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Hijacked Flight: A Child's Terror

A family rushes to catch their international flight as a heavy rainstorm develops. They board the plane and get settled, but the man seated next to the narrator seems suspicious. During the flight, this man pushes the narrator to the ground and pulls out a gun, holding the passengers hostage. The hijacker threatens to kill all the adults unless the plane lands, but says he will spare the children. The air hostess devises a plan where she puts life jackets and parachutes on the passengers, launching the children to safety just before the hijacker's bomb detonates. The narrator realizes they are now alone and orphaned from the hijacking that has ruined their life.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
20 views1 page

Hijacked Flight: A Child's Terror

A family rushes to catch their international flight as a heavy rainstorm develops. They board the plane and get settled, but the man seated next to the narrator seems suspicious. During the flight, this man pushes the narrator to the ground and pulls out a gun, holding the passengers hostage. The hijacker threatens to kill all the adults unless the plane lands, but says he will spare the children. The air hostess devises a plan where she puts life jackets and parachutes on the passengers, launching the children to safety just before the hijacker's bomb detonates. The narrator realizes they are now alone and orphaned from the hijacking that has ruined their life.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The lightning was striking the Earth angrily.

The deafening thunder was provoking the clouds to


shower. And before we knew it, drops of water were falling upon us. This rain was not just a light pitter-
patter; it was the rain that could lead to a flood. My family and I rushed out of the car, trying to keep dry
as much as possible. Father grabbed a trolley from the stands. We quickly loaded it with our suitcases.
We searched for the sign, 'International Departures,' and once found, we sprinted to the entrance.
“Flight 86054 is boarding!”
Oh no! We swerved through the crowd, knowing there was little time left. The check-ins went smoothly
and now all we had to do was reach gate 5. The gate was already open when we reached it. As we were
with a baby, they let us go in front of the line.
Soon enough, we were seated in the flight. However, there was some mixup with the seat arrangements.
My little sister, father and mother were placed next to each other but I was placed on the window seat a
row away! We tried to adjust with the person sitting in the window seat near my parents. Luckily he
agreed. Now I was with my family. Soon another man came, who I suppose, was meant to sit next to me.
He seemed strange and shifty so I decided to ignore him. I let him go to the window seat.
Some air hostess demonstrated some safety measures. The plane had started slowly. Suddenly, it
started going so fast that I could barely see the wings. For about 5 minutes it kept going in circles and
then with a deafening roar, it left. I was having butterflies in my stomach as the plane rose and, soon we
were soaring above buildings.
The TV screen provided in front of our seats was a great source of entertainment for me throughout the
whole journey. However, the person next to me kept looking around. He was not interested in watching
television. After 5 hours of the ride, He stood up and pushed me to the ground.
Anger rose within me. How dare he! I didn't even know him! My father stood up as well, ready to fight
when the man took out a gun and directed it towards my face. My eyes were transfixed upon the trigger
which would decide how many seconds more I have to live. 3..2..1..
I was in complete blackness. I could not see or hear anything! Was this how dying felt?
Suddenly, I felt my mother’s soft, warm hands pick me up. I knew I was safe.
My senses came to life. Soon I was aware of what was happening.
The man’s eyes were ice as he stared at the passengers. He was demanding money. He threatened to kill
all the passengers. He said he had spared me because I was a child. However, he would not spare any
adults. “I will kill all of you. I don't care! I have no family, no children, no parents, no nothing. You can
not do anything to me. If you do not land now, I will use up all my bullets. I have enough to murder all of
you. Do not worry though,” He said and, a smirk appeared on his face, “I will not kill your children. They
can serve me throughout their life. I will not harm them. I have a bomb which is going to burst off in 3
minutes. Tick tock!” he said, as he pointed towards his watch.
The air hostess took everyone away slowly and made a deal with the hijacker. He had his gun raised. The
air hostess placed life jackets upon our clothes and each family received a parachute as there were not
enough for each member. My parents handed me the parachute and told me to take care of my little
sister as they squeezed her in the parachute as well.
5..4..3..2..1 They launched all the parachutes. As I looked around, I realised there were only children. I
looked at the ground. This hijack ruined my family, life and was going to ruin my future.

