As Mason and Eve drive into the private runway, Eve thinks about all those movies and TV shows where she has seen an airport, where people are always waiting in frustration or hurrying away in panic.

This however feels nothing like that.

Through the window she sees the cabin jet parked on the runway, with turbines under the back of its tail, as opposed to under the wings in the larger commercial passenger planes.

Mason stops the Tesla when they reach the head of the runway that's circular but slightly oblong, like the head of a musical quarter note. Four men dressed like security approach the car. Mason and Eve get off.

Eve feels a cool breeze hit her face. She looks around. She has never been in a place that's as big and open like this. It's like being in the middle of a large football field, except there's a tar road and a jet in the middle of it.

She turns around and sees Mason talking to the guys. It looks as if the men work for Mason. Eve reaches into the car, takes out her backpack and straps it to her shoulders. She notices some boys standing outside near the jet. She recognizes two of them - the one in the cargo pants, Keith, and the one with the leather jacket, Brad, both of whom she has seen with Mason at school. She believes they are friends. Then there's a third boy in a hoodie she doesn't recognize.

All three of them seem to be inspecting the piles of military-looking transit cases and crates that are meant to be loaded into the plane.

She goes near them, and notices Brad opening a large rectangular case. Eve stops walking when she sees its content. Weapons. A large rifle, its accessories, and a handgun, all nested into custom cut pockets on a black EPE foam.

Brad takes the gun and a cartridge, and pushes up the cartridge into the gun's body and pulls back the slider at the top before tucking it away into the inside of his jacket.

"You okay?" Mason says, appearing at Eve's side. Eve looks up at his face like she can't believe what she just saw. Mason laughs. "Don't worry," he says, "It's just a precaution. We are trained to use firearms, and have permits for them."

"You know how to use a gun?" Eve says, surprised.

Mason nods.

"Why?" Eve says.

Mason shrugs. "It's one of my hobbies. Now, come on, let me introduce you to my cousin Ashton. I'm sure you already know Keith and Brad."

When they reach the others, Eve notices Ashton is looking at a yet another military-esque equipment - A laptop fitted inside a thick dark green case that has a suitcase handle and slots at the sides for discs and other peripherals.

"Ashton, this is Eve," Mason says.

Ashton looks up and smiles at Eve. "You are the girl who cracked our uncle's ridiculous box. I was at my wit's end with that," Ashton says.

"Ashton, here, is a computer wiz of sorts, but of course he's no match for you," Mason says.

Eve is not sure she's a match for anyone here. They all look like they are ready to go on a treasure hunt of sort; or a black ops, by the amount of weapons on them. On the other hand, Eve left even the band-aids out while packing thinking no one ever needs them anyway. She's not sure about that now.

Eve turns around and looks at her bulging backpack.

"What?" Mason says.

"I suddenly feel like, I'm underpacked."

He smiles. "That's alright. If you need anything we can pick it up later."

Eve just stares at Mason.

"What now?" He says.

"You rich boys are slightly scary."

Mason smirks. "Scary irresistible?"

They both realize what had just transpired through Mason's remark so they quickly feel awkward. Mason clears his throat and says, "Well, you should get inside first."

Eve climbs up the airstair of the jet, and opens her mouth when she sees the cabin. It's like she had walked into a posh living room.

There are four grey leather seats near her, at the front. The seats look like the massage chair Eve once saw in a late night telemarket show in TV. At the back is a three-seater beige couch with its back against the side of the jet, and opposite it are two single-seater chairs facing it. In between them is a large rectangular walnut table.

There are napkins and a flower vase at the table, and all the seats have matching throw cushions arranged on them. Eve turns around and sees a large brown panel with a door that leads into the cockpit. She turns back and stares at the three-seater couch. That's where she wants to sit, but she's not sure she should. She looks out through one of the windows and sees the boys standing outside having a conversation.

Eve walks over to the first seat on the other side and sits down. She puts down her bag at her feet and looks out the window near hers. The vast expanse of grass is beautiful to look at. She feels like she's in a whole different world from the one she was born and raised in.

After a few minutes, two men in pilot uniforms board. After a "good morning," to Eve, the men disappear behind the cockpit door. And soon, the boys come in as well. Keith, who came in last pulls up the stair and locks the door.

Mason sits on the seat next to Eve's while she puts on her seatbelt. The pilot's voice announces the takeoff and soon Eve watches the grass field outside go past her before the horizon tilts and the jet is in the air.

She breathes out after a moment when the jet balances back to the horizontal axis and gravity stops pulling her body against the seat.

Mason gets up from his seat. "Come on," he says to Eve and heads to the back of the jet. Eve unbuckles her seatbelt and follows him. Two of the back row seats have been rotated to face the walnut table. Keith and Brad are on them. At one of the seats opposite the large couch is Ashton, with his laptop open on the table. Eve and Mason sit down on the couch. It's like the five of them are in a round table conference, except the table is not round and they are thousands of kilometers off the ground.

"Guys," Mason begins, "this is what we have so far."

End of chapter