Chapter 17

By Rachel

The sun was slowly setting, and the sky was growing darker as each moment passed.  "Howie," AJ said painfully as the duo walked through the snow.  "Can we stop soon? It is getting dark, and I'm tired." 

Howie nodded in agreement and suddenly let out a shout and started running.  AJ looked after him in confusion and started to run after him, but soon slowed down to a walk when the pain from his back started to bother him.  "Howie!?!" AJ yelled. "Where are you?" 

"Over here, Aje. I found a cave we can stay in for tonight," replied Howie, and AJ let out a deep exhausted sigh of relief. 

"About time, D," said AJ with a grin as found the cave and entered it. 

The cave was small, but AJ knew it would serve the purpose of shelter well and was thankful Howie had found it.  Both men fell to the floor, and within moments, they both fell into a deep sleep.

***

The next morning, I was rudely awakened by the sunlight that was hitting me in the face.  I knew there was probably no use in going back to sleep so I slowly sat up.  I looked at my surroundings and sighed.  I was hoping that this whole plane crash ordeal was just a horrible nightmare and I would wake up in my warm bed in my own house, but to my disappointment, the plane crash was a real event that had happened. 

I got up from where I was and slowly hopped to where Nick was lying only a few feet away.  I lowered myself to the floor and cursed softly, as I again felt nauseous.  After a few moments the nausea passed, and I set my attention on Nick.  Ever since the seizure episode last night, my hope for him surviving had slowly diminished.  I put my hand gently on his forehead, and tears rose to my eyes.  The warmth rising off of his forehead greeted my hand; I then knew that his temperature had gone up. The tears streamed down my face as I gently placed Nick's head in my lap and reached over to shake Kevin awake. 

Finally Kevin woke up and looked around. "What's wrong, Bri?" he said in alarm as he saw my tear-stained face. 

"He is getting worse, Kev," I stated through my tears as I ran my hand gently through Nick's hair when he began to whimper in his sleep. Kevin walked over and put his hand on Nick's forehead and looked over at me and pulled me into an awkward hug. 

"It will be okay, Bri.  Can you go outside and make another ice pack while I try and wake him up to give him some aspirin?" Kevin asked as I returned the hug and nodded.  I gently put Nick's head on the floor and with the help of Kevin rose to my feet and got one of Nick's t-shirts we had used the night before off of the floor. 

I mumbled a "See you in a few minutes, cuz," as I hopped up to the front of the plane, praying that the dizziness and nausea that had suddenly appeared would pass.  I made it outside and hopped about ten feet towards the back of the plane, where I knew Kevin couldn't see me, and threw up twice before I felt a little better.  I looked down and saw more blood mixed in with what I had thrown up, and I started to break out in a cold sweat. 

I pushed my worries aside as I remembered what my task was and hopped closer towards the entrance of the plane bending over to scoop some snow into the t-shirt.  As I was rising up, a sharp pain hit me with no warning, and I crumbled to the ground, unconscious.

***

"Come on, Nicky. Wake up," Kevin said as he gently shook the body of his young friend for what seemed like the hundredth time.  Nick started to moan and opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight that hurt his eyes.  "About time you woke up, 'Lil Man.  I'm going to take your temperature, okay?" said Kevin as he reached behind him and grasped the first aid kit. 

He helped Nick into the sitting position where Nick was leaning against him and got the thermometer out, gently placing it in Nick's mouth and waiting patiently for the thermometer to beep.  When the thermometer beeped, he took it out of Nick's mouth and frowned at the number - his temperature was back up to 105.3 degrees. 

"Here Nicky, take these," Kevin said as he opened the small aspirin bottle and poured out two aspirin.  "This will hopefully bring your temperature down."  The only response he received was a blank stare from Nick.  "Open your mouth, Nick," Kevin gently said as he pulled down gently on Nick's chin to open his mouth and put the pills inside.  Nick obediently swallowed with some struggle and looked up at Kevin.

"Thanks, Kev," he whispered as he shuddered. 

"No problem, Nicky.  I would have given them to you earlier, but you weren't conscious. I didn't want you to choke on the aspirin," Kevin said as he ruffled Nick's hair and got up.  "I'm going to check on Brian now; he went outside a few minutes ago to make you an ice pack to bring down your fever.  I will be right outside for a few minutes okay?" Nick nodded and lay back down, quickly falling back to sleep.

Kevin quickly walked towards the plane exit mumbling to himself.  Why is Brian taking so long? he thought as he pushed the door open and shuddered as the cold air hit him.  He looked around and quickly spotted the body of his cousin lying face down in the snow about seven feet to his right.  He quickly ran over to his cousin and dropped to his knees.

"Brian, wake up buddy, come on! This isn't funny!" Kevin stated with a shaky voice, clearly showing his emotions.  It then struck Kevin that Brian wasn't faking it as he shook Brian's shoulder and continued to receive no response.  With every attempt Kevin made at waking Brian and failed, Kevin's hope decreased. He knew that if help didn't come soon, they all would lose the fight for survival.

***

 

 

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