The Cursed Flight

    By The Roughrider

    The Cursed Flight cover image

    19 Feb, 2024

    a woman sitting on an airplane looking out the window at the camera, with a ponytail in her hair, arabesque, a stock photo, Christabel Dennison, anamorphic lens flare

    The cabin lights dimmed as the long-haul flight was about to start. I, a 14-year-old girl traveling alone, glanced around the economy class section.

    a woman and a child sitting on a bed together smiling at the camera, with a window in the background, private press, a stock photo, Christian Hilfgott Brand, promotional image

    Seated beside me was a pregnant woman and her toddler. She had a contagious smile that made me relax a bit.

    a woman and two children sitting on a beach with a sailboat in the background and a boat in the water, american realism, a hyperrealistic painting, Edwin Georgi, highly detailed digital painting

    Right in front of me were a young couple, fawning over their infant son. They seemed like they were on their first vacation as a family.

    a family poses for a picture in a field of grass with trees in the background and a blue sky, northwest school, a picture, Doug Ohlson, portrait photography

    Not far away, a large family was scattered across several rows. The eldest daughter seemed to be in charge of her younger siblings.

    a young girl with blonde hair and green eyes looks into the distance in a brightly lit room with brightly lit television screens, photorealism, a character portrait, Constance Gordon-Cumming, cgstudio

    Suddenly, a movie started playing on the overhead screens. It was a weird, old-style cartoon with swirling colors and hypnotic patterns.

    a woman and a child sitting on a couch together in pink pajamas and matching pink shoes, both looking at the camera, magical realism, a storybook illustration, Claire Hummel, promotional image

    Within minutes, something strange started happening. Laura and Mia beside me started cooing and babbling, their eyes glued to the screen.

    a woman with a baby on her shirt and a man with a backpack behind her smiling at the camera, photorealism, a stock photo, Ada Gladys Killins, hyper real

    In front of me, Emma and Adam were now drooling, their eyes wide and unfocused, while their son Jake seemed unaffected.

    a woman and a child sitting on a couch laughing together and laughing at the camera with a living room in the background, verdadism, a stock photo, Claire Hummel, promotional image

    Turning around, I saw Sarah, David, and Lily acting like toddlers. They were giggling, babbling, and even wetting their seats.

    a group of children standing in a playroom with toys on the floor and a shelf full of toys, hyperrealism, a storybook illustration, Americo Makk, affinity photo

    Paul, Bella, and Rosie, who were already children, were now behaving like infants, crawling around and crying for attention.

    a woman and a woman smiling and hugging each other in a living room with a couch and lamps on the wall, antipodeans, a stock photo, Ada Gladys Killins, promotional image

    Even Mary and John, the parents, were reduced to a childlike state, giggling and playing peek-a-boo with each other.

    a young girl with a braid standing in front of a man and woman in a green shirt and black backpack, hyperrealism, a poster, Brad Holland, movie still

    I was the only one unaffected. The movie had hypnotized everyone into acting like babies. Even worse, they were all now wearing thick, crinkly diapers.

    a group of people standing in a plane with a woman in a denim jacket looking at the camera with a serious look on her face, space art, a poster, Brad Holland, promotional image

    I felt a surge of panic. I was alone on a plane full of adults acting like infants. I needed to do something.

    a woman sitting on a plane looking at her cell phone while others look on in the background in the airplane, naturalism, a poster, Felix-Kelly, promotional image

    Looking around, I noticed the remote for the in-flight entertainment system. Maybe I could change the movie and break the spell.

    two women sitting on a couch looking at a cell phone together, both of them are looking at a remote control, neogeo, a stock photo, Anne Rigney, promotional image

    I reached for the remote, but Laura, in her baby state, grabbed it and started chewing on it. I had to find another way.

    a woman in a denim jacket looking at her cell phone in a crowded room with people in the background, sots art, a character portrait, Eve Ryder, promotional image

    I remembered my phone. I quickly googled how to disrupt a hypnosis. The first suggestion was a loud noise.

    a woman with headphones on sitting in an airplane with other people behind her looking out the window at the sky, serial art, a stock photo, Christabel Dennison, promotional image

    I had an idea. I ran to the back of the plane and grabbed the intercom. "ATTENTION!" I shouted into it.

    a large family is posing for a picture together in a living room with a baby in the middle of the group, excessivism, a stock photo, Eric Dinyer, promotional image

    The loud noise startled everyone. One by one, they all blinked, shook their heads, and looked around in confusion.

    a man and woman holding a baby in a cabin with a baby girl in her lap and a man in a blue jacket, rayonism, a poster, Elinor Proby Adams, promotional image

    They were back to normal. The hypnosis had been broken. But they were still wearing diapers, causing a wave of embarrassment to sweep through the cabin.

    a group of people are standing on a plane together and smiling for the camera man is standing in the middle of the group, american realism, concept art, Chris LaBrooy, promotional image

    Despite the awkwardness, everyone was relieved. The rest of the flight was spent in nervous laughter and hushed conversations.

    a group of people standing in a line on a plane or plane with a woman smiling at the camera, les automatistes, a stock photo, Ei-Q, promotional image

    Once we landed, everyone exited the plane as quickly as possible. I couldn't help but smile. What a flight it had been.

    a woman in a denim jacket standing in front of a plane with a group of people standing around her, retrofuturism, a poster, Daphne Fedarb, promotional image

    From that day on, I knew I would always have a great story to tell. The day I saved a plane full of adults from acting like babies.

    The Cursed Flight

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