People say there’s an island. An island that only appears to one person, on one flight. Flight 26. It’s so weird, it isn’t a flight listed along with the others, there’s only one way to get on it. But It’s simple, just like you usually would, ask. 

Repeat after me, “I would like to take flight 26.”

“Sorry, but I don’t see a flight 26 at the moment.” That’s what the clerk will say. Ignore them. Keep pushing.

“I would like to take flight 26.”

“Ma’am there is no flight 26 available at this time.” Keep...Pushing.

“I would like to take flight 26.”

“I really wish I could help you get where you need to go, but we don’t have a flight 26 listed. Please look here for our available flights.” They’ll point to a piece of paper. Don’t look at it.

Push.

“I would like to take flight 26.”

“Well lucky for you it looks like that flight just opened.” Good. They won’t give you a ticket.

“Enjoy your flight.”

“You too.”

People who put their lives into flight 26 called it 26, just 26. I guess after so many attempts it gets tiring to say the full thing every time. There are groups if you know where to look. I don’t. One person. One flight. That’s what everyone says, no one said this would be easy. I have tried this, 14 times. And someone else always gets chosen, everyone who doesn’t get chosen wonders what happens to the one who did. And the chosen one...well, only I know that. The only thing the others know is that they don’t show up when the plane lands. I've kept track of every person who takes flight 26 for every flight I’ve been on. Apart from the third, that one is a different story. I guess it’s relevant, and I should document it if I ever get chosen ‘officially’. Fine, alright it was 1999, December 26. No correlation, just the day after Christmas. I just wanted to know what ‘26’ meant. The flight was underwhelming at first. It was a normal plane, kind of. As long as you’re not the one that gets chosen there’s nothing different once you get on. You just can’t talk, or move...

Since this point, I’ve already tried twice, nothing. On my first 26, all I did was sit, which didn’t help much. It’s a normal plane, with normal people, and a normal pilot...at least I think. The only thing unusual is the disappearances. Everyone is usually stuck in their mind probably praying to get chosen, but I was watching everyone else. The plane carries 57 passengers, quite small. It has three attendants, an odd number, but not for too long.

On my second 26, I made a method to keep track of everyone. Every minute I could see each passenger and the attendants if I was on time. Step 1, look at a watch with second hands. As soon as the clock reaches the next minute, look at the person next to you. Only for one second! Exactly one. Then the person across the aisle, for one second. Then the person next to them, then everyone in the plane, including the three attendants. 60 people, 60 seconds. You’ll need the farthest seat to the back for a good view. Now do it again, and again. Until two people go missing, here’s what I’ve figured out. After the plane takes off, do the looking method for 14 minutes straight, now look again. Two people are gone, one passenger and one attendant. I noticed that on my second flight.

The third is where everything happened. I was tired, impatient. I wasn’t chosen, TWICE! Enough. Until this time I hadn’t heard anyone say a word. I later found out that it was considered impolite to the plane. I didn’t know that back then. And to be honest, I didn’t care. I stood up. The first attendant looked at me, then at my seat. Menacing eyes. Like the plane was rumbling at the sight. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be standing. And to be honest, I didn’t care. I was so tired.

She sent the third attendant to escort me back to my seat. 

“Excuse me, please take your seat until we finish ascending” She whispered that to me. Very, quietly. I remember that. I remember her. I feel bad for her. I grabbed her shirt.

“Tell whoever is in charge here to choose me!” The whole plane was looking now. I looked back. It was that moment that I saw one of the passengers glow, it was them, they were getting chosen. I ran down the aisle to their seat, still dragging the attendant with me. I grabbed their hand, that was a mistake.