Secret Forces

By Marita Heck

Will they have a chance to survive? The odds are dire ...

Aaron Smith is on his way back home from spinal cord injury rehab, ready to adapt to his new life when a single flight suddenly plunges his world into chaos. 

Luck is on Emma Stevens' side when she catches the plane from Honolulu to L.A. at the last

• Language: English
• Publisher: Opeia Press
• Release date: Nov 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648818168

Book preview

Prologue

Aaron’s life had changed forever.

He leaned his head back against the wall and sighed. He watched Clara.

The hairclip holding back her auburn hair glistened. It showered the room with petite speckles of sunlight each time she passed the window.

She snatched her underwear from a drawer and tossed it into a suitcase. Then she turned around and walked into the bathroom.

An aroma of wild lavender hovered in the air.

She returned and placed her toothbrush on top of her clothes. She looked up, straight into his eyes.

Aaron turned his head away.

She walked up to him and sat on the bed. She placed her hand under his chin.

His gaze rose to her brown eyes.

‘Why didn’t you trust me?’ She traced her index finger over his lips.

‘I had no other choice,’ he whispered.

‘You always have a choice, Aaron, especially with the woman you’re about to marry. How am I supposed to spend the rest of my life with you when everything I know about you is a lie?’

‘I don’t know.’ His voice cracked. ‘I … was an idiot, thinking, no … hoping I could have it all.’

She edged closer and placed a soft kiss on his mouth.

A hint of mint and salty caramel remained on his lips.

He rested his brow on hers. ‘I’m really sorry, Clara. About everything.’

He pulled her into a tight embrace. She stiffened.

‘It’s too late for us.’ She withdrew from his arms and stood.

Aaron held on to her fingers. ‘Stay, please.’

Clara squeezed his hand and turned away.

His eyes widened. Her engagement ring rested in his palm.

‘Your secret is safe with me. Goodbye, Aaron.’ Clara grabbed the suitcase and walked out of the front door of the apartment. The door latch clicked shut and her footsteps faded.

Silence prevailed.

Aaron shivered. He combed both of his hands through his hair.

I can’t run after her.

He grabbed the glass of water from the bedside table and flung it against the wall.

The glass shattered into pieces. The room became a blur. He propped himself up into a sitting position.

He pushed his legs over the edge of the bed and clawed his fingers into the linen, staring at the space between his feet. He shifted his attention to the wheelchair sitting against the wall on the other side of the bed. He pressed his fists into the mattress.

Clara’s diamond ring cut into his right palm.

He swallowed and closed his eyes, as he relived the confusion and fear he had felt five weeks ago when he had woken from a deep coma and had found himself in one of the most sterile places imaginable.

Clara had been at his bedside, her eyes swollen and red from crying. But there had also been something in her expression that he had never seen before – disappointment.

He moved forward until both of his feet touched the floor.

Clara’s words echoed in his ears.

You’ve sustained a complete spinal cord injury.

Aaron moved closer to the edge.

On a thoracic level.

He clenched his jaw and shifted all of his weight onto his arms.

T10.

He pushed his body into a vertical position.

The doctors told me, given the severity of the injury, you’ll never be able to walk again, among many other things that will change.

And pressed his lips into a tight line.

There is no cure.

He closed his eyes.

Ever.

And let go.

The moment his weight shifted onto his legs, his knees gave in. He crashed to the floor with a loud thud, hitting his elbow on the bedside table.

He froze.

He started hyperventilating and battled for control as he heard the patter of shoes approaching.

A key unlocked the door.

Clara? Aaron’s heart pounded in this chest.

Jeremy appeared at the bedroom door, dressed in a stylish business suit. The glass shards crunched under his polished shoes.

‘Geez, how long have you been discharged from hospital?’

Aaron propped himself up against the bed.

‘Get out of here. I don’t need your company.’ He gestured with his hand.

Jeremy tapped the chair opposite Aaron. He sat down and crossed his legs. He rested his cane on his right shoulder. ‘You realise you won’t get any pity from me?’

Aaron shook his head. ‘How did you get in here?’

Jeremy waved a Pink Kitten keychain in the air. ‘I received them from the woman who just left this place.’

Simon followed Jeremy into the room. He stopped in front of the glass slivers and looked at Aaron.

‘Why are you here?’ Aaron frowned.

