Missing People

It was a bright warm day in New York. A perfect day for flying. Pahana sat in the airport waiting for his flight. His dark Native American hair was messy. His skin was lighter than most natives, he almost looked sick. The bags under his dark brown eyes were from lack of sleep. He was on his way to an art college. He’d been so nervous for this flight. He didn't sleep at all.

A man in a long trench coat and fedora, walked up to Pahana.

“Excuse me, sir,” the man said with a smile. Pahana looked up at the man. The man’s smile was missing many teeth. The odor of his breath seeped into Pahana’s nose.

Pahana slightly hesitated.

“Um…yes?” Pahana questioned, after a moment.

“Would you take this box on the plane with you?” the man asked.

“What? No!” he exclaimed.

“ Please. I’ll pay you. The box has already been through the safety check. Please, sir,” the man pleaded.

“Fine, I’ll take it,” Pahana agreed, he needed the money.

Pahana boarded the plane with the box as a carry on item. He took his seat by an elderly woman. She looked way too old to be on a plane. She had what looked like a hospital gown on. The woman looked determined to go somewhere. Where? Pahana didn’t know. He sat the box in the seat next him. He picked up the newspaper beside him, reading the daily horoscope. The box sitting by him was distracting him. It was like the box was calling him to open it. His curiosity got the better of him. He grabbed the box and shook it. Rattles of little pieces moved about in it.

“Maybe makeup?” Pahana thought.

But, why would he need him to carry a box of makeup?

Pahana ran his hand over the lid of the box. Then slid his thumb under the lid. He snatched his hand away. He couldn't open this box. It didn't belong to him. It was someone else's property. He sat the box down on the seat next to him, and rolled over for a nap. He hoped he’d be distracted.

Pahana woke up to rumoling. The once perfect day for flying had disappeared. Dark clouds lingered outside the window, as streams of water fell from them. The weather worried Pahana. He was already scared to be flying. Now this?

Pahana grabbed for the box next to him. There was nothing there. The box was gone. He felt a pit in his stomach. He had lost the box! Pahana stopped a flight attendant.

“Have you seen a small brown box? It was sitting here when I went to sleep,” he asked the woman.

“No. I’m sorry,” she replied. Pahana’s heart started to race. Sweat was dripping down his face, and he couldn't control his breath. Pahana was panicking. The box that he was trusted with was gone.

He got up out of his seat. He asked other passengers if they had seen the box. He had no luck. He started to search the plane. People exchanged murmurs, and glares. Pahana’s behavior was bizarre. A flight attendant tried to get him to take his seat. He ignored them, and continued his search.

Pahana felt the urge to check the bathrooms. He rushed to the door, and opened it. To his relief, the box was sitting there on the sink. He grabbed the box with excitement, and without thinking, opened the it.

Pahana vanished as the box landed on the ground. Then, the man in the trench coat picked the box up, closed the lid, and walked away.

The End