The Real Bermuda

Every action has its equal opposite reaction. Everything that goes up must come down. And, everything that disappears, must be found.

The Bermuda Triangle is a small part of the earth in which unexplainable things happen. The main ones? Planes vanishing, boats and ships disappearing, and people leaving no trace of their whereabouts.

The things that happen have never been explained.

Until one day, the small plane I was flying (trying to get to JFK airport in New York) vanished, and I found myself on a gigantic air carrier in the sky with several other planes and boats that had gone missing.

Enormous boats, ships even, with so many containers. Planes of all different sizes, all in one piece, they looked like there was nothing wrong with them. They all looked like they had been purposefully placed there, parked. There were no lines or physical structures, but it looked like a parking lot for boats, ships and planes.

There were people, everywhere. So many people.

People who's faces I had spent my life seeing on TV, posters and newspapers. Faces of the missing, the vanished, the disappeared.

Only, they weren't missing; they were standing right in front of me.

I looked around, still expecting to see the beautiful coastline of The Bahamas – I had been volunteering in various countries in South America for a few years, flying from Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela – but I saw nothing but what looked like the tops of clouds.

All I wanted was to get to JFK to be able to fly back to England. I wanted to go back to my homeland until I was called next. I had spent my entire adult life in war-torn countries, places that experienced disaster after disaster (including natural ones) so I was always used to the idea of death and destruction. I always believed if I was to disappear that it would be at the hands of a cartel, or into the sea saving a family from a tsunami or being to late into a bunker to hide from a tornado.

I definitely didn't think that I would have been taken hostage by a folklore, a myth. But, here I was, along with everything else; the biggest question in my mind though, where was here?

“Hi, are- are you okay?”

I turned, jumping, seeing a man standing there, seemingly checking on me. “I'm sorry, I scared you didn't I? I didn't mean to. You just looked so... tense and shaken.”

“I- I am okay, I think.” I lied. “Where exactly... are we?” I gestured to everything around, looking at everything and trying to take it in.

“I've been trying to figure that out myself. My plane crashed last week, and me and my friend have been trying to find a way back.” his sand coloured hair blew over his face while his tanned face stayed almost perfectly still.

I looked around wondering, “Which plane is yours?” and he pointed to his left, without looking in the direction he showed. “And I take it the guy hanging out the window of it, waving rather frantically, is your friend?”

He looked, sighing deeply while hanging his head a little, “Yep, that's the fool,” he turned back to face me. “I'm Teddy, that's Seb. Sebastian, but he hates being called that.”

“Sav. Never Savannah, sometimes Savvy. Nice to meet you. So, why is your friend looking at you and waving like that?” My slightly tilted head may have scared Seb a little, especially when I looked directly at him, considering he hit his head on the top of the window when attempting to bring his head back inside the plane.

“You are the newest person here since us. We, I, wanted to make sure you were okay. The people here tend to stick to their own, especially the groups. Since you're all alone, I thought I'd check in. Being alone here can't be fun.”

Seb had finally got out of the cockpit of their plane and made his way over to us. “Hey, I'm Seb. Sorry about that,” he started, glaring at Teddy, “the belt lock got stuck and I was trying to get somebody's attention for help. He's always been a sucker for the pretty ones.” he winked and nudged Teddy in the side.

I felt my face turn slightly red, feeling the heat burning through my cheeks. “Um... thanks. I think...”

I didn't think I was much to look at. I'm not saying I'm ugly, definitely not. My naturally golden blonde hair and my emerald green eyes, my small, button nose and my rounded chin, my dimples. All these features saw to the fact I wasn't an ugly woman. I was tall, five feet and nine inches tall, and petite. I was tanned, after spending years outdoors working. I was athletic, which I had to be to be able to help people as much as I wanted to.

I didn't want there to be any limitations to what I could do. I had always wanted to help, in any way I could. I was the one in school to stand up to bullies, the one who did the most she could in class, but always asked for help when needed. I volunteered all throughout high school and university – even with international companies when I could. I spent all of my summers helping build affordable homes for those who needed them.

I just wanted to help.

I just needed to help.

Teddy looked at me with a way that half dismisses what Seb said, and half accepted it as well. Before any of us could speak, there was a loud noise coming from the other side of the carrier. We all looked, spotting a plume of black smoke. Running towards the smoke, it seemed like one of the boats engines can caught fire and exploded somehow.

“How the heck did that happen?” someone queried, one of the other people stuck here in purgatory. Her long, raven black hair was flying all over the place while she looked panicked, listening to the hubbub around her.

“Why has my boat just blown up?!” another yelled, out of breath from running the length of the carrier. This woman was similar looking to me, blonde, tall, petite... but her facial features looked more masculine. Her face seemed to be in a permanent scowl. Her pale brows furrowed on her forehead, scanning the people surrounding her and trying to determine who had done this, if anyone.

As I got closer to the flaming boat, the flames started to die down. I tried to get a good look at what was going on, and as I got within a few feet of the craft, arm over my eyes to try and protect them from the flames, I saw a small hole in the side right where the engine would be.

Did someone shoot the boat to force it to ignite? Why? And why was there no gunshot heard?

Teddy appeared at my side, with Seb not far behind. “What, have you seen something?” he asked, trying to follow my line of sight. “Is that a bullet hole?” he whispered, not wanting to cause a panic.

“It definitely looks like one, to the best of my knowledge. I've seen it before, but only by cartels trying to drown evidence.”

“What on earth do you do?” Seb asked, looking confused.

“I volunteer in war-torn countries and areas likely to be hit by natural disasters, attempting to help the people rebuild their lives, homes and communities. I am also a qualified nurse, so I assist medically where I can.” I replied, shutting him up for now.

I looked around the area to find something that could help put the fire out without making more of a mess. I saw fire blankets and extinguishers on different vehicles and told the guys to collect any with a blue band or said 'powder' on them while I went to work with a few other people who came to help.