Chapter
11
Within a half
an hour, they were almost to the Orlando airport. The captain came over the
intercom and announced for everyone to buckle their seatbelts as the plane
began to descend. Kevin buckled his seatbelt and gently nudged Brian, who was
sleeping. Brian didn't move.
"Brian!"
Kevin whispered. "Wake up, we're getting ready to land." He shook
Brian's shoulder softly. Brian still didn't budge. Kevin started to get
nervous. He studied Brian carefully. He was still breathing, but his breathing
was shallow sounding. Kevin grabbed his wrist and felt his pulse. He could feel
it, but it was faint and slow. Kevin swore under his breath. He dropped Brian's
wrist and quickly fastened his seatbelt. "Hang on, Bri, we're almost
there," he whispered, squeezing Brian's hand, which was cold and clammy.
"Come on, plane, hurry up and land," Kevin thought. Finally, the
plane landed. As soon as it had stopped, Kevin unbuckled his and Brian's
seatbelts and leaped up.
"Please,
let us get off first! He's not doing so well," Kevin called up to the
flight attendant that had helped him earlier.
"Okay,"
she said, nodding at him. "Everyone, please remained seated for a few
minutes and let these young men get off the plane." Kevin took the oxygen
mask off of Brian and scooped him up in his arms. Then he quickly carried him
down the aisle and off the plane. AJ, Howie, and Nick grabbed all of their
carry-on bags and followed them off.
"Go get
some help!" Kevin yelled to Howie as they got off. Howie ran over to the
first employee he saw. Kevin carried Brian to an empty bench in a corner and
lay him down on it. He bent over and listened for Brian's breathing. He was not
breathing at all. Kevin felt for a pulse again and found that it was even
weaker than before. He bent over and began giving Brian mouth-to-mouth. AJ and
Nick watched in horror. A moment later, Howie ran back to them followed by a
man and a woman carrying some kind of kit.
"Step
back," the woman said. "We're trained in CPR." Kevin stepped
away and watched as the woman took over giving Brian mouth-to-mouth. The man
checked Brian's pulse.
"Did you
call an ambulance?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, one
is on the way," the man replied. Kevin and the others settled back to wait
for the ambulance to arrive.
***