‘Simon has a proposal for you,’ Jeremy said.

Aaron shifted his attention to Simon. ‘And you thought the pettifogger over there would be a good idea for reinforcement?’

‘It appears that Jeremy is the perfect backup for this mission,’ Simon answered with a half grin. He sat on the floor, next to Aaron. Simon rested his palms on his bent knees and turned to face Aaron. He gestured at his friend’s bleeding elbow. ‘What are you doing?’

Aaron clenched his jaw. ‘I don’t know, Simon. I just had to try.’

‘I don’t blame you, but you need to accept your new limits, you’ll get hurt. That’s why Jeremy and I are here, to suggest a solution.’

‘I’m not interested.’ Aaron rubbed his hands over his face. He hesitated. ‘Clara left me.’

The ring lay on the floor.

Simon picked it up and handed it back to Aaron. ‘She told us when she gave Jeremy the keys. I’m sorry.’

There was a long silence.

‘The way I see it,’ Simon said after a while, ‘you have no other choice than to move on with your life.’

‘No, I can choose to be left alone.’

Simon lifted his chin. ‘I can’t even start to imagine what it feels like to be in your situation, but what about trying a different … perspective?’

‘What are you talking about?’ Aaron turned his head to face his friend.

‘I’ve booked a place in a specialised clinic to help you with the transition.’

‘What transition?’

‘Into your new life.’

Simon tilted his head in Jeremy’s direction. ‘Even he eventually realised getting his act together was his only option. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?’

Aaron lifted his gaze and looked at his friend, who was legally blind, sitting opposite him.

His life had changed forever, and he was unsure if he was willing to accept it.

1

People crowded at the Honolulu airport departure gate, waiting to board the outbound Los Angeles flight. A school group, their teacher and support adults had claimed most of the seats in the waiting area. Their hand luggage, pillows and stuffed toys lay scattered over the floor. Aaron lifted his gaze and saw a woman sitting opposite him. She caressed her swollen abdomen under a wide summer dress. Two toddlers played hide and seek behind the benches. Their mother stared at him.

He smiled at her.

She turned her head away.

Aaron had become accustomed to reactions to him being ‘different’; to the pity in their eyes, and their curiosity about how a wheelchair user could manage their day-to-day life. He too, hadn’t known much about the impact of his spinal cord injury before his therapy in the Hawaiian Rehabilitation Center either.

During the six-week specialised clinic stay, tailored to his individual needs, the medical team had taught him to adjust to his new situation, to see it from a different angle. He appreciated their dedication in helping him to get back on track with countless hours of physio, educational sessions, and psychological support.

The most valuable lesson for him, however, had been group therapy. As much as the specialists had helped him to get over the initial shock, to listen to other people’s concerns and fears in a similar situation made him appreciate the possibilities he still possessed.

One 19-year-old kid with a C6 quadriplegia had inspired Aaron to never give up, no matter how big the hurdles seemed to be. Watching this kid had made Aaron more independent and encouraged him to push harder, determined to move on and disregard his rage and despair. But he was also realistic. There was still a long way to go with much bigger problems he had to face. Issues that weren’t so easy to solve. His apartment and car needed to be fitted for his special needs; and, the elephant in the room, what to do with his job?

Nevertheless, Aaron couldn’t help but feel thankful for Jeremy and Simon’s persistence in sending him to Hawai’i to get professional help. He was accustomed to his injury now, knew how to handle his life and was mentally prepared to face struggles. Everything else would work itself out … eventually.

‘Are you ready, Dr Smith?’ an airport employee asked.

She assisted Aaron to his seat in the plane and stored his backpack in the overhead locker.

‘Is there anything else I can help you with?’

‘No. Thank you.’

‘My pleasure. Have a good flight.’

Aaron watched her leaving and rested his head on the back of his business-class seat. He closed his eyes and started to appreciate the one advantage of being a wheelchair user—prioritised boarding.

A flight attendant introduced herself and handed him a glass of water. He took a sip and placed it on the tray table. A drop slid down the side of the glass.

Aaron lifted his hand and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger.

He peeked into the cockpit. The flight captain and the first officer confirmed the functions of the aircraft against their checklist.

The first officer stood and closed the door. Aaron sighed and cast his eyes to the other passengers boarding the plane.

