The plane starts to shake. It’s being tossed by turbulence. Mahana wakes up. Everything is dark. A glow leaks from the aisles’ ceiling. A cold draught blows down from the pipes. The persistent buzz is starting to hurt her ears. She sinks into her blanket with the hope of getting back to sleep, but it’s hopeless.

Her brother is still asleep. The little boy snores loudly. His limbs are stretched in all directions. She puts her finger on the embedded screen in the seat facing her. It lights up, revealing a map. The aircraft is flying over the ocean near the Canadian shore. Her parents are in the middle row. They’re asleep, too. Her mother is covered in sheets. The cabin is calm.

Mahana unfastens her seat belt and climbs down from her seat. The toilets are not far. The plane shudders. The little girl gropes forward. The door is ajar. It creaks. The girl slips into the small room and closes the door. The mirror startles her. She does her business quickly and comes back out.

That’s when she sees him. The boy. He is on his knees. He’s rummaging deep in a bag under his chair. He turns his head towards her and jumps to his feet. Mahana backs away in surprise, loses her balance and almost falls down. He grabs her arm to hold her back. He pulls too hard. They both sprawl on the carpet.

« I’m sorry! Are you all right? » He apologizes, embarrassed. Mahana hesitates to answer him. She lost herself in his eyes. The little girl feels ridiculous like this and wonders why her heart is beating so hard.

« Yes, I'm fine. » She replies curtly. The little girl steps aside. She would like to add something scornful but wonders why she’s so angry. What could be irritating her so much?

« You look amazing! » He praises. It’s obvious that the boy said that on a whim. He's blushing. Mahana is speechless.

« I feel like we've known each other since forever! » He forges on. It’s also the feeling running through the little girl’s mind. The boy continues:

« I was looking for something to drink, do you want me to bring you something? »

She just nods her head yes. He smiles and walks away. Here she is now, alone with a satisfied grin on her face. Her mind is empty. It's as if she just woke up. A can appears before her eyes. The boy stands straight. The little girl does not react. Her gaze remains frozen. He puts the drink in her hands. She grabs his shirt:

« I also... » Mahana hesitates. Her lips move as if of their own volition:

« I also feel like I know you! » She murmurs uncertainly.

He gives her a kind look:

« My name is Elliot. »

« Mahana. » She speaks without control, as if possessed.

« Mine's Soh'ina! »

That other, deep voice comes from behind Elliot. The boy turns around, surprised by the interruption. He lets out a « Whoa! » and steps back. The girl pops her head over the top of the seat and notices a stocky young man with a round face. His transparent body shines with a sinister white glow. He looks like a ghost. Both kids wonder what they’re looking at.

« What? What is happening? »

The apparition looks around and yells out a surprised « Whoa! » of its own. There’s a pause and then he adds:

« Where am I? What is this place? This isn’t funny at all! » Happiness can be read on the face of Mahana, who exclaims:

« You’re a ghost! I asked my father to adopt a ghost, but he told me we couldn’t. I want to adopt you! The ghost gives an awkward smile. He scratches his head, then answers:

« That's... that's nice, but I'm already married. »

« Who are you? » Elliot asks. The two of them exchange a cold glance.

« I’m Soh'ina... are you servants of the Empress? I didn’t know this part of the palace. Yet I’ve lived here for years! »

The ghost looks like he’s 13 years old. Just a teenager, or so it would seem. Yet he speaks like someone much more grown-up.

« The Empress? The palace? You’re on a plane. » Elliot stares at him nervously then adds:

« I don’t want to play. »

He’s surprised, however, not to be more astonished. You don’t see a ghost every day. The little girl is radiating joy, but he feels only a deep disgust. Why? A heavy silence falls. The strange apparition slaps his hand over his mouth:

« We’re in a what? »

His face becomes severe. Mahana is enraptured. This new ghostly friend is like a dream. You could even count the stars in her eyes.

« Is there a mirror here? »

Elliot points towards the toilets. The ghost moves towards the door and opens it without trouble. He screams. The two children step back in terror. The passengers don’t bat an eye. Did they hear nothing?

« What is that! If I find the idiot who cast that ritual, I swear I’ll make them sweep the entire capital with their hairbrush! »

He steps out of the toilet, closes the door with dignity and goes to the two kids:

« Where are we? On which planet? »

« On Earth. » Elliot informs him.

« Seriously? Earth? Like the ground we walk on? It's a strange name for a planet. I'd remember if I’d heard it before! Is it me? Am I having translation problems? Maybe it’s... »

« Yes, that's the name! » Elliot interrupts. Why is he so annoyed? Why does witnessing a paranormal event have almost no effect on him? He should be screaming, though! The boy has a strange feeling that something has changed, but what?

« My boy, I am the steward of Mara, her Highness the Empress of Fates! I know all planets under the authority of the empire of Mû. I have never heard of that one. If I do not know it, it does not exist! Where are we, damn it? »

Why does he want to hit him that much? His interlocutor is worried. Elliot forces himself to be kind in his answer:

« I don’t know what you're talking about. »

Soh'ina pauses. He may not be the victim of a bad joke. Something more serious than he imagined has just occurred.

« You know nothing about the empire of Mû? »

« No, nothing. »

« If I say ‘Elohim’, does that mean anything to you? »

« It's a biblical thing, right? »

« Good answer! Now we’re getting somewhere. Is that a place? A text? Is there a copy somewhere around here? »

« Probably. We’d have to search the bags of all passengers. » The ghost mulls it over, then implores:

« I need your help. Please! » Elliot looks at him hesitantly. He feels Mahana pulling at his shirt. Her attitude has changed. The girl seems more adult. It's odd. The boy turns towards her:

« He looks lost... we should help him! »

« Yes... we should... »

Still, Elliot hesitates. This creature has him off-balance. He looks like a longtime acquaintance. Like Mahana. The little girl takes hold of his arm. Her hand shakes. She wants to be kind but doesn’t seem to feel safe:

« All right, we'll help. » He finally agrees, his heart seized with anguish.