Marvelous Journey : A Transmigrator Journey

Thunk

Arvin's head bumped against the cold window, jolting him awake. His trained instincts kicked in before his eyes fully opened, automatically taking in his surroundings - the steady drone of engines, the faint scent of recycled air, the dim cabin lighting.

Throb

Touching the tender spot on his forehead, Arvin peered through the window. The darkness outside made him frown. He leaned closer to the glass, trying to make sense of the pitch-black void where evening sky should be.

The lingering taste of mantou in his mouth helped him track time. (I must have dozed off after eating... probably thirty minutes ago?) But something felt wrong about the view outside, stirring unease in his gut.

(This doesn't make sense), he thought, mind racing to understand the unnatural darkness. Even without a watch, he calculated roughly 210 minutes - about three and a half hours - remaining in their flight. The sun should still be setting, even accounting for the time zones.

Hum

A subtle vibration caught his attention, so faint most passengers wouldn't notice it. But years of training had heightened Arvin's senses, making him acutely aware of the slight tremor - like a gentle breeze against skin.

Click

As curiosity won over him, Arvin decided to unlatched the seatbelt softly. Standing, Arvin scans the cabin. Arvin found only relaxed faces and casual conversations. Feeling enough, Arvin sit back and thinking. The stark contrast between their calm and his mounting unease made him question his own instincts.

Shiver

The vibrations intensified gradually. That gentle breeze sensation transformed into something more noticeable, like pins and needles across his skin. Around him, other passengers began shifting in their seats, their expressions morphing from relaxed to a confusion. Their reactions validated his earlier instincts.

Bang

The plane lurched suddenly. Arvin's hand shot out to grip the armrest, grateful he'd refastened his seatbelt. The unexpected movement shattered the cabin's peaceful atmosphere.

Chaos erupted as the shaking intensified. Children and teenagers burst into tears, their fear infectious in the confined space. Adults cursed in various languages, their voices mixing anger with anxiety.

(Chinese) "What the hell is happening?" a man shouted from the front rows.

(Chinese) "Mama, I'm scared!" a little girl wailed, clutching her mother's sleeve.

Ding Crackle

The intercom chimed through the passengers' worried voices. A man's voice, trying to sound calm despite obvious tension, addressed the cabin.

(Chinese) "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are currently experiencing some unexpected—" The voice cut off abruptly, crackling back to life moments later. "—turbulence. Please remain in your seats with your seatbelts fastened. We may need to make an emergency landing. Stay calm and follow the instructions of our flight crew. Our crew is trained for situations like this, and we are doing everything possible to ensure your safety."

Static

The message repeated in English, the foreign words meaningless to Arvin's ears. After a brief pause, the captain's voice returned.

(Chinese) "We will update you as soon as we have more information. Thank you for your cooperation."

The English version of this final message followed, then silence.

Crackle

A heavy silence fell over the cabin after the announcement, broken only by muffled sobs from frightened children.

Rustle Whisper

Across the aisle, a woman in a blue blouse clutched a cross, her lips moving in silent prayer. Her fingers had turned white from gripping the religious symbol, yet her face remained composed despite her obvious fear.

Arvin's heart pounded against his ribs as he tried processing their situation. Nothing in his training had prepared him for this - the unnatural darkness outside, the increasing tremors, the possibility of an emergency landing, or worse.....

Inhale Exhale

Closing his eyes, Arvin drew a deep breath, his master's teachings echoing in his mind: (Keep your center. In chaos, a clear mind becomes your strongest weapon.)

Opening his eyes again, he scanned the cabin once more. Terror marked every face, yet beneath the panic, Arvin noticed something else - a companionship emerging in crisis. Strangers offered comfort to one another, parents wrapped protective arms around children, couples gripped each other's hands for support.

Creak Groan

The aircraft shuddered violently, metal straining against unseen forces. Arvin steeled himself for whatever might come, drawing upon years of training in maintaining inner calm despite outer turmoil.

The darkness pressed against the windows like a thick curtain, emphasizing how little control they had over their destination. Arvin's trained senses picked up subtle changes in the air pressure, making his ears pop.

(Chinese) "Look!" someone gasped. "The windows!"

Tap Tap

Raindrops began hitting the glass, but something seemed off about their rhythm. They moved... sideways? Arvin squinted through the darkness, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

(This isn't natural), he thought, watching the water droplets defy gravity. (What kind of storm are we flying into?)

The cabin lights flickered ominously, casting strange shadows across worried faces. Outside, the darkness seemed to be taking shape, transforming from a formless void into something more defined, a whirlpool.

Hum Whine

The engine noise changed pitch, a subtle shift that made Arvin's stomach clench. His years of meditation and training had taught him to read signs in nature - and everything about this situation felt fundamentally wrong.

Flash BOOM

A blinding bolt of lightning illuminated the cabin, followed instantly by a violent double shake. Collective gasps of terror filled the air as the cabin lights flickered and died, leaving only the eerie red glow of emergency lighting.

Creak Groan

The plane rocked violently side to side. Arvin's body strained against his seatbelt, the strap digging deeper into his stomach with each movement. Chaos consumed the cabin. Children's screams pierced through the cacophony of frightened shouts and protesting metal.

Hiss

Oxygen masks dropped from overhead compartments, dangling like yellow snakes in the red light. Fresh waves of fear rippled through the passengers as trembling hands fumbled with the unfamiliar equipment.

(Chinese) "Please, sweetie, you need to wear this," a mother pleaded across the aisle, struggling to secure a mask on her crying toddler.

Whoosh

The plane dropped suddenly, as if the air beneath had vanished. Arvin's stomach lurched upward, his training the only thing keeping panic at bay. Through the windows, strange patterns of light danced in the darkness, defying natural law.

Crack Rumble

Thunder rolled through the cabin, its sound different from any storm Arvin had experienced. The vibrations felt wrong, almost solid, like fingers running across his skin.

Bang

Another violent shake rocked the plane. Loose items clattered in overhead compartments. A bag fell, spilling its contents into the aisle. Nobody moved to retrieve them.

(This isn't a normal storm), Arvin thought, his trained senses screaming warnings. The darkness outside the windows seemed alive, pulsing with an otherworldly rhythm.

Whine

The engine's pitch changed again, higher this time. The sound made Arvin's teeth ache. Around him, passengers clutched their masks, eyes wide with terror as the plane continued its erratic dance through the void.

Flash

Another burst of lightning revealed something through the window - shapes in the darkness that shouldn't exist, a massive black vortex. Arvin blinked, but the afterimage remained burned in his mind.

Crackle Hiss

The intercom sparked to life, but only static emerged. The captain's voice, when it finally came through, sounded distant and distorted.

(Chinese) "All passengers, brace for—"

Bang CRACK

A deafening sound cut through the cabin. The plane lurched violently to one side. Arvin's body slammed against his seatbelt as the aircraft rolled. His trained reflexes kicked in, hands gripping the armrests until his knuckles turned white.

Screech

Metal twisted somewhere behind him. The cabin pressure changed suddenly, making his ears pop painfully. Emergency oxygen wasn't enough to stop the lightheaded feeling that washed over him.

(Father... Mother...), Arvin's thoughts drifted to his parents waiting at home. (Grandfather, Grandmother, Grandpa, Grandma... Master...) His calm front crumbled as faces of his loved ones flashed through his mind. (I'm sorry...)

Flash BOOM

The last thing Arvin saw was a flash of blinding light tearing through the cabin, then darkness claimed him.