When all passengers were seated, the chief flight attendant made an announcement, explaining there would be a short delay.­­

Aaron’s mind drifted back to his time in the rehabilitation clinic. He had used the breaks in between therapy sessions to analyse his and Clara’s relationship.

One of the other patients he had bonded with had told him her husband had filed for a divorce after her injury. Her husband had voiced concerns about not having the strength to face her T2 injury and all the changes that came with it.

But he and Clara had more profound issues, issues that weren’t easy to resolve.

He had tried to call her …

‘Sorry, I’m sitting in Two A.’

Aaron looked up. A blonde woman in a designer dress stood in the aisle. She wore sunglasses and carried a coffee cup in one hand and had a cell phone pressed to her ear.

He nodded and pushed his legs to the side.

With inadequate space to pass him, the woman stepped over his knees. She settled in her seat and adjusted her dress. She placed the phone back to her ear.

‘Steven? Yes, they’re quite pissed off … Don’t worry, I’m okay … Yes, Mr Tanaka was thrilled. I think I scored this time … No, he hasn’t signed off the final concept yet. Give him some time … I know, but don’t forget, Rome wasn’t built in a day either … We …’

‘Ms?’ The flight attendant leaned over Aaron to talk to the woman.

The woman lowered her sunglasses to the tip of her nose. ‘Yes?’

‘I’m sorry, but you have to switch your phone onto flight mode.’

The woman smiled. ‘Steven? I have to hang up … Thanks. See you in L.A.’

Aaron looked out the window. He watched the ground personnel. A slight jolt went through the cabin as the cargo door closed.

The woman switched off her phone. She flung it into her handbag and settled into her seat. She blew a stubborn strand of hair out of her eyes.

Aaron glanced at her and plugged his earphones in. He turned the music of his MP3 player up to drown out the surrounding noise, convinced that this would be the longest flight in his life.

A male flight attendant handed Emma Stevens a steaming towel. She thanked the man and waited until it had cooled down. She wiped it over her neck, feeling instant relief from the muggy heat and the exertion of jogging through the airport in four-inch high heels.

The plane was pushed back and, a short time later, bobbed over the taxiway. Emma relaxed in her seat and watched the safety instructions on the screen in front of her.

After a quick stop on the runway, the aircraft accelerated.

Emma loved the moment when the engines switched to full capacity and the G-force kicked in.

The plane took off. Emma could see the cyan ocean from up above, as the tropical island vanished in the distance.

She checked her wristwatch; five more hours to L.A. After a quick check of the seatbelt sign, Emma turned to the man sitting next to her.

He had his eyes closed. His brow was folded in deep furrows.

Emma tilted her head. Her eyes moved to his boots and travelled from his cargo trousers to the tight-fitting t-shirt. His messy locks touched his collar in careless layers and his chin was dark whiskered.

The seatbelt alarm sounded, and the light switched off. Emma moved to a more upright position and grabbed some comfy clothes and her beauty bag out of her hand language. She looked back at the man sitting next to her and pursed her lips.

His facial expression had relaxed.

Her glance moved to his legs. His knees almost reached the seat in front of him.

She touched his arm with her hand.

The man opened his eyes and removed his earphones.

‘I’m really sorry to bother you, but I have to go to the bathroom. It’s urgent,’ she said.

‘If you don’t want to step over my legs again, I could lift you over to the other side,’ he suggested with a wink.

Emma’s mouth dropped open. ‘Or you could get up to let me through.’

‘Miss, I’m sorry to tell you that it is impossible for me to get up to let you through. This means we have to find another solution for your problem.’

Emma’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped. She stood and scrambled over his legs. She rushed down the aisle and entered the bathroom. She turned on the faucet and splashed some water onto her face. Perfect, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. This would be the longest flight of her life.

The woman sitting next to him walked back to her seat and looked at Aaron.

He raised his eyebrows.

She threw her business dress, her high heels and her beauty bag onto her seat and braced herself to step over him.

‘Can I offer you something to eat?’ a female flight attendant asked as she pushed past with a trolley.

The woman took a step backwards. She stumbled against Aaron’s upper arm. Her waist-long ponytail landed in his face. He grumbled as he brushed blonde strands out of his mouth.

‘Sorry,’ she apologised.

‘A sandwich would be nice,’ she addressed the flight attendant.

The air hostess handed her a cucumber-rocket-cheese roll and an apple.

