"Would You Rather: Live Apart or Die Together?" After surviving a harrowing plane crash, a 24-year-old wakes up in a strange, isolated village with a bizarre set of rules. The most chilling of these is a strict law that forbids any unmarried person from being near or seen with one another. Violating this law is punishable by public beheading. In this twisted new world, survival depends on following the rules — but for her, one rule proves impossible to obey. As she grapples with the oppressive laws and the lingering trauma of the crash, she finds herself drawn to Yoké, a charismatic and mysterious villager. Despite the threat of death hanging over them, their connection deepens, and no law seems strong enough to keep them apart. As their forbidden bond grows, she must decide: will she follow the rules, or risk everything for a love that could lead to their destruction? ★This book comes before 'Till Death Do Us Part'
View MoreI took out one of my earphones from my ear as I saw the airhostess walking towards my seat down the aisle. She kept pausing at a few seats as some passengers were whispering their requests at the side of her face. She was friendly and kept smiling and nodding at the passengers.
When she got closer to me, I raised my hand slightly to get her attention and she caught it.
She smiled down at me. "Yes ma'am?"
"Uh, can I get a bottle of water, it's getting kind of hot up in here." I told her, feeling compelled to return her smile.
"That just means we are close." She said keeping that warm smile. "Sure, it's coming right up."
"Thank you." I said returning my earphone back in my ear.
She nodded and walked perfectly on. I looked at the passengers seated across the aisle from me. It was a young blonde woman sitting by the window and a brunette man next to her. He was holding her hand, and she was saying something about her bright fingernails.
I pressed the volume button on my iPhone 11 and turned the music right up. I looked down at the novel on my lap, in bold cursive letters, the title read Adapt Teacher. Although I had read this book twice already, I still felt unprepared. I was excited but I still felt a little anxious.
This heat was getting worse. I couldn't bare it anymore. I had paid for first-class; it wouldn't kill them to keep the air conditioner on. I looked around and everyone else were fanning themselves with whatever they had in their hands, if not nothing. Back in Duran it was mostly cold, on rare days the sun shone. Maybe I'm just being a little extra since I barely get any sunshine back home. But everyone on this plane was feeling it too, going crazy with the fanning. They are not all from Duran...
I took the novel on my lap and began fanning myself. The heat seemed to be getting worse every minute. I started to sweat. Coming from a country where the temperature was almost never higher than -32 degrees Celsius, sweating was like a miracle.
A baby started wailing, children started complaining to their mothers and everyone began looking around at the other passengers just to feel reassured that they were not the only ones feeling this heat so intensely.
Even the airhostesses kept pulling down at their bowties often and looking at each other trying not to make it obvious. Some of them even had trails of sweat running down their made-up faces.
The airhostesses were now up and down the aisles with water bottles. The practiced-walks they had before were dumped, and replaced by scurrying this way and that. There was a tremendous change in the atmosphere.
Just then, the intercom beeped on. An airhostess handed me a bottle of water and scurried away to attend to the other passengers.
"Attention all passengers, this is your pilot Gordon speaking." A sturdy voice broke out of the intercom.
I opened the 500ml bottle of water clumsily and gulped down the whole bottle in seconds. I was not satisfied. I wanted more. My mouth was dry. I was feeling suffocated. It was uncomfortable.
"We have a technical emergency. The engine is burning up resulting to all the heat and fume from the engine entering the plane. We won't be able to land safely. Please say your prayers. Some may die of suffocation, and some may survive the suffocation but die at landing. We are about to crash." The pilot said. His voice was sturdy, he did not sound like someone that knew he was possibly going to die at any moment.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing but nothing beat what I was feeling. I suddenly smelled burn. There was no more air. I couldn't breathe. My lungs were giving up on me. It was painful.
People were screaming and wailing and crying and sucking for air.
I started gasping for air. There wasn't any more. It felt like I was in a nightmare I couldn't get out of. The airplane started to shake and rattle. I gripped the armrests as tight as I could. A gas mask bounced down in front of me, I snatched it and put it to my face. It helped a bit. I felt a little bit of air tickle my lungs. But it wasn't enough.
