Page 27
A twinge hits my stomach. I’m surprised I haven’t seen a helicopter swoop in yet. My estimation is it’s been at least twenty minutes since the crash happened.
A missing airplane full of elite teens won’t go unnoticed. Someone should be here by now.
James keeps his eyes open and locked in on me as a shadow looms over us.
Maison crouches down. “James, you okay, man?”
James winces but keeps his expression neutral. “I’m fine, Maison. It’s just a small cut.” A grin forms on Maison’s face, probably because it’s a bit more than a small cut.
“You always were a tough little motherfucker,” he heckles him.
James manages a smile, even though the pressure of my hands must hurt him. They know each other. I had to ask his name, but Maison and Micah know him because they grew up with him. I’m a stranger to this kid and everyone else here.
Maison’s hand rests on the small of my back. If he notices I’m wearing his sweater, he doesn’t comment on it. “Are you doing alright, London? I lost my hold on you after the crash. I didn’t mean to let go of you.”
I face Maison, trying not to cry, wishing for his arms to soothe me like they did on the plane.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I manage a swallow and it feels like I was just fantasizing about how my interview with him would go. I was shamelessly flirting with him to gather intel on a story that doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
Maison frowns, looking at James. “Can you stay with him? I have to go help the others and salvage anything we can from the plane. Micah’s trying to track down a first aid kit in the cockpit. Hopefully, someone will be here soon.”
Calm—Maison is so steady and calm. I get why everyone is drawn to him.
“I’m fine,” I tell him without glancing up. “I’ll stay with James. He was just telling me about his brother.”
The rain intensifies, causing a hiss. The sound is so loud, it feels like hell. The plane is broken, battered, and twisted in an unnatural way with the carnage of trees and debris lying in its wake. The rain, I decide, is both a blessing and a curse. It caused this, but is also putting out any fires the crash caused.
This airplane will not be airborne ever again. Rescue is our only hope for survival.
A heaviness expands from my core to every limb as I pull the hood of my sweater over my head and continue to press my hands into James’ side. As cries of agony and pure chaos ensues beside me, I close my eyes, refusing to believe what we just endured. What I just lived through.
“It will be okay, London.” James’ voice soothes me, and I can’t help but laugh. He’s the one hurt right now, yet he’s consoling me. I keep my eyes open and just focus on his dimples, trying to ignore the painful worry coursing through every bone, or his blood seeping all over my hands. I have to keep James alive for his brother.
A tightness forms in the pit of my stomach and it’s not because of the corpses lying around me or the sight of James in my arms. Rather, it’s the overwhelming sense of apprehension I have for the remaining survivors who only sustained minor injuries. The worst-case scenario is nobody coming for us at all.
Chapter Seven
Day One
There are a million ways to die. The plane crash that killed thirty-two of my peers is not how my story ends. I won’t ever board a plane again, so I suppose I’ll find another way. They will have to rowboat me off this island when they finally come rescue us.
We are stranded. Only sixteen of us remain out of the forty-eight people on board. Four of them may not survive another night in their current state, their injuries are too far gone. I’ll be the last face they see, even though I didn’t know their names. James is still alive, so at least the body count isn’t thirty-one. I found out he saved two of his friends by shielding them from the impact of the glass shattering around them. They were in the middle of the plane and should have died. I listened to all his stories from when he was growing up. I feel like I know his whole family intimately. It was all I could do to keep him awake and talking. James is now the one I know the most here. Truly, I am a stranger among everyone here.
Six hours have passed as I write this, and no one’s come for us. No cell service, so our phones are useless other than for light, but if anyone ever reads this, especially my parents, please know I tried to call you. It stopped raining. The storm that caused this has passed and we are about to embark on our first day out here. Hopefully, it will be our last. We won’t survive otherwise. Someone has to come.
Survivor Count:
London
Jade
Nigel
Naomi
Serena
Micah
