I. The Crash
The plane shuddered violently in the unblemished blue sky. Flames were seen whipping by the right window as the engine sputtered and slowed down. The plane slowly descended ever closer to the ocean while the turbulence causes those not strapped into their seats to jump up a couple feet. As the plane flew even lower, several small islands could be seen dotting the surface below the passengers. The plane continued to drop, faster and faster still. Many people were thrown from their seats as luggage rained upon them from above. Casey and Joel shook violently in their seats, until a large bag landed squarely on Joel’s head, knocking him unconscious. Blood could be seen trickling into his eyes during the catastrophe.
The rear end of the plane gave a loud cracking noise as it tore from the rest of the plane on the rocky mountain below. Passengers didn’t fall but were sucked out of the tear in the planes fuselage. Soon whole chairs were being ripped out of the plane with screaming passengers still in them. Adam, across the aisle, soon joined those who were sucked outside. Immediately after, Sam flew out the chasm in the plane with another man directly in front of him. Casey flew out next with Joel so close after that they could watch each other spiral into the sea below. The horrible sensation left his stomach just as his seat splashed down into the water and sank while he frantically tried to undo his safety belt. He grabbed the seat cushion and held on tightly as it floated back to the surface just in time to see the plane splash into the water, skip across its surface, and slowly come to a stop on a large lush green island several miles away. Sam could be seen floating several yards away, not moving an inch in the warm waters. Casey finally passed out upon his seat cushion, just as Adam floated up next to him.
- - -
There was an atmosphere of excitement throughout Calabasas High. Just fifteen more minutes and they were finally done with high school! Everyone was going around signing yearbooks with all their friends and talking about what they’re going to do over summer or where there going. Casey had just got Alex and Cory to sign his yearbook in his Spanish class when Alex asked him, “Hey dude, are you gonna have a graduation vacation?”
Casey had thought about it and knew who he would go with but no one could agree where they should all go. Adam wanted to go to New York since he was born there and he said it’s really nice, and Sam wanted to follow Adam to New York. Joel wanted to go to Miami, and Casey wanted to go to San Diego.
“I dunno.” answered Casey. “None of my friends can decide where to go, but were definitely going somewhere. I wanted to go to San Diego. My family goes down every year and I love it there. It’s perfect.”
“Awesome.” said Alex.
“Yeah, me and Alex and a few of our other friends are just goin on a road trip to wherever.” added Cory. “Sounds cool. Are you guys gonna go to a college or a junior college like Pierce or Moor Park when summer’s over?” asked Casey
“I dunno. Probably just a junior college because I don’t really have the best grades right now, you know?” said Alex as he chuckled. Alex was a cool kid, and so was Cory. As far as Casey knew, everyone liked them, or at least no one disliked them. They were really similar, actually it was kind of creepy, but that’s probably why they were friends. They were both blasé guys with curly hair who were pretty undersized and answered most questions with “whatever man, you know?” They also both liked classic rock, just like Casey. All of their friends liked classic rock, which is probably what brought them together, or at least kept them together. Most people could guess that just from the way they acted. The bell rang out loud, signaling the end of school.
“I’ll see ya guys later. You go over to Matt’s house a lot right?” asked Casey.
“Yeah, where there all the time.” said Cory. “Why?” “Matt lives at the bottom of my street. We used to be good friends but then we went to different schools in middle school and didn’t see each other much until back in 9th grade.” answered Casey.
“Awesome. Alright then I guess we’ll probably see you there some time then huh?” asked Alex.
“Probably, see ya later guys. Have fun on your road trip.”
“Alright, you too man. Have fun doing…whatever your doing this summer.” said Alex with a laugh.
“Alright. Later.” said Casey as they went their separate ways.
- - -
Casey finally regained his conscience several hours later. It was almost completely dark, save for the moonlight coming from the sky above and the waters reflection below. In the distance ahead, Casey could see the burning wreck of the plane he was in what felt like only moments ago burning on the island ahead. There were several remote shouts and loud screams of horror coming from the island. At least, he thought, he wasn’t the only survivor. Everything seemed very sluggish and disoriented around him, the lights in the distance, the soft, cold waves lapping against his side, the pale moonlight from above. Nothing really mattered much at the moment, nor did he care. He was still in a state of shock and disbelief at what had happened. He finally got his senses back and realized he was floating in the middle of the ocean, still clinging onto his seat cushion.
He started paddling with his arms towards the island in the cold water. Once he started using his legs, he realized something was clung to them. It was Adam, holding on to his seat cushion and clinging to Casey’s leg, still unconscious. Casey pulled Adam up along side of him and started pushing them both to the island making sure his head wouldn’t fall under water.
He kicked for what felt like hours, but who could say how long it really was. All he kept thinking about were his last days at school and on the ground, and that he might never experience that again. He longed to be with his friends. In fact, some of his friends were on the plane with him. This was, after all, his senior vacation, and Joel and Adam had all come with him. He at least knew one of his friends was secure, yet he might never see the rest again.
Even with these dismaying thoughts, he kept on struggling to bring himself and Adam ever closer to the island. He kicked and paddled and kicked and paddled until his arms and legs could move no longer. He passed out from exhaustion upon his seat cushion and slept upon it, in the middle of the ocean, miles away from anyone who could rescue the plane’s passengers.
