crude end

[Amigo]

Since it's in the US the hospital should have said 'center' not 'centre'.

 

[Fierlin1182]

I haven't revealed where Stacey and Carson are yet

I only said UAL is based in southern US.

I know the whole thing isn't very pleasant or kiddy. I'm sorry.

The second crash happened two weeks later. Carson was dozing off in front of the TV when the news came on.
His eyes flew open and he was immediately fixated on the burning aircraft.
A second crash involving a UAL airliner hasn't resulted in as lucky an outcome as the previous incident two weeks earlier. Forty-two people have so far been found dead. The plane, unable to reach the runway at nearby LAX, crash-landed in a field, hitting 240Volt power lines as it went down. Rescuers are still searching for survivors.
Carson shook his head in disbelief. He picked up the phone to call Stacey's mobile.

After five rings and no answer, Carson started to panic. Stacey never went anywhere without her mobile.
As her rented place was only a couple of blocks away, he pulled on his parka and set off, blowing on his hands to keep them warm.
Reaching her doorstep, he realised he was panting with the exertion of walking two blocks. I'm so unfit. Ever since I landed the top job at XYZ Banking...

He rang the doorbell. The lights were on in Stacey's window, but nobody came to the door.
"STACEY!" Carson shouted, hammering on the window.
There was no response. Carson went round the back and broke down the flimsy door which had only been hooked on its chain.

He found Stacey passed out on the floor. She was obviously completely out of it.
"GOD!" he yelled, kicking a chair in frustration.
"I send you through rehab just to have you right back at it as soon as you're out of the darn place!!"
Stacey stirred as he slapped her face, waking her up. "Don't die on me here, 'kay?"

"I'm not dying," she mumbled. "And that's the kind of crappy rehab celebrities go to for publicity."
"I put out the money for you, and that's all you give me? Not even one thanks? And of course nothing's going to happen if you don't make any effort!"
Carson tried to keep his anger down, but it wasn't working.
"No effort?" Stacey rolled her eyes. "How bout you try living in this dump for two weeks with an idiot in the room next door! Don't even get me started on the job."
Carson shook his head.
"Disappointing."
"Very."
"I meant you."
"I love you too."

Carson stormed out of the house, vowing never again to waste his effort on someone without doing his research first.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Twenty years ago

It was the last day of term for the Year Twelve mob at Galatia's College, the 'study period' the students received before their final exams. Of course, nobody actually used this time to study, except for perhaps Katy Bronson.
"Have a nice break," Katy would have thrown at her from fifty different directions. She smiled and nodded along with it all, despite knowing full well that they were just saying it to appear friendly. As soon as she was out of sight they'd be back to talking about her again, thinking she didn't know.
"Oh, her father's an alcoholic."
"She's a bit of a weirdo, isn't she?"
"Yeah, studying all break."
"Nobody actually knows anything about her."
"We shouldn't be doing this. It isn't funny. Poor Katy."
snicker "Yes, poor Katy."
One of the girls, the popular ones, she would take a big part in this banter. Katy couldn't quite remember her name now.

Katy had dreams. She was one day going to escape from this madhouse and become someone important. The dreams kept her going, even after the nights of worrying about her father and trying to comfort her mother.
She never really had any friends. She wasn't an indecent person, she just never managed to fit in anywhere.
One day, she hoped that would change too.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Carson took out a beer from the fridge. He needed to calm down.
"What a freakin' messed up girl," he kept muttering to himself.
He looked at the rescuers on the screen of his TV, which he had forgotten to turn off.
They had found the first survivor, a twelve-year-old girl with serious burns.

Carson's heart started to melt.
That poor little thing, he thought to himself. I'll pull this off on my own. I don't need her. I'll get to the bottom of this.
He had a vague idea, but he didn't know how he could ever prove it.

Carson decided he should start a journal, as he would soon forget all the details when he went back to XYZ after the weekend.

18th March, 2052
Think that UAL is stockpiling crude and distilling their own fuel.

His eyes snapped back up to the TV as a new reporter appeared.
Smith refuses to comment on the nature of a further 300 jobs lost.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Five years ago

When Sheila Smith became the CEO of Unnamed Airlines, it had been a floundering business. The airfares not competitive enough against biofuel planes, and despite the faster travel times, UAL looked set to go down the same path as the likes of Pan Am and Ansett.

In a matter of months, Sheila had managed to transform the airline into a prospering, popular business talked about worldwide, despite making it onto the Top Ten Worst Companies to Work For. Sheila was a sensation. Business magazines were splashed with her face for months to come, and she was loving every second of it.

Gradually, the employees began to see what she was like.
Like the 'harsh marker' from school, one small slip-up could get you fired. Too much was at stake here. Money, money, that's what it was all about. Every cent saved was a cent towards keeping the airline afloat.

Very few people knew much about Sheila's private life. She left the office every day and seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. No family to speak of, and fairly nondescript car, Sheila Smith was a mystery the world was yet to comprehend.

 

[horsecrazychicklovingkid]

I like ti so far! You should see if you could make it a movie someday.

 

[Fierlin1182]

I don't really know, movies cost a lot of money to make

And later... well, let's just say there's a big explosion which would be dangerous to film 'at home'

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

Oh my I love it! I would watch a movie like it rofl!!!! Sorry havent been on much been spending time with family as today is my b-day

Had a good day to

 

[Fierlin1182]

Happy birthday! It's good you got to spend time with them. The only time my family isn't all busy with each others' work is, oddly enough, on birthdays too.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Carson knew there was going to be a meeting of UAL's local board in a couple of days time. It had been in the Financial Review for a long time: quite an important event it was. Just quite HOW important, Carson was yet to find out.

To be continued...
(My creative juices are running out!!!)