In the dimly lit, crowded cargo hold, a sudden clear ringing echoes.
Through layers of racks and luggage, the source of the ringing is an inconspicuous black suitcase hidden deep within.
If Moody were in the cargo hold at this moment, his Magic Eye would penetrate the suitcase's hard plastic shell, through the lightweight cotton-and-linen clothing inside, to see a toy's spring mechanism suddenly triggered—
"Bang!"
"Snap!"
An orange-red glass bottle abruptly shatters, and the blue flame sealed inside jumps out fiercely!
Upon contact with the air, it bursts with astonishing heat, instantly igniting the surrounding grease-soaked clothes!
"Boom!!!"
The flame expands and spreads at an unbelievable speed, burning through the thin suitcase in a flash, reaching out menacingly towards other passengers' luggage.
The acrid smell of burning plastic immediately fills the air, the thick smoke rapidly expands, swept into the ventilation system like a black ghost, uncontrollably distributing to the other parts of the plane.
…
"Be strong, Mr. Martin."
A passenger who appeared very prosperous embraced the crying, apologizing robber and turned to speak to all the passengers in the cabin:
"Although I am not very wealthy myself, I am personally willing to donate two thousand US dollars to Mr. Martin and his daughter to help them through this difficult time!"
Another passenger immediately chimed in, shouting, "So generous, Mr. Jennings! Truly worthy of being the owner of Keystone Insurance!"
"Clap clap clap clap…"
He raised his hands high to applaud, and the other passengers soon joined in clapping. The boss of the insurance company smiled warmly and waved to the crowd, looking very friendly.
Although Thomas O'Brien had never heard of that insurance company, he still joined in applauding with the crowd, unable to stop a relaxed smile from appearing on his face.
Suddenly, he sensed something was amiss.
It seemed there was a smoky smell...
Thomas O'Brien sniffed the air and then looked down at the floor beneath his feet, seeing wisps of smoke seeping out from tiny gaps.
His mind went blank for a moment, and before his thoughts could react, a scream had already escaped from his throat—
"There's a fire! The plane is on fire!"
He hastily unbuckled his seatbelt, leaping up to the seat, ready to flee, only to find the plane was a cage with no escape!
The next second, thick black smoke billowed from the vents, and a piercing alarm sounded throughout the airplane!
"Ahhhh—"
Screams and cries immediately arose from all directions, people frantically leaving their seats, trying to rush towards what seemed like a safe front cabin, and the narrow aisle suddenly became a tight squeeze.
Accompanied by clangs and bangs, yellow oxygen masks shot out from above, one of them hitting Thomas O'Brien's head with a "bang."
"Stay calm, don't panic!" Arthur Weasley shouted loudly.
Voices among the passengers shouted, "Don't run! Where can you go on a plane? Stay in your seats!"
Mr. Kona also drew his Magic Wand, standing on a chair and shouting, "Where's the fire? I can handle it! Tell me the location!"
They tried to locate the smoking area, but in the dimness, they could only see countless bobbing heads, and their calm calls were like a pebble thrown into a storm, incapable of making a splash.
Suddenly, a panicked passenger accidentally shoved Mr. Kona, causing him to fall from the seat, crashing to the ground, watching helplessly as several large feet stomped towards his head!
Madam Kona shouted in terror, "Ah!!!"
"Get off!"
Michael swung his Magic Wand forcefully, and the two passengers about to step on Mr. Kona flew away, pressing others on the aisle into screams.
Madam Kona hurriedly grabbed her husband's arm, using all her strength but failing to lift him, and the passengers behind were already shoving forward!
Meanwhile, Arthur Weasley was also knocked down, his lower back crashing into the armrest of the seat with a pain that distorted his face.
The Weasley family's children were not spared either. Ginny was firmly protected by her mother beneath her body, when an out-of-balance passenger slammed onto them like a stone, his elbow like a dagger stabbing into Mrs. Weasley's back, seemingly breaking two ribs!
Ron raised his Magic Wand, but his wrist got wedged between the seat gaps, causing him to grunt, and his Magic Wand involuntarily dropped, with a "snap" appearing to be stepped on and broken.
"Impedimenta! Impedimenta!"
The twins managed to cast their Spell, but the people blocked by the Impedimenta Curse were quickly shoved over by others, making their Spell seem like an accomplice.
When they turned to use the Iron Armor Spell, the luggage compartment above suddenly sprang open, its contents and small-sized carry-ons crashing down on them, and they were squeezed by the crowd until breathing became a struggle.
"Full Body-Bind! Speedy Imprisonment!"
Sirius's angry roar came from the front of the cabin, but his Spell wasn't strong enough to control a hundred people at the same time. The nearest passengers fell, yet the crowd surged up like locusts!
"Stay calm! Get back!" Sirius blocked the chaotic crowd from the aisle between them and first class, raised his Magic Wand, and shouted:
"Expecto Patron—"
"Whiz!"
A sharp, piercing sound tore through the commotion!
A dark, short Crossbow Arrow, moving at a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to track, pierced Sirius's shoulder and neck, causing him to stagger backward!
Sirius raised a hand to clutch his wound.
The pain wasn't particularly strong.
But... a cold, numbing sensation crept like tiny venomous snakes, rapidly spreading through his blood and nerves, quickly paralyzing him!
His half-body almost immediately lost feeling, and even his heartbeat seemed to slow, as time was infinitely stretched in that moment.
The man barely raised his heavy eyelids, looking in the direction of the Crossbow Arrow's shot—
At the rear of the cabin, a dark silhouette stood on the armrest of a seat with one foot, perched high, holding a strangely shaped hand crossbow aimed squarely at the wavering Sirius.
The foremost passengers were utterly unaware of the Crossbow Arrow flying overhead; they only fiercely knocked down the obstructing Sirius and were relentlessly ready to step over him!
In a life-and-death moment—
"Swish!"
The thick curtain between the cabins was abruptly pulled open by a sturdy, dexterous hand, revealing a shadow.
He didn't completely step out of the curtain but stood firmly at the junction, uttering an ancient and clear incantation that resonated throughout the cabin:
"Arcayas—Tomeo—"