- - -
Casey walked down the staircase, leaving the H building and coming out into the center of Calabasas High. He continued down to a second set of stairs and went into the theatre room.
Inside, he saw Noah, a tie-dye wearing kid who loved almost all classic rock, as so many of Casey’s friends did. He was also the bassist in Casey’s garage band. He walked up to Noah, who was talking to someone Casey didn’t know, and patiently waited for their conversation to end. Once it finally did, Noah turned to Casey and said, “Hey Casey. How have your kids been?” he asked jokingly.
“Fine,” I said, “I ate Jimmy on Wednesday though, but Janet is still fine, still working in the coal mines.” continuing on with these weird random statements that, if anyone Casey didn’t know heard them, would think was retarded.
“Hahah! Casey, you have to be one of the most random people I know. You and Adam are the funniest and most random people in the world.”
“So, you signed my yearbook, right?” asked Casey “Yeah, earlier at lunch…remember?” he responded. “OK, yeah, I remember now. So where are you going for summer?” asked Casey.
“Me and a few of my friends are going to drive up to mammoth for a week or two. How about you?”
Me, Adam, and Joel are going…somewhere. We haven’t really decided where yet, but I was thinking maybe we can go to Hawaii, since Adam doesn’t wanna go to San Diego.”
“Cool. Call me some time over summer. We gotta keep practicing.”
“Aright, cool. See ya later Casey.”
“Later Noah” replied Casey as he started to walk up to the corner where he gets picked up.
- - -
II. Survival
A sudden splash of cold water in Casey’s face woke him from his pleasant dreams of school. He opened his eyes to the tepid sun shining on him, bringing him a small sense of comfort. He felt another cool splash in the face. He finally glanced up and surveyed his surroundings.
Casey could not think of words to illustrate what he witnessed. He saw things like this all the time in movies, but it just wasn’t the same. The only thought that stuck with him was one simple word: Chaos.
The waves slowly drove Casey and Adam closer to the sight of the smoking plane crash. There were many survivors, all scrambling about on the island, yet they were all confused, lost in purpose and unsure what to do. There were some screaming in pain, some leaning on still bodies crying, and some who were just utterly sick from the sight.
Though many had indeed survived the crash, many more had not. There were bodies strewn across the beaches, some even missing appendages. Several could be seen still strapped into their seats, hunched over.
Casey started paddling towards the beach, dragging Adam with him. By the time he made it, he spotted Joel. Joel was running around the wreck looking for, most likely, Casey and Adam. Casey dragged Adam up the beach a little, and then went after Joel. Just before he reached him, Joel turned around and saw Casey first.
“There you are! I thought you might have been dead. I’ve been checking the wreckage for any one of you three for hours now. Have you seen Adam?” he finally asked Casey.
“I found Adam. We kind of found each other in the water when we were floating over. He’s right there.” said Casey, pointing where he crawled up the beach moments earlier. “He’s still unconscious, but I think he’ll be fine. I didn’t see any blood, so I’m sure he’s just in shock. Well, at least there’s one more that’s safe.” But just as he said those words, the thought of someone else on the plane Casey knew came to mind.
- - -
Casey left Adam and Joel behind and began walking up the stairs, anticipating his vacation that they had finally agreed on. As he reached the top, he looked around, and noticed Alexandra was still at her locker, removing books she would never use again. Alex was a girl just a little shorter than Casey with long soft blond hair and, what Casey thought to be possibly the prettiest eyes he had ever seen.
As she put her backpack on the ground to put another notebook in it, Casey walked directly behind her and lifted her up into the air. He swung her around a little and then set her down. She then spun around and looked at Casey.
“Casey!” she said excitedly. She gave him a hug and then asked what almost everyone else Casey knew asked him that day.
“Are you doing anything to celebrate graduation?” “Yeah, actually me and my friends just decided on where were going. It looks like Hawaii to me.” he replied. “Are you walking up to the corner?” “Yeah, let’s start walking.” They headed out towards the front of Calabasas High, continuing their conversation as they walked.
“You know I’m going to Hawaii also.” stated Alex. Only I’m going because I have some family up there that I said I would visit. When are you leaving?” “I think we’re going in two weeks, on Wednesday to avoid traffic since everyone else will be going on vacation too.”
“Really? I’m going on the same day. What flight will you be on?” she asked with enthusiasm. “Uh…I think there’s only one that day. I remember because it was a late flight for such a long way away. That means you’re gonna be on my plane then huh?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s pretty cool.”
As they approached the house on the corner, where a lot of the kids got picked up, the familiar metal giraffe statues came into sight. They were made of a copper like metal and stood over ten feet tall, making the house stand out among the others. They both sat down on the smooth concrete wall that kept the front yard from pouring into the street. “Maybe we’ll even sit near each other on the plane, if we get lucky.” continued Alex. Casey’s mom pulled up just then next to them in her suburban. “Well, I gotta go now, so I guess I’ll see you in Hawaii then?” he asked.
