It was supposed to have been the school trip of a lifetime, the entire class jetting off to another country altogether. Everyone had been excited, from the jocks to the nerds, all couldn't stop talking about the trip. And it had started out just as everyone had expected, the class boarding the plane and taking their seats, friends all sitting together as they continued to excitedly discuss their plans.
In amongst them all, a boy sat by himself, Quinn Sani. He had never been much of a social person, always sitting by himself, never really interacting with anyone socially, but he had been hoping this trip would perhaps change things around a little, give him the opportunity to start and actually get to know people. The thought brought a smile to his lips as he opened his book for takeoff, ignoring the excited squeals of some of his classmates in their first plane takeoff.
For a few hours, the flight went smoothly, a bit of turbulence here and there but nothing major. Despite the journey the general feeling of excitedness never ceased....at least not until they seemed to hit one particular bit of turbulence...one that also didn't cease.
What happened next was a bit of a blur. The plane had started shaking, then suddenly started to jerk violently in every direction, the g-forces indicating they were now rapidly descending. There was panic, screaming, even prayer....but the end result was assured and inevitable. Before anyone could even ask what was happening or why, there was just cold and wet blackness, the plane seeming to vanish from around people as it broke up on impact with the water, parts and people flying everywhere.
Several hours later, a few of the larger pieces of debris had washed up on a nearby island, one that as far as the world at large was concerned didn't exist. Clinging to that debris, or in some cases simply fortunately laying on or strapped to it, were several of the passengers. Some of those who washed up were already dead, but fortunately some of them were still alive.
Quinn was the first one to wash ashore and awake, taking a deep gasp of air as he woke, clutching his head and slowly standing up on the golden sandy beach and glancing around slowly. When he spotted the others he gasped, but rather than panic he immediately rushed to their aid. Those who were dead, he covered with the large leaves from a nearby palm tree, but those who were alive he pulled away from the water, moving them to a more shaded area.
For years Quinn had been reading books about this....about being stranded, about surviving in the wilderness and taking care of others. It had always been nothing more than an escape from reality....and yet now it was reality....now he needed to survive...and help these others to survive.
Once the others had awoken, Quinn had done his best to explain the situation to them, trying to keep them calm and assure them that they were going to be ok. His tone was remarkably authorative and reassuring, and thanks to the years of reading he actually sounded like he knew what was talking about. "Now I want everyone to stay calm ok? I'm going to go and find us some food and then I'll see about getting us some shelter for the night. We all just need to stay calm until we get rescued...ok?"
In amongst them all, a boy sat by himself, Quinn Sani. He had never been much of a social person, always sitting by himself, never really interacting with anyone socially, but he had been hoping this trip would perhaps change things around a little, give him the opportunity to start and actually get to know people. The thought brought a smile to his lips as he opened his book for takeoff, ignoring the excited squeals of some of his classmates in their first plane takeoff.
For a few hours, the flight went smoothly, a bit of turbulence here and there but nothing major. Despite the journey the general feeling of excitedness never ceased....at least not until they seemed to hit one particular bit of turbulence...one that also didn't cease.
What happened next was a bit of a blur. The plane had started shaking, then suddenly started to jerk violently in every direction, the g-forces indicating they were now rapidly descending. There was panic, screaming, even prayer....but the end result was assured and inevitable. Before anyone could even ask what was happening or why, there was just cold and wet blackness, the plane seeming to vanish from around people as it broke up on impact with the water, parts and people flying everywhere.
Several hours later, a few of the larger pieces of debris had washed up on a nearby island, one that as far as the world at large was concerned didn't exist. Clinging to that debris, or in some cases simply fortunately laying on or strapped to it, were several of the passengers. Some of those who washed up were already dead, but fortunately some of them were still alive.
Quinn was the first one to wash ashore and awake, taking a deep gasp of air as he woke, clutching his head and slowly standing up on the golden sandy beach and glancing around slowly. When he spotted the others he gasped, but rather than panic he immediately rushed to their aid. Those who were dead, he covered with the large leaves from a nearby palm tree, but those who were alive he pulled away from the water, moving them to a more shaded area.
For years Quinn had been reading books about this....about being stranded, about surviving in the wilderness and taking care of others. It had always been nothing more than an escape from reality....and yet now it was reality....now he needed to survive...and help these others to survive.
Once the others had awoken, Quinn had done his best to explain the situation to them, trying to keep them calm and assure them that they were going to be ok. His tone was remarkably authorative and reassuring, and thanks to the years of reading he actually sounded like he knew what was talking about. "Now I want everyone to stay calm ok? I'm going to go and find us some food and then I'll see about getting us some shelter for the night. We all just need to stay calm until we get rescued...ok?"