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The narrative employs several elements to depict impending danger, such as the stormy weather with lightning and thunder which sets an ominous tone . Additionally, the rushing scene in the airport with the urgency to catch the flight creates tension, signaling potential conflict or danger. Once in the air, the protagonist encounters a shifty individual which heightens the sense of unease. The revelation of the man as a hijacker further develops this theme of danger with his threats involving a gun and a bomb, escalating the situation to life-threatening proportions .

The author's choice of pacing, from the hurried boarding process to the rapidly escalating tension in the plane, influences the reader's perception by creating a realistic and immersive experience. The rushed moments at the airport are mirrored by the frantic urgency during the hijacking when every second counts . This quick shift from normal to emergency keeps readers on edge, emphasizing the unpredictability and peril of the hijacking, thus maintaining suspense and engagement.

The setting enhances emotional gravity by situating the characters in an enclosed, inescapable environment—a plane. This confinement intensifies the feeling of vulnerability and helplessness among the passengers. The stark contrast between the secure environment before boarding and the perilous situation in the air amplifies the shock and danger of the hijacking scenario. This spatial limitation underscores the severity of the threat posed by the hijacker .

The motif of time is crucial in building suspense. Initially, there is a rush to catch the flight, emphasizing urgency . This motif recurs when the hijacker announces a bomb with a countdown, creating immediate life-threatening pressure. The use of phrases like 'Tick tock!' illustrates the urgency and disaster looming over the characters, heightening the tension and the stakes of the narrative .

The protagonist's role as a child is significant as it underscores themes of innocence and powerlessness. The narration through a child's perspective amplifies the drama since children are often perceived as inherently vulnerable and dependent . The hijacker's decision not to harm children but to see them as future servants highlights a distorted form of mercy, further complicating the narrative and enhancing the reader's emotional engagement. This choice emphasizes the tragedy and injustice of the hijacking, eliciting stronger empathy from the audience .

The narrative structure effectively conveys the protagonist's emotional journey through escalating tension. Beginning with a rushed yet mundane airport scene, readers relate to the protagonist's initial calm and anticipation . The shift to high-stakes drama with the hijacker demanding money marks a dramatic pivot into anxiety and fear. The hijacker's threats and actions heighten this anxiety, effectively mirroring the protagonist's internal chaos. The climax with the parachute escape focuses on desperate hope, contrasting sharply with prior fear, thereby enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative .

The protagonist's behavior contrasts sharply with the hijacker's, creating dramatic tension. While the protagonist displays fear, helplessness, and familial affection, the hijacker exudes control, coldness, and detachment. This contrast emphasizes the hijacker's threat; he is the complete antithesis of the protagonist's vulnerable and familial presence . This tension highlights the theme of innocence versus malignance and enhances the emotional depth of the story.

The story's conclusion, focusing on the children's parachute escape and separation from their families, deeply reflects on themes of loss and future uncertainty. The protagonist's realization of being amongst only children highlights a catastrophic personal and societal loss, underlining the cruel impact of the hijacking. The future is portrayed as uncertain and bleak, given the protagonist's acknowledgment of a ruined family and life . This resolution reinforces the narrative's exploration of innocence shattered by violence and crisis, leaving readers with a profound contemplation of vulnerability and resilience.

The storm imagery at the beginning sets a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadows the chaos and danger that unfold on the plane. The aggressive weather with striking lightning and deafening thunder parallels the later aggression demonstrated by the hijacker. Just as the family rushes through the storm to reach safety, they later find themselves in a similar rush to escape the hijacker's threats, reinforcing the narrative's tension and sense of impending crisis .

The author's depiction of the hijacker includes descriptions of his 'icy eyes' and a smirk, indicating a cold, possibly psychopathic character. His statements reveal a lack of empathy and a nihilistic worldview, as he proclaims he has 'no family, no children, no parents, no nothing' and threatens to kill all adults but not children. This contributes to his characterization as not only dangerous but also emotionally detached and driven by despair or rage .

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