“Yeah, here’s my families phone number when you get out there. Call me some time and we can do something.” They both hopped off of the wall and hugged each other goodbye. Then Casey got into his car and drove away from Alex, and his last day of school there at Calabasas High.
- - -
“Joel, help Adam. I just remembered my friend Alex was on the plane, and I don’t think she went with anyone else.” exclaimed Casey.
“Well then go find her already, and bring her over to the plane wreck if she’s hurt. Some of the people started pulling medical supplies out a few hours ago. There should be plenty for everyone, but I’d hurry anyway. You don’t know what kind of shape she may be in.” no sooner had Joel said this that he ran off towards some of the other survivors.
As he approached a cluster of panic stricken people, he began yelling Alex! over and over, in hopes that she was conscious, or alive for that matter. He kept up his search, running all over the beaches and even wading out into the waters to see if she was clinging to their seat cushion as he had done. When he found no one, he nearly gave up hope, until he saw a girl with long blond hair lying on the beach.
Casey ran over to her only to find that his thoughts had come true. Alex lay motionless in front of him, her cheeks pale and her head bleeding. When Casey bent down to pick her up however, she moved her head to the side, and her eyes opened. A rush of reprieve washed over Casey at the realization that she was alive.
She began coughing up a lot of water. Once she had exhumed all the water from her lungs, she tried to speak, but merely began coughing again.
Casey picked her up in his arms and took her over to the plane wreck, where someone had just started a fire. She continued coughing for several more minutes until she finally had cleared her lungs and looked up at Casey. He laid her down next to the fire and made sure the bleeding had stopped.
“You’ve been lying on the beach soaking wet for who knows how long, freezing in the wind. Get close to the fire. I’ll be right back. Just stay here and try to keep warm.” Casey ran off looking for Joel. He ran back to where he had last seen Joel, but he was not there, so he ran to where he had left Adam, but neither Joel nor Adam were there either. He looked towards the wreckage, to see Adam sitting on the opposite side of the fire of Alex, where several others had gathered. Casey ran back towards the fire and up to Adam.
“Adam! I’m glad you’re conscious again. Where’d Joel go?”
“He’s in the plane wreckage. Some guy asked everyone who was strong enough to search for survivors in what was left of the plane wreck. You should help, you don’t look too hurt.”
“Okay, but you stay here, alright? By the way, that girl over there, laying down, that’s Alex. Watch over her for me too. She hurt her head pretty badly. She’ll be fine but she shouldn’t walk around too much.”
“Alright.”
Casey ran to the crash and helped a plump kid about his age help get a girl out of what was left of the plane. There was a man standing on top of the plane directing where to help, where to put the survivors, and reminding people to grab as much luggage as possible before it drifted out to sea. Casey grabbed the girls legs and helped the guy carry her to the fire, where almost a “temporary aid station” was being set up. The fire became quite crowded with survivors, their baggage, and those trying to help. Casey and the other kid set the girl down on the sand and both stood up.
"What's your name? I need you to do me a favor." said Casey.
"I'm Benjie, what do you need?"
"I need you to go get a bandage from the plane wreck and bring it back to me. Bring a few extra for anyone else who may need one too." As Casey said this, Benjie ran off to the wreck while Casey went back to Alex.
She was sitting up now, and still looked a little confused. Casey assumed her head injury contributed to that.
"Alex! Are you alright?" he asked with concern. "Yeah, but my heads killing me! What happened?" she asked.
"The plane crashed. I'm not sure how, but there were a lot of survivors. You hit your head pretty hard, and I didn't know how long you were in the water, so I brought you up to the fire. Do you remember any of this?" said Casey.
"I remember the plane shook a lot. I remember looking back and seeing the end of the plane break off on one of the mountians. After that, I can't remember anything."
"That's okay. You were probably knocked unconcious by some luggage or something. I'll be right back. There are still other survivors that still need help. And with that, he ran back to the wreckage. As Casey entered through the huge gaping hole in the side of the aircraft, he began choking on the haze of smoke. All throughout the craft were overthrown chairs, some of which still held victims. Baggage was strewn across the floor, causing the journey deeper into the aircraft very difficult. The contours on an older man could be seen through the smoke as Casey made his way deeper into the smoke. He began coughing, alerting the man that he was present. The man turned to Casey and shoved a huge tin box into his arms.
"Here! Take this outside! It's another first aid kit." said the man with a tone of urgency. He continued struggling to pick something up. One arm was wrapped around the leg of a girl Casey assumed to be his wife, while the other was juggling several more boxes like the one he handed Casey. Casey walked over to the man, and took all the boxes in his arms. The man merely turned to him, looked him in the eye for a moment, and nodded. He began to pick up the woman with his arms, and slung her over his shoulder. Casey left the man behind and began carrying the crates back over the luggage on the floor toward the exit of the plane. Something got caught around his foot, causing him to forsake the boxes to catch his own fall. At that point, his eyes were burning red from all the smoke, and every breath he took hurt his lungs more than the last. He grabbed as many of the boxes as he could and scrambled for the exit.
Casey dove out the door, flinging the boxes far while simultaneously gasping for air. He had left one or two boxes behind, but he couldn't go back.
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