The woman turned back to Aaron and gazed into his eyes. ‘May I?’

He nodded.

Back in her seat, she took a bite of the apple and grabbed her laptop out of her bag. She punched some commands into the keyboard and pushed her eyebrows together. Little crinkles formed on her brow, as she became immersed in her work.

Aaron couldn’t suppress a grin and leaned over to her side. ‘It looks quite futuristic.’

The woman turned her head. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t recognise it’s impossible for you to get up.’

‘How should you have known? I’m sorry for being impolite before.’

‘It’s okay. I didn’t help by snapping at you.’ She looked down at his legs. ‘When did it happen?’

Aaron blinked, perplexed. ‘A … few months ago.’

The woman typed a couple of commands into the keyboard and turned the laptop his direction.

‘This is my twin brother, Steven. Our mother told him not to climb the old oak tree in our back garden. He challenged her request when he was sixteen years old. A branch snapped. He fell from ten feet and sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury on the level of T3.’

Aaron looked at the picture of the man who had his arm draped around the woman sitting next to him.

‘My brother went back to high school two months afterwards and met his partner there. They married last year. He and his wife just had a baby.’ She scrolled through her photo library. ‘This is my nephew, Sam.’

‘Is it possible? I mean … having children and … the whole other stuff that comes with it?’ Aaron asked, surprised that this particular topic had come up so quickly in the presence of a total stranger.

The specialists had educated him about the changes in this aspect of his life, but there were so many other things he had to wrap his head around first.

‘My nephew was conceived with IVF; my brother can’t have children the natural way anymore.’

Aaron turned away and sighed.

He felt the woman’s hand on his arm. He looked back into her eyes and could see real compassion.

He nodded in the direction of the computer screen. ‘You still haven’t told me what the purpose of this futuristic object is.’

‘It’s a high-end state-of-the-art beauty clinic in Waianae.’

Aaron inspected the three-dimensional model closely.

‘Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think you need to have treatment in such a clinic.’ He raised an eyebrow.

The woman winked.

‘Don’t worry, I’m not entering this clinic as a patient, I’m the architect designing it.’

2

The woman smiled. ‘I have an architecture business in L.A., together with my brother.’

‘The concept looks pretty cool,’ Aaron said.

She tilted her head. ‘It’s the second time I’ve had to fly to Honolulu this week.’

Aaron raised his eyebrows.

‘Don’t worry, it’s an all-expense-paid trip, otherwise my company would have gone bankrupt by now.’

‘I know people who would give a year’s wage to have a short trip to Hawai’i.’

‘Not when they have to deal with my current client. I swear, he’s more exhausting than a hike up Mount Everest.’

‘Do you have to change much?’

She moved the laptop to the edge of her tray table.

‘This is the main entrance,’ she explained.

Aaron took in the futuristic looking stairs, the wicker furniture and the exotic garden embedded within the lobby, themed in turquoise and white, surrounded by turquoise and white accessories.

‘My customer wants me to alter the design for the main entrance to look more opulent.’

‘More than that?’ Aaron’s eyes widened.

‘Yes.’

‘You’ll show me the new design before we touch down?’

She pursed her lips and brushed her index finger over the tip of her nose.

Aaron’s lips curved upwards.

‘Sure, why not. I’m curious about your opinion. My name is Emma, by the way.’

He extended his hand. ‘Aaron.’

She took it, holding on to his fingers.

He smiled.

Emma let go of his hand and turned back to her computer.

‘I would really love to chat a bit longer, but the design has to be pristine by the time we arrive in Los Angeles.’

‘Good luck,’ Aaron said and relaxed his head back.

He closed his eyes and listened to his favourite artist as he drifted off to sleep.

… Blood dripped onto the floor. A gust of wind sprinkled dust over the red-stained pool. Dark-brown eyes glared …

Aaron jumped. He pushed his right hand over his chest. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins and his left arm growing numb. He turned his head to the woman sitting next to him.

Emma had wrapped herself in a colourful Waimea Airlines blanket. Her arms lay on his armrest, enfolded around his left arm. Her head rested on top of their tangled limbs. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically. Some blonde strands had escaped from her ponytail and were draped over her closed eyes.

Aaron extended his hand to smooth her hair off her face. He retracted when a flight attendant whizzed past him to serve another