Chapter 78: A Fragile Alliance

The plane continued to soar through the night sky, leaving behind the wreckage of the helicopter that had nearly sealed their fate. The tension in the cabin was palpable, the silence heavy with unanswered questions. Ashley’s mind raced, replaying the events of the past few minutes over and over again. Who had fired that missile? And why?

Amelia remained huddled close to Ashley, her breath shallow as she tried to calm herself. The terror of their narrow escape still gripped her, and Ashley could feel her sister’s fear as if it were her own. But amidst the fear, there was also a flicker of hope. They were still alive, and for now, that was enough.

Jackson’s voice came over the intercom again, his tone measured but laced with an underlying tension. “We’re clear for now, but we need to make an emergency landing. This plane wasn’t built for dogfights, and I’m not risking another encounter.”

Ashley nodded, even though she knew Jackson couldn’t see her. “Where will we land?”

“There’s a smal