Page 78 of Shielding Instinct

“Big,” Hawkeye said.

“We take off, and we’re doing just fine. I’m listening to the two of them talking, hoping to gather some tidbit of helpful information. They’re bickering about the chores. Suddenly, the gal on the aisle—I’ll call her Jane Doe—starts having a seizure-like episode. She’s out of her seat, wedged into the aisle, convulsing. The mom looks over at her and says that, of course, the demons have shown up. She’s obviously wrong about washing the dishes.”

“She’s seizing?” Hawkeye was in his head, trying to imagine this scene.

“No. She’s not. Let me put that idea to rest right away. To everyone on that plane, it looked like a seizure. It was quaking. Her lizard brain was terrified because she saw demons all over the plane.”

“A break with reality.”

“I have no idea. I can’t diagnose without an assessment and medical workup. But clearly, not a seizure because Jane Doe and Mom are yelling at each other in between Jane Doe’sscreaming at the demons to get away and leave her alone. Oh, and lest I forget, just as with me and my probable medical crisis, the flight attendants tried to help. They raced in with a first aid kit. There was an announcement about a medical event and that photography was not permitted. And asking if there were any medical personnel on the flight?”

“Did anyone step up?” Hawkeye asked, looking at the clock and starting the engine.

“To intervene with a break from reality? What could they do? No. Everyone hunkered down, trying to make themselves as small and unnoticed as possible. I mean, Jane kicked this one attendant down the aisle. The attendant hit his head and got whiplash on top of a TBI for his care and concern. He’s still on medical leave.”

“Shit. And this whole time, you’re boxed in next to the window.” Hawkeye put the SUV in reverse and backed out of their spot.

“The pilot comes on the speaker and says he’s diverting to some small airport that’s nearby. And I am pretty sure everyone on the plane would have been just as happy if the pilot found a stretch of empty highway. Anywhere down was good.”

“The whole time?” Hawkeye asked. “The whole time Jane Doe is screaming and shaking? That takes a lot of energy.”

“She had a strand of beads wrapped around her wrist, and at some point, she gnawed through the strand, and as she saw a devil demon approach, she’d swallow a bead and scream, ‘Take that!’ I was seeing it in my mind’s eye like bulletproof cuffs that could ward off gunshot, but inside her body.”

Hawkeye pulled his chin back, his brows pulled in tight. Then, he shifted to drive and started toward the drive-through window.

“The police were there with the paramedics. They put her in restraints and transported her to the psych ward. That samenight, she was moved to a dedicated psychiatric hospital, and the bad part was I didn’t get to follow Jane Doe to the queen bee. Now, it’s up to the person who took my place to figure that out.”

Hawkeye just shook his head in disbelief. “No wonder the cat and chihuahua show on the plane down here was a nothing-burger for you.”

“Not a nothing-burger, but I couldn’t allow my face to be identifiable in the social media circus that was sure to arise. Even with my new role, I can’t be recognizable. I let my hair fall in my face. Kept my face averted. And hunkered down.”

“I see. Well, let’s get your meds and get you hunkered down at the hotel.”

“With any luck,” Petra said as he pulled up to the window, “the crazy is done for today.”

“With any luck?” Hawkeye repeated. “What else could possibly go wrong?”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Petra

As Petra, Hawkeye, and Cooper entered the lobby, a large sign faced the automatic doors. Hotel guests were asked to check in with the main desk as Emergency Services tried to account for everyone’s safety.

That made sense to Petra. After all, they were visitors and probably had no family or friends on the island to notice they were missing.

As they stood in line, waiting their turn, Petra wrapped her arms around Hawkeye’s waist, and he held her to him protectively. It was a good feeling.

Stepping forward, Petra saw they had a printout with the guest names on double-lined sheets. “Hermione Armstrong.”

“Yes,” the desk staffer said, striking her name. “Thank you.”

“Michael Kesse,” Hawkeye said, and the woman flipped the page.

As she struck a line through Hawkeye’s name, Petra read: Herbert Johnson family (5). She leaned forward. “The Johnsons haven’t checked in yet? It’s late for them to be out with the children.”

“You’re friends?” the staffer asked.

“I know Herb and Jenny. They’re here with their three children.”

---