The shaking of the airplane got worse. Someone got ripped from their seat and flew to the back of the plane. Things started tearing and ripping from the plane and flying around. The stranger woman in the seat next to me who could have been the same age as my mom held my hand, and I held back even tighter. We both knew what was coming. I knew what was coming very well. Even my day, I never imagined it would be like this. I was hoping my day would be painless and without me even knowing it, like in my sleep or something. But this, this was horrible. I wanted it to end. I was terrified. The gas mask I was gripping on to my face with my other hand flew out of my hand.
"No!" I screamed or thought I did. I didn't hear my own voice. It seemed muffled under the screams of everyone else.
I looked over at the couple on the opposite side of the aisle, the man’s forehead was covered in blood and the woman who was most probably his girlfriend was screaming for help, but no one came to their rescue.
This was a nightmare.
I shut my eyes as tight as I could and began to pray.
My seat started to shake. Before I could think of it, I went flying to the back of the plane. As I was in the air, I saw that there was no back of the plane, it was open, there was sky, I was going to fall to my death...
Brian looked back at me sadly. “Ma’am I’m really sorry.” He replied. “I can’t do that. We’ve received strict orders from your father to return with you. The whole country is awaiting your return.” “Please.” I begged him. “I’m sorry ma’am.” I turned to Malcomore. “I’m begging you.” “The boss is in front; I have no right to do anything I’m not ordered.” “I need him, I’m carrying his child.” “I’m sorry ma’am.” He told me. “If it were up to me I would let you stay since you are pregnant and maybe keep supplying you with proper food, water and clothes every week but it’s not up to me-“ “Malcomore do you want to walk all the way back to Duran?” Nathan asked him. “No sir.” “Then shut the hell up.” Nathan said. “She’s my fiancée. Not some village girlfriend.” “Forgive me sir.” Malcomore responded. “She’s still my fiancée.” Nathan replied. “We’ll fix it when we get home. She’ll remember everything soon again when she sees a doctor.” “How do you fix pregnancy?” Brian
“You have to go with them. I'll go to Kuja village. Gamu is right.” “No. What are you saying, Yoké?" I shook my head at him” “We will both run to Kuja village then.” “Please stay safe. I’m leaving now.” Gamu said quickly. “Bye Rena…” She turned to leave hastily. “Gamu.” Yoké called her. She turned back again. “Thank you.” He told her. “Just forgive me for what I’ve done and take care of this baby. Although I still can’t believe you two.” “We will.” Yoké said turning to me. “Bye Rena.” Gamu said. “Bye, friend.” I replied. She gave me a small smile, turned, and left us. “We will take care of this child. You'll leave with the Durans.” Yoké told me. “If you go to Kuja village you won’t be able to hide your pregnancy for too long. Soon they will start noticing and might suspect us. I don’t want to put our baby in danger.” “Baby?” Francis asked me. “Genesis, are you pregnant?” I looked up at him and he was holding a camera towards us with one hand and the other ha
“How could you do this to us, Gamu?” I asked slapping my hands over my mouth as soon as I saw the people she was with. “I’m so sorry Rena..." Gamu told me. She was trembling with fear and shaking her head. Her hair and clothes were damp, and her feet were covered in mud. “You’re sorry?” Yoké asked her angrily stepping out of the hut leaving me at the door. “I’m so sorry but I really had to do this.” Gamu told Yoké. I looked over at the Durans. They were standing with umbrellas and watching me. They were four. It was the same three people that had come the last time plus one more. The new man was a tall brunette and was wearing a black suit. He looked so superior compared to the others. For a second, I thought it was my father, but he was too young to be my father. He looked in his late 20's. When he saw me, his eyes popped. “Genesis?” The man said taking a step forward towards me. “Genesis Leticia Roseburg…” I looked back at Gamu. “Why did you bring them here, Gamu?" “Becaus
I shook my head and more tears fell that he couldn’t catch in time. “We’ll both stay out of it.” “Without you everyone will back out, I will do everything in my power to keep the group together. And they won’t even know that you are not with us because I will lead them to the cliff, and I will speak in your place.” “Our baby will need her father too.” Yoké hugged me and began running his fingers through my hair. “Yes, she does but she needs her mother more.” He tried to comfort me as I cried in his arms. “Don’t do this to me Yoké.” “If the uprising fails, just promise me that our child will always be safe and happy, that you will give her so much love to make up for mine.” “Stop saying things like this.” He loosened his hug but I did not want to let him go. I couldn’t even imagine my life without Yoké. How miserable would I be? What happiness would I reflect on to my child if my own source of happiness was to be taken away from me forever? He tried to loosen my arms gently and
Despite the grave trouble I knew I could get into if I was caught sneaking out again, I left the hut and walked to Yoké’s hut. I was trembling, not because of the cold but because of fear. The fear of telling Yoké about my pregnancy and the decision that I have made. When I got to his hut I entered without clapping. He was seated on his bed and painting with the little light from the oil lamp. When he saw me enter he looked up at me with a frown. “Genesis?” I nodded. I was still shaking in fear. He abandoned his wooden board on the bed and came towards me. “What’s wrong?” He asked me taking me into his arms. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him. Even hearing myself say it suddenly scared me. “What?” Yoké asked stepping away from me and looked at me. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him again. “How?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean how?” “How do you even know?” “The witch doctor.” Yoké placed his hands on his head and just looked at me, he looked blown away, like he had
At night the lightning and thunder continued but the rain had stopped. Despite the grave trouble I knew I could get into if I was caught sneaking out again, I left the hut and walked to Yoké’s hut. I was trembling, not because of the cold but because of fear. The fear of telling Yoké about my pregnancy and the decision that I have made. When I got to his hut I entered without clapping. He was seated on his bed and painting with the small light from the oil lamp. When he saw me enter, he looked up at me with a frown. “Genesis?” I nodded. I was still shaking in fear. He abandoned his wooden board on the bed and came towards me. “What’s wrong?” He asked me, taking me into his arms. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him. Even hearing myself say it suddenly scared me. “What?” Yoké asked stepping away from me and looked at me. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him again. “How?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean how?” “How do you even know?” “The witch doctor.” Yoké placed his
In the evening, I couldn’t even eat the food in front of me. I just kept crying. “Why does this girl keep sobbing like this?” The chief asked Furah. Furah just shrugged. “Maybe she’ll miss this hut.” The chief chuckled. “Well, all good things come to an end.” I got up and left the table. “Where are you going?” Furah asked me. I didn’t respond just kept walking toward the exit. “Rena I asked you, where are you going?” I stopped and looked back at her. “I’m going to sit outside the hut.” “Why?” “Fresh air.” “Okay,” Furah said and then turned to Gamu. “Go sit with her. Make sure she stays close to the hut.” “So what’s this?” I asked her. “You are treating me like a prisoner…” “In fact I should have done this ever since you set foot in this hut.” The chief was just looking at us. He looked a little lost. I left the hut and sat on the bench outside. The other younger girls were playing with the rope. They kept laughing and screaming. “Rena what’s going on with you?” Gamu as
The witch doctor had white drawings on her face, arms, and legs. She looked cross for some reason, as if someone had angered her. She did not even get up to greet Furah like everyone else normally did whenever they saw her. Instead, she remained seated and continued looked up at the ceiling after we entered her little hut. I looked up too but saw nothing, just straw. The hut did not look welcoming at all, there were carvings of faces which looked oh-so angry. Those carvings hung on the walls of the hut, and some were on the floor against the walls. “We greet you.” Furah told the woman. The woman began nodding and didn’t stop. Furah and I exchanged looks. I frowned. Everything about this woman was so strange. “Sit down.” The woman told us, still nodding. I followed Furah closely and sat side by side with her in front of the witch doctor. We then continued watching the woman nod. “What is she doing?” I whispered to Furah. “Shh.” Furah told me quickly. The woman all of a su
“How long have I been an elder?” Elder Ke asked his grand-daughter, Tera. “Since before I was even born.” She scoffed. “About 40 years already.” “Exactly.” Elder Ke responded. “No one will have to act as the bait. I know exactly how to do it. Just tell me when and we’ll do it.” I was so happy. I felt like running to him and giving him a big hug! But obviously I couldn’t do that. Why did I even feel that way? People resumed their cheering, some whistled and some clapped. As everyone rejoiced my eyes caught Uma. He was looking at Gamu. People were still around her praising her. That look Uma had on his face was not of anger and detestation it was of approval and satisfaction. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I wanted to signal Yoké to see what I was seeing but he was too happy to notice. After a while everyone settled down again. “So exactly which laws are we changing?” Kaloy asked us. “The beheading law, of cause, the proposal law and is there any more that’s reasonable to change?” I
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