 1

As a shot of panic and fear ripped through me, I risk looking around the plane. Seeing a barrage of images sounds and smells that hit me like a train. There are people crying and screaming. The smell of smoke floods the cabin, as flashes of flames shoot past the window. Something has gone terribly wrong.

Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts and place your trays in the upright position the air hostess instructs. She is trying to be calm but has tears rolling down her face, as she scrambles into her seat.

Masks drop from the overhead compartments and I rush to pull it over my face. Breathing in a deep breath. My eyes begin to sting and fill with water, as I realise that this is its I'm going to die I grab my bag and pull out my phone and I type a final message.

I love you always & forever xoxo and hit send, not looking to see if it went through. I just hope that it does.

I take one final look around the plane, not sure what is going to happen but hoping that it will be fast. The Family, who had been playing games across the aisle, are now holding hands. The elderly couple behind me is whispering their goodbye. Everyone seems to have someone with them except me, I am completely alone.  I hear the final desperate moments of people on their phones trying to reassure loved ones with I love you, and we are going to be fine see you at the airport. but knowing this will be the last time they will get to speak.

My mind races as I try to come to terms with what is going on, with the fact that I am going to die. Suddenly the plane shakes violently, then without warning the plane begins to fall towards the earth below. The screaming around me increases, as I realise that they are my screams. I can feel the heat from the fire intensify, spreading throughout what is left of the plane.

Close your eyes. A soft familiar voice says.

I glance around trying to find where the voice is coming from. But I am unable to see anything anymore through the smoke in the cabin.

This is your captain speaking please assume the brace position. Thank you. I follow the captain’s instructions.

Close your eyes the soothing voice repeated. This time I did what the voice instructed. I close my eyes so tight it hurt, trying to block out what was going on around me. I felt a cold smooth hand move over my face and I let out one final scream. The heat from the flames now licking at my skin as with one final groan of metal as I feel something hit my head and then silence.

I slowly open my eyes, a feeling of peace and tranquillity filled my body. I felt like I had been asleep for weeks. Where am I?

I take in my surroundings trying to work out where I am. I’m in a field, but I must be near the ocean as I can hear the roar of waves breaking below me. I am sitting under a weeping willow tree, my grandmother’s old moon quilt lying on the ground beneath me. The moon is hanging low in the sky in the distance, what looks like a small pack of dogs howled underneath it. The night sky is clear and full of stars that seem to be dancing across the sky. The constellations so clear and bright I could touch them. I reach for the stars the blanket wrapped around me a warm sensation rolls down my fingers to my wrist. I lower my hand, pulling it to my chest amazed and a little scared. I notice that now there is a silver chain on my wrist. Hang from this delicate chain is a sparkling star.

Where did that come from? I slowly turn my wrist from side to side looking at the bracelet. Huh, no clasp.

I scream as an electric shock rips through my body. I fall to the ground in a crippled, screaming pile on the quilt. A flood of images and sounds, race through my head.  The plane. The pain. The screaming. I begin to cry. Unable to control myself.

It’s ok your safe, Phoenix A voice says from the shadow of the oak tree. It was the voice from the plane, but that’s impossible. Is someone there? I say my voice shaking in the wrong places, showing both my fear and pain, as the tears still streaming down my face.

Clear a voice screams.

Ouch, I scream, as another bolt of electricity rips through my body. My legs gave way and I fall to the ground.

Phoenix, you’re going to be ok. I need you to open your eyes. I will protect you. The voice said so softly and soothing that it was putting me to sleep. I will find you.

I just managed to mumble How will you find me? Who are you?

Your bracelet, the voice said fading into the distance. Now it is time for you to wake up.

We are losing her Start compressions, clear, 1, 2, 3, 4, the doctor yells. Clear

******

Doctor, when do you think she will wake up? A deep voice asked.

It is very hard to say A male responds. It could be today or months, but you need to prepare yourself. There is no way of knowing how she is going to come out of this.

Phoenix it’s time, you can open your eyes. A cool hand rest on my cheek as the words seem to float around me. Stay calm

As I open my eyes feeling, dazed and confused. I slowly become aware of the tubes in my hands and on my face. Stay calm that’s what the voice said, but I was anything but calm. I could feel the fear and panic building inside of me. I could feel something warm in my hand and as I tried moved my hand, I felt the pull of the tape and tubes. As my panic boiled over, I begin to choke and gag.

Doctor come quickly My dad yelled. She is awake.

I could see as the doctor came rushing back into the room, with a mix of excitement and disbelief clear across his face. Phoenix he said his voice was deep on the count of 3 I’m going to remove this tube, as I do I need you to cough. Ready? 1, 2, 3

The tube is pulled from my throat and I gasped my throat burning with the first few breaths. Slowly I managed to whisper Mum, Dad? Where am I?

Sweetheart, you're in the hospital Mum said, glancing towards dad who moved to stand on the opposite side of my bed.

What happened?  I ask my voice still hoarse.

It’s ok sweetheart. You’re safe now. The doctor just needs to run a few more tests then we can go home. Dad says reaching over to move a piece of hair behind my ear We will be here waiting for you when you get back.

After what felt like hour of being moved around the hospital from one test to another. X-rays, C.T scans and feeling more like some kind of weird science experiment than a human. The doctor finally removes the last of the tubing and took me back to my room. Mr and Mrs Mason can I speak to you outside for a moment?

As they left the nurse brought me a tray of hospital food baked beans on top of chips and lime jelly. Yuk. I say pushing the tray of food away. The door was not quite closed, so I was able to hear the conversation the doctor and my parents.

Doctor, when do you think we will be able to take her home?My father asks. Clearly anxious to leave, hospitals had always made dad a little crazy.

Your daughter seems like a perfectly healthy teen. I would like to do a couple more tests but if they show nothing, you should be able to take her home tonight. But remember she has been through a lot and we don’t know what she will remember of the plane crash or even if she will even remember. So it is important to let her memory return on its own."

Plane crash I whisper, the air rushing from my body. A horrible Sinking feeling washes over me, as images of people crying and screaming, the fire and the plane come flooding back. My heart rate picks up, like it will jump out of my chest, my breath hitches. I can't breathe.

Phoenix, breath. The strong soothing voice commands.   I do as the voice says, unsure of whom said it or where it is coming from. But as soon as he speaks I immediately feel safe and calm.

I gaze around the room trying to find where the voice has come from. Hello is someone there I whispered. But there is no answer, I am completely alone. The room was completely silent and the only other thing in the room was a few shadows that were from the oak tree outside my window.

We understand Doctor. Thank you for your time my dad says as he and my mother enter the room.

Phoenix, are you ok? You look like you have seen a ghost? My mum asks, as she pours me a glass of water.

Mum, what happened? Why am I in the hospital? I say my voice shaking.

Her eyes move from me to my dad, then back to me again. You were in an accident. But you are going to be fine. The doctor says you should be able to go home. He will just have to run a few more tests

The realization of what happened hit me The plane, it... It crashed, didn’t it? Is everyone ok? I ask trying to hold back the tears, which threaten to roll down my face.

Sweetheart, Dad says as he walks to the side of my bed and takes my hand.

My dad’s hands were as cold as ice. I could never understand why dad’s skin was always so cold to the touch. Yet mums skin was always so warm. It was if they were made fire and ice.

I’m so sorry. There was no one else who survived. It was a very bad accident. It is a miracle you survived at all with a small tug of my hand, dad glazes from me to mum.

Excuse me, a soft voice said as the door opened and in came a small nurse pushing a trolley. I just have to take some blood My eyes moved to the trolley or more importantly what was on the trolley. Needles. I grip my parent’s hands so tight that I’m sure my nails were digging into their skin.

I’m going to go down to the shop and get you some magazines, Dad said rushing so fast to get out of the room that he almost knocked the trolley to the over.

I better go after him. Will you be ok? I promise I will be straight back mum said as she made her way out of the room.  Like me, dad hated the sight of needles and blood. At least he can leave the room.

Wow, that is a beautiful bracelet, The nurse says as she moves my arm to take blood.

What bracelet? I say looking down at my wrist. Uh, yea.

2

Chapter 2

We drove up the cobble driveway to our new home, well new to me. My parents had lived here when they first got married. I gaze out my window at the calm blue ocean, the sun slowly setting over the water creating this amazing colour scheme. It was so peaceful and beautiful. I noticed that on the edge of the cliff was a single willow tree. It looked so out of place and yet so familiar.

It looks so beautiful, doesn't it? Mum said glancing over at me.  Your dad is really sorry he couldn't be there to bring you home, but he should be home now

That's ok, he probably has a lot of work to catch up on, I say as the ocean view becomes blocked by a row of hedges that leads along the edge of the property.

Do you think you will be up to a couple of visitors? Mum says as we rounded the driveway and pulled into the large garage Everyone has been so worried about you, even your dad's family and you know what they are like.

Really, I say a little shocked.  My dad's family is close but they are all very much reclusive. I don't get to see them very often, but I love it when we do go visiting as they live in some of the most amazing and strangest parts of the world.

I’m fine mum. There is no reason for anyone to worry. I would really like to just get back to normal, I say getting out of the car.  I gaze up at my new home. It looks like something out of a fairy-tale. The house has been in our family since it was built. It is a beautiful 2 story weatherboard house with jasmine growing up the side. The sort of house that you would read about in old story’s that makes you feel that magic is all around you. Ma and Pa had been living here, but they had decided to travel around the world. So my parents decided that it was a great time for a sea change. So we picked up and moved down here.  I had stayed back to finish the school year out and start my final year of school here.

I know sweetheart, I just don't want you to push yourself too hard. I thought you would love to see these visitors Mum's face was soft; as we make our way up the steps towards the front door I hear two very familiar voices.  Where home Mum yells

Phoenix My Grandparents yell out.

Ma, Pa, what are you doing here I thought you were in Egypt? I ask running over to give them a hug.

We were, but we came home as soon as we heard about the accident, ma says squeezing me tighter.

I’m sorry, you .... But Pa interrupted before I could finish my sentence

You didn’t we were coming home anyway, there is only so much sand a person can take.

I’m so happy to see you, how was your trip? I say giving them the biggest smile I could muster up.

The trip was great sweetheart, how are you? Ma asked as we walked over to the couch

I’m fine, there is not a mark on me, I say moving my arms down my body to help emphasize my point. As I did my Bracelet court the light making a small but bright rainbow paper on the wall? I grab my sleeve and pull it down over my wrist covering my bracelet hoping that no one noticed.

Tell me about your trip, I say trying to change the subject as mum brings tea out and places it on the table.