The Airport Escape

It was a day like any other at the airport, and I was ready to leave. My bags were packed, my ticket in hand, and I had just reached the corridor to exit when I realized something was off. The only people around were airport workers, filing out in a hurried but almost robotic way. I stopped, confused, and then turned around, heading back to the waiting room.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, with a haze of smoke filling the air. A small crowd of people were gathered, each puffing away on cigarettes. I moved to the nearest person, trying not to breathe in the thick smoke, and covered my mouth as I spoke.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to get some answers.

"You need chicken," one person replied cryptically, eyes darting nervously. "To get out of here."

Chicken? I blinked, unsure if I had heard correctly. "What do you mean? I can't just leave?"

"They might not let you buy the chicken," he muttered, almost as if he was afraid to say more.

Before I could ask anything else, something strange happened. A loud click echoed through the room, and the doors ahead of me slowly creaked open. People surged forward, running wildly toward the exit. I glanced around in panic. Was something wrong? Why were they all fleeing?

In an instant, a car sped out from nowhere, its engine roaring to life. It screeched forward, chasing after the frantic crowd. My heart raced. Was I in danger? The answer seemed clear—this was my chance to make a run for it.

Without thinking, my body moved on instinct. I turned and sprinted toward the hall where I had first entered. The car followed, its tires screeching closer, but I pushed harder, my legs burning with the effort. I reached the stairs, barely slowing as I rushed up, feet pounding against the steps.

As I reached the top, I paused for a split second, breathless. I looked around, seeing a locked door with a small crowd of people giggling and laughing behind it, as if they were oblivious to the chaos unfolding. What was this place? What did they know that I didn’t?

But there was no time to waste. I glanced back— the car was still coming—and with one last burst of speed, I climbed the final step, wondering what in the world I had just gotten myself into.