Ring Ring

Ring Ring

Nick's eyes slowly opened as they focused on his surroundings. He heard the phone ringing as he realized he wasn't at home. Warm thoughts of his new friend filled his mind, but were disturbed by the constant sound. "Layla? Layla, the phone is ringing." He watched as she continued to sleep, not even bothered by the noise. He looked at the clock, seeing it was a little before 8:00 in the morning. "Who would be calling this early? Layla?" He tried to wake her up, but was having no luck. "Okay, guess I'll pick it up." He felt a bit odd, but made his way over to the phone. "Hello?"

"Nick, turn on the television."

"Alex, is that you?"

"Nick, you and Layla gotta turn the news on."

"Okay, okay, just a second. You woke me out of a sound sleep, you know." Nick started searching for the remote, making a little more noise.

Layla began to wake up. "Nick, what are you doing?"

"Where's your remote?"

"It’s in the entertainment center, why? Who's on the phone?"

He opened up the doors to the center and grabbed the remote, pushing the buttons. It didn't matter what station it was turned to, the same horrifying picture graced the screen. "Alex, what's going on?" He asked the question of Alex, but the television voices answered it all.

"A gargantuan explosion! Oh my God, I don't believe it! The Northeast corner has exploded in the most incredible explosion. Flames are flying out of the building. They're five, ten stories high now. Black billowing smoke. The building corner, the whole entire corner is gone!"

"A plane crashed into one of the World Trade Towers," Alex confirmed sadly. "I don't know what's happening really, just stunned to see it. I was watching Good Morning America and then this news broke. I just wanted to call you because..." he swallowed hard, not knowing how to say the next words. "Isn't Aaron in New York right now?"

Nick's stare turned blank as he continued to watch the sight before him. "We'll call ya back." He dropped the phone and took a deep breath.

"What's happening?" Layla's voice held concern as she sat down next to him and watched in shock as one of the tallest buildings in New York City kept on burning.

"Where's my cell phone? Where are my pants?"

"You left them in my room." She watched as he quickly got up, but continued to listen to the reporter.

"An airplane has hit the World Trade Center and that's all we know."

Nick frantically grabbed his phone and headed out towards the living room. He searched the stored numbers and pressed the one for Aaron's cell phone. He paced the floor as Layla nervously watched. "Pick up, pick up," he whispered. His eyes suddenly opened wider as he heard an answer. "Aaron?"

"Nick, what the hell's happening?"

"I don't know man. Where are you?"

"I'm in my limo, driving away from everything. I'm watching the building burn."

"Where is Dad?"

"He took an earlier flight out. Nick, I don't know which flight he was on."

Nick listened as desperation filled his brother's voice. "He's okay. I know he has to be okay. You give me a call back as soon as you hear something and I'll do the same for you, okay?"

"Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

His eyes shut, wanting to actually cry. "I love you too." He clicked the button and hung up, plopping down onto the couch. "Aaron's in New York."

"Oh my God, is he okay?" Before Nick had a chance to answer their eyes returned to the screen, absolute destruction happening before their very eyes as they listened to an eye witness speak.

"Glass and flames just exploded up in front of the World Trade Center. Glass flew everywhere. Holy shit! A second airplane, a 727, just rammed into the building!"

They watched as another plane flew directly into the second tower. Layla clasped her hands over her mouth as her eyes began to water. "Holy hell," she managed to choke out.

Nick instinctively grabbed on and held her, feeling the tears spill from his own eyes as he realized that history was occurring right before them. He grabbed his phone with his free hand and hit Aaron's number again, getting a busy signal. "This can't be happening."

"My God, look at all the people. Listen to all the screams," she quietly cried. "There's got to be so many people dead. I don't even wanna think about it."

"Aaron didn't know which flight my dad was on." His lower lip began to tremble, not wanting to think the worst.

She looked at him, seeing he was trying to hold it together. "Let it out," she whispered, giving him a big hug. She listened as he let loose, allowing his tears to flow freely. "He's okay, I can just feel it. I don't even know him, but I know he has to be okay," she confirmed.

"Why is this happening?"

Anguish filled his voice, and it absolutely killed her. "This has to be an attack on America. That's all I can think of." She looked towards the television, seeing another person being interviewed.

"I just happened to look at the first tower and I actually saw people waving where the first plane crashed through and then, it was unbelievable seeing this second jet come crashing into the second tower. What is going on?"

"I've gotta try calling Aaron again." He kept calling, but all he got was a busy signal. On the twentieth try, he was beyond frustrated. "Damn it!" he yelled, throwing his phone on one of the couches. "It's been practically a half hour and I still can't get in touch with him!"

Layla wrapped her arms around him once he sat back down. "I know it's gonna be tough, but do you remember what you were telling me about Amanda? About how she and Alex always seemed more peaceful when she had them turn to God?" He slowly shook his head, realizing what she was getting at. "Nick, we need to pray."

"We now join President George W. Bush in Sarisota, Florida."

"Today we've had a national tragedy. Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country. Terrorism against our nation will not stand. May God bless the victims, their families and America."

They sat in silence for a moment, both saying what they wanted to the Lord above on this horrific day. They listened to reports of yet another plane crashing into the Pentagon. They listened to the reports of every airport being shut down and all planes being grounded. They listened to the reports of the stock exchange closing. They listened as the entire world seemed to halt around them.

Ring Ring

Ring Ring

"I bet that's Alex," Nick sniffled.

"I'll get it." She quickly got up, but kept her eyes on the television set. "Hello?"

"Layla."

"Casey?"

"Layla, I can't talk long."

"Casey, where are you and why are you whispering? Have you seen what's going on?"

"Sweetie, I'm on United Flight 93. I was going to California for a book deal. My plane has been hijacked but we're taking it back. We all voted and we're taking the plane back. No more people need to die."

She grabbed onto the kitchen chair, trying to hold herself up as she realized his fate. She wanted to tell him so much. There was too much to say and not enough time. So, she simplified it all as much as she could. "I love you."

"I love you too. Tell Mom and Dad I love them. This is something we have to do."

She was about to speak again, but heard the line go dead. She dropped to her knees and allowed a painful wail to escape from her mouth.

Nick's head whipped around and he rushed to her, kneeling down as well. "What's wrong?"

She couldn't form as sentence. She could barely see his face through the tears that filled her eyes. All she could do was cry out two words. "My brother!"

(The song 'Fallen Embers' is played for the scene)

He held her tight as her sobs intensified. He didn't exactly know what was going on, but he wasn't going to push too hard to find out. There was no possible way she could even explain it at this moment. Just when he felt the world crumbling around him, it happened. Both he and Layla looked up at the screen in time to see the South tower start to collapse.