The grip of the soldier upon my arm felt like that of machine and as bad as I wanted to pummel away at the man I refrained. In all likelihood I'd get my neck snapped if I resisted, but I was caring less by the minute if that should occur.
The weight of the suitcase combined with the weight of my backpack helped to keep me aware of reality. Just what was in this suitcase that could be used as a form of self-defense or even sabotage?
I didn't know, but my grip on the handle of the case did not diminish even as I was hustled up a steep flight of stairs towards an opening in the side of a downward pointed vessel that it seemed I had been allotted to. Out of breath I made it to the top only to be roughly pushed inside.
Everything about these enforcer type soldiers seemed meant to intimidate, and all I was left with was the urge to pull the trigger if the opportunity should present itself.
"Strap up now daisies and Jim Carey's or you'll have to tell Lucy bye-bye!" Called out an officer, whose closely inset eyes seemed to confirm the mental instability that he was even now manifesting along with the accoutrements of his leering smile and sing-songy voice.
The creep factor I had for this man was immense and for fear he might be one of the fallen watchers I scrambled quickly past him and down the aisle of seat like harness contraptions set off to either side of the gangway.
"Bags below and above it doesn't matter because below is same as above!" Came the officer's somewhat cultic chant from behind me.
Hurriedly I un-slung my backpack and shoved it into a vacant space beneath the seat harness that I had picked out for myself. Taking the briefcase I lifted it and shoved it above my head into the cavity of space above the seat harness.
"Go to! Go to! We mustn't be late!" Chimed out the officer with a look to his face that sang of lost marbles.
With a quiver of suppressed terror I sat back into the seat to only then gasp with fright as it secured me in a way that echoed of a theme park ride. Closing my eyes I tried to shut everything out if for only a moment.
I opened my eyes to see as I had somehow expected the officer's face alarmingly close to my own. In many ways I was helpless in the current situation, but being defenseless in the face of a demon infested soul